Manu Chou has cancelled all his Iberian peninsula concerts!

by berniebird Thu Sep 04, 2003 03:36 new york

no worries,
i enjoy this kinda thing, even though i'm sure there's programs do it... but not without my kinda poetic license, i'll grant.
some idioms i didn't probly get right, nonetheless...


Manu sez:

That which i have read about my friend
Fermin Maguruza
those days in certain papers scandalized me profoundly.

The portrait it wants to give
of the character is
really totally caricaturizaed,
tendencied, besides
in the total opposite of the true person
with who i sing and share a stage every day

In the face of the aggresive attacks,
hostile and injust, to which
he is submitted
Fermin knows that he can count
on all my strength and support.
The spectacle Jai/Alai Katumbi Express
always was and will be unique and indivisible!

...Radio Bemba not welcome in the city...
Accused of promoting assassinations,
of being defenders of terrorism
most bloodthirsty, and I dont know how many more idiocies...
If it cant try with better words
all should become simply a
ridiculous joke, absurd, boring...
words in the wind, carried by the current...
But in this precise case the accusations hurt... and offend.
They hurt and they offend
because they distort
and they torture
our public image
and our most profound ideals

I was born in Paris
I grew up in a republic
and if that republic showed me something
it is that all of us
are born equal,
and that my liberty
ends there where begins
that of the neighbours.
I have it clearly.
And that implies a permanent denial
of whatever
form of intentional
or gratuitous violence
to another person.

Also i think and feel
that this world has shot itself...
...in one without the end of violence every day
more terrible for being absurd...
definitively absurd and without a way out...
...what's the way out for the crises in Irak now?
Nobody knows!
Whats the way out for the crises in Euskadi (Basque)?
Nobody knows!
Nor I!
Maybe giving it
the opportunity
of a word.
And no, like well said,
Vazquez Montalban,
intending to extinguish the fire,
throws more gasoline on it.
It's all a muddle!
We're all kneaded
into a huge meringue!
And I ask myself:
Who cares
in what may have so much of a mess?
Who takes out roasted potatoes
when all take thorns?
Who needs to disestablish it all?
Who needs to repress, in order to better reign...
In order to better earn, more money, in the short-term,
like the badly-educated... without thinking of anything else...
... nor in the future of their own kids?

...the only thing that i know and that frightens me,
is that the majority of those that govern us
are of that suicidal nature for whatever
humanly fraternal solution... in Basque,
like in Spain or in the best part of the rest of the known world...

and so i take my leave...
...thanks for the attention...
...we'll see each other on the road...
...seeking an ideal...
...every day more difficult to achieve...
... the thing is screwed...
...it's necessary to be attentive...
...Democracy shakes above...
...they come for one...
...and nobody says anything...
...they come for another...
...and nobody says anything...
...or so little...
...those that bit by bit suffer the traps...
...every day more vulgar...
...in their own flesh...

...and although we may be much the majority...
...like against that absurd war...
...nor do they listen to us...
...with all prepotency...
...they shit on us a silver lining...
...they invade us by the inlets...
...discrediting...
...drowning in lies...
...desocializing...
...dividing the society...

...they close the newspapers in Euskadi...
...and puke us more lies...
...that we are in danger...
...because of a lack of repression!...
...that all those who don't think like them...
...we are all dangerous terrorists

...old times are IN RETURN

the same old times,
same rancid winds,
that made instead of being born in Bilbao or Galicia
...i might have to had been born in Paris
far from my deep roots

In order to follow with what pained me,
i would like for us, like radio Bemba,
to ask our forgiveness
from the people of Malaga and Murcia
for not being able to present
this tuesday and next friday
our spectacular
Jai/Alai Katumbi Express
for reasons
totally contrary
to our will.
At the next time we'll see each other.
Soon will come better times.
May we be ready.
next station: Hope.

by Yossarian Thu Sep 04, 2003 10:49

I was talking to a Basque girl last night and she was saying that the singer who was accompanying Manu Chou on their tour was the singer of a popular Basque group around 10-15 years ago. He accompanied Manu Chou in Dublin recently. However the Spanish government decided that Manu Chou could not play in [certain places in?] Spain if they wanted to play with this Basque musician. Manu Chou did the decent thing and gave a two fingers to the Spanish government. Rumours abound that they will still play underground gigs. that's what I heard anyway.

by neighbour Thu Sep 04, 2003 12:29

well done Bernie Bird!
here is Manu's second communiqué on the theme:
SEGUNDO COMUNICADO

PARA seguir con una nota bonita,
y bien menos amarga,
ardeme o peito por darle las gracias
a tod@s quien compartieron con nosotros
todos esos conciertos de este ultimo
mes de agosto.
Fue para nosotros y espero que
para otros muchos tambien
una fuente saludable
de buenas energias
y vitalidad positiva.
Como siempre desde hace
ahora casi 20 años de carrera,
la violencia nunca se invito
ni verbal
ni fisicamente
en ninguna
de nuestras
actuaciones.
Por la buena razon
de que nunca fue invitada.

Todo lo contrario.
Radio Bemba siempre
vivio y sigue viva
para entregarse a su publico,
multiple y diverso,
y difundir la idea
de que la esperanza
de otro mundo mas justo y mas digno
es todavia posible.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Manu plays on the street with whomever wants to join him regularly on Friday evenings at 18h00, on the corner of Placa George Orwell to draw attention to the urban regeneration project which threatens the squats and artisan workshops in that area by attracting northern european and yankee speculators to buy property instead. He generally doesn't sing, just beats his drum.

by neighbour Thu Sep 04, 2003 17:46

When you read his words, you will surely notice the "@" which as you might know symbolises anarchy, you will also notice his reference {la idea de que la esperanza de otro mundo mas justo y mas digno es todavia posible. = the idea that the hope that another world more just and with more dignity is still possible}.

Even if his music didn't already let you know, he is very much one "us" in that diverse transnational movement which sees socialists of both marxist and libertarian traditions keep that "flame of dignity and hope burning".

Support is mounting for Manu, the normally right wing "Avui" catalan language daily, has published an article in his support, by Catalan writer Lluis Llach, [qoute one line: "I hope the PP dissappear off the map"]
read account:http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/52130/index.php

Not too far from Manu's home in might I stress his community, several young people were arrested in the last years (Diego, Zigor, and Laura), they were held under the first "swoop" against okupes [squatters] on the flimsy evidence that t-shirts, posters and leaflets substantiated "a real and actual support of Basque and Catalan terrorism".
their appeal is to be heard later this month.
They have alledgedly been tortured, isolated and their statements indeed have altered strangely the longer they are imprisoned.
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/52113/index.php

When one year ago, the party of Basque extreme nationalism was illegalised, a process was begun by Judge Prosecutor Garzón that process invovled the "complete dismantling" of a party, prisoner support network, newspaper, finances as you know, but much much more-. Garzón has only worked through 30% of his "evidence", "evidence" that implicates many beyond HB.

It ought be remembered that the fraternal socialist party of Ireland's Socialist Party in the Basque is also on the list (they sat with HB and operated an parliamentary technical grouping such as their Irish counterparts do with Deputy Lowry and Sinn Fein).

It ought also be remembered that "one box of evidence" was reserved for proving association between Barcelona's okupe community and it's supporting anarchist collectives and even radio stations for in truth "keeping the flame and hope of a better world for all with dignity burning".

What began with those who certainly may be considered murderers shall if allowed end with those who merely speak their mind.

The Basque people are to be found throughout the world, most notably in the USA, Mexico, northern South America and France. Within "España" the majority of migrants from the Basque are living in Catalonia.

The "southern" Irish have dim memories perhaps of such one nation fascist remedies for dissent, maybe as they reflect on the new touch test for British residency that allows immigrants to sit a test on British culture in gaelic, they have all but forgotten their own past.

by berniebird Thu Sep 04, 2003 23:24

following up with a sweeter note
and much less bitter,
burn me up or allow me(?) to give thanks
to all who shared with us
all those concerts of this last
month of august.
It was for us and i hope
for many others also
a healthy source
of good energies
and positive vitality.
Like always, now since
almost twenty years of my career,
violence never visited,
verbally
nor physically,
any of our performances.
For the good reason
that it was never invited.

All besides,
Radio Bemba always
lived and continues to live
in order to surrender itself to its people,
many and diverse,
and spread the idea
that hope of another world
more just and dignified
is still possible.

by berniebird - transient until transcendental Fri Sep 05, 2003 00:37

If I may be allowed to wax lyrical- I believe our only truth is our own experience. I was in Basque only once, last year, for the huge annual fiesta in Bilbao. Iosaf's, and Manu's, writings these last few days have given me reason to reflect on my experiences there for the first time since...

A million people roared by the river for the fiesta kick-off and woke me where i was bivvied with the punks on the Mont. We climbed up by the carnival grounds and watched the fireworks sparkle and explode from the best vantage over the city- while between the shell booms i thought of long-past ocean migrations and long-lost loves. We stumbled down the winding steps a mile into the centro throng- i with my only posessions, fleece bivvy bag strapped to my back gauchostyle and a forged Eurail pass in my pocket- no money. My Valencian squatter buddies knew all the tricks- unfinished cokewraps around the benches on the riverbank, collecting glasses and bottles at the marquees for free beer, hitting up sick looking tourists for that bottle of wine they can't stomach- pretty soon we were off our rockers.
On seeing my blond hair, everyone would immediately start trying their German phrases on me and, not thinking about it, i just smiled and answered back in German. Then it occured to me that they thought i was from Germany and so i quickly reverted to castellano. Curious, they asked where i was from... Ireland!?! Well, that was a whole other story!- before I knew what was happening i was swept up and carried off to the bar and, as is the sorry fate of many irish abroad, was plied with copious amounts of beer. Soon i was at the stage where i could not stand without support- but oddly, i realized, there was always someone with their arm around me- perhaps in case i wanted to escape. I'd only have to look away for a moment to say something, and looking back would find a new beauty attached to my side.
"I've lost my friends," I said, "I must find them."
"Hey, what are you talking about irishman? Everyone in Basque is your friend! Drink!"
Several times, by several different people through the night, i was steered by the arm to the main plaza and had the newspaper building pointed out to me. The facade was drapped with trippy-coloured reverse Union Jacks, the Basque nationalist flag. Blown-up photo's of the political prisoners stared out accusingly from the windows, reprimanding apathy.
"They're shutting us down," I was told, simply, each time.
"These people," it was explained, "are jailed for their ideas... for what they write... they never hurt anybody!"
And that was it, that was all they said.
My thoughts jumped to my Mexican wanderings, where any political discussion would invariably lead to chest-beating invocations of Juarez and Hidalgo and tear-filled emotional outpourings. This was so different in comparison- this was such proud indignation, they were so matter-of-fact about it and that fascinated me even more as the rest had been left to my imagination. Nothing was said after the brief explanation, but we would meditate long and meaningfully, each time, on the building which still had civil war scars, on the flags, posters, photo's, the staring eyes, and then back to the people around us. Even in the state i was in, i realized there was no spiritual apathy here.
During some fierce dancing in a ska tent I was accidentally clocked in the face by an elbow. The huge, rugbysized, chapee was so full of sincere apologies, but i just laughed and said it was okay. Course, that wasn't enough for the guy who practically lifted me to the bar where i was gorged with shots as he taught me Basque toasts.
As dawn crept up i was sitting on the steps of the old church on the plaza and must have had nine people talking to me all simultaneously. I was dizzy with trying to keep up with all their questions. I laughed so much and basked in their incredible warmth. The contact was so instant, one girl with her arms crossed on my knee yapping incessantly of her home in the country, another curled up dozing at my back, a girl on my left shoulder monopolizing my left ear with her chirping, a boy on her lap, a guy wrapped around my neck singing... every part of me taken and i just couldn't move!
As the morning grew bright, people started off for home...
"Come with us... come to our village!"
I had to insist i couldn't, i had to find my friends...
"Hermanita! You coming?"
The girl was wrapped around my leg, dreamy, she waved off her brothers- "No! I want to stay with Bernardo!" she hugged my leg like she'd have to be pried off. She looked up at me, wide-eyed and beautiful, and said,"Take me with you, Bernardo, I want to see the whole world with you!"
I laughed and stroked her hair, and looking to her brothers, they shrugged, as if asking- "well, are you going to or not?" But they could see i couldn't, i shrugged back, though inwardly thrilled by the spontaneity of the moment.
They carried her away, tired, reluctant and pouting, but she broke free and dashed back to give me a great big kiss... and then dashed away again leaving me flabergasted...
I found my friends in a heap with about a hundred other gutterpunks by the old bridge. We halfslumbered until the roadsweepers good-naturedly shooed us on with their noise and menacing water hoses. I hardly had any sleep that day and too much drink and collapsed unconcious on the steps back up to the Mont. Hours later i awoke in a lush green courtyard with a pillow at my head (the first i had used in months)- obviously i must've been carried there. I was brought hot coffee when i began to stir and the kids followed me down for another night of fiesta...

The actuality of an autonomous Basque fills me with anticipation and i only hope my planned pilgrimage to Santiago de Campostella coincides with its realization. But i think i will always have the image of Basque in my mind as the brown-eyed criatura clinging to my leg saying, "Take me with you...."

yours in light and love,
bernie bird
(no se puede vivir sin amar)

by reader. "imc head" Fri Sep 05, 2003 13:50

Manu Chou has cancelled gigs.
Bernie Bird has translated Manu's words and written of his memories of a visit to the region.
Iosaf is drawing links to the Irish past and contemporary events in other regions.
Michael O'Broin has written a book.

Any one else have a story / angle?

Don't imitate the media BE THE MEDIA.
there are over a thousand Irish at any stage in Spain and many have visited the Basque.

What were / are your impressions?

& Later today the comments left by Barcelonans [in their indymedia and newspaper letter pages] to Manu Chou's stance will be translated so you can get a feel for how others closer to the "problems" of the Basque feel and think.

by sensitive Fri Sep 05, 2003 16:48

go to http://www.indymedia.org
scroll down feature 4.

cut and paste for those who find navigation difficult:

http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=343068&group=webcast


Manu Chao and basque musician Fermin Muguruza's tour has been suspended
after a campaing against the basque artist was taking place. Some
reactionary polititians from the governing party in Spain, the
conservative and post francoist Popular Party together with the
association in support of the victims of terrorism, claimed Fermin
Muguruza was a Basque Separatism supporter and militant in now illegal
party Batasuna.


This is not new, Fermin Muguruza was boed in a simmilar way Michael Moore had been during the oscar Ceremonies over his antiwar speech. During the "amigo" awards, Spanish "Grammy" version, Fermin Muguruza was awarded best basque language artist of the year, when he was up on the screen he was wearing a T-shirt in support of the basque language newspaper Egunkaria recently closed by Spanish authorities who seem to find ties with terrorism nearly on everything smelling basque. Feature on closing of Egunkaria.

This is been an ongoing history, basque rock bands like Su ta Gar and SA, Madrilian writer Alfonso Sastre who now lives in the Basque Country, and the clown group Takolo, Pirritx eta Porrotx have suffered this campaign already.

In this case, Manu Chao and Fermin Muguruza have suspended their tour "Jai Alai Katumbi Express", last september the 2nd. Censorship wanted Fermin Muguruza to be left outside the concert since he was "a proindependence militant from Batasuna, and so having proindependence ideas", Manu Chao did not accept such request and thus has suspended his tour in Spain after the concerts given in Baiona, Iruñea and Madrid where thousands turned up for fun and commitment.

Now go look at that article:
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=343068&group=webcast

the local comments are coming so fans of Manu, and youngsters and hipsters and record collecters in Erin can follow this twist to the Basque lemon.

{all of this shall count towards your t-shirt}
{so remember you must learn "all the things you never knew about the Basque, the complete list of which shall be issued in new "article form" next week}.