The Spanish
singer Manu Chao has become famous in Slovakia thanks to his one- hit song „Me
gustas tu“, released in 2001. It was funny, he made us laugh...And that was
all. But in his country of birth he is considered as a recognized and
favourite singer whose „specialisation“ is original Spanish rumba, rhytmic,
dancy, with the sound of guitar. That catchy rumba which makes you wave your
body and move your feet.
But song named „Me
llaman calle“ (They call me street, 2005), even it is also rumba, is different.
Different because it´s at the same time the poetry and the social song. Manu
Chao himself wrote its lyrics all of a sudden, from the depth of his heart
and he expressed the topic the best way possible. Unique becuase it´s related
to the special movie. The movie is not romantic, neither bloody or horror story
or action movie- it is a story of strong friendship between two
prostitutes that earn their living by selling their bodies. At the beginning
there are two rivals, one from the block and another immigrant, competing abput
clients. At the end, two real and true women, friends for whole life. The
street princesses. Princesas (2005, director Fernando León de Aranoa) has won in
Goya prize categories „The best actress in a leading and supporting
role“(Candela Peňa and Micaela Nevárez).
At the end there
comes the prize for the best original score (song)- and the statue is not
received to the hands of the director or singer, but a prostitute that
receives the prize in the name of all the women that are sexual workers.
Fascinating and beautiful, isn´t it?
Personally,
I like song very much, I understand it as a message and
testimony of the fact that women of the street- even though they are seen
through the eyes of prejudice, disgust, ignorancy and invectives, and without
taking in mind if they choose their destiny voluntarily or they were obligated
to- are human creatures, people like us. They have the same feelings as we
have, the same wish and dreams to live with dignity. In the essence, we´re the
same. And so they do long, like everybody of us, for love that would take all
the life and for a partner that would love them mainly because of their
soul...As the song mentions: „My heart is not for rent...“
In conclusion,
I would like to add the translation
of the song in English (not my work, doesn´t belong to me)- in my own Slovak
translation I used instead of „street“ (calle, possibly the name of the
leading role of the movie- Caye) a word prostitute, because in my opinion,
those who have never seen the movie or video, could be misleaded and wrong
about its true meaning. And that could be a pitty...Here´s the link: http://lyricstranslate.com/en/me-llaman-calle-they-call-me-street.html
For people who
haven´t seen the movie yet and would like to watch movie in Spanish (subtitles
can be found anywhere): here´s the link where you can watch it or download...I
really do recommend it...(http://wipfilms.net/softcore-erotic-flicks/princesas)