In Venezuela, New Law Has Hip-Hop Now Giving Way to Flutes and Fiddles (Cultural Revolution)

Washington Post ^ | Monte Reel

[Chi-townChief]

If Britney Spears & Co. aren't selling as many records here as they used to, they should point their fingers at a man who would be thrilled to shoulder the blame: President Hugo Chavez.

The National Assembly, which is dominated by Chavez, recently passed a law requiring that no less than 50 percent of all music played on the nation's radio stations be Venezuelan. Of that, half must be classified as "traditional," showcasing the "the presence of traditional Venezuelan values." Chavez backers say the harps and bandolas that now resound through this country of 25 million are playing the overture to a musical revolution.

"We've always had traditional Venezuelan records in stock, but before a few months ago we never sold any -- not one," said Miguel Angel Guada, manager of the Disco Center Superstore in one of the capital's largest malls. "It was all Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and that sort of thing. But now I'd say one-third of our business comes from Venezuelan artists, which is absolutely incredible."

The new law can make listening to the radio an adventure in dizzying contrasts. One minute a disc jockey might spin Puerto Rico's Daddy Yankee rapping about "Biggie and Pac," and the next minute it's flutes and fiddles from the Andean highlands. Some Venezuelan rock and pop artists have begun to record cover versions of traditional songs to take advantage of the mandates. Almost all local artists, regardless of age or genre, are reaping the rewards.

Members of Venezuela's Traditional National Orchestra used to lament how their compact discs would languish on vending tables at their concerts, but this year they watched sales take off with whiplash force -- from zero to 200 copies sold at a single performance.

[Chi-townChief]

You have to wonder when they'll start killing the dogs.

[VeniVidiVici]

Ah, the Canadian government would be proud.

And I know our libs are.

[ikka]

It is not about music - it is about control of the airwaves. Chavez is really bad news for Venezuela...

[AbeKrieger]

This is government censorship at it's worst... but on another note I'd much rather hear Venezuelan flute concertos 24 x 7 then to ever have to hear another gangsta-rap song again, even once.

But guess what? God gave me fingers and my radio has buttons. And my town does not have ghetto-blasters driving through. So I am in good shape.

[ThreeTracks]

First they limit how many non-Venezuelan songs you can hear, then they limit how many non-Venezuelan thoughts you can have.

- ThreeTracks

[Dallas59]

A smell a war brewing between Chavez and his neighbors.....soon.

[taxed2death]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...I don't know about that. Any law that makes for less Britney Spears and BSB on the airwaves can't be THAT bad.

;)

[taxed2death]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...I don't know about that. Any law that makes for less Britney Spears and BSB on the airwaves can't be THAT bad.

;)

[dfwgator]

Do they have satellite radio in Venezuela?

[E Rocc]

Chavez is evil, but not stupid. He knows that American popular culture invariably spreads American popular values, such as liberty and the primacy of the individual.

Which is why it's particularly stupid for cultural conservatives to try and squelch it.

-Eric

[headsonpikes]

Ah, the Canadian government would be proud.

It does make one wonder how 'Venezuelan Values' differ from 'Canadian Values', if at all.

I suspect that the Liberal Party of Canada has become a model of action for the establishment of 21st Century socialist regimes, as the Leninist Commies were post 1917.

Never underestimate the powers of darkness at the heart of Canadian Liberalism.

[fr_freak]

Chavez is evil, but not stupid. He knows that American popular culture invariably spreads American popular values, such as liberty and the primacy of the individual.

Oh, I don't know about that. Not that Chavez isn't a tyrant-wannabe, but I think other countries might be well justified in fearing American pop culture. All of the Hollywood trash and the hip-hop/rap music scene simply promote mindless violence and promiscuous sex. Heck, I think if Americans were wise, we'd ban this stuff, too.

[E Rocc]

Oh, I don't know about that. Not that Chavez isn't a tyrant-wannabe, but I think other countries might be well justified in fearing American pop culture. All of the Hollywood trash and the hip-hop/rap music scene simply promote mindless violence and promiscuous sex. Heck, I think if Americans were wise, we'd ban this stuff, too.

You don't believe in the First Amendment then. Fair enough. Most of those nations which fear American popular culture don't want one either. It might threaten their control over their people.

-Eric

[fr_freak]

You don't believe in the First Amendment then. Fair enough. Most of those nations which fear American popular culture don't want one either. It might threaten their control over their people.

I am not one of those people who believes that the 1st Amendment creates a right for everyone to be profane and obscene in public. I've been round and round with people about this before. Basically, the argument goes like this:

Me: I think that there should be a standard of decency on the public airwaves (such as network TV) and all of the sex talk and near-nudity on shows like "Desperate Housewives" cross the line.

Other person: Oh, so you just want to throw out the 1st Amendment?

Me: No. I think the 1st Amendment protects political speech - the expression of ideas and grievances that the government may not like, but it does not limit what standards of decency a community may set for itself. So while you cannot restrict someone from having Communist Party meetings and holding peacable demonstrations, you can limit someone's right to demonstrate fisting in the town square.

Other person: The 1st Amendment protects speech, period. Restricting that speech is a dangerous and slippery slope.

Me: Do you think that ABC, CBS, etc. should be able to broadcast hardcore pornography?

Other person: No of course not.

Me: Well then, you agree with me that some limits are acceptable. We just disagree on where the line should be drawn.

[Schwaeky]

In the name of freedom, I may pick up a copy of Word of Muff and Chicken and Beer by Ludacris.

[AbeKrieger]

In the name of freedom, I may pick up a copy of Word of Muff and Chicken and Beer by Ludacris.

and in the name of liberty, I respect your right to do so. and in the name of Democrats, I happily accept your sales taxes.

[Schwaeky]

now, to figure a way to pipe in obsene American pop music into Venezuela... If Hugo Chavez considers it a threat to his power, its an unlikely ally in the cause of freedom.