After political controversy crept into the midst, a local concert was canceled last weekend featuring Cucu Diamantes, a well-known Cuban singer who has collaborated with music celebrities such as Fatboy Slim, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Orishas, and Beto Cuevas.
Diamantes was scheduled to perform at Union City High School’s opening day gala on Sept. 26. A concert did go on with other entertainers, but activists had threatened to protest Diamantes’ previous involvement in a “Paz sin Fronteras” (Peace Without Borders) concert that had taken place in Havana, Cuba a few days earlier.
“We must cancel the contract, due to your client’s recent performance at the ‘Paz Sin Fronteras’ in Cuba.” – Union City school board attorney Susanne Lavelle
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Before the event, representatives for Diamantes received a letter from Union City Board of Education attorney Susanne Lavelle informing them, “We must cancel the contract, due to your client’s recent performance at the Paz Sin Fronteras in Cuba, [because] our community, which is comprised of approximately 85 per cent Cuban immigrants, became enraged at the thought of the high school supporting an artist who would perform in Cuba.”
The letter went on to say: “The community perceived Ms. Diamantes’ performance in Cuba as support of the current political regime in Cuba. The community came together and threatened civil unrest, protests, and the like at the grand opening gala if the high school went ahead with its plans to allow Ms. Diamantes to perform.”
Lavelle confirmed last week that the letter was sent from her office. She said Diamantes was paid her full performance fee even though she did not appear.
“So she pretty much got paid for doing nothing,” said Lavelle. The attorney would not disclose the amount.
Lavelle said she did not know the exact number of complaints received. “I was told that various [town] commissioners received numerous complaints,” said Lavelle.
Celebrities respond
Diamantes is not happy that she was disinvited.
“I think the Board of Education in Union City, New Jersey, should teach and make aware to new generations about the freedom of expression, tolerance, and the diversity of opinions,” said Diamantes last Friday in a Spanish message translated to English.
Celebrity singer Juanes, who headlined the concert in Cuba, wrote about the incident on his Twitter page on Sept. 26.
“What kind of example of education they want to leave? Such a negative message. And at that, that we’re in USA where there is ‘freedom,’ ” Juanes wrote.
When he posted the link to an Associated Press article about the incident, Juanes then followed it with a message: “That is for those that speak of repression and lack of freedom…even more shameful coming from a school. Total absurdity.”
Cuban residents from UC and WNY speak
“I’m very happy that Cubans were able to enjoy a concert,” said Yanet Carballido, a West New York resident working in Union City who came from Cuba six years ago. “After all, they rarely get to see something like it.”
She added, “Usually, Cubans in the island only get to see the same local artists. I think it’s unfair that they wouldn’t let [Diamantes] perform at the school.”
Carballido said she felt that it was generally the older generation of Cubans who were against the concert in Havana.
“Did they make a petition? How do they know that the majority of Cubans were against her singing here?” said Alexi Rodriguez, a West New York resident who came from Cuba 10 years ago.
Nearby, listening in on the conversation, was a Cuban man who interrupted and sang “Juanes has a red shirt,” in the tone of the singer’s famous song “La Camisa Negra,” (the black shirt).
The man didn’t want to reveal his identity, but said that he thought there shouldn’t have been a concert in Cuba in the first place: “The concert is for peace. If you notice, there’s no war in Cuba. What war is there? Now if you think about Colombia, where Juanes is from, they have terrorism going on there. They should have gone there to sing, not Cuba.”
“What does politics have to do with music?” said Rodolfo Coello, a Cuban living in Union City. He said he had a brother and cousins who didn’t think there was anything wrong with the concert in Cuba or with Diamantes singing in Union City, and that he thought other Cubans would feel the same way.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com
Should she sing? Who cares I'm not in Cuba. If those people had a good time enjoying the concert then good for them. Why should anyone in this country have anything to say. If they have a problem go take out Castro but don't limit the people in Cuba.
The answer I gave you is for speaking about Cubans the way you did. If you don’t know us very well then I suggest you keep your comments to yourself because that I’m aware of the little Cubans left in Union City and West New York, either have a business or own some sort of property. Now, for sure there are some of those Cuban marielitos who live in the street and have nothing just as well as Mexicans and other countries. I will never say Cubans are perfect because we are not but don’t sit here telling me anything about Dominicans because I know plenty of them and one thing is for sure, THEY ARE NOT PERFECT MY FRIEND. Sorry to have to break that news to you.
That is the problem with the majority of you. At least (hearing it from a Cuban/American) I can speak direct and say the good and bad we (in my coulter) have. Can’t say the same for you!
And to answer your question on Cucu Diamantes performing in Union City High school, I surly wouldn’t have a problem, just like I didn’t have a problem them performing in Cuba my friend. Even though the concert was for Paz and it should’ve been for Liberta I did not have a problem at all. Just like when Olga Tanon spoke when she returned to Miami, I think she spoke well to the media as well as the rest of them. I think they did a great thing in Cuba.
I feel sorry for your lame attempt at trying to disguise your personal failure.
By the way, do you think Cucu Diamantes should have performed in Union City or is that too difficult a topic for you to discuss?
I’m a Cuban 33 year old, married to a Cuban 38 year old, and we are hard working parents who gives our children everything they want and the best life just like all us Cuban children had.
Your just jealous because the majority of us Cubans living in WNY and Union City either own a business or a home and you Dominicans have nada but your whore wives, twenty million kids, and the welfare checks they collect every first of the month (which comes out of our taxes).
Do me a favor, spare yourself and don’t give your pathetic opinions. How about you get off line and check on your wife?
Juanes dijo que nunca había tenido relaciones con el gobierno cubano y hay un video anterior donde aparece el cantante colombiano haciéndole propaganda al Ron Habana-Club cual le pagó una gira por toda España.
Juanes dijo que el concierto no era político, y sin embargo llevo a Danny Rivera quien últimamente ha estado organizando conciertos en universidades de New York pidiendo la libertad de los 5 espías cubanos que están presos en Estados Unidos. Donde esté Rivera siempre hay parcialización política hacia la izquierda.
También se supo un día antes del concierto que hubieron varias reuniones entre Raúl Alarcón, dueño de la emisora 93.1 FM, Emilio Estefan y Juanes para solicitar a Cuba permiso para que Willy Chirino pudiera asistir pero el permiso le fue negado diciendo Cuba que Chirino pertenecía a la CIA. La posición correcta de Juanes hubiera sido decirle a Danny Rivera que no podía ir ya que el concierto NO ERA POLITICO.
La Sra. Olga Tañón dijo que cantaría algunas canciones de Celia Cruz y se lo prohibieron. Entonces ella, en vez de decir la verdad prefirió echarse la culpa diciendo que se enteró que en Cuba se tocaba su música y decidió promocionarla. ¿Cuantos discos piensa vender en Cuba Olga? Debía haber buscado otra excusa más creíble. Después, en medio de su show, grito "It's time to change, Juanes". Esas palabras le han dado la vuelta al mundo y aquí he visto como los periodistas resaltan esto que dijo Olga como algo extraordinario. Al parecer a todos se les ha olvidado que en Cuba se habla español, no inglés.
También he escuchado en varios noticieros que es la primera vez que se grita “libertad” en la Plaza Cívica, ahora Plaza de la Revolución. Las Damas en Blanco no creo estén de acuerdo.
Según informes recibidos las autoridades cubanas mantienen bajo arresto en el Hotel Vedado al animador argentino Javier Ceriani, quien habría sido arrestado el domingo en la Plaza de la Revolución tras recibir una fuerte paliza propinada por dos mujeres policías por haber desplegado una pancarta que decía "Libertad". No esta claro cuando Ceriani podrá regresar a Miami. A pesar de varios intentos ayer martes no fue posible contactarlo telefónicamente en La Habana. Si esto es cierto ¿Por Qué Juanes se fue y lo dejó en Cuba? Si esto es cierto ¿Por qué aquí en la zona norte, nada se ha dicho?
La segunda parte se refiere al millón de cubanos que acudió al concierto. Es la segunda vez que los cubanos tienen la oportunidad de dejarle saber al mundo que no tienen libertad, que son esclavos, que Cuba sufre... Dejarle saber al mundo que tienen luto por los fusilados, por los cubanos que están presos en las cárceles de Cuba comunista, luto por los miles de muertos tratando de cruzar el estrecho de la Florida…Pero NO!!, se fueron de pachanga, bailando, gozando, diciéndole al mundo que están contentos de vivir bajo esa brutal tiranía SI... eso fue lo que hicieron.
Ya pasó el concierto, ahora la vida sigue igual, seguirán las llamadas desde Cuba pidiendo ayuda, denunciando maltratos y quejándose de la vida miserable que viven en la Cuba de los Castro.
Mientra tenemos libertad de poder hablar sin fronteras aqui en Union City, NJ, USA, yo estoy de acuerdo que Cucu no cante y si no que le cante su cuento a Tia Tata en La Habana.
There is more to this than meets the eye, Cucu Diamantes is nominated for a 2009 Latin Grammy, is it is such a coincidence that her show is cancelled after the Latin Grammy street fair was moved from Union City to West New York. It looks to me like someone missed a payday!
Wake up Union City Reporter, how about some journalistic credibility, dig a little deeper than just copying the press releases that are handed to you from the top!
Your readers deserve the whole story!