Estamos Podridos

Los Gardelitos' song "Estamos Podridos" captures a profound sense of disillusionment and frustration with contemporary society. The title itself, which translates to "We Are Rotten," sets the tone for a critique of modern life, particularly focusing on the pervasive influence of television and media. The lyrics express a deep-seated boredom and dissatisfaction, highlighting how mainstream media fails to resonate with the band's experiences and emotions. This sentiment is encapsulated in the lines, "Estamos podridos / De los programas de la televisión / Estamos aburridos / Nadie comprende nuestra insatisfacción," which translate to "We are rotten / Of the television programs / We are bored / No one understands our dissatisfaction." This reflects a broader cultural critique, suggesting that the media's superficiality and moral decay contribute to a collective sense of ennui and alienation.

The song also delves into themes of moral decay and existential dread, as seen in the references to "Gordas puritanas / Y todo ese fuego amoral / Ondas plutonianas / Y todo el terror nuclear." These lines, which mention puritanical figures and nuclear terror, evoke a world fraught with hypocrisy and looming threats. The imagery of "ondas plutonianas" (Plutonian waves) and "terror nuclear" (nuclear terror) suggests a society on the brink of collapse, overwhelmed by both moral and existential crises. This apocalyptic vision underscores the band's sense of urgency and despair, as they grapple with the overwhelming forces shaping their world.

Despite the bleak outlook, the song hints at a desire for escape and transcendence. The mention of "miles de estrellas / Donde podemos escapar" (thousands of stars / where we can escape) offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that there are still places of refuge and beauty amidst the chaos. However, this hope is tempered by a sense of finality, as the singer reflects on historical figures like Tutankhamun and concludes, "Pero creo que es el final" (But I think it's the end). This juxtaposition of hope and resignation captures the complex emotional landscape of the song, reflecting a generation's struggle to find meaning and solace in a world that often feels irredeemably broken.