And one more bulerías...
Mi amante es pajarero.
Me trajo un loro…
Viewing entries in
Letras
It's Friday... And the world is still here.
And there are more bulerías.
Ponte donde yo te vea
¿Por qué no le das ese gustito a mi cuerpo
aunque otra cosa no puedas?
Popular
Come where I can see you
Why not give this pleasure to my body
even though you can't do anything else?
Popular
Bulerías are back in January. And if you just can't wait until then, come to the holiday fiesta. After all, what kind of a party would it be without bulerías?
Comments
Translating is a challenge for me. You know that. Especially the final line of this letra. Please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments. And, of course, feel free to let me know what else is on your mind...
............................................
You've heard me talk about Perico Navarro. Below is a letra that he likes followed by a video of Camarón singing it.
Written by Omar Khayyan...
Un poco de pan,
un poco de agua fresca,
la sombra de un árbol y tus ojos.
Ningún sultán mas felíz que yo.
Ningún mendigo más triste.
Keep Reading
En continuación... (of the bulerías series, the little goodbye to Jerez) A few words from Mercedes Ruíz on bulerías.
What does she like about it?
¿Qué es lo que te gusta de la bulería? A mí me gusta porque es un palo muy festero y que puedo improvisar mucho.
She likes that it is a festive party palo, and she can improvise a lot.
And, the big question...
¿Por qué crees que a nosotros extranjeros nos cuesta tanto bailar por bulerías? A los extranjeros creo que les cuesta porque la bulería es mucho de escuchar el cante, y hasta que no entienden eso no se puede bailar con naturalidad.
She thinks bulerías is hard for foreigners because listening to the singing is such a big part of it. Until this is understood, one cannot dance in a natural-way.
To watch a video with some insights from Perico Navarro, her cajón player, about why it's hard for us...click here.
And, if you want to read longer and perhaps more fascinating interviews with Mercedes, click here, here, here, here, and then here.
And you?
What are your thoughts? I myself used to hate bulerías. But not anymore. Do you like this palo? Why? Do you hate it? Why? Stefani was just telling me the other day about how much she didn't like bulerías, because of the cante. But I think she really likes it. Anyway, tell me what you think by leaving a comment here.
Want to dance bulerías?
A new series begins in January. Stay tuned for details.
..................................................
Ricardo is gone. I'm missing him. Here's another tangos we danced with him...
Adiós patio de la cárcel
rincón de la barberia
el quien no tiene dinero
lo afeita con agua fría
Keep Reading
We had FUN with Ricardo. (If you missed him this time, don't cry, he'll be back...)
What one student had to say
(It really moved me...)
"Thank YOU so much! I had an amazing time this weekend with you, Ricardo, and everyone at your studio. I am really just blown away, in so many ways.
Laura I have not danced in at least 4 years. No exercise, no dancing, nada. I have been going crazy all this time, with this love inside me, trying to channel it through cante occasionally but most of the time having no outlet.
I have been scared I couldn't make it,
Tangos. And a brief departure from the bulerías series. I'll come back to it soon. Last weekend Ricardo taught us some Tangos de Málaga. And this weekend, we'll get more. Below, a letra he sang for us.
Tangos...
(...de Málaga, del Piyayo, del Titi)
Te pongas como te pongas
si eres fea lo serás
por mucho que te compongas
Keep Reading
Don't worry, It's not you who I want nothing to do with. In fact, it's not anyone. It's just today's letra.
¿Y por qué?
Because this week has been all about bulerías,
And today shall be no different.
Here I am in Portland with Ricardo López, and he made my day when he suggested we do bulerías in one of the workshops. He then put the icing on the cake when he said we should dance to a tema by Joaquin el Zambo...
Keep Reading
What I don't want right now
For Katie to leave today.
But she has already gone...Last Sunday when everybody else left, I felt like a mother whose babies were leaving. Even though I don't really know how that feels.
What else don't I want right now?
For myself to leave...
Read on for a video of Miguel Poveda, Jesús Méndez, and Perico Navarro and a beautiful letra by Antonio Gallardo.
Keep Reading
Today was the last bulerias class for everyone on the Spain Tour, my exotic pets.
And tomorrow is the final class with Mercedes.
Then on Sunday everyone leaves. I am feeling pretty sad about that. Thank goodness Katie is staying...
But back to bulerías class.
Today was a celebratory day. Just about everyone got cerveza. Yes, beer. When Ani is in a good mood and really likes what you do she gives you beer. I didn't get any beer.
Keep Reading
Today everyone came to bulerías class.
My dad, Kuma, and, of course, my exotic pets. (That is what they've started calling themselves, the Spain Tour students. I much prefer it to Spain Tour students, and I can't tell you what fun it is to bring exotic pets along on a trip...)
Anyway, below is a letra that Junquerita sang today. Ani did as well.
Bulerías
Popular
Me entró sueño y me dormí
me despertaron los gallos
cantando quiriquíquí
I got tired,
and I went to sleep
I was awaken by the roosters singing cock-a-doodle-doo
eep Reading
Tonight I heard Felipa la del Moreno sing accompanied by Manuel Valencia on guitar. Wow.
They were at the peña Tío José de Paula in el Barrio Santiago. This was the second of the three flamenco shows I went to tonight. So much going on here. All on the same night. And kind of all at the same time. But somehow we still managed to get to all three...
Below is a tarantos she sang tonight.
Tarantos.
Since I was just telling you about how Manuel Liñan danced por tarantos on Wednesday.
Keep Reading
Some good things have happened since my trip began. And I've already learned something very important. A story and a video of Manuel Liñan dancing.
On Monday I went to the Portland airport.
I befriended the woman standing behind me in the security line who, as it turns out, I already knew. We talked and I told her about my trip. She told me it was going to be great even though I was scared that everything would fall apart. She also told me I would definitely organize more...
On Tuesday I arrived in Madrid.
It was sunny and the sky was blue. I was in Spain and happy.
Now I am in Jerez. It is rainy and the sky is grey. I am still in Spain. I am still happy.
Keep Reading
It's late, but it's still Friday. Here is a letra from Camarón that José taught us...
Bulerías
Popular
Que me lleve contigo
Porque yo no me hallo
Lejo de tu cariño.
Keep Reading
The same letra, different words.
I love this about flamenco.
I don't mean completely different words, though there's that as well.
I'm talking about one letra and how each singer may vary the words slightly, sometimes changing the sentido, the meaning, sometimes not.
Keep Reading
Today another letra that Vicente sang. Something happened while he sang me this letra, something that had the potential to really throw me off. But it actually didn't. It was weird. It was like I noticed it happening and kind of watched myself continue dancing. I guess it kind of caused me to become more focused, in a sense. I want to tell you about it some day...
But, hoy es viernes. So we have a letra. And you can listen to it here, sung by a coro with Tomatito playing guitar. It's Cañailla, from his Barrio Negro album.
Alegrías
Popular
Anda y ven
Replicale al orgulloso amor
Anda y ven
Dile porque llora mi corazón
Si solo intento vivir con mi triste alegría
haciendo que la luna también encaje cada día
Por eso quiero que salga el sol.
Sueño con tus besos,
tú y siempre tú.
Keep Reading
I found this letra in the Antología del Baile Flamenco. (Gracias, Angel por haberme regalado este libro.) It was written for Matilde Coral. She was one of my first teachers.
I really ought to tell you about my first encounter with her. In Triana, on La Calle Castilla, at her academy.
I had no idea who she was, other than that she was a flamenco dancer, when I went to see her. We met in her office.
She had a lot to say,
but I only understood bits and pieces.
That's kind of how it was that whole first year in Spain. Most of the time I only partially understood people. I did however understand what Matilde wanted me to do. And I did not want to do it. In fact, I refused to.
But, I'm not going to tell you about that today...
For today, just this letra and a video of Matilde Coral dancing alegrías
A Matilde Coral
Daniel Pineda Novo
Keep Reading
I'm on a bit of an alegrías kick. Yesterday I got together with Vicente to practice, and he sang me this letra...
Alegrías
Popular
Ayúdame caballero
a pintar esta rosa…
Keep Reading
Alegrías. Mmmmm. Love them.
Here is a letra and a video of Camarón singing it.
Alegrías
Popular
Yo pegué un tiro al aire
cayó en la arena
confianza en el hombre
nunca la tengas