Paint it, Cuban

It may have only been rock 'n' roll - but Cubans seemed to like it. That's right, the Rolling Stones have become the first major international rock band to play in Cuba, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to a free concert at a decrepit sports complex on the road to the airport. For years, following the Cuban revolution, rock music was banned on Cuban state TV and radio. Cubans who wore long hair and beards faced harassment from officials, including Fidel Castro who told them to dress like men. No more. "Years ago it was difficult to hear our music but here we are," Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger told the crowd in Spanish. "The times are changing." And as most Cubans only earn about US$20 a month, there was no charge to see the show. Perhaps aware that many of the Cubans attending had not heard much of the band's music, the Stones played many of their most familiar classics like "Paint it, Black," "Sympathy for the Devil," and "Brown Sugar." They were joined by a Cuban choir to sing "You Can't Always Get What You Want." But if you try some time, as it has been proven here, you just might find you'll get what you need, which in this case was another step in the right direction. Those already in America can take yet another step by not voting for Trump this November.