Who is Danny Ocean, pop star performing at Nobel ceremony?
What's the story
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado will receive the Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday in Oslo. The award recognizes her efforts for a "just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy." The ceremony will also feature a performance by Latin pop singer Danny Ocean, a close ally of Machado and a vocal critic of the Venezuelan government.
Career highlights
Ocean's music career and political activism
Ocean, 33, rose to fame in 2016 with his reggaeton-infused breakup song Me Rehuso. The track became a global hit and has been certified platinum 13 times in the US. As his career progressed, Ocean incorporated references to his country and its culture into his music. Ten days ahead of Venezuela's 2024 presidential election, he released an EP titled venequia., a reclamation of the word veneco, a slur used against Venezuelan migrants abroad.
Political partnership
Ocean's collaboration with Machado and support for her
Ocean directly collaborated with Machado on the project. In the music video for escala en Panama from venequia., Ocean imagines a future where Venezuelans can return home. The video features crowds of people running through an abandoned airport onto a plane, greeted by Machado's voice saying Bienvenidos a Venezuela ("Welcome to Venezuela"). In an interview with NPR, Ocean explained, "She is the one who has to be that voice of welcome for us."
Protest songs
Ocean's music became anthems for Venezuelan protests
He said in the interview, "This is no longer a political issue. This is about light versus dark. This is good versus evil." Following Maduro's victory over Edmundo Gonzalez, the Machado-backed opposition candidate, protests erupted in Venezuela and worldwide. Ocean's lyrics appeared on signs and banners, with videos showing crowds chanting his songs.