The ''copla,'' ''copla andaluza'' (" Andalusian ''copla''"), ''canción andaluza'', ''canción española'', ''tonadilla'' or ''canción folklórica'' is a form of Spanish popular song, deriving from the poetic form of the same name. Although the genre has a long heritage, it flourished in the 1930s and 1940s, and is epitomized by songwriters

Antonio Quintero Antonio Quintero (born 20 September 1961) is a Cuban former cycle sport, cyclist. He competed in the Cycling at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race, individual road race event at the 1980 Summer Olympics. References Extern ...

, Rafael de León and

Manuel Quiroga Manuel López-Quiroga Miquel (January 30, 1899 – December 13, 1988), better known as Maestro Quiroga, was a Spanish composer especially known for his '' coplas'', ''cuplés'', and ''zarzuelas''. He was also a pianist and one of the group of ...

. One of the first singers of ''coplas'' was

Raquel Meller Francisca Romana Marqués López (9 March 1888 – 26 July 1962), better known as Raquel Meller, was a Spanish diseuse, cuplé, and tonadilla singer and actress. She was an international star in the 1920s and 1930s, appearing in several films a ...

. Initially she sang '' cuplé'', which later evolved in Andalusian and Spanish song into the ''copla'' as it is known today. Other well-known singers of ''coplas'' are Imperio Argentina, Manolo Corrales, Estrellita Castro,

Concha Piquer María de la Concepción Piquer López (13 December 190612 December 1990), better known as Concha Piquer (and sometimes billed as Conchita Piquer), was a Spanish singer and actress. She was known for her work in the '' copla'' form, and she perfor ...

, Miguel de Molina, Lola Flores,

Marifé de Triana María Felisa Martínez López (September 13, 1936 – February 16, 2013), known professionally as Marifé de Triana, was a Spanish singer, dancer and actress. Early life Marifé de Triana was born in Burguillos in Seville. She lived in the ...

, Juanita Reina, Manolo Escobar, Juanito Valderrama, Sara Montiel and Antonio Molina. Particularly of note is

Carlos Cano Carlos Cano de la Fuente (3 October 1955 – 23 December 2015) was a Peruvian actor. He was married to actress Patricia Frayssinet Patricia is a female given name of Latin origin. Derived from the Latin word ''patrician'', meaning "noble"; it ...

, who was a key figure in reviving the popularity of the ''copla'' in the later 20th century. More recent singers of ''coplas'' include

Rocío Jurado María del Rocío Mohedano Jurado (, 18 September 1944 – 1 June 2006), better known as Rocío Jurado, was a Spanish singer and actress. She was born in Chipiona (Cádiz) and nicknamed "La más grande" ("The Greatest"). In 2000 in New York Cit ...

, Bambino, María Jiménez, Isabel Pantoja, Martirio, and Miguel Poveda and, even more recently, Pasión Vega, Clara Montes, Pastora Soler, Aurora Guirado, Diana Navarro, Pilar Boyero, Concha Buika, Montse Delgado and opera singer Plácido Domingo, who released an album of ''coplas'' entitled ''Pasión Española'' in 2008. Some of these artists, particularly Pasión Vega (born 1976) and Diana Navarro (born 1978), have bent and stretched the genre in directions that have come to be known as ''Nueva Copla'' ("''New'' ''Copla''"). Some examples of famous ''coplas'' include "Ojos verdes" (Green Eyes), "Tatuaje" (Tattoo), "La falsa moneda" (The Fake Coin), "María de la O," and "Rocío." The lyrics often feature marginalized characters, including prostitutes, sailors, escaped convicts, gypsies and so on, and have themes based on the "illegitimacy of all relationships outside the recognized heterosexual marriage" (i.e., mistreated women, abandoned children and extramarital affairs). Because these were stories of love gone wrong, of women who crossed the line of sexual mores, and of men's honor, they used to be criticized for being old-fashioned and sexist. However, more recently, modern performers have given the songs a new twist by "selecting ''coplas'' that vindicate a women's power, their independence and their passion." ''Id''. at 287.

References

{{Authority control Spanish music Spanish folklore Andalusian music Song forms 20th century in music

See also

References