By José Gandue @Gandour Photo by Oscar Perfer
Those who follow us already know this. Rock al Parque is the event we are most excited to cover at Zonagirante.com. We are pleased that there are only a few days left until its twenty-second celebration and we know that the inhabitants of Bogotá and its visitors They are equally excited about the festival's invitation. That does not prevent us from commenting on the actions of its organizers, their decisions, and how each administration that has assumed the Mayoralty of the Colombian capital has played its role, fulfilling or not its responsibility to the culture of the city.
Between July 2nd and 4th, we will see between two hundred thousand and three hundred and fifty thousand people pass through the Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park. Therefore, the first thing we are obliged to say, before presenting our list of criticisms, is that anyone who is in Bogotá on those dates, We invite you to drop by the festival anytime., to enjoy the music or, at least, see the attendees vibrate, dance, mosh, fall in love with the songs and shout with their idols. That, in itself, is quite a spectacle., an image that is not found just anywhere in the world and that we must protect and consolidate as a citizen's heritage.
Having said that, we would like to point out the following:
– Rock al Parque has recently acquired a conservative scheme, where there's an overwhelming number of legendary artists with long careers but diminished relevance are booked, and where not enough space is given to contemporary sounds. Nobody is asking for the festival to be a single showcase for new talent, But there must be a balance. Let's remember that it's a festival organized by a state institution, non-profit and free for anyone who wants to attend, and that opens up a margin of risk for including groups that have more future than past. Unfortunately, these days the effort to showcase new sounds in Bogotá is only undertaken by private festivals., activities with excessively expensive tickets and a clear social bias.
We need to remind the Rock al Parque organizers that Cutting-edge technology isn't necessarily expensive, and it's closer to our borders than expected. Many Latin American artists of the new generations, with interesting careers and proven international experience, are willing to come at a low cost., because Rock al Parque has a very attractive image for them. They've seen the photos and videos from every edition that's passed and they want to be here, they're eager to play on one of the best stages in the world (Yes, of the world, or are we going to think that the thousands of spectators that Rock al Parque attracts are worth less than those of other prestigious shows on the planetThis festival has acquired enough historical prestige to make convenient agreements and exchanges, and it is striking how the organization has wasted its potential for a long time. We must believe in what has been done and finally make it a profitable element that benefits everyone.
– Having said that, no one has any reason to criticize the current programmer of the festival for his work. Chucky García has done what he could with what he was given, and the lineup for the 2016 edition is attractive to many fans. The ones who should be held accountable are their superiors, for cutting the budget unjustifiably and with little planning. It's clear that some of those in charge would feel better if Rock al Parque were canceled. disappear from the map. They don't dare to make the drastic cuts all at once, but their effort seems to lead to breaking down a brand which has been built over 22 years with great effort. They, who talk so much about managing these activities as if they were private companies, haven't made a significant effort to find real sponsors to help cover payments. Perhaps, Since some of them, before assuming their positions, never even attended this series of concerts, they have no idea how to sell them. It's curious, because even the previous rulers, with a clear leftist inclination, managed in their own way to convince local and multinational companies to sponsor the event.
– This is a festival with 22 editions under its belt. It's only fair, given time, the audience, and the current state of music, that Let's reinvent several elements entrenched in the Rock al Parque scheme. There are still people who, with good or bad faith, want to insist on the antiquated definition of the word Rock. Many of the decisions made by the judging panel for the district calls for proposals this year had that retrograde whiff. That's why we missed out on a better selection of Bogota representatives at the festival. This jury didn't live up to its responsibilities, and its work was poorly managed in its crucial role by the festival organizers. As we said before, there were parameters like those of a reality show, and that's why the lineup suffered, with a preference for outdated (albeit very "rock") proposals. and to be unaware of what is really happening in our scene.
– On the other hand, as a folkloric detail, there are still those who, poorly disguised as journalists, artists or cultural managers, They clumsily approach official channels and file stupid lawsuits against the institution in charge of the festival for having invited bands over the years that didn't exactly fit the old rules of the genre. They not only perform out of sync and with a ridiculous attitude: Unjustified prejudice explains his argument. The plaintiffs are the ideological sons and grandsons of those who, anywhere on the planet, angrily protested against funk, reggae, disco and other sounds that, at the time, broke away from the closed scheme of the original matrix. Poor bitter people who listen to music with a censorious and racist knife.
You know what? We don't care if they get upset or if they call us sellouts or exaggerators: If someone wants to call what Bomba Estéreo, Systema Solar, or any of the outstanding artists who have managed to fuse contemporary trends with local flavor do "Rock,", He is fully within his rights. Those who get tangled up, poisoned, and cut their wrists demanding sonic purity, we recommend they retire to a fascist-like, amnesiac asylum, because it must be said again: Rock, throughout its history, has been the most mixed, mulatto and zambo genre we can find, and that is why we like it. The more colorful the Rock al Parque show, the better.
*****
The Mayor's Office of Bogotá, regardless of the political leanings of its administrators, It must preserve and enhance the brilliance of its greatest popular festival. The mayors in office and their subordinates must always understand that Rock al Parque is culture, entertainment and a symbol of peace. The festival is a social investment, not a useless expense as some politicians see it. This isn't demagoguery; it's simply a reminder that this event, with all its problems, internal disputes, and pointless or senseless arguments, It remains one of the greatest assets this city has, both for its inhabitants and for the world. This concept was clearly understood in 1998, when Enrique Peñalosa's first administration wanted to put an end to Rock al Parque and the citizens, in a clear act of defiance and indignation, They went out to collect signatures and protest en masse, forcing the mayor to back down from his decision. In 2016 and in the years to come, we must remember this premise. Rock al Parque, especially now in times of reconciliation and post-conflict, is a living artistic and democratic monument that we must protect because it belongs to us. It is a festival that, like no other in the world, helped consolidate a constantly growing music scene. If you don't believe it, Ask every producer, every sound engineer, every roadie, every musician that has been on its stages throughout these years.
Rock al Parque, In the midst of war and political maneuvering, it was able to sustain itself for more than two decades. as the amazing experience that it is. Every inhabitant of this city, regardless of whether they don't know a single local rock song or, on the contrary, regularly attend concerts in the Bogota scene, He should be proud of that.
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