The creative mind of Antonio Álvarez 'El Bizcocho', who recently secured first prize at the Gran Teatro Falla Contest with his chirigota 'Ssshhhhh!!', continues to generate surprising ideas. Following successes like 'Los mi alma' (ghosts) or the Titanic band, a video explaining a concept that was ultimately shelved has now gone viral.
This unreleased chirigota was intended to focus on the gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, using the iconic building's fire as a starting point. Álvarez envisioned a type of 'scorched gargoyles' that, with his characteristic dark humor, would satirize the tragedy.
“"We were the scorched gargoyles."
The imagined lyrics included verses such as 'The chapel burned, Notre Dame burned, and now I'm moving, imagine the plan. A cathedral that withstood a revolution and World War. It couldn't withstand a builder who left a radio plugged in.' The presentation also referenced his arrival in Cádiz, hearing 'the sound of a Carnival tape' on the radio amidst the smoke.
Attendees at the event responded with laughter to lines like 'I came to Cádiz because on the radio, between the smoke, I heard the sound of a Carnival tape, I thought it was from 'A fuego vivo'.' The concept continued with 'I didn't go to get restored, I refuse to be touched, because I wasn't in danger there, I'd put my hand in the fire.' The critique of restoration and the gargoyles' facade was reflected in 'Now there are no cathedrals on Booking, I'm stranded, they'll think a gargoyle is tough, it's all facade'.
Social media comments have hailed the Sevillian author as 'a prodigy' and 'a genius,' comparing him to other historical creators of great Cádiz Carnival groups, such as el Selu.
