IMAGES: Sergio Betancort
Emotion, tension and many nerves were experienced on Wednesday night at the Arrecife Fairgrounds with the third phase of the Murgas Contest. Five murgas put the finishing touch to the previous phases of the contest, highlighting above all the performance of Los Tabletuos and Los Desahuciados, who shone brightly and put their foot directly in the final. After the performances of the five murgas scheduled for Wednesday night, the jury's verdict was known and the six murgas that accessed the grand final next Friday.
Los Simplones, Titi Roys, Las Pijoletas, Las Inadaptadas, Los Tabletuos and Los Desahuciados were the six murgas that the jury in charge of assessing the interpretation, lyrics and music of the 16 groups participating in the Arrecife Carnival Murgas Contest liked the most.
The Criticón Award, which values the most critical lyrics of the songs from the previous phase, went to Los Tabletuos. This award has been given since 2007 and, curiously, so far it has only been won by Los Tabletuos and Los Desahuciados. Los Desahuciados have won it four times and Los Tabletuos three times. And the Presentation Award was won by the Titi Roys, with the jury valuing the tribute they paid to Juan Medina, the Charlot of Lanzarote, during their staging.
Afilarmónica Los Tabletuos
Design: "Prisoner rapper clown"
1st Song: "He who does it, pays for it"
2nd Song: "The time machine"
The third phase of the murgas contest started strong. On stage, the Afilarmónica Los Tabletuos, a murga that is usually in all the pools and that has won the first prize on seven occasions. Los Tabletuos arrived dressed as "prisoner rapper clowns".
As usual, the great voices are one of the points in favor of Los Tabletuos. In the first song, "He who does it, pays for it", they made a critical tour of problems such as oil platforms, unemployment or the crisis. In the second lyrics of the night, "The time machine", Los Tabletuos were located in the year 2024, and advanced how the delay in collecting subsidies or the number of corrupt people in Lanzarote affected them.
Las Vacilonas
Design: "I'm a clown at Carnival because I like to have fun", designed by Gladys Fuente
1st Song: "We are at Carnival, I'm talking to you about Carnival"
2nd Song: "I had of the verb you saw"
Las Vacilonas is another of the murgas that debut in this edition of the Arrecife Carnival Murgas Contest. They took to the stage with a total of 48 members, with Marta Ruiz being the president and musical director of the murga.
Like the rest of the murgas that have debuted in these Carnivals, Las Vacilonas were characterized by sounding good and having fairly tuned songs. In the first lyrics, "We are at Carnival, I'm talking to you about Carnivals", they collected some of the problems that carnival-goers have to endure, asking for the return of the comparsas and batucadas contests. In addition, they asked that all the murgas unite to demand a better place to celebrate the contest, where they can have good sound. The second song was weaker, making a parody of everyday Internet situations.
Los Ensalitrados
Design: "Alien clown in search of a good dust, like a dream come true this Carnival…", designed by Aythami Ruiz
1st Song: "Eleven, Eight, what a mess"
2nd Song: "Galation Miss 2014"
From Costa Teguise came the 37 members of Los Ensalitrados, a murga that also debuts in this edition of the Arrecife Carnival. They arrived dressed as aliens and brought a smile to the public with the lyrics of the second song.
In the first lyrics, "Eleven, Eight, what a mess", they made a call to the government and tried to explain what are the biggest problems they have to endure on a daily basis. Pensions, unemployment or the crisis were the topics they resorted to. And in the second song they made a parody in which they became models. Los Ensalitrados exhausted the 30 minutes of time they have for the performance, finishing the second song over the limit and not performing the farewell. It can be said that they paid the rookie fee for being their first time on stage.
Los Desahuciados
Design: "Mother, what stress, I've dressed backwards", designed by Toni Morín
1st Song: "A day backwards"
2nd Song: "Various indignations"
With the performance of Los Desahuciados came one of the highlights of the night, managing to get the public in their pocket and achieving a great performance. This is the largest murga this year, taking to the stage with a total of 68 members and with a design that earned them the first prize for Design and Fantasy.
They began their performance with the song entitled "A day backwards", in which they sang about those situations that have caused great misunderstandings. The most striking, advertising the island of Tenerife with an image of Timanfaya. And in the second song of the night, "Various indignations", they sang all those situations that end up angering the members of the murga.
Los Gorfines
Design: "Crazy murguero", designed by Oscar Rodríguez
1st Song: "Neither PP nor PSOE, Germany rules today"
2nd Song: "Timon and Zumba"
The third phase of the Arrecife Carnival Murgas Contest closed with the performance of Los Gorfines, one of the historical murgas, having participated for 21 years. This year the murga chaired by Alberto Falero has a total of 32 members.
In the first song, "Neither PP nor PSOE, Germany rules today", they made a criticism of the political class, with one of their targets being the president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero. They criticized the numerous trips made by the highest Canarian authority and accused him of making discriminatory budgets for Lanzarote. And in the second song, "Timon and Zumba", they made a parody in which zumba was the main theme. In the case of Los Gorfines, they had a first song better than the second.
