To me it made sense. I was like "of course they want to be interviewed by ME." who wouldn't want to??
Well.......many didn't want to. Or they just felt scared of me. I don't know why. Some said it was the questions, they were too intimidating. While others didn't like me using "narco" when I spoke of their corridos.
To some I said, "well, you sing them, you play them, your whole album is made up of songs that speak of narco cultura." and then they would just respond to my questions after.
I totally understood their apprehension. I knew that they didn't want to cross any boundaries.
I was lucky to have some well known acts under my belt. But, that wasn't enough.
I wanted to get the top performers. So I camped out at a venue and waited for a group I knew was going to give me substance.
It was a hot September in 2014.....and I was dying of heat. Calibre 50 wasn't set to get on stage till late. I had arrived at 3:00 pm....why I don't even remember. But I persisted.
Finally, their tour bus arrived and I rushed to it. The first man that came out of that bus was greeted by me and my notebook, I was ready.
He told me that they would do it. To wait after the concert and I would be taken care of.
Then he took my equipment bag, and put it inside the bus, and extended a hand and lead me inside.
I have never played sports, but I think that was the day I felt like I won the final of something. I was very nervous still.....and I kept practicing my Spanish in my head. I was glad they were performing, cause my nerves were killing me.
Once they finished, they came up and sat down. They opened their chocolates and were curious to know what and why I was doing my research.
I disliked some of their songs, but also loved one song they had. This group wrote the most beautiful song for migrants. Their video was so real, and they understood that world.
But, on the other hand they wrote songs that made me MAD. Songs about degrading women, and cheating, and etc. I had specifically wrote questions just for them.
So, we began our interview, I stayed on my usual questions, and then told them I appreciated how conscious they were. Commendable I said. They had big smiles and mouths full of UA chocolates.
But......I said, while this song redeems you....you write and sing horrible songs. Like "Ni que estuvieras tan buena." or "Te estoy engañando con otra."
Really misogynistic, machista songs. Belittling, chastising, degrading women.
Eden, told me calmly that they had no intention of any of that, but rather the songs could go both ways. Meaning, a woman could sing the song, and take on a female interpretation. I argued, I said no, the intent was to sing it to women.
At the end we agreed to disagree.
I must say that they opened my eyes to a lot of things. They spent longer answering my questions and giving me examples and more concepts to think about.
I truly wished I could have gotten footage of their performance, but due to the event host was unable to.
I also wish I could do my interview now, with my Spanish vocabulary fluent, and with my knowledge of the environment and culture.
They remain a favorite group for their migrant song. I also love their new song in which they show the desire and love between two women.
After interviewing them, I was taken serious, Calibre 50 was and is a very respected, mainstream group.
It was worth my long day.
