By Aldo Benítez
When you sit down to watch the “Hold the Line” video, you’ll quickly realize that you’re watching a comedy of sorts; a simulacrum of aesthetics from the ever- popular cumbia shows broadcast all over the Latin American continent.
What’s interesting about this video and its pop paraphernalia, is the actual unedited track behind it all; an insatiable remix by dynamic Cordobes duo Frikstailers, which was originally made without authorization for Major Lazer, yet another duo commanded by the ever restless Diplo.
As usual, it started with a brilliant idea by Javier Lourenço, (responsible for the flamboyant audiovisual company “ Flamboyant Paradise,”), whose interest was spiked when he heard Frikstailers remix of “Hold the Line.” Rafa, one of the two Frikstailers, told us that Javier had spawned ideas for the video and that he had been in contact with artist, Tranqui Yanqui. Javier was familiar with Tranqui Yanqui’s work, thanks to an interview in The Uncool Hunter, where the artist displayed his work and explained his colorful, absurd, and incredibly "pop" aesthetic.
Speaking of pop, the artists clearly did not skimp on it during the making of the video, especially by way of including ex-TV anchor Mitch Amed, as one of the main characters who has been part of many a highly publicized scandal including the likes of Zulma Lobato and Ricky Martin, claims that he is currently settling in a period of “personal cleaning,” according to his own blog.
According to Rafa, Amed’s participation was under one conditional: that he be the only “famous” person in the music video. In fact, it seems that he is quite happy and has remained free of the dreaded media baggage. Talking about Flamboyant Paradise in contrast to a complex industry of music videos created for the likes of MTV, “Hold the Line” never ceases to be amusing, maintaining a coherent style regardless of its comedic tone, all motorized by an unedited track.
In regards to Tranqui Yanqui, he told that WUBA that from the beginning he felt quite at home participating in the video. This feeling of comfort comes from a shared artistic vision with Javier, mostly having to do with his visual universe which he defined as: “lots of colors, ghetto flair, very cumbiero and with my own well-established icons such as the super hotdog in turquoise and neon pink, ice cream cones, papayas and other symbolic fruit.”
We hope that all this information allows you to enjoy not only the video more, but also the synthesis of sound and vision, which we so enjoy bringing together from two once separate worlds: cumbia and psychedelic pop.
By the way don`t miss the next Zizek party with the Frikstailers show and recreation of the music video live on stage. +info
