You can hear José Mercé sing today’s letra for Manuela Carrasco in the clip below por soleá.
I remember watching this clip over and over again when I first got into flamenco and being mesmerized by Manuela, unable to fathom what she was doing. Her energy, her intensity, the feeling she emotes, her postures, and the footwork right after this letra, por favor ...
Quieres que te quiera yo
que te quiera tu mario
que tiene la obligación
You want me to love you
may your husband love you
for it's his duty
Here’s that clip from Carlos Saura’s film, Flamenco. You can hear this letra at about 2 minutes 45 seconds:
As you may already know, I saw this movie just before going to Spain for the first time to study flamenco in 1998. This image of Manuela and everything about her was stamped in my mind, scaring me to death while simultaneously driving my desire to dance and learn more about this mysterious art form. Twenty years later the mystery has not subsided. I don't think it ever will. I think it is part of what keeps me in it. What about you? Let me know in the comments below.
EDIT: I used to have a link here to a clip of Camarón singing this one por bulerías, but the video was removed. If and when I find it, I will add it back. (And if you find it, please let me know below!)
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