We are the band Aterciopelados
from Colombia. We live in Bogotá.
I am not an expert on Beethoven.
But they tell me
that he was an activist.
That he raised his voice.
That he defended the poor.
That he spoke ill of the rich,
even of those
who financed his career.
He was a very committed man.
We celebrate his 250th birthday.
And we hope that if
we all become more aware,
and try to make a change,
we can continue listening
to his music in another 250 years.
For 30 years we've been writing
songs with very specific themes.
We have songs with
environmental themes.
We have songs that
defend indigenous people.
We have feminist
songs and anti-war songs.
Those are the
settings of our work.
There are songs by Aterciopelados
that were campaign songs for the
environment and environmentalism.
We wrote a song for the
Caribbean. That is the song that
gave the name to our
album "Caribe Atómico".
Do not go to the beach
The Caribbean looks strange
There are no sailboats or divers
Bathers or sailors
Atomic Caribbean
Do not go to the beach
They have suspicious foams
Only the plutonium fish swim
Between waves of steel and silver
Atomic Caribbean
Mayday, Mayday
The coast guard warns
Against going into the sea
Mayday, Mayday
You can catch a tropical virus
Well there are many
songs from Aterciopelados
that have a strong
connection with nature.
Especially with water,
but also with the forest,
with indigenous people,
with birds,
with everything
to do with Mother Nature.
In Colombia we have
a very serious problem
with the murder
of environmentalists.
For many years
it has been a
big problem in Latin America.
It happens in Brazil,
in countries like
Honduras, in Guatemala
and here too.
Unfortunately, many leaders
who defended their territory
have fallen.
To my beautiful people
A little song
So that we all dream and dance
In a different Colombia
With social justice
Equality between men and women
Rights for nature
With food on the table for old people
Health and education
Pure peace, pure love
Health and education
Pure peace, pure love
We are terrible.
We are predators.
We are consumers.
We are producers of trash.
And that has to change, right?
At some point we
can't just think of ourselves
and the satisfaction
of our personal needs.
But we have to think of the future.
Now is the time for change!
Now is the time
to unite our voices!
It is time not to
be afraid anymore.
And it is time to defend
the environment and our rights.
Love nature!
And respect women!
