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Sheinbaum recalls first public concert in Mexico City, featuring Maldita Vecindad, Caifanes, and Santa Sabina
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Sheinbaum recalls first public concert in Mexico City, featuring Maldita Vecindad, Caifanes, and Santa Sabina

From El Universal · (4h ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recalled the first free public concert in Mexico City, which featured artists like Silvio Rodríguez, Maldita Vecindad, and Caifanes.
  • She explained that public concerts were prohibited during her time in the student movement, leading her to help organize events at UNAM.
  • The concert aimed to feature Silvio Rodríguez, but due to diplomatic issues between Cuba and Mexico, it instead showcased prominent Mexican rock bands.

President Claudia Sheinbaum took a trip down memory lane during her morning press conference, recalling the vibrant cultural scene of Mexico City during her student days. She recounted the organization of the first-ever free public concert at UNAM, an event that aimed to bring Cuban trova legend Silvio Rodríguez to the stage.

I don't want to put the greeting of the Korean band BTS in the National Palace in a political context because it lends itself to all sorts of haters.

— Claudia SheinbaumPresident Sheinbaum's remarks on potentially including BTS in a political context at the National Palace.

However, diplomatic hurdles prevented Rodríguez's performance, prompting the organizers to pivot to the burgeoning Mexican rock scene. Sheinbaum fondly remembered inviting bands like Maldita Vecindad, Caifanes, and Santa Sabina, highlighting the event's success and its significance as a cultural milestone.

It was the first public concert that was held and we wanted it to be Silvio Rodríguez. I had to go invite Silvio Rodríguez because he was in Mexico.

— Claudia SheinbaumRecalling the initial plans for the first public concert.

This recollection offers a glimpse into a past era of cultural expression and political activism in Mexico, underscoring the importance of public spaces for artistic endeavors. It also subtly contrasts with the present, where such events are commonplace, reflecting a shift in the country's cultural landscape and government approach to the arts.

Mexico prohibited, the government of Miguel de la Madrid at the time, Silvio Rodríguez from performing on the CU islands.

— Claudia SheinbaumExplaining the diplomatic issues that prevented Silvio Rodríguez's performance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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