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