Lali’s video “Fanático” and its political messageCEFR B1
9 Oct 2024
Adapted from Molly Furnival-Phillips, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Fachy Marín, Unsplash
Lali Espósito released the single “Fanático” at the end of September 2024. The video became an international hit, entering the Top 5 most viewed videos worldwide and reaching number one in Argentina. Many observers see the clip as a clear political statement aimed at President Javier Milei, who has been in office for ten months.
The song and video respond to a year of public harassment and media confrontation between the singer and the president. That dispute intensified after the primary election result on August 13, 2023, when Lali tweeted, “How dangerous. How sad.” The exchanges continued and the conflict has been compared in tone to the confrontation between Donald Trump and Taylor Swift.
The video uses humour and references to Lali’s career. It was filmed in a large warehouse, a nod to the president’s nickname for her, “Lali Depósito.” The clip shows a casting session in which fans imitate characters from her TV roles and music career; a character who resembles Milei appears with fake sideburns and a leather jacket and shouts before being pushed out of the scene.
The video’s sharp humour energised her followers and drew wide attention online. A social post on September 27, 2024 said: “In 3:07 minutes of a song, Lali Espósito has done and said much more than the opposition has in 9 months.” It is not yet clear how the government will respond.
Difficult words
- harassment — repeated behaviour that hurts or upsets someone
- confrontation — a public argument or direct conflict
- primary — a first election to choose a candidate
- casting — selecting actors or people for a show
- nod — a small sign or action showing recognition
- nickname — an informal name used instead of a real name
- energise — to give energy or enthusiasm to peopleenergised
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think using humour in a music video is a good way to respond to a political leader? Why or why not?
- How might a video like this change public opinion about a politician in your country? Give one or two reasons.
- What could be the reasons a government might decide to respond to a music video? Explain briefly.
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