After two phases that have gone from less to more, the third and last date murguera in which the names of the eight finalist groups were known, which, in order of performance in the Grand Final on Friday, are Trabachones, Trapaseros, Diablos Locos, Mamelucos, Bambones, Burlonas, La Sonora and Zeta Zetas. La Sonora surprises, achieving a place in the final in its premiere. Trabachones, in its second year in competition, wins a deserved place in the final.
Diabolical (2017)
They start with strength and better voices than in other editions in their presentation, which is planned as a tribute to carnival and serves to present their new parade.
With their theme “diabolical pasodoble”, they recall the murgas of yesteryear and this historic rhythm that marked the golden ages of the chicharrero carnival. “There is no future without a past”, they sing before beginning with a mild criticism of the COVID-19 deniers, reminding the palm growers and criticizing banks and large entities for not stopping charging the palm growers the fees: “nature with our brothers it has been primed”. They end by remembering that the carnival is back “two years are an eternity, the murga is a feeling” and thanking them for stepping on the stage of the Fairgrounds again.
Singing a pasodoble as the only theme is a risky bet in 2022, but also a beautiful trip to the past to recover the tradition of what was the rhythm of the chicharrero carnival for years. In tune, they sang a song with simple verses and shallow content that allowed them to pass the test of coming back.
Sleeves Rolled Up (2019)
From Candelaria comes this practically novel murga characterized by what they pretend to be a Canarian aborigine. They begin with a presentation in which the nerves caused an effect on his soloist, who forgot part of the lyrics. His parade, which sounds good at times, reads: “carnival is the sound that pumps my heart”.
In their theme “Berbers we are and in the sea we float” they begin ironically about the Guanches, who meet at a convention. They claim the characteristic elements of popular Canarian culture such as gofio to mess with the canariones “espabila canarión”. They make a tour of the Islands to later criticize the rise in electricity prices or the current summer carnival. They continue to claim the role of the Canarian media with La Palma “not like those of Telecinco” and criticizing the politicians who came to “campaign”. They end by honoring the solidarity of the Canary Islands “8 stars in the sea”.
The lack of trials was noted. They missed out on various parts of their performance and their lyrics, which they forgot at times. Diction, lyrics and musicality were lacking in her voices and verses. It was noted how difficult it has been for the murga to return this year or the lack of interest in having a good contest and just having fun.
Jobs (2019)
Power and voices in your presentation. This murga promises. They play with the red color of their costume to criticize those who didn’t give them a chance to listen to them in their first year. Presentation and parades and they are already the best of the phase so far, although it was not difficult.
In “This is my kingdom, this is my law, I no longer obey any king” they take advantage of their jester costume as a common thread to rebel against the light, the aid that does not arrive or labor exploitation. The toilets or the hoteliers, examples that they put to show that the political class laughs at the people. They continue with a crack to those who criticized those who wanted to hold a carnival in a pandemic. They delve a little deeper into the character they play to make self-criticism and say that they were about to sell themselves for a piece of cardboard “I’m not your buffoon”. Reminder to what was experienced in La Palma “the television stations that came to the palmeros to touch their balls” that take the opportunity to talk about how we canaries are “tourism puppets”. Harsh criticism of the carnival that Alfonso Cabello capitalizes on for the decisions made “I am not a councilman’s buffoon.” They end with a string in which they criticize the fan who doesn’t listen to new women or murgas “the jester got tired of putting up with it”, a phrase that vindicates the lack of respect for the murguero.
They remind the public why they were in the 2020 final. With the best voices of the contest so far, they close a perfect performance in which the spun critical lyrics, the plot, the strength and the essence were the ingredients that made them connect with the public and return to embrace the final. With such little experience, they are already a big murga and they apply to be one of the names of the contest.
Bamboos (1982)
They begin to the rhythm of “Ay mama” by Rigoberta Bandini and “Slomo” by Chanel to humor the costume they presented for this year and take it off completely to appear with overalls from previous years. After that “My heart beats me today bamboo”. Impossible not to get emotional listening to her parade two years later. They sound like a cannon.
In their theme “We were going to come out better” they contextualize what life has changed with the pandemic. They criticize the racists and stick their necks out for the immigrant “those who are so patriotic are just fucking racists”. They continue with a crack to the male chauvinists. After a well-argued criticism, they pull satire to talk about the social media experts who emerged with the pandemic “you have to know how to get information like me, a neighbor told me.” Criticism of private healthcare and the benefits it has brought: “people in the corridors while they filled their pockets”. They come out in defense of the toilets, remembering the applause on the balconies and paying homage to them. They play with the virus to criticize fascism, flags, racism, borders, mistreatment, murderers, war, rapists or homophobia. They grow up to clarify: “Getting out better came to nothing.” They end up talking about the control of fear “they ended up silencing the voices of a people that can’t take it anymore”.
With the voices that characterize them and a notable decrease in components among their ranks, Bambones meets record and gives the public what is expected: lyrics, lyrics, lyrics and more lyrics. His mastery of criticism pushes them into a subject that he manages to connect with the public. It is not their best phase, but they maintained the level that they are supposed to.
Unleashed (2019)
Pride of being Canarians and emotion when talking about the pandemic and the war in their fine-tuned presentation. They continue with their parade “carnival is my life.”
In their theme “Today the ladies criticize, and it’s not a joke” they appear characterized as ladies to put in context a topic in which they “threaten” to gossip. They throw humor to talk about topics of donas: “I’m going to outline my eyebrows.” They continue to honor artists and spaces created for the elderly, which they use to criticize how music has changed over time: “Humiliates women.” They strike a chord remembering the loneliness experienced by some elderly people whose relatives do not visit and paying homage to the socio-sanitary “who leave affection and never leave”. Pepe Benavente on stage to the rhythm of “raise your hand” to applaud the carnival of the past.
Know how to be, good musical selection and correct voices in a difficult last position to face. Despite the fact that their theme fell somewhat short, they signed a worthy performance for a second year.
