The Charanga Habanera are media stars from the farándula, the young and cutting edge element of the Cuban entertainment industry. Through their lyrics, La Charanga Habanera have become heros to Cuban youth who respond to their street-wise attitude and critique of social and political issues on the island.
The group lept to notoriety in 1997 when lewd stage antics led to a ban on performing. Bandleader, David Calzado has kept the his group at the top of a highly competitive music scene in Havana for over a decade while negotiating with the socialist system that nurtured and sometimes censored his United States influenced stage style and bold lyrics.
Their story is profound, their charisma unquestionable and their dance moves are unbelievably caliente. Still, there’s more, David Calzado and the Charanga Habanera are on a mission to bring Cuban music to the world. They are motivated more by the heart than cold cash, they deeply appreciate their fans, and they serve to remind other nations of the true spirit of popular music.
Popular! documents the lives of Cuba's popular musicians the Charanga Habanera musicians as they experience a phenomenal period of popularity that extends from Lenin Park to the stages of Tokyo, Japan. The documentary reveals what it's like on the Cuban street today through the eyes of those who represent the talent and energy of a country that dances to its own rhythm. |
