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I mean, for example in Paco's album Cositas Buenas, where does the lyrics come from? Are they traditional stuff? Paco wrote them? Singers took them from their repertoire or something? All of these? Who decides what words to be sung?
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: who makes up the letras? (in reply to farteindj)
I think Paco composed and wrote the lyrics for all of it except for two pieces—“El Dengue”, which he co-wrote with Juan D’Anyelica (who also plays guitar ) and “Que Venga El Alba”, for which he wrote the music but the lyrics were written by José Monte Cruz and José Sanchez.
On previous albums his brother Pepe also wrote lyrics and am pretty sure Paco has also recorded 'traditional' flamenco songs passed down through family and other musicians.
Thanks Kate! The things you guys know on this forum!
It's just that there seems to be so little talk about the lyrics in flamenco (at least that I hear of), you know, like Paco or some other artist telling in interviews what inspired this or that song, like the typical pop rock songwriter likes to do. Flamencos seems to just talk about the music, so I sometimes get the feeling that the words have just appeared from out of the blue.
Posts: 15792
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: who makes up the letras? (in reply to farteindj)
Even modern letras are based on some of the old 3 liners etc which are standards. study the old cante and you will understand better. Jose Sanchez IS pepe de lucia, and jose monJe cruz IS Camaron, so they are pretty famous for making up some new lyrics...just read interviews with those guys...they are like the "pop" stars of flamenco (exactly what you seem to think you DON"T find in the flamenco world).
As far as old cante's, the "inspiration" for the lyrics is pretty clear. Flamenco singers who sing the old cantes improvise letras (ie mix em up alot), so they are not at all like "pop" songs. Keep listening!
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