El Apagón

Rubén Blades' song 'El Apagón' is a powerful commentary on the socio-political landscape of Latin America, using the metaphor of a blackout to explore themes of oppression, corruption, and societal decay. The song begins with the sudden interruption of electricity, which halts the torture of a subversive individual by a government employee. This blackout also silences a baladista whose music was masking the cries of both victim and perpetrator. The darkness, therefore, becomes a momentary respite from the ongoing brutality and deceit, highlighting the pervasive nature of state violence and censorship.

Blades continues to paint a vivid picture of societal dysfunction by juxtaposing the trivial with the tragic. The blackout disrupts a local beauty pageant, leading to public outrage and insults directed at the organizer. This scene underscores the superficial concerns of society, contrasting sharply with the more severe issues of torture and oppression. The beauty queen's exasperated cry, 'This country is good for nothing,' encapsulates the frustration and disillusionment felt by many. The song's setting, referred to as 'Sub-D,' symbolizes a place of sub-development, where the coexistence of glamour and decay, saints and sinners, is starkly evident.

In another part of the city, the blackout provides an opportunity for theft, as people take advantage of the darkness to steal without consequence. This act of looting is a metaphor for the broader societal corruption and the ongoing exploitation by both local and foreign powers. Blades critiques both consumerism and imperialism, suggesting that these forces contribute to the confusion and degradation of civilization. The song concludes with a reflection on the historical and ongoing struggles, encapsulating the duality of joy and suffering, enlightenment and fury, that defines the human experience in this 'Sub-D' world.