Carlos Varela

Carlos Varela (born , 1963) is a singer-songwriter of nueva trova from Havana, Cuba. In the 1980s he joined the Nueva Trova musical movement, a political and poetic musical genre connected with the Cuban Revolution. Like many other Cuban musicians of his time, Varela was unknown, and arguably "silenced", in his first years as a trovador. In the verses of one of his oldest songs "Memorias" , from his 1989 album "Jalisco Park", he mentions this situation saying "a veces me ponen en la radio, a veces no" among other verses criticizing how few choices are left for the regular Cuban . From the same album comes the tune "Guillermo Tell" William Tell, one of his most popular and controversial songs. It tells the story of the son of William Tell who wants to take control from his father and search for his own opportunities, much like many young Cubans, who sometimes feel patronized by the "paternalistic" way in which the Cuban government exercises control over their lives. Varela, like many other musicians, had to perform in Havana's parks and private patios until Silvio Rodriguez, one of the nueva trova founders, "discovered" him and helped the "nomo" (nickname coming from the way he dresses) taking him on a tour to Spain. His first CD "Jalisco Park" was published in Spain. Nowadays Varela's music is known for its open criticism of the status quo, though it is still considered Nueva Trova, which itself began as a reaction to the unjust conditions that led to the Revolution.

His song ? "Una Palabra" ? was used in the film Powder Keg (2001) one of the famous series of the BMW car, directed by Alejandro Gonz?lez I??rritu starring Clive Owen and again in the film Man on Fire in 2004 starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning. He has managed to integrate his music in several Cuban films as well, such as Las profecias de Amanda and Video de familia among others.

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Original Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos Varela