La Santa Cecilia 'Strawberry Fields Forever' Music Video Pays Tribute to Migrant Workers With Beatles Cover
On July 10, La Santa Cecilia wowed more than 1,500 Latino leaders, including first lady Michelle Obama and superstar Jennifer Lopez, with its rendition of "Strawberry Fields Forever" at the LULAC Unity Luncheon hosted by the National convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens -- and they're doing it again, but this time its online for the whole world to see.
On Aug. 4, the LA-based Mexican-American band and 2014 Grammy winner for Best Latin Rock and Alternative album for "Trenta Dias" (30 Days), continued its affection for The Beatles with the release of a music video featuring its rendition of "Strawberry Fields Forever."
"Hoy es el gran día!! Today is the day!! Our rendition of STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER music video is out!!! Click it, watch it, share it, tell us what you think!!" the band wrote on its official Facebook page.
La Santa Cecilia, which is named after the patron saint of musicians, includes lead vocalist Marisol "La Marisoul" Hernandez, accordionist and requintero Jose "Pepe" Carlos, bassist Alex Bendana and percussionist Miguel Ramirez. The bilingual band's members are "first generation children of immigrants" as well as an "undocumented dreamer" (Carlos) -- and because of this, they have become ambassadors for immigration reform using both their musical and personal platforms. Latin Post had the pleasure of meeting and seeing the band perform at the annual Pachanga Latino Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
"Strawberry Fields Forever" holds a special place in the hearts of Americans, Brits, and the world, as well as this talented, bilingual, multicultural quartet. While the band's new music video is vibrant, adorable and animated, it has a powerful message behind it.
La Santa Cecilia's version of the iconic 1967 Beatles tune is the second single from the band's critically acclaimed new album, "Someday New." Its spin on the beloved tune came to fruition while driving through Central California.
"We started playing the song, and one day we started leaving L.A. to play in Bakersfield and we saw the fruit fields and the strawberry fields, and listening to the song on my iPod I thought 'Man, it connected,' seeing all these migrant workers, working for our 'Strawberry Fields Forever.' It was like 'woah,' and you just connect a lyric. It's a trip how a song that was made by these four Brits turned into something that I feel connected to with migrant workers and the beauty of their work," Hernandez said during an earlier visit to the GRAMMY Museum.
"I guess it's a way for us to acknowledge their work and for people just to remember where all our amazing fruit comes from, and it's so easy to grab at grocery stores, but it comes from somewhere else, and it's good to acknowledge the people behind the scenes, no?"
Check out La Santa Cecilia's spin on "Strawberry Field Forever."