The story behind this track is a fascinating, disturbing story that is worth briefly retelling. It’s about the arrival in Miami of Elián González, a six-year-old boy who, in 1999, fled Cuba by boat (together with his mother and her partner) as part of a group of refugees attempting to reach the United States. The boat sank during the journey, and Elián’s mother, along with most of the passengers, drowned. Elián was found floating on an inner tube and rescued by two fishermen. The ocean rescue and ensuing custody battle captivated local communities and international media.
Elian bursts forth with a raw, crunchy sound and a great punk energy. The jaunty bounce of the track is a jarring juxtaposition to the disturbing story behind the lyrics:
“Look, mom, we can fit
Soon we’ll have air conditioning
Is it too late to learn to swim
We got some big ones rollin’ in”
Distortion is generously spread around – nothing escapes the ever-present fuzz. The drums drive the track forward, cracking and splashing like a raging sea.
The vocal sits perfectly in the track, and behind the fx it’s hard to tell if the lead is a boy, a girl, is old or young – and it works beautifully!
When the chorus hits, it’s so catchy that I think the track should carry a health warning. Combined with those rolling drums, it’s almost impossible to resist leaping out of your seat.
The repeating motif and chant of “Tell me little Elián, where did you go?” seems to get more and more urgent as the song nears its end, and when the music dies down, and we hear the amps humming, it feels like we’ve finally made it back to shore.
“Elián” is the first single and opening track of George’s upcoming 3rd album, “Do You Want to Go…Swimming?”
Written by Grubby
