Los Prisioneros was a Chilean rock band formed in San Miguel, Santiago, Chi… Read Full Bio ↴Los Prisioneros was a Chilean rock band formed in San Miguel, Santiago, Chile in 1982 by Jorge González (bass & vocals), Claudio Narea (guitar) and Miguel Tapia (drums). They began as a local band during the early 1980s, playing small shows in their neighborhood and high school. After selling a limited press number of their first album in Chile under the independent Fusión producciones label, they signed to EMI in 1985, re-releasing the same album on an LP record and Cassette. From that point on they reached mainstream success in Chile, then Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Eventually in the early 90's their albums were re-released completely in remastered Compact Disc form, this is when Chile was no longer run by a military regime which oppressed their music in the late 1980s. Throughout the 1990s their music spread out, reaching all of South and Central America as well as some parts of the U.S., Canada and Europe.

The band started when Jorge González and Miguel Tapia decided to start their own band while being high school students. They were inexperienced but enthusiastic, after many practices and writing songs, they asked Claudio Narea if he would like to join them, and impressed by the music they were making, he accepted. Towards the early 80's they went through some name changes and before settling on "Los Prisioneros" they had the name "Los Vinchukas" as their original name. In 1983, they had played a number of local shows and that's when they met Carlos Fonseca, their future manager. Through him, they managed to score a record deal with Fusión Producciones.

In 1984, the band's debut album was released, with the hit song "La Voz De Los '80" (which was never a single). They reached acclaim in the radio and by the next year they would be touring. In 1986, their long awaited second album "Pateando Piedras" went double Platinum album in Chile. By that time, the group was invited to perform at Argentina's Chateau Rock Festival and later to a similar event in Montevideo, Uruguay. They continued touring and they became more successful mainstream wise.

The band disbanded in 1992, then as a quartet with additional members Cecilia Aguayo (keyboards) and Robert Rodríguez (guitar), since Claudio Narea had left the band earlier in 1990.

The original lineup of the band decided to get back together in 2001, offering two massive concerts in the National Stadium of Santiago, and then releasing "Los Prisioneros", their first original studio album in 13 years. However, internal problems between González and Narea led again to the departure of the guitarist in 2001. Los Prisioneros continued working as a duet with guest members like Álvaro Henríquez whom with they released a cover album. In 2004 two additional musicians joined the band: Sergio "Coty" Badilla and Gonzalo Yáñez, releasing their sixth album Manzana the same year. A little while after the release of the album band members decided to establish themselves in Mexico, attempting to get more international exposure. Yáñez decided not to leave Chile and left the band. After touring through several locations in North and South America, they finally disbanded in 2006.

Mal De Parkinson
Los Prisioneros Lyrics

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Yo tengo el mal de Párkinson
Weee
Mmmm, nena
Yeee
Lo tengo, lo tengo
Y no lo dejaré escapar
Puesto que su ritmo enfermizo
Me hace vibrar

Párkinson, Párkinson
Como una vaharada de mil tumbas
El vampiro golpetea a tu puerta
Párkinson, Párkinson, yeee

(El tiene el mal de Párkinson
Y no lo dejará escapar
Puesto que su ritmo enfermizo
Le hace vibrar)

Párkinson, Párkinson
Como una vaharada de mil tumbas

El vampiro golpetea a tu puerta
Párkinson, Párkinson, yeee

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Los Prisioneros's song Mal De Parkinson express the singer's experience of having Parkinson's disease, a chronic neurological condition that affects movement control. The opening lines state "I have Parkinson's disease" and the chorus repeats the condition's name like a refrain. The lyrics then describe the experience of the disease in metaphorical terms, comparing it to the sound of pounding on a door, and declaring that they will not let it go because its "sick rhythm" makes them vibrate.

However, the lyrics are not merely a personal account of having the disease, but also a social commentary on the plight of those living with Parkinson's in a society that stigmatizes and marginalizes them. By using the metaphor of a vampire knocking on the door, the song suggests that society treats people with Parkinson's as if they are already dead or dying, and that the disease itself is seen as contagious or repulsive. The song, therefore, speaks to the larger issue of discrimination and prejudice against those with disabilities.

Overall, the lyrics of Mal De Parkinson offer a powerful message of resistance and resilience in the face of a difficult and isolating condition. Through metaphor and symbolism, the song communicates a complex mix of personal experience and social critique, inviting listeners to reflect on the lived reality of those with Parkinson's and the need for greater empathy and understanding.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo tengo el mal de Párkinson
I suffer from Parkinson's disease

Weee
Sound effect, no meaning

Mmmm, nena
Syllables with no specific meaning, used for rhythmic purposes

Yeee
Expression of excitement, used for rhythmic purposes

Lo tengo, lo tengo
I have it, I have it

Y no lo dejaré escapar
And I won't let it go

Puesto que su ritmo enfermizo
Since its sickly rhythm

Me hace vibrar
Makes me vibrate

Párkinson, Párkinson
Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's disease

Como una vaharada de mil tumbas
Like a gust from a thousand graves

El vampiro golpetea a tu puerta
The vampire knocks at your door