The Dominican Republic government has banned nine songs by Grammy-winning Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 from the airwaves of the neighboring island for lyrics that it claims incite violence, denigrate women or glorify drug use. Commission member Carlos Cepeda Suriel said, “We are jealously vigilant in the defense of our country against contamination from the ills in certain songs,” he said. “What sounds bad, what does not please the Dominican ear, we will not allow that to be played by Dominican broadcasters.” The Calle 13 songs on the blacklist include: “Vamo’ a portarnos mal,” “Fiesta de locos,” “Ojalai,” “Vamos Animal,” “La madre de los enanos,” “Se vale To” and “La Tripleta.” Calle 13 is know for their satirical lyrics as well as social commentary about Latin American issues and culture. Music is their way of expression and protest, however, their music has been deemed as bad and as criminal. I believe it’s art and they are just using their freedom of speech. Here are the lyrics in English: Title:Let’s Behave Badly Raise the curtain, open the curtains, Light the turbines with nitroglycerin. The disorder is your penicillin. Jumping cures your pains without aspirin. Let’s cause a short circuit Before a meteor falls in 2012 We’ll misbehave, commit crimes, We’ll eat Little Red Riding Hood with the three little pigs. This is not about rebellion, This is about being undisciplined for a day. The misunderstood parts of the New Testament, We have our rules, our own command. If they don’t understand our behavior, We give treatment to all the psychologists. To break the repetitive routine, The sun comes out at right and rain pours up. They want to control us, like a remote control, But the authority can’t do that with us. We like disorder We break the rules We’re undisciplined All the spoiled brats… Let’s behave badly Let’s behave badly Let’s behave badly! (2x) Hey, today we came to misbahave (bad) Like a boy with his slingshot (bad) Like a bride at a bachelorette party Let’s behave (badly), but with dignity, Let’s make Susan Boyle lose her virginity We’re different, nothing that has been expected, Like an pear-flavored orange. We’re not clones, we’re not imitations, Today we came to do what we’re not supposed to To tell a story without a narrative, To turn the sky upside-down, Like the Arabs write backwards, (They walk on their hands, greet with their feet) Start the day with your left foot, Raise your beer, a toast for anarchy. “Mama huevazo”, fly away homeless, Defend your right to do what you haven’t done before. We like disorder We break the rules We’re undisciplined All the spoiled brats… Let’s behave badly Let’s behave badly Let’s behave badly! (2x) Like when they point a gun at you, The people with raised hands rise alone. (Like when they point a gun at you) (Put your hand up) (Like when they point a gun at you) (Put your hand up)
