Aqui no Pasa nada

Caifanes

Caifanes is a rock band from Mexico City formed in 1987. They achieved fame throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Caifanes’ style can be described as a hybrid of British new wave, progressive rock, and Latin percussion underscored by deep, somber, and Latin American-Mexican-Spanish influenced lyrics and the vocal style of Saúl Hernández. Members of Caifanes have cited King Crimson as a major influence.

"Caifán" is an old word not used currently, from 1940's. It was used on the border of Mexico with the United States, very typical of Pachucos. When someone is sympathetic to us we say "nos cae bien". 'Bien' in English it says: 'fine'. Therefore according to the pochismo of the Pachucos is someone that "cae fine" or simply "caifan".

By 1989 Caifanes had emerged as one of the hottest rock acts to come from central Mexico. In June Caifanes played two sold out shows at Mexico’s Auditorio Nacional (National Auditorium), a 10,000 person venue – a first for a Mexican rock band.

By this time Caifanes along with Maná, Fobia, Maldita Vecindad, La Lupita, Cafe Tacuba and Los Amantes de Lola, helped to move Mexican Rock toward a wider audience and catapulted the Rock En Español movement of the 1990s.

“Here nothing happens,” is a song written as a call to society to wake up from the dream it is living. We as a society need to come to the realization that not everything we hear from our politicians is truthful and in our best interest. However the beliving is not always the peoples fault. This is how we have grown up; the song says it, "we are made for walking pair by pair without claiming." If anyone tries to assert their rights they are silenced or repudiated by others. Our leaders and politicians manage us at their will because we allow them. This year, there will be elections in Mexico for governors and mayors, based on prior statistics few citizens are going to exercise their right to vote. Mainly, because voters are sick and tired of how government is handling our country. Some citizens will not even attempt to vote, because they feel that the elections results will not benefit nor affect them in any way. Ironically, a futball game, played by the National Team, has been schedule this year on the day of the elections. The question now is: What is more important? The futball game or the future of our country. Finally, I leave you with a comment/question I have heard more than once: Why vote? If at the end, they are all the same. My response is: alone we are one vote in an ocean of votes, maybe one will not cause a ripple but together we can create a tidal wave which will definitely make an impact.

Aqui no Pasa Nada

(Here Nothing Happens)

We were like paper Smooth and white without bending And we were made for walking Pair by pair without claiming Some time ago I said Here nothing happens All is saved So that nothing happens That this land is blind And the one-eyed man is in heaven To save all And nothing happens here We are submissive and obedient Wanting to scream Wanting to kill But long ago here We educate to lie Some time ago I said Here nothing happens All is saved So that nothing happens That this land is blind And the one-eyed man is in heaven To save all And nothing happens here

Works Cited

Caifanes. "Aqui No Pasa Nada." You Tube. You Tube. Web. 13 Jun. 2009.

Insituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia. "Ocupacion y Empleo." INEGI. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.

“Social Media: Facebook Caifanes Músico/banda." Web. 30 Mar. 2015.