Los Simplones were proclaimed winners of the XXXIII Murgas Contest of the Arrecife Carnival 2023 in the final that was held on Friday night at the fairgrounds of the capital of Lanzarote.
The show brought together the six best murgas from the previous phases held throughout the week who competed for the coveted first place and the recognition of an enthusiastic audience to whom neither the cold nor the rain prevented them from enjoying an exciting contest in a very lively atmosphere.
The attendees burst into applause and shouts of emotion with each performance of the different murgas that paraded on the stage, presenting their songs and fantasies, actively participating and singing along with the groups their songs and choruses, valuing the effort that each one put into their performance.
As usual, the lyrics of the murgas in the Arrecife contest stood out for their ingenuity, their humor and their ability to address issues of today's society and, of course, with the usual irony and sarcasm in the composition of their interpretations.
Special mention should be made of the presenters of the event, Carmen Nieves Pérez and Francisco José Navarro who demonstrated great professionalism, encouraging the public at all times, sprinkling the presentations with anecdotes and experiences and demonstrating great complicity with the participating murgas.
As the night progressed, the excitement grew among the public and the participating murgas themselves due to the proximity of the contest's outcome and not even the downpour of rain that fell for a few minutes briefly delaying the performance of Los Simplones, the last murga to compete, lowered the spirits of those present.
Finally, the jury that retired to deliberate after the last murga performance and that was the moment in which "La Chirimurga del Timple", formed by Luis Quintana, Luis Darías, Rubén Rodríguez, José María Raposo, Félix Hernández, Gerardo Suárez, Abraham Ramos Chodo, Ángel Tovar and Alberto González, took center stage. The Canarian musical group, called to liven up the tense wait, invited the public to immerse themselves in their universe of music and social criticism, provoking both laughter and more serious reflections in those present, with that particular ability to mix traditional Canarian music with ingenious and acidic lyrics.
And after them, came the great moment in which the jury, composed of experts in music, art and popular culture, evaluated each of the performances after taking detailed notes to choose the winners.
Finally, after a long night full of music and spectacle, the contest came to an end. The members of the murgas prepared to receive the jury's verdict. There were many ovations and applause for each of the murgas, and although only one of them - "Los Simplones" - was named as the winner, all the groups received the recognition and respect of the public.
Thus, the XXXIII Arrecife Murgas Contest was, without a doubt, an unforgettable night full of joy and fun. The attendees left the square with a smile on their faces and music still resonating in their ears, feeling part of a popular tradition that is renewed every year.
After the contest, the murgas celebrated their participation by sharing that moment with the public and taking advantage of the special occasion to take photos with their fans.
In short, the Final of the Arrecife Murgas Contest was a resounding success, both for the members of the murgas and for the attending public. Throughout the night, a festive and joyful atmosphere was experienced, in which music and carnival culture became the protagonists.
Palmares of the XXXIII Murgas Contest
1st prize "Design and fantasy": Los Desahuciados.
2nd prize "Design and Fantasy": Los Simplones.
3rd prize "Design and Fantasy": Las Enraladas.
1st prize "Interpretation, Lyrics and Music": Los Simplones
2nd prize "Interpretation, Lyrics and Music": Las Vacilonas.
3rd prize "Interpretation, Lyrics and Music": Los Tabletuos.
"Criticón" Award: Los Simplones for the theme "Lexical family of the word pasar".
"Presentation" Award: Los Titi-Roys.
In addition, some of the participating murgas presented their own awards:
"Ambrosio Cabrera" Award given by the Cultural Association Murga Los Gorfines, to the best lyrics of the three phases: Las Vacilonas for "Sueños".
"Carlos Pérez" Award given by the murga Los Simplones to the most ingenious and sympathetic lyrics: Los Intoxicados for "Tititriteros de una esencia murguera".
"Francisco José Navarro" Award given by the murga Las Vacilonas to the murga with the most magic: Los Simplones.
