Canción Para Acordarme

Ali Primera's 'Canción Para Acordarme' is a poignant reflection on personal and collective memories, interwoven with political and social commentary. The song begins with the artist tying his memories to the 'tree of the night' and setting out in search of the sun, symbolizing a quest for enlightenment and truth. This metaphorical journey is filled with vivid recollections, from the intimate experience of making love for the first time to the communal struggle for basic necessities like water. These memories are not just personal but are deeply connected to the socio-political landscape of his time.

The song also delves into significant historical and political moments, such as the first time Primera saw Fidel Castro in a film projected on the wall of a church, the largest and whitest house in his village. This imagery highlights the contrast between the revolutionary ideals and the traditional, often oppressive, structures of society. The mention of Salvador, a bricklayer who read excerpts from 'The Capital' to him, and his mother's reaction to his communist beliefs, further underscores the song's exploration of ideological awakening and the quest for social justice. Primera's disdain for superficial notions of freedom, symbolized by Superman, and his embrace of revolutionary poetry as a weapon against oppression, reflect his commitment to using art as a means of resistance.

Throughout the song, Primera's memories are filled with both personal achievements and societal injustices. He recalls being excluded from a bicycle race prize due to a painted rooster on his shirt and winning his first pair of shoes in a poetry contest. These anecdotes highlight the arbitrary nature of recognition and reward in a society marked by inequality. The recurring motif of filling his rifle with flowers and poems symbolizes the fusion of art and activism, a call to arms through creativity and love rather than violence. The song concludes with a powerful reminder from a worker not to sell his song, equating the sale of his art with the betrayal of his people and himself. This reinforces the theme of integrity and the importance of staying true to one's ideals and community.

Ali Primera's 'Canción Para Acordarme' is a rich tapestry of personal and political memories, a testament to the power of art in the struggle for social justice. It is a call to remember, to resist, and to find beauty and strength in the collective fight for a better world.