one queer thing: from lullaby to battle cry π₯
nathy peluso's "sana sana" will make you want to topple the patriarchy (& dance while doing it)
tl;dr: dive into a fiery anthem that's redefining latinx identity, challenging the status quo, and making us all want to dance in the face of adversity. spoiler alert: it's not your abuela's βsana, sanaβ lullaby.
plus, don't miss our new substack sommelier pick and the latest hillcrest hotspot - including how to register and vote in the uptown community planning group elections.
hey mi gente! ππ½
ever feel like you're a walking, talking contradiction? like you really donβt make senseβ¦ at all. like you're too much for some people, and not enough for others? well, honey, welcome to the club.
today, we're diving into a song that embodies that beautiful mess of identity, that fierce spirit of resistance that lives in all of us queer folks. you know, the kind of energy that makes straight people clutch their pearls and other queers say, "yasss, give us everything!"
but before we get to the music, let's take a moment to bask in the wisdom of the incomparable bell hooks. when i use the word βqueerβ here, itβs not necessarily referring to someone that is part of the lgbtq community, but rather a wider and greater definition - a calling, if you will.
"queer not as being about who you're having sex with (that can be a dimension of it); but queer as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live."
now, imagine an artist who takes that quote and turns it into a full-on musical manifesto. a latinx powerhouse who's not afraid to mix high fashion with hair rollers, who can spit rhymes about clitorises and international monetary policy in the same breath.
intrigued? aroused, perhaps? well, hold onto your wigs, because we're about to dive into a song that's as queer as it is catchy, as political as it is danceable.
past queer things: (10) βflowersβ (miley cyrus cover) by marlon caro & lidice | (9) βthis hellβ by rina swayama | (8) "company" by durand bernarr | (7) "queen" by janelle monae feat. erykah badu | (6) "carmen" by olivia dean | (5) βthe villageβ by wrabel | see moreβ¦
you can find the one queer thing playlist on spotify here.
one queer thing: "sana sana" by nathy peluso
born in lujΓ‘n, argentina and raised in spain, nathy peluso is not your average pop star. she's a force of nature, a latin grammy-winning artist who defies easy categorization. rapper, singer, dancer, provocateur - peluso wears all these hats and more, often at the same time and with a fabulous pair of earrings to boot. her song "sana sana" is a perfect encapsulation of her artistry.
the title, which means "heal heal" in english, is a nod to a common latin american nursery rhyme used to comfort children when they're hurt. but trust me, there's nothing childish about this track.
from the very first line, "tengo fuerza pa' partir el coco" (i have the strength to split the coconut), peluso takes us on a wild ride through her psyche. she touches on themes of sexuality, drug use, fashion, and economic inequality, all delivered with her signature blend of rap and neo-perreo (a subgenre of reggaeton that's as addictive as it is controversial).
but what makes "sana sana" truly queer? well, it's all about carving out space in a world that often tries to silence and marginalize women, especially outspoken, sexually confident women.
peluso brags about her sexual prowess ("si me agacho sientes tΓΊ mi clΓtoris" - if i bend over, you feel my clitoris), her style ("mira que elegante visto prada con rulero" - look how elegantly i wear prada with hair rollers), and her ability to navigate all kinds of activities ("yo sΓ© cΓ³mo hablarle a mi bitch / yo sΓ© cΓ³mo cortar mi hachΓs" - i know how to talk to my bitch / i know how to cut my hash).
but it's not just about individual empowerment. peluso also takes aim at larger systems of oppression, most notably in the recurring line:
"y si el fmi me la toca / si creen que van a comer de mi sopa"
and if the imf touches me / if they think they're going to eat from my soup
here, she's calling out the international monetary fund, an institution with a long and controversial history in latin america, especially in argentina. the imf's policies have been particularly contentious in peluso's home country, where economic crises and imf interventions have been a recurring theme since the 1980s.
by refusing to let the fmi "eat from her soup," peluso isn't just making a personal statement - she's tapping into a deep well of national frustration and resistance.
this song, released in 2020 when argentina was once again in negotiations with the imf over debt restructuring, resonates strongly with many argentinians and latin americans who've grown wary of international financial institutions. it's peluso's way of rejecting economic exploitation, asserting her right to self-determination, and giving voice to a collective desire for economic sovereignty.
in just a few words, she manages to encapsulate decades of complex economic history and ongoing struggles.
peluso delivers all of this with a fierce, take-no-prisoners attitude that's amplified by the song's pulsing beat and hypnotic hook. the repeated "sanananana" isn't just catchy; it's like a spell, a mantra of healing and empowerment that grows more potent with each repetition.
and let's not overlook the powerful nod to argentina's musical legacy when peluso declares herself "argenta como la negra sosa." she's referencing mercedes sosa, the iconic folk singer known as "la negra" (a term of endearment in argentina, not a racial descriptor). sosa was more than just a musician - she was a cultural icon and a voice for social justice.
by invoking sosa, peluso is placing herself in a lineage of strong, outspoken argentine women who use their art to challenge the status quo.
in a world that often tries to put queer people, women, and people of color in boxes, "sana sana" is a defiant middle finger to anyone who thinks they can define or limit nathy peluso - or any of us, for that matter.
this song is a celebration of complexity, of contradiction, of the freedom to be messy and powerful and sexual and intellectual all at once.
so the next time you need a boost of confidence, or a reminder of your own power, turn up "sana sana" and let nathy peluso's fierce energy wash over you. dance like nobody's watching, sing along, and remember: you are the champion sound. you are the one who decides who eats from your soup.
what do you think about "sana sana"? does it resonate with you? what other songs make you feel powerful and unapologetically yourself? let me know in the comments!
hasta la prΓ³xima, mis amores! π
edgardβπ½π
p.s. if you're wondering about the "prada con rulero" line, it's a brilliant juxtaposition of high fashion (prada) with a common household item (hair rollers). it's peluso's way of saying she's both glamorous and down-to-earth, and she doesn't give a damn if you think those things can't coexist. queen behavior, if you ask me. π
p.p.s. seriously, if you haven't listened to the rest of nathy peluso's catalog, do yourself a favor and check it out. from the sultry "ateo" to the funky "machu picchu," she's got a song for every mood. just don't blame me if you end up in a youtube rabbit hole for the next three hours. you've been warned! π
it's that time of the week, y'all - let me pour you a glass of pure, unfiltered brilliance. now, i know about as much about wine as i do about quantum physics (which is to say, absolutely nada), but i do know a thing or two about good people and great stories. so think of me as your substack sommelier with a twist - i may not be able to tell a cabernet from a capri sun, but i can show you new voices, powerful voices.
today, i'm featuring someone who's not just a gifted writer, but a genuinely awesome human. i'm talking about βs substack, serenelvs. this 20-year-old econ student isn't just crunching numbers - she's serving up hot takes, personal essays, cultural commentary, and candid thoughts that'll make you laugh, cry, and possibly walk away knowing more about the world.
janu's writing is like that perfect mezcal - smoky, complex, and guaranteed to give you a different perspective on life. her piece on the burdens of being an older daughter hit me right in the feels. as a fellow eldest child, i felt seen in ways i didn't even know i needed.
but what really knocked me off my feet was her essay "the universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." it's a raw, vulnerable exploration of her lifelong obsession with space that left me feeling both insignificant and incredibly alive. janu's words capture that mind-bending awe we feel when we really stop to think about our place in the cosmos. her frustration with a world too busy to look up at the stars? i felt that. it's the kind of writing that makes you want to step outside, stare at the night sky, and reevaluate every life choice you've ever made. (in the best way possible, of course.)
so go ahead, hit that subscribe button and start reading janu. your brain and your imagination (and your inbox) will thank you.
before we dive into the fabulousness, let's talk about something that's hotter than a drag queen's dance moves: democracy! π³οΈβ¨ that's right, it's time to flex those civic muscles and make our voices heard in the uptown community planning group elections. if you live in hillcrest, university heights, mission hills, middletown, medical complex, and bankers hill, make sure you're registered and ready to vote.
now, let's get into the juicy details of what's happening in our rainbow-tinted paradise!
π³οΈβπ uptown community planning group elections
date: online voting until sept. 3, in-person voting aug. 30
location: online at uptowncommunityplanning.org, in-person at first unitarian universalist church of san diego (4190 front st)
what's the tea: our chance to shape hillcrest's future is here, and it's hotter than a drag queen's dance moves.
online voting is open until sept. 3, so hop to it! register by sept. 2, verify your uptown residency, and keep an eye on your inbox (and spam folder!) for your ballot.
can't do online? no worries, honey. strut your stuff to the in-person voting on aug. 30 from 4-8 pm. just don't forget your proof of residency.
but wait, there's more! they desperately need volunteers for tomorrow. if you can spare some time from 3 pm onwards on friday aug. 30, you'll be a true hero of democracy (and might score some killer neighborhood gossip). plus, it totally counts as community service and a workout.
so what are you waiting for? register, vote, volunteer - do it all! let's make sure our fabulous voices are heard. remember, a vote cast is a step closer to that dream gay paradise we all want hillcrest to be. now go forth and democracy! π³οΈβ¨
π¨ mural alley's artistic extravaganza
date: thursday, sept. 5
time: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
location: mural alley, behind the studio door
what's the tea: strap on your walking shoes and prepare for a sensory overload, mi gente! mural alley is transforming into a bohemian paradise for one magical night. groove to the beats of dj jΓΌsto's early set, then stick around for tristan brooks' soulful tunes. local artists will be hawking their wares, so bring your wallet (and maybe an extra tote bag). pro tip: pace yourself on the "refreshments" if you want to remember all the gorgeous art you've seen.
oh, and because the universe loves us: this isn't a one-night stand. mark your calendars for oct. 3, nov. 7, and dec. 5. it's like a recurring dream, but with more paint fumes and hipster beards. see you there, art lovers!
π¨ hillcrest neighborhood safety patrol information meeting
date: thursday, sept. 12
time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
location: uptown tavern, 1236 university ave
what's the tea: our fabulous neighborhood needs your help. hate crimes are on the rise, and we're not having it. join us for a community patrol info session that's more important than finding the perfect brunch spot. we've got a special guest from the san diego pd's lgbtq task force, ready to spill the tea on how we can keep our streets safe and stylish.
π€ kiwanis club of hillcrest all-inclusive
date: thursday, sept. 12
time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
location: uptown tavern, 1236 university ave
what's the tea: calling all community-minded queers and allies! the kiwanis club of hillcrest is serving up a potent mix of philanthropy, community and fun.
pro tip: stick around for the group photo at the end. don't ghost before the flash β we see you trying to sneak out early! πΈβ¨
OH MY GOD ππ Thank you so much for featuring me. I'm literally crying π₯Ή Such an honor π«ΆπΎ