Image: Sergio Betancort
Since 2002, a female murga had not won the first prize for interpretation, lyrics and music at the Arrecife Carnival, the last winners being the members of Las Arretrancas. 13 years have had to pass to see a female murga as the winner, a privilege that has corresponded to Las Vacilonas. In their second year of existence they have made history, not only by sneaking into the grand final of the contest for the first time, but also by being the winners of the first prize for interpretation, lyrics and music. Simplones and Desahuciados, were second and third, respectively, with Los Tabletuos, winners of the last three editions, without a prize.
The Arrecife Fairgrounds presented its best finery on Friday night, with a full house to host the final of the XXVII Arrecife Carnival Murga Contest. The sound with respect to the classification phases improved significantly in the venue, a circumstance to be grateful for in order to follow the evolutions of each of the six finalist murgas on stage.
Las Vacilonas were in charge of breaking the ice in the final and left more than one with their mouths open. Qualifying for the final was a prize for the members of Las Vacilonas, which made them sing without any pressure on stage. It was noticeable that they enjoyed singing, understanding their entire repertoire perfectly and beginning to be in the pools of many at the first change. When Francisco José Navarro named the name of Vacilonas as the winners of the contest, joy broke out in the Arrecife Fairgrounds.
The second prize for interpretation, lyrics and music went to Los Simplones, a murga that this year had seventy members on stage and who improved the third prize obtained in the last three editions. And the third prize went to Los Desahuciados. Los Tabletuos, winners of the last three editions, could not win any of the prizes, a circumstance that had not occurred since 2006.
1st Prize. The Vacilonas
President: Marta Ruiz Delgado
Musical Director: Marta Ruiz Delgado
Designer: Gladys Fuentes
Design: "With a mixture of social class we come to enjoy the Carnival"
1st Song: "Who to vote for"
2nd Song: "Curiosities and manias of this our society"
In their second year of participation in the Arrecife Carnival, Las Vacilonas have managed to sneak into the grand final, which is a prize for the murga presided over by Marta Ruiz. "Who to vote for" was the title of the first song, reviewing current political affairs, giving recommendations for the elections. The Podemos party was in the criticism of Vacilonas, assuring that they do not want a dictator as president, that for that they already have Paulino Rivero in the Canary Islands. In the second song they sang some of the curiosities and manias of society, a theme that they had already sung during the previous phase.
2nd Prize. The Simplones
President: Kike Martín
Musical Director: Kike Martín
Designer: Mencey Curbelo
Fantasy: "If I had known that I spent so much on gallons, I wouldn't have dressed up as Napoleon"
1st Song: "The changes"
2nd Song: "I shit on my shadow"
On their tenth anniversary, Los Simplones have once again sneaked into the final of the Arrecife Carnival Murga Contest. "The changes" was their first song, an interpretation that they already performed in the first phase. A song in which Los Simplones have reviewed the changes that society needs to improve. In the second song, "I shit on my shadow", half of the murga became the shadow of the other half, and among other things they claimed that Lanzarote no longer looks even in shadow to what it was in its day, remembering the figure of César Manrique.
3rd Prize. The Evicted
President: Manuel Hernández
Musical Director: Javi Hernández
Designer: Tino Morín
Fantasy: "Ño what a gale"
1st Song: "Homeland"
2nd Song: "Tic, tac, take cashier"
On 15 occasions Los Desahuciados have qualified for the final of the Arrecife Carnival Murga Contest, being the murga that has been in the final the most times. The first song was titled "Patria", in which they claimed the Canarian identity and that the Canarians feel proud to be Canarians wherever they are. A song that they already performed in the first phase. In the second song they set up a particular supermarket on stage, telling the day-to-day life of the cashiers and criticizing the abuse that large stores make of customers.
Titi Roys
President: Ancor Fernández Arrocha
Musical Director: Jonathan Peraza
Designer: Juan "El Golosina"
Design: "A lifetime as a murguero and I feel like being a sorcerer"
1st Song: "At the orders of my shaman today I come to criticize you"
2nd Song: "Lanzarote Tour Paradise"
For the third consecutive year, the members of Titi Roys have reached the final of the Arrecife Carnival Murga Contest. Very critical their first song "At the orders of my shaman, today I come to criticize you", reviewing some current issues such as oil exploration in the waters of the Canary Islands. In the second song the members of the Titi Roys took a tour of a special zoo and by chance all the animals that were there to the Titi Roys looked like Victor Sanginés. They also rode a roller coaster at the fair and ended up criticizing all those who accuse this murga of singing too aggressively, assuring that they have the fans on their side and sing with a lot of feeling.
Afilarmónica Los Tabletuos
President: Aday Cedrés
Musical Director: Miguel Angel Cabrera
Artistic Director: Crisanto Reyes
Designer: Cristian Fernández
Fantasy: "Gardener clown with vest and hat, Tabletuos for the whole park"
1st Song: "Eternal runners-up"
2nd Song: "The 40 Unbearable"
Los Tabletuos have been in the final of the murga contest on twelve occasions, suffering a decrease in the number of members in this edition. In the first song "Eternal runners-up", Los Tabletuos criticized the management of Víctor Sanginés at the head of the Department of Festivities, with the delay in subsidies and being responsible for ruining the Carnival based on messes, in the opinion of the murga. An interpretation that they already performed during the phase and in which they recalled that Lanzarote is the eternal runner-up because of the politicians. In the second song, "The 40 Unbearable" have performed a concert on stage in which they have featured Pedro San Ginés, Manuel Fajardo Feo or Rajoy. They even took a selfie with the Little Nicolás and have given ideas to the mayor when preparing a poster remembering the traditions of the Carnival.
The Misfits
President: Cathaysa Cabrera
Musical Director: Raquel Cabrera
Designer: Murga
Fantasy: "With a hat, tie and clown shoe, we come to make you laugh for a while"
1st Song: "Everything I have to say, I tell you to your face"
2nd Song: "The Carnival karaoke, choose your hat and start singing"
Las Inadaptadas have been in the final in the last five editions of the Arrecife Carnival Murga Contest. In the first song, "Everything I have to say, I tell you to your face", they reviewed current issues such as justice, politics or even asked for respect among the murgas themselves. In the second song Las Inadaptadas have set up a particular karaoke on stage, in which they have been asking for different themes to be interpreted in the karaoke and in which they have taken the opportunity to put a lot of irony and criticism.
Other Awards
Several murgas have established awards in honor of historical members who are no longer with us. In recent editions Los Gorfines have presented the Ambrosio Cabrera award, an award that could not be missing this year despite the non-participation of Los Gorfines. An award that went to the theme "A song with a corrector" by Los Simplones.
Los Simplones have also created this year the Carlos Pérez Award, in homage to who was one of their most beloved members. The song "Curiosities and manias of our society" by Las Vacilonas was awarded the Carlos Pérez Award.
