Peruvian Singer Criticizes ‘Free Riders’ and Gets Dose of His Own Medicine · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

Screenshot from video clip of song “Se la llevan fácil” posted on YouTube by user Julio Andrade.
In the last few days, Peruvian singer and songwriter Julio Andrade [es] has been in the spotlight among Peruvian netizens due to his most recent song “Se la llevan fácil” (roughly translated as “They earn it easily”), where he directly criticizes people who acquire fame and sometimes even fortune with little effort and less talent. “Se la llevan fácil” is an expression that means “they easily earn money, fame or recognition”.
Andrade [es] had several songs that became popular hits in the 90s. He is currently a second vicepresident of the Peruvian Association of Authors and Songwriters, known as APDAYC [es] for its name in Spanish, the entity in charge of protecting the assets of Peruvian authors and songwriters.
The website Comunidaria [es] shares the story of the origin of the song, on a post by Cholodecono [es]:
El cantante nacional Julio Andrade afirmó que no se esperaba la reacción del público en las redes sociales por el lanzamiento de su nueva canción: “Se la llevan fácil”. El tema, que critica a los artistas que apelan al facilismo para ganar fama, fue calificado por el músico como una simple “ocurrencia”.
[…]
“Estaba tomando unos tragos con un amigo, agarré la guitarra y me puse a cantar”, comentó Andrade a la web de Diario16.
Local singer Julio Andrade claimed he wasn't expecting that reaction from the public on social networks on the release of his new song: “Se la llevan fácil”. The song, which criticizes artists who appeal to the easiest way of doing something to gain fame, was described by the musician as a simple “witticism”.
[…]
“I was having some drinks with a friend, I took the guitar and started”, commented Andrade to Diario16 website.
Meanwhile, the blog El lado B de Manzarock [es] wonders “Who will take Julio Andrade away?” [es]:
Rajando de las “letras vacías y coreografías como el Baile del Caballo“, nuestro Julio Andrade, no contento ni satisfecho con ser partícipe de inenarrables composiciones que dudosamente puedo calificar de canciones, ahora reniega de aquellos que se la llevan fácil en el ancho y ajeno mundo de la música popular.
Talking bad about “shallow lyrics and choreographies such as Gagnam Style“, our own Julio Andrade, not happy nor satisfied with being part of indescribable compositions that can hardly be qualified as songs, is now ranting about those who earn it easily in the broad and alien world of pop music.
On Twitter, users have also been expressing themselves with the hashtag #YSeLaLlevanFacil, making fun of the song and referring to some current national events, like the omnipresent football matches:
Si gana [la selección nacional de fútbol de] Perú pondrán “We are the champions” pero si pierden pondrán #SeLaLlevanFácil porque las desgracias no vienen solas.
— A. Sotomayor (@Depecheboy101) September 6, 2013
If Peru [national football team] wins “We are the champions” will be played, but if they lose the music will be #SeLaLlevanFácil because misery loves company.
Con Todo Respeto shares the real purpose of the song:
Acaban de descubrir un nuevo método de tortura. Activistas protestan porque es demasiado cruel. #selallevanfacil pic.twitter.com/rdr5J8Zhk4
— Con Todo Respeto (@CarlosGGarcia_) September 3, 2013
A new torture method has just been discovered. Activists are protesting because it's too cruel. #selallevanfacil pic.twitter.com/rdr5J8Zhk4
Pedro Canelo mentions a movie released in the early 90s:
Thelma y Louise también escucharon a Julio Andrade #JulioAndrade #Selallevanfácil pic.twitter.com/HevXJEHJBD
— Pedro Canelo (@jovennostalgico) September 3, 2013
Thelma y Louise also heard Julio Andrade #JulioAndrade #Selallevanfácil pic.twitter.com/HevXJEHJBD
— Pedro Canelo (@jovennostalgico) September 3, 2013
User Giovanni Arce B. remembered part of Andrade's history:
Julio Andrade ya no se acuerda de “Mira la morena, qué cosa más buena cómo mueve su cucú [trasero]” toda una revolución intelectual #selallevanfacil
— Giovanni Arce B. (@GiovanniArce) September 3, 2013
Julio Andrade doesn't remember “Look at the brunette, such good thing, how she moves her backside”, what an intellectual revolution #selallevanfacil
Meanwhile, El Cuy del Perú posts an image from the video, a friar jumping from some point of the Green Shore, as the Limean shoreline is called, a well known tourist attraction:
El Fraile decidió #SUICIDARSE antes que oir #SeLaLlevanFacil de Julio Andrade, prefirio ser triturado por las rocas pic.twitter.com/7wUHCdSNUI
— El Cuy del Peru (@KuiCobaln) September 3, 2013
The friar decided to commit suicide before listening to Julio Andrade's #SeLaLlevanFacil, he preferred to be crushed by the rocks
Finally, a local newspaper quotes Andrade himself saying:
Julio Andrade: “‘#Selallevanfácil‘ fue creado para ser un viral publicitario” http://t.co/qv6ylkduzG
— El Comercio (@elcomercio) September 3, 2013
Julio Andrade: “‘#Selallevanfácil‘ was created to be an advertising viral” http://t.co/qv6ylkduzG