Adonde Esta La Libertad
Artist: Pappo’s Blues
Country: Argentina 1971
Album: Pappo’s Blues, Vol. 1.
A reaction by Helen, James, Adam and Alex.
All of these statements are true reactions to Adonde Esta La Libertad by people who don’t consider themselves to be professional musicians or ethnomusicologists.
So… Who are they?
Pappo’s Blues were an Argentinian rock band headed up by Norberto Napolitano (known as Pappo) between 1970 and 1999. Pappo’s Blues was a heavily dysfunctional band with members who were ever-changing as musicians decided to create solo albums and join other bands, but they were incredibly popular in Argentina no matter the members. Born in 1970 as a ‘power trio’ the band recorded their first album in 1971 – Pappo’s Blues, Vol. 1. They were then ever changing until the release of their fifth album ‘Triangle’ in which they ventured into more progressive rock and heavy metal – the first group to do so in Argentina. The band decided to call it a day in 1978 after they released their seventh album, which consisted of mostly old songs which had been remastered, as their leader – Pappo – chose to move to Europe and leave the band behind. 17 years later, Pappo ‘reunited’ the band (with completely different members) for what was supposed to be the final album ‘Case Closed’… But they just couldn’t help themselves and 4 years later, in 1999, released their final album entitled ‘The Red Car’. A band that prided themselves on forward thinking and speaking for the people, Pappo’s Blues were instrumental in the creation and development of rock and heavy metal in Argentina.
So… What’s the song?
Adonde Esta La Libertad or Where Is The Freedom is the 8th song on Pappo’s Blues first album simply named Pappo’s Blues Vol. 1. Although not one of the bands most popular songs, it’s feature on their first album immediately set the tone for their musical tone throughout their career. This song was written during a time of huge political unrest in Argentina, with the overthrowing of the government soon to be followed by the ‘Dirty War’ and Adonde Esta La Libertad highlights this political unrest. The opening lyric asks ‘Adónde está la libertad’ (‘where is the freedom’) followed by lines such as El otro día me quisieron matar Ametralladora pa-pa-pa-pa! (‘the other day they wanted to kill me, machine gun pa-pa-pa-pa!’) and ‘Es imposible Aguantar’ (‘it is impossible to endure’). Pappo’s Blues are thus highlighting the terrible state both the government and people were in, using their music as a voice for the people.