From our Bureau of Righteous Mockery with some assistance from our Bureau of Privileged Twits and Inane Socialist Rituals
Sandro Castro is easy to ridicule. And so are massive and useless marches orchestrated by Castro, Inc. Naturally, it didn’t take very long for a song that satirizes both of these recent news items. Let’s call it a harmonic convergence.
Coming up with new lyrics for a popular song by El Micha, “Que vaya El Choco”, a Cuban comedian has created an instant hit on social media. The main refrain of this song asks “Are you going to the march?” and responds with “Let Sandro be the one to go.” (“¿Vas al desfile?: ¡Que vaya El Sandro!). Perfect. Just in time for Christmas.
Click on YouTube above to listen to the song. Click on the one below for another version. Apparently, the song is inspiring other musicians to create their own versions. And click HERE for an interview with Alian Aramís, the lyricist of the original version.
From Cuba Headlines
A satirical song titled “Let Sandro Go” (“Que vaya El Sandro”) has taken social media by storm, responding to Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel’s recent call for a combative march scheduled for December 20th. This catchy tune, credited to the anonymous profile “Edmundo Dantés Junior” and crafted using Artificial Intelligence, has sparked laughter, contemplation, and, most notably, controversy regarding the privileges enjoyed by the ruling class in Cuba. The song specifically targets Sandro Castro, the grandson of dictator Fidel Castro, who recently celebrated his birthday with great fanfare at a Havana bar.
Featuring lyrics by Alian Aramís, the song’s refrain humorously repeats, “Are you going to the march? Let Sandro be the one to go.” (“¿Vas al desfile?: ¡Que vaya El Sandro!) ”Meanwhile, the musical arrangements, vocals, and production are the work of Dantés Junior. The creators of the project have openly shared that they utilized AI tools for both the music and promotional imagery.
The song’s title directly references Sandro Castro, known not only as a businessman and owner of the bar EFE but also for his lavish lifestyle. On social media, Sandro has become emblematic of the disconnect between the privileged elite and the Cuban populace. His history is riddled with controversial moments, such as announcing private parties amidst the nation’s economic and energy crises.
Earlier this month, Sandro hosted a party featuring a dress code, exclusive drinks, and privileges for a select few, while the majority of Cubans faced basic shortages. He claimed that he simply wanted to celebrate his birthday “like any young revolutionary.” In addition to this, his infamous Instagram live session, where he justified his lifestyle by professing to be a “simple young man with a right to enjoy,” has further fueled criticism and satire, which now fuels the viral song.
The song’s lyrics resonate with the struggles of ordinary Cubans: “I am Juan Without Anything, with a poor salary, with palisander resistance, / if you ask me if I’m going to the parade, I answer: Let Sandro go. I am Juan without a bus, without light or water, for not being Alejandro’s grandson, / if you ask me if I’m going to the parade, I answer, let Sandro go,” recites a verse from the song. Recently, another version of the song appeared on the YouTube channel Chucho del Chucho, similarly criticizing the privileges of power in Cuba: “How far and until when, hunger is killing, if they want a parade, let Sandro go.”