Yotuel Romero, a prominent Cuban singer, has delivered a powerful critique to fellow artist Raúl Torres after Torres publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with the absence of his work in the Cuban Music Museum. In a direct and critical manner, the rapper emphasized that loyalty to a dictatorship rarely yields positive outcomes. "History always repeats itself: the master is never there when you truly need them," Yotuel stated on Facebook.
Yotuel expressed no joy in Torres' predicament but noted it was inevitable. He reminded that in 2021, Torres composed "Patria o Muerte por la Vida," a song supporting the regime, which was a crude counter to the widely successful "Patria y Vida." According to Yotuel, the troubadour blindly "followed orders" from those in power in Cuba, likening his behavior to that of a slave seeking protection from their master.
Torres' complaint stems from his absence in the Cuban Music Museum, which, as he described, lacks "a single photo, memory, or mention" of his contributions. Yotuel, a former member of Orishas, believes Torres' protest will be futile. "You are not one of them. When it's time to pay, they won't remember your obedience," Yotuel told him.
The Miami-based singer asserted that no matter how much Torres aligns himself with the Cuban regime, the boundaries of "White Privilege" will never allow him full acceptance. "No matter how much you lick the boots of the white power in Cuba, those same boots will eventually crush your legacy," Yotuel concluded.
On social media, Raúl Torres recounted his disappointment upon visiting the museum's section dedicated to trova music, only to find his name missing. He shared his surprise when even the guides failed to recognize him, with one asking who he was. "This has been a harsh blow for me," he admitted.
The musician reflected deeply on his career and his standing in Cuban culture, acknowledging that his outspoken views might attract trouble but never imagined to this extent. He found it ironic to see other artists, who have criticized the Cuban government, featured in the museum, acknowledging their right to be there based on their artistic merit.
Back in March 2021, Raúl Torres, known for his staunch and sometimes offensive support of the Cuban government, released a song as a rebuttal to "Patria y Vida." The pro-government platform Cubadebate premiered the video for "Patria o Muerte por la Vida," promoting it across social media after sharing its lyrics, which declared that "the Revolution has more than 62,000 millenniums left."
Yotuel and Raúl Torres: A Cuban Music Controversy
Why did Yotuel criticize Raúl Torres?
Yotuel criticized Raúl Torres for his loyalty to the Cuban regime, suggesting that such allegiance doesn't yield positive outcomes and highlighting Torres' exclusion from the Cuban Music Museum as a consequence.
What was Raúl Torres' reaction to his exclusion from the museum?
Raúl Torres was disappointed and shocked upon discovering his absence from the Cuban Music Museum and expressed his dissatisfaction through social media.
How did Yotuel describe Torres' actions?
Yotuel described Torres' actions as those of someone who follows orders without questioning, likening it to a slave's submission to a master.