La Musica del Alma

    As a telenovela centered around the life of the Queen of Salsa, it is not a surprise that Celia uses music to develop not only the storyline, but also the characters themselves. As we learned in class, music drives the plots of telenovela through both incidental music, which keeps the audience unconsciously engaged, and theme music, which highlights specific elements of the telenovela. In Celia, music is an active component of the plot; all of the characters are connected in some way to the carnival world, whether that be in a positive or negative manner. This telenovela is about Celia’s life, and Celia’s life is about music.

    Nothing represents this better than the introduction to Celia.  Aside from being incredibly catchy, the introduction is also a reflection of the protagonist as Celia sings it herself. Her powerful voice and the interjections of her catchphrase “¡Azucar!” immediately introduce the audience to her world: music. She makes the spotlight shine on her through her singing; there can be no mistaking her unique singing abilities. From the moment the audience starts watching her show, they know the strength of her character through the strength of her voice. 

    Indeed, Celia’s true character is revealed the moment she sings in the actual show. She initially appears to be reserved, obedient to the point of seeming submissive; however, when she sings, she forgets about the people around her and just lets herself become immersed in the sounds. She lights up when she gets to hear her favorite band and only defies her father when it comes to her singing dreams. Although her outward manner may not suggest it, Celia is a born performer, and on the few occasions that she allows herself to let go, both the audience and the other characters are able to recognize her talent. For Celia, music is her entire existence. 

    It is important to mention the other characters since Celia is not alone in her characterization through music. Pedro Knight, for example, is a rambunctious and slightly immoral character, which his music reflects through the use of high energy and mischievousness. Even when he is running away from the husband of his lover or being confronted by said husband, Pedro’s background music remains high-spirited. The contrast of this energy with the gravity of these situations emphasize Pedro’s fun-loving nature, for just like his music, he does not let the serious consequences of his actions ruin his enjoyment. He is not the typical male lead, but he relishes in this status. For Pedro, music is his pleasure.

    In contrast, Celia’s best friend, Lola, does not have the opportunity to experience such constant fun. Although she identifies with Celia’s love for music and shares similar high-spirited energy with Pedro, Lola also experiences suffering for her music. For instance, in order to be allowed to go sing and dance with the rest of the city, she is forced to sleep with her stepfather, an action that necessitates dismal incidental music. Nonetheless, Lola continues to love music as a source of release, for although she is living with her abuser, her performances offer her an opportunity to come back to life. Lola’s relationships are also represented by her feelings towards music, for while her encounters with her stepfather are underscored by sounds of dread and hopelessness, her meetings with her lover Marco are surrounded by lively songs. Marco even tells Lola that her smile is his music, demonstrating how pure music should feel for true love. Just like her best friend, Lola reveals her true nature as a brilliant, bubbly girl on stage, which serves as a safe space for her. For Lola, music is her escape. 

    Although I have not reached the point where Celia becomes the global star she is known as today, I can already see the talent written into her character. Her perspective makes music even more valuable to this telenovela since she sees music as an active way of life, not just a tool to emphasize something else. Celia is connected to her family and friends through music, who also are able to express their personalities through their individual themes. Even after I finish this show, I know that I will not be able to forget “¡Azucar!” any time soon.