No Mires Fotografías

María Elena Walsh's song "No Mires Fotografías" serves as a poignant critique of modern society's obsession with superficiality and escapism. The lyrics address a friend who spends her life engrossed in photographs and celebrity gossip, losing herself in the fantasy world of magazines and tabloids. This friend is described as being 'embelesada y embalsamada' (enchanted and embalmed), suggesting a state of being both captivated and lifeless, as she devotes herself to the weekly ritual of consuming these images and stories.

The song's chorus, 'Bella leyente, despierta' (Beautiful reader, wake up), is a direct call to action, urging the friend to snap out of her trance. The mention of the prince who came and went unnoticed because he was also distracted by comic books like Superman and Astérix highlights the mutual disconnection in a world where everyone is absorbed in their own fantasies. This metaphor underscores the missed opportunities for genuine human connection and the importance of being present in the real world.

Walsh also critiques the emotional investment people place in these artificial narratives, as the friend 'lloras y ríes por maniquíes' (cries and laughs for mannequins) while neglecting her real-life relationships. The song concludes with a powerful image of both the friend and the prince being lost 'en babia' (in a daydream), emphasizing the shared delusion and the need to break free from these illusions. Through this song, Walsh encourages listeners to reject the false allure of media and to seek authentic experiences and connections in their lives.