La canción de la semana #939

...is El Que Se Fue, Sí Hace Falta by Frankie Figueroa y su Orquesta La Madre, from the 1976 album Tu Solo Tu. This song is featured in Gia Fu's latest compilation of gems from Ansonia Records catalogue.

La canción de la semana #938

...is Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla as performed by Diego Jascalevich (charango).

La canción de la semana #937

...is La nuit by Namina & The Barbarians. This is the title track of the Barcelona-based band's brand new album.

Namina: vocals Pepino Pascual: clarinet Pep Gol: trumpet Pere Miró: baritone sax Pablo Martin: trombone Gerard Nieto: piano Pep Rius: bass Xevi Matamala: drums

La canción de la semana #936

...is Lloré y Reí by La Sonora Ponceña, from the Puerto Rican band's 1974 album Sabor Sureño; the 50^th Anniversary Edition is out now on Craft Records.

La canción de la semana #935

...is Agua by Alba María Bita. I discovered this Granada-born, Miami-based cantaora, once again, thanks to La Biblioteca Sessions (the concert of 26 July 2024).

La canción de la semana #934

You can say it louder, but not clearer: don't spoil a perfect drink with inferior liquids. Just don't. So says Conjunto Papa Upa (self-described as "a psychedelic journey with a possessed voodoo priest piloting a half-broken 1970's Caribbean space ship") in No le pongas Coca Cola, and I couldn't agree more. This song appears on the Amsterdam-based band's new album Fruta Madura.

No le pongas Coca Cola Una tendencia agravante De incortonables factores Andan diluyendo el ron Con líquidos inferiores Le dan nombres atractivos para poderte engañar Llenan el vaso de hielo y te cobran un dineral Los incautos no perciben que esto es una atrocidad Compran esa porquería sin ninguna calidad ¿Sabes lo que cuesta hacerlo? Son siglos de tradición Sino te gusta no lo bebas Fácil, sin complicación Vamos a ponernos serios Acá en la licorería Ahorremos los improperios No hay que decir groserías Aunque me saque la piedra, yo me voy a controlar Tanta chavacanería que me cuesta soportar Quien te ha dado a ti el derecho de arruinar el elixir Una chaborrada de esas no lo puedo permitir Ponle dos piedritas de hielo Si acaso una rueda de limón Pruébalo y llega hasta el cielo Así es que se bebe un ron No seas tan ordinario, respétalo No le pongas Coca-Cola, por el amor de Dios Tú jamás de comerías un sushi de cambur Por favor ten un poquito de glamour No me le pongas Coca Cola al ron No me le pongas.

La canción de la semana #933

...is Palabras by Juana Luna, from the Buenos Aires-born, New York-based singer's new album Canciones en Blanco y Negro.

La canción de la semana #932

...is Ay Que Dolor (1971) by Estrellas De Plata.

La canción de la semana #931

...is Que Chimbo by Carmen DeLeon. Watch the live version of this song on Carmen's La Biblioteca Sessions concert (23 February 2024).

La canción de la semana #930

...is Cauces que despiertan by Carolina Barenbaum.

Carolina Barenbaum: 7-string guitar, composer Mauro Ciavattini: bass clarinet

La canción de la semana #929

...is Lamento en Celinés by Fabiola Méndez, from her 2024 album Okantomi. I discovered this Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and cuatro player, naturally, thanks to the recent Tiny Desk Concert (30 September 2024).

Fabiola Méndez: vocals, cuatro puertorriqueño Juan Maldonado: bass Miguel Martínez: percussion, güiro puertorriqueño William García: drums

La canción de la semana #928

...is La tarántula é un bicho mú malo (zapateado) from La tempranica (1900), an one-act zarzuela with music by Gerónimo Giménez and libretto by Julián Romea Parra. This is a song of a Gypsy boy, Grabié (a breeches role), hence the lyrics has masculine adjectives when Grabié refers to himself: guapo, malito, seco, etc.

Long after decline of zarzuela, La tarántula remains a staple of operatic sopranos, most likely thanks to Montserrat Caballé. My favourite version, however, is the one by Marujita Díaz.

La tarántula é un bicho mú malo, No se mata con piera ni palo, Que juye y se mete por tós los rincones Y son mú malinas sus picazones. ¡Ay mare! No sé que tengo Que ayé pasé por la era Y ha principiaito a entrarme Er má de la temblaera. ¿Será que a mí me ha picao La tarántula dañina Y estoy toitico enfermáo Por su sangre tan endina? ¡Te coman los mengues Mardita la araña Que tié en la barriga Pintá una guitarra! Bailando se cura tan jondo doló. ¡Ay! ¡Mal haya la araña que a mí me picó! No le temo á los rayos ni balas Ni le temo á otra cosa más mala Que me hizo mi pare más guapo que er Gallo Pero á ese bichito lo parta un rayo. ¡Ay mare! yo estoy malito. Me está entrando unos suores Que me han dejaito seco Y comío de picores. ¿Será que a mí me ha picao La tarántula dañina, Por eso me he quedao Más dergao que una sardina? ¡Te coman los mengues, Mardita la araña Que tié la barriga Pintá una guitarra! Bailando se cura tan jondo doló. ¡Ay! ¡Mal haya la araña que a mí me picó!

La canción de la semana #927

...is La Reina del Norte by OKAN, from their 2023 album Okantomi. This song concludes the Cuban-Canadian band's recent Tiny Desk Concert (24 September 2024).

Elizabeth Herrera Rodriguez: lead vocals, violin Magdelys Savigne: lead vocals, percussion Camila Cortina: piano, vocals Yissy García: drums Gerson Lazo-Quiroga: bass, vocals

La canción de la semana #926

...is Ojos Verdes by BALTHVS, from the Colombian trio's recent Live on KEXP concert.

Balthazar Aguirr: guitar Santiago Lizcano: drums Johanna Mercuriana: bass, vocals

La canción de la semana #925

...is Quién me devuelve el tiempo by Julia Rodríguez, a singer-songwriter from Fuerteventura, recorded live at Sofar Gran Canaria.

La canción de la semana #924

...is Fandango Mediterrani by Carlos Coronado, from the Catalan guitarist's new album Flamenco Mediterráneo. Listen here to the Radio Clásica (RTVE) program from the cycle Nuestro flamenco dedicated to this recording.

Here is an alternative version of Fandango Mediterrani, a duo with violinist Montserrat Martos.

La canción de la semana #923

...is El Agua Hirviendo by Marta Solís and David Minguillón, recorded live at Sofar Gran Canaria.

La canción de la semana #922

...is Cha-Cha-Cha Pa'Ca by Orquesta Akokán featuring Carolina Oliveros. This song appears on the Cuban-American collective's new album Caracoles.

La canción de la semana #921

...is Tierra y Fuego by Barbara Calypso, a Brazilian-Italian artist and singer-songwriter based in Tenerife.

La canción de la semana #920

Tango del Emigrante by Ara Malikian feat. Diego Torres. This is the first single to be released from Ara's forthcoming album Intruso.

La canción de la semana #919

Una cumbia pa' olvidarte by the Gran Canarian singer-songwriter Dácil Santana.

La canción de la semana #918

Ten years after Raíz, Lila Downs, Niña Pastori and Soledad Pastorutti are back cooking together! This week's song, Tan Bonita, opens their new EP Raíz Nunca Me Fui.

La canción de la semana #917

...is Por qué Será by Rita Payés featuring La Tania and Yerai Cortés.

La canción de la semana #916

...is Rueda, Rueda by María José Llergo, from the Andalusian singer's 2023 album Ultrabelleza. This song opens her recent Tiny Desk Concert (8 July 2024) and — what a coincidence! — closes her tonight's performance at Bilbao BBK Live Festival.

María José Llergo Sanchez: vocals Julio Martin Macias: keyboards Juan Manuel Montoya: bass, guitar Carlos Sosa Zambrano: drums

La canción de la semana #915

...is Copeo traïdor, a brand new video by Marala with Queralt Lahoz.

La canción de la semana #914

...is La Vereda by Yasser Tejeda, from the Dominican artist's latest album La Madrugá. This song was also featured on the recent Tiny Desk Concert (15 May 2024).

Mario Castro: tenor sax, keyboards Kyle Miles: bass, vocals Francis Peña: drums, maracas, vocals Yasser Tejeda: vocals, electric guitar Jonathan "Jblak" Troncoso: drums, congas, maracas, vocals

La canción de la semana #913

...is La Música by Ketekalles feat. Balkan Paradise Orchestra and La Dame Blanche. This song appears on the Catalan band's 2023 album Antiheroína. Check out the live version with El Plan de la Mariposa at CC Konex, 17 March 2024 (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

La canción de la semana #912

...is El Silencio by El Laberinto del Coco featuring Kianí Medina & Ama Ríos. This song also appears on the Puerto Rican band's recent Tiny Desk concert (5 April 2024).

La canción de la semana #911

...is I Believe by Màquina!, a Catalan prog-rock band active between 1969 and 1972. This song opens the band's debut album Why? (1970).

La canción de la semana #910

...is Guérison by Amina Cadelli, better known as Flèche Love. This song appears on the Swiss-Algerian artist's new album of the same name.

La canción de la semana #909

...is Carísimo by Mirlo with Yandira Castro.

La canción de la semana #908

...is Trap Alexitímico by Víctor Lemes.

La canción de la semana #907

...is La Canoa Se Va by Los Cumbia Stars with special guests Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna.

La canción de la semana #906

...is Donata Suarez performed by the Argentine singer and multi-instrumentalist Manu Sija.

La canción de la semana #905

...is Tania by Ana Tijoux, a tribute to the singer's late sister. This song appears on Vida, the first album of Tijoux in ten years.

La canción de la semana #904

...is Bailarín by La Yegros, from her new album Haz. This song also opens the Argentine singer's live set at the Cabaret Sauvage, Paris (12 February 2024).

La canción de la semana #903

...is Sola by La Chica featuring the fantastic Sandra Nkaké, from Live at Le Café de la Danse, Paris (2023).

La canción de la semana #902

...is Safo by Tarta Relena (Marta Torrella and Helena Ros), based on the lyrics by Sappho. This song appears on the 2021 album Fiat Lux. I learned about this amazing Catalan duo thanks to their performance on the Tiny Desk Concert (3 April 2024).

La canción de la semana #901

...is Rata de dos patas, probably the most famous ranchera performed by Francisca Viveros Barradas, better known as Paquita la del Barrio. The composer Manuel Eduardo Toscano said that, although Paquita asked him for a vehicle to vent resentment towards her ex-husband, the true inspiration behind the song was ex-president of Mexico, Carlos Salinas de Gortari. In any case, I don't know a more elegant way to heap a series of delicious insults on an unworthy ex. Check out the lyrics here.

La canción de la semana #900

Libertango, one of the best-known compositions by Astor Piazzolla, is 50 this year! Since its original release in 1974, it was covered about a zillion times. Some of the most famous versions include those by Al Di Meola, Richard Galliano, Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda, Yo-Yo Ma and Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Here's another stunning cover by the Finnish accordionist Ronja Pehkonen.

La canción de la semana #899

...is Joricamba by La Columna de Fuego. This song appears on Desde España... (1974), the legendary Colombian band's only studio album.

La canción de la semana #898

I first heard De cristal two days ago in the concert of Sylvie Hernández in Casa de Colón and just had to share it with you. This song appears on the Canarian singer-songwriter's debut album Magua^*. Sylvie Hernández plays next Saturday 16 March, 21:00, in parque Tamaraceite Sur, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, as a part of the new Musicando season.

*	The Canarian word magua means pity, heartbreak, feeling of loss or longing, sadness, melancholy, or nostalgia for homeland.

La canción de la semana #897

...is La farsante by Juan Gabriel. This version (which probably should be called El farsante) was performed by Fabiola Trujillo last Saturday in her new show «Con alma mexicana» in Parque Doramas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

La canción de la semana #896

...is Zyryab, from Paco de Lucía's 1990 album of the same name. The theme is named after Abu l-Hasan Ali ibn Nafi, aka Ziryab, a legendary 9^th-century Arab singer, composer, poet, musician and teacher, who established in Córdoba one of the first music schools in the world and is said to have known 10,000 songs by heart.

By now, Zyryab has become a flamenco and jazz standard, covered by the likes of Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band, Ara Malikian, Colina / Serrano / Carmona trio, Amos Lora... the list goes on. For me, however, nothing beats the author's own take which I was lucky to see live some 30 years ago. Of course, there is no such thing as"definitive" Paco de Lucía version. Which one is your favourite?

La canción de la semana #895

Why, I was sure that I had already posted this clip by Laritza Bacallao some 10 years ago... But no. Her performance during yesterday's Gala Drag Queen in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria made me check it out. Anyway, it's never too late to share a good carnival song: Que Suenen Los Tambores!

La canción de la semana #894

...is El Ofendío by La Muchacha & El propio Junte, featuring Isabel Ramírez Ocampo aka La Muchacha (vocals, guitar), Miguel Velásquez Matijasevic (bass) and Camilo Bartelsman (drums, percussion). This song appears on the trio's 2023 album Los Ombligos.

El Ofendío Ay, sabe que vengo ofendido Me mataron al parcero con la bala de un fusil Ay, sabe qué me ofende más Que sean dos los que he tenío que enterrar Oscurecía tengo la ruta Entre toas las bocas muecas que se fuman la bazuca Y no es muy larga la triste historia Pero sirve que se quede en la memoria Llegué en la noche a las cinco esquinas Iluminadas por el fuego de la riña Y de las llantas que se queman pa calentarme Todos los rotos que dentro del pecho me salen Y me gritan por los ojos, ojos con hambre Hambre que calman los sancochos de las manos de las cuchas Y los socios y de toas las ñeras Que me sustentan esta lucha, compañera Ay, ay Ay, ay, ay, ay Ay, ay Ay, ay, ay, ay Ay, ay Ay, sabe qué, sigo ofendido Porque siguen disparando con el cañón del fusil Desde los techos y supermercados Con los mismos aparatos de la muerte financiados por el estado "Nos están matando", gritan las paredes Gritan campesinas, campesinos, indígenas y palenqueras Las putas y travestis, las chirretas, las rebeldes Mamas, hijas, taitas, pa que escuchen las pichurrias dirigentes Аy, ay Ay, ay, ay, ay Ay, ay, ay, ay Ay, ay, ay, ay Аy, ay Ay, ay, ay, ay Ay, ay, ay Ay, ay Ay, ay, ay, ay

La canción de la semana #893

...is La quietud de la Huaca by Manongo Mujica featuring the voice of Gabriela Ezeta. This is the closing track of Mujica's concept album Ritual sonoro para ruinas circulares.

Based on the rereading of the famous tale by Jorge Luis Borges "The Circular Ruins", the Peruvian composer, percussionist and painter, Manongo Mujica, takes a new look at some of his great obsessions: the desert on the coast of Peru and the pre-Hispanic ceremonials found there. For years the impressions of these places have mobilized a very personal aesthetic, arising from understanding the desert as a space for inner listening, and the ceremonial centers or huacas, as the representation of a mystery.

La canción de la semana #892

...is De Monteadentro by Luz Dary y su orquesta "La Decisión". I first learned about this Colombian artist from Gia Fu's brand new set "Women in Salsa Records: Mainstream & Beyond".

La canción de la semana #891

...is Siento una pena by Mito y Comadre, a Venezuelan electronic roots group now based in Bogotá, Colombia. This song appears on their debut album Guajirando. The video was created by the Peruvian animation studio Tenis.

Music Shanna Hernández: voice Guillermo Lares: cuatro, percussion, drums, marimba, marímbola, pads, keyboards, voice effects Christian Castagno: guitars Andrés Álvarez: keyboards José Chepe Ariza: bass Video Animated and directed by Tenis Direction: Diego Tenorio Animation and drawings: Sergio Dapello, Sofia Lores, Muriel Holguín, Jorge Maita, Diego Tenorio Edition: Muriel Holguín Executive Producer: Laura Jordan

La canción de la semana #890

...is Amantes Suicidas by Mon Laferte, from her stunning 2023 album Autopoiética.

La canción de la semana #889

...is Olvidarte nunca by Julieta Laso featuring La Dame Blanche. This song appears on the Argentine singer's new album Pata de Perra.

Pata de perra es un dicho que se usa mucho en las provincias del norte de Argentina y también en algunas partes de Latinoamérica. Creo que en México también. Y yo no sabía qué nombre ponerle al disco, estaba desesperada con eso, y un amigo salteño, cuando estábamos hablando, me dice: “qué te voy a ver si vos estás patiperreando todo el día” (lo dice con tonada salteña). Le dije: ¿qué me dijiste? Patiperrear, me dice. Pata de perro suelen decir, más que de perra. Es como alguien callejero, que anda sin rumbo. Y me pareció divino.

Julieta Laso