Los Fantasmas Del Roxy

Joan Manuel Serrat's song 'Los Fantasmas Del Roxy' is a nostalgic ode to a bygone era, encapsulating the essence of a beloved cinema, the Roxy, which once stood as a cultural landmark in Plaza Lesseps. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the Roxy's golden days, where the magic of cinema brought impossible loves and passionate tales to life on the silver screen. The Roxy was a place where the community gathered, where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall's eternal love was immortalized, and where the audience's applause echoed in the dimly lit theater. Serrat's detailed description of the Roxy's ambiance, from its wooden benches to the smell of disinfectant, evokes a sense of longing for a simpler, more romantic time.

The song takes a melancholic turn as it recounts the demolition of the Roxy, replaced by a sterile bank, symbolizing the encroachment of capitalism on cultural spaces. The transformation of the Roxy into a bank is a poignant commentary on the loss of communal spaces and the erasure of cherished memories in the face of economic progress. However, Serrat introduces a whimsical twist with the idea that the spirits of the Roxy's past still linger. The ghosts of classic Hollywood stars like Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Clark Gable, and Glenn Ford are said to haunt the bank, a playful yet poignant reminder that the magic of the Roxy cannot be entirely erased.

'Los Fantasmas Del Roxy' is a rich tapestry of nostalgia, cultural critique, and whimsical fantasy. Serrat's lyrics invite listeners to reflect on the importance of preserving cultural landmarks and the memories they hold. The song is a celebration of the past, a lament for what has been lost, and a reminder that the spirit of such places lives on in the collective memory of those who cherished them.