Cuba Media Gives Little Attention to Cruz (Communists Showing No Respect For Celia Cruz)

Yahoo! News ^ | July 17, 2003

[PJ-Comix]

HAVANA - While the death of salsa singer Celia Cruz was reported prominently in newspapers across the world, the news got scant and somewhat bitter treatment in official media in her homeland Thursday.

The Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma reported her death in a tiny, two-paragraph story low on page 6 of Thursday's eight-page edition.

Cruz, also known as the "Queen of Salsa," died Wednesday from a brain tumor in her home at Fort Lee, New Jersey, just outside New York. She was 77.

Granma acknowledged Cruz as an "important Cuban performer who popularized our country's music in the United States."

But it went on to say that "during the last four decades, she (Cruz) was systematically active in campaigns against the Cuban revolution generated in the United States."

The treatment reflected Cruz's opposition to the government of Cuban President Fidel Castro. She left Cuba in 1960 because of political differences, and never returned.

Cruz's records and programs were not played on state-run television or radio stations in Cuba.

But her music still pleased crowds in Cuba. Three years ago, Cuban singer Isaac Delgado did a recording of a Cruz song, "El Carnaval," which became the country's No. 1 hit.

Cruz recorded more than 70 albums. She won best salsa album for "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" at last year's Latin Grammy Awards, and won the same award at this year's Grammys. Her other best-known recordings include "Yerberito Moderno" and "Que le Den Candela."

In the 1950s, Cruz became famous with the legendary Afro-Cuban group La Sonora Matancera. She left Cuba after its 1959 revolution for the United States in 1960.

[PJ-Comix]

Cruz's records and programs were not played on state-run television or radio stations in Cuba.

And yet the American Left still defends the Castro regime as somehow reflecting the will of the Cuban people despite the fact that Celia Cruz was the most popular Cuban singer in the world.

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[Texas_Dawg]

The international media's coverage of Compay Segundo's death compared to their coverage of Celia Cruz's death less than a week later is very telling.

[PJ-Comix]

Cruz's records and programs were not played on state-run television or radio stations in Cuba.

The Spanish language media coverage in South Florida of Celiz Cruz's death is HUGE.

[SoDak]

I didn't see that Compay passed, good musician.

[Texas_Dawg]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030716/ap_on_en_mu/cuba_compay_segundo_9

[PJ-Comix]

FYI

[SoDak]

Thanks. I got a kick out of his story about cigar-smoking. He began smoking at 5 because he had to light his grandmother's cigars. Still lived to 95 somehow.

[PJ-Comix]

I'm convinced some people are more susceptible to tobacco than others. The few times I have smoked I could actually feel my body reeling in protest against the nicotine ingestion. Somehow I KNOW that if I had smoked more than just a few puffs I would have succumbed long ago to smoking. OTOH, I can eat lots and lots of fat and grit and my cholesterol stays low. Go figure.

[Clemenza]

Celia Cruz was the personification of the best of Afro-Cuban salsa. Her style and panache are to be greatly missed by this Gringo, who still occasionally belts out Azucar!!! when drunk, a reference totally lost on most people in this country.

BTW: Did you know that Gloria Estefan "borrowed" the music for her first hit "Conga" from Celia's classic "Quimbara?" I don't know if Celia (or the original composer) ever sued.

[SoDak]

Yeah, everyone's chemistry is different. I was easily addicted to tobacco, and it was interminably hard to quit. I still see someone smoking and want one, and I haven't smoked since 1997. On the other hand, noticing how easily I became addicted to tobacco, it scared me straight as far as recreational drug use. I never tried an illegal drug. Other than my parents, I don't know many people that can say that.

[PJ-Comix]

Her style and panache are to be greatly missed by this Gringo, who still occasionally belts out Azucar!!!

Actually you should pronounce "Azucar" sans the final "r". They have been playing Celia Cruz's songs all day on Spanish radio down here and the one song that really gets to me is "Vivire!" ("I Will Live!")

[Clemenza]

I pronounce it AZZUUUUCAAAAA!!!!

[Clemenza]

...Much like Celia did.

Clemenza's pick for the best MALE Cuban singer: Beny More' (RIP Tambien).

[PJ-Comix]

When Celia's body come down to Miami, that city expects the BIGGEST funeral procession in its history. That is what was just said on the Spanish language TV news.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"The Spanish language media coverage in South Florida of Celiz Cruz's death is HUGE."

And it's going to pale in the face of the coverage Fidel's death is going to get.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Descansa en paz Celia!

[Catspaw]

When Celia's body come down to Miami, that city expects the BIGGEST funeral procession in its history. That is what was just said on the Spanish language TV news.

I watched Celia arrive in Miami last night on Univision. Her fans were already lining up to pay their respects. I wish I could be there to do the same.

I loved Celia Cruz and her music.