La Musica de Pablo Escobar

For those of you who aren’t business majors, return of investment means how efficient a business operates. Simply put, what is the benefit of the investment, based on the cost? Well in Escobar’s case, the return on his cocaine business was at some points 20,000%. For most businesses, they are lucky if they can achieve about 80% ROI. However, return of investment does not account for risk when you are a drug smuggler. Escobar’s dangerous life finally caught up in 1993 when he was shot and killed.

My novella is not a romantic story; it is filled with action and stress. Therefore, since my last blog post covered part of the production of the show, I wanted to focus on the quality of the entrada and the incidental music. As we discussed in class, music is essential to setting the tone. In the case of Patron del Mal, I think the entrada does a great job in opening Colombia’s feelings towards Escobar while introducing the characters.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, listen here for the ENTRADA:

SUSPENSO- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_uVy8u-dXk

:30-40

My Best Translation Attempt in English:

"Then came earthquakes, corrupt and mafia men. At first, no longer fearful of deals money turned my brothers into hit men

It killed people, but not our souls. My country does not fall, trip or slip. She stands up and wipes her face.

Telling this story

my country does not fall, a thousand times, trip or slip.

Do not erase these events from your mind. Stand up for our dead.

She wipes her face after falling.

Never again!

Do not delete it from your mind to honor our dead who fell foully."

When I first watched the show, I did not understand the meaning of the song in Spanish but its gangster/rap feel made it appropriate to introduce the characters and set the tone of the novella. However, after reflecting on the lyrics of the entrada, there is even more meaning. Although I was not personally affected by the political and social consequences brought on by Pablo Escobar, I can imagine the sentiments felt by Colombians everywhere (Dr. A even said her Columbian friends who live in the States got emotional when discussing the show). When reading over the lyrics, it sounds like they could even be part of a ballad that was written to remember loved ones who have died. But after researching the song’s origins, this song was crafted especially for the show.

The lyrics demonstrate that Colombians feel it is important to remember exactly what happened so that it will never happen again. It is important to never forget to honor those who died unjustly. Like an “earthquake”, Escobar’s reign was quick and forcefully destructive. While he was sometimes viewed as a “Robin Hood” figure, his influence on the global drug trade permeated all over the world. Today Columbia is still feeling the effects of his power. He is world renown for his cocaine business and therefore Colombia has a reputation for drugs and corruption (at least in the United States).