Hello everyone! I am the lion! : Javier Milei against Argentinian rock

“ Hello everyone! I am the lion! » . Since the end of 2000, any follower of the Argentinian group La Renga knows that this is the rallying cry with which they have started much of their concerts in recent years, part of the theme panic show of the disk the corner of infinity released the same season.

A guttural song that seems to make its way like a gunpowder-laden missile that crosses the heavens, the allegory of a lion that advances menacingly and destroys everything in its path, a narrative stimulated by the hoarse roar of the singer Gustavo ” Chizzo”. Napoli and the violent sound of its guitar effects.

An escalation moreover in tune with the phenomenon of the ensemble in his country, pillars of the so-called “neighborhood rock”, this expression which bursts into the margins. outside the most official media, and which has developed as an innumerable credo thanks to lyrics that convey an existentialism of endurance and a ruthless frontal sound to sensitive eardrums.

In Chile, there are also many parishioners: they have been performing successfully since 2002 in places like the Víctor Jara stadium, the fifth Vergara and the Arena Movistar , where its principles seem amplified through flags, canvases and shirts fluttering in the wind. A cross between the mystique of the board and the philosophy of rock.

But in recent years, the “hello to all! I am the lion! we began to hear it on another stage. And in another voice. Economist Javier Milei – perhaps nowadays the most media figure in Argentina – has used it since 2021 as a howl of presentation and a roar of triumph in his massive, always incendiary, vehement and loud acts, presenting himself the dislocated face like the lion alluded to in the story of La Renga.

It is the hallelujah with which he begins his irruptions before his faithful, the motto with which he incites them to unleash and the concept with which he tries to frighten his detractors. The lion even appears engraved on caps and badges.

“Hello everyone! I am the lion! / The beast roared in the middle of the avenue / Everyone ran without understanding / Panic spectacle in broad daylight” And “Please don’t run away from me/ I’m the king of a lost world/ I’m the king and I’ll tear you apart/ All accomplices are my appetite”is part of the theme lyrics.

This was heard in his electoral rallies two years ago, when he presented himself as a candidate for the legislative elections within the framework of the La Libertad Avanza space – he ended up becoming a deputy – and sang this song during his closing meeting at Parc Lezama.

” Milei caused the surprise by singing panic show a cappella in a rather deteriorated version full of discrepancies, which initially raised doubts among its own followers, who did not understand if the interpretation was a joke or what. It wasn’t until the economist finished his work and opened his arms waiting for the applause that everyone realized he was serious. Overall the event had a great rebound effect and got a lot of talk the next day, though it wasn’t as an ironic consummation for a performance that embarrassed even the troops themselves” , reviewed the log Page 12 referring to the fact.

Those who weren’t amused were the members of La Renga, always careful that their songbook was not used for commercial purposes or proselytizing (some time ago they hardly ever promoted their shows and let them spread by word of mouth).

The clash was also logical: La Renga’s insurrectionary momentum was not in line with the discourse of a far-right politician (“I’m not convinced by any type of politics / neither democrats nor fascists / why did I have to be like that / not even an anarchist“, we read in one of the most popular songs of the group, the rebel).

For the same reason, the musicians at the time decided to release a statement on their social media rejecting Milei singing any of his greatest anthems at his rallies.

“Whoever wants is free to listen, sing, dance and play La Renga songs, what is wrong, legally and morally, is to take the liberty to use these songs for a political campaign and for one’s benefit personal, a follower of our group would never do that,” the group claimed. “There are bonds and feelings between us, we don’t want to have a friend in disguise talking about freedom,” they added.

Milei, who loves rounds and taunts, immediately came out to defend herself. “They sang in Cristina’s (Kirchner) numbers and they got paid for it. It seems that the use by a liberal bothers them more than the political question and they disguise it with an understatement”, he attacked in an interview with CNN radio, pointing out that the arguments used by the group seemed “ridiculous “.

‘I can’t imagine Creedence suing Boca fans’ highlighted by comparing the use bars make of songs by foreign bands.

In fact, he continued to call La Renga’s reaction “totalitarian” and said that, like anyone, he could occupy his songs if he complied with copyright regulations. “It seems barbaric to me that those of La Renga do not want to be my friends, but they cannot censor the use of a certain subject if it respects copyright and if the corresponding payments are made. The organizers make sure there are no problems, because the last thing I want is to have problems with someone. The organizers do things in accordance with what is established by law,” he said.

Strictly speaking, his reference to La Renga singing at government events was referring to a performance in December 2013 in Plaza de Mayo, but in the context of the 30th anniversary of the return to democracy in Argentina, a festival for which they claim not to have collected any cachet.

Despite all the fighting, Milei did not give up and continued to present himself as “the lion” according to La Renga’s design in his massive nominations, which often seem more like a concert than a political instance. Last August, in front of PASO – where he ended up being the candidate with the most votes with 30%, with serious chances of winning the presidency in October – he closed his campaign at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires and , in front of an angry crowd, still proclaimed the feline roar detached from the theme of La Renga.

This time there was no criticism from the musicians.

Of course, they’re not the only ones who have publicly tangled with Milei in a dick for song use.

In April, the now presidential candidate used the song Comeby Bersuit Vergarabat, to illustrate the explosion his figure symbolizes and how – if he wins – he could blow up the entire ruling “caste” of the nation, as he calls the political class.

“The explosion is coming / The explosion is coming / From my guitar, from your government / From your government too », It’s part of the letter. Released in 1998, it was precisely the song that served as a soundtrack in the period of extreme social and street tension that Argentina experienced at the end of 2001 and that overthrew the mandate of Fernando de la Rua.

This time the most discreet and energetic response: Alberto Verenzuela, author of the song, sent a hard letter to the headquarters of La Libertad Avanza. The request asked that the party immediately stop using the song, because according to Verenzuela it generated “physical harm”.

“It is ironic that a political space whose most visible faces fill their mouths with the word ‘freedom’ and use it as a meaningless slogan, undermining its deeper meaning, tramples on the freedom of others, occurrence mine, by not permitting or authorizing the political use of my artistic work and ignoring the private property that they so claim to defend,” the author reflected. Then he finished: “I hereby request that you, upon receipt of this document letter, immediately cease all inappropriate use of my musical composition. Come “.

Forced to abandon the song of La Bersuit for legal reasons, Milei then returns to the fray with panic showsince La Renga only criticized it publicly, but not legally as La Bersuit did.

Two of the most popular groups of the last three decades in Argentina have shown their teeth in Milei. The self-proclaimed “lion” seems only half unfazed. For now, war is declared.