English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
This video is under two minutes long. Originally posted in 2012, we reposted it in 2014 given what was happening in Venezuela. It seems even more prescient now, in 2019, so here it is again… and… now in 2025… here it is AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN!…. …in 2026 The subtitles appear to have stopped … Continue reading “Cuba: Oldie But Goodie — Venezuela Now Has Imported Blackouts / Ciro Diaz”
This video is under two minutes long. Originally posted in 2012, we reposted it in 2014 given what was happening in Venezuela. It seems even more prescient now, in 2019, so here it is again. The subtitles appear to have stopped working. Here are the lyrics: IMPORTED BLACKOUTS – An original song by Ciro Diaz … Continue reading “Venezuela Now Has Imported Blackouts / Ciro Diaz”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 2 December 2017 — It is risky to define someone in brief strokes, but if it is Ciro Díaz we are talking about it is even more so because the same person contains a mix of the activist, the musician and the mathematician. The guitarist of the group Porno Para Ricardo … Continue reading “Ciro Díaz: “Musician In The Morning, Mathematician In The Afternoon, Activist In The Evening””
For the handy little DONATE BUTTON
The [coma-andante] walking coma, wants me to work El coma andante, quiere que yo trabaje Paying me a miserable salary Pagándome un salario miserable The walking coma wants me to applaud El coma andante quiere que yo lo aplauda After he talks his delirious shit después de hablar su mierda delirante No walking coma No … Continue reading “The Commander (El comandante) – Video and Lyrics / Gorki Aguila, Ciro Diaz and Porno Para Ricardo”
Ciro Diaz, 33, guitar player for the group Porno for Ricardo and musical producer, had all the ingredients to be a jet setter of the Revolution. He was born and raised in the heart of a family who listened to Fidel Castro’s long speeches and went to the Revolutionary celebrations cyclically generated by the olive … Continue reading “Ciro Diaz, Guitar Player for Porno Para Ricardo / Iván García”
This video is under two minutes long. We have re-posted it given what’s going on in Venezuela. The subtitles appear to have stopped working. Here are the lyrics in English: IMPORTED BLACKOUTS – An original song by Ciro Diaz Ohhh…. Fucking up a little island is nothing Anyone can fuck up a little island With … Continue reading “Venezuela Now Has Imported Blackouts / Ciro Javier Díaz Penedo”
I’m looking for a poetic way to express how much how very very much I dislike Fidel Castro (an oldie but goodie that deserved another go-’round here)
A music video version of this song by the full Porno para Ricardo punk rock band (including Ciro) can be enjoyed here.
I was arrested yesterday afternoon leaving our recording studio. Reason: Presumption of public disorder. They took me to two police stations and I finally ended up locked up at the Central Police Station in Alamar. In the cell with me were Williams (bass player for Porno Para Ricardo), and Didet (producer for Matraca). A little … Continue reading “They Arrested Me / El Ciro – Ciro Javier Díaz Penedo”
Benedict XVI should speak at the morning Mass of the arrests of citizens in Cuba, of the beating received yesterday by a person who, during his Mass, of the abuses the Cuban government inflicts on its population, and if he does not he is, in some way, an accomplice to this tyranny, he would be … Continue reading “We Ask of the Pope / El Ciro – Ciro Javier Díaz Penedo”
Williams, bass player for Porno para Ricardo has disappeared. He left at 9 am from home heading to the clinic and has not returned although he has had more than enough time to do so. This, coupled with the disappearance of this morning Ismael Diego and the arrest yesterday of Danilo Maldonado (El Sexto) makes … Continue reading “More Arrests and Disappearances / El Ciro – Ciro Javier Díaz Penedo”
Last night I received a call from a neighbor informing me that people had seen Danilo Maldonado (El Sexto) in a police car. Also today, early in the morning, Ismael de Diego left his house to go the corner and disappeared; at home his girlfriend was waiting for him for breakfast and he never returned. … Continue reading “Arrests and Disappearances / El Ciro – Ciro Javier Díaz Penedo”
This video is under two minutes long. The subtitles appear to have stopped working. Here are the lyrics: IMPORTED BLACKOUTS – An original song by Ciro Diaz Ohhh…. Fucking up a little island is nothing Anyone can fuck up a little island With few natural resources it was easy, to drown it in misery But … Continue reading “Venezuela Now Has Imported Blackouts / Ciro Javier Diaz Penedo”