"Fina estampa" (translation "fine mien") is a song written in 1956 by the

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

vian singer-songwriter,

Chabuca Granda María Isabel Granda Larco (3 September 1920 – 8 March 1983), better known as Chabuca Granda, was a Peruvian singer and composer. She created and interpreted a vast number of Criollo waltzes with Afro-Peruvian rhythms. Granda's "La flor de la ...

. The song is a

Peruvian waltz The vals criollo ( en, Creole waltz), or Peruvian waltz ( es, vals peruano), is an adaptation of the European waltz brought to the Americas during colonial times by Spain. In the Viceroyalty of Peru, the waltz was gradually adapted to the likings ...

in the "

música criolla Música criolla or ''canción criolla'' is a varied genre of Peruvian music that exhibits influences from European, African and Andean music. The genre's name reflects the coastal culture of Peru, and the local evolution of the term ''criollo'', ...

" style.

Lyrics and dedication

The song was written on April 21, 1956. The song was dedicated to her father, Eduardo Granda, and his qualities as a gentleman that made women swoon. The lyrics describe a gentleman with elegant clothes and hat as he strolls through the streets, causing a little girl to smile and windows to stir.

Recording history

First recording by Los Cinco

In 1961, Mario Cavagnaro, the head of the "Sono Radio" record label, proposed an album compiling Granda's best compositions. The album was titled "Lo mejor de Chabuca Granda" ("The Best of Chabuca Granda"). Granda was allowed to select her favorite interpreters to perform on the album. For "Fina estampa", she chose the group, "Los Cinco". The song appeared as the second track on the album.

Recordings by Granda

In 1968, Granda recorded the song in her own voice for her album, "Voz y Vena de Chabuca Granda". She was accompanied on the album by musicians, Martín Torres, Rafael Amaranto, Vicente Vásquez, and Carlos Hayre. In 1973, Granda again recorded the song for her album, " Grande De América", produced for the

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...

label. For the album's recording of "Fina estampa", she was accompanied by Óscar Avilés on guitar and by Chucho Ferrer on organ. Granda again performed the song in November 1977 for the program, ''

300 millones ''300 millones'' is a weekly Spanish musical and cultural television variety show produced by Televisión Española (TVE), aired between 1977 and 1983 on TVE-1 in Spain and transmitted via satellite to all member stations of the Organización de ...

'' of

Televisión Española Televisión Española (acronym TVE, branded tve, "Spanish Television") is Spain's national state-owned public television broadcaster and the oldest regular television service in the country. It was also the first regular television service in ...

. She was accompanied on the performance by Rodolfo Arteaga, Félix Casaverde, and

Caitro Soto Pedro Carlos Soto de la Colina (23 October 1934, San Luis, Cañete, Peru – 19 July 2004, Lima, Peru), popularly known as Caitro Soto, was an Afro-Peruvian musician and composer. He was known for his version of the Peruvian folk song, "Toro Mata" ...

. Granda suffered a heart attack in 1979 and was in poor health thereafter. She recorded her final album, '' Cada Cancion con su Razon'', in 1980 at the EMI studios in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

. She included "Fina estampa" on the album with accompaniment by

, Pititi Sirio, and Álvaro Lagos.

Cover versions

The song is among Granda's most famous and has become known internationally. Brazilian artist

Caetano Veloso Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso (; born 7 August 1942) is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo, which encomp ...

, winner of nine Latin Grammy Awards, covered the song as the title track for his 1994 album, ''Fina Estampa''. Veloso's ''Fina Estampa'' album was so successful that he also produced and released a live version, ''Fina Estampa Ao Vivo''.

Tania Libertad Tania Libertad de Souza Zúñiga (born October 24, 1952) known professionally as Tania Libertad, is a Peruvian-Mexican singer in the World Music genre. Libertad was named an Ambassador for Peace by UNESCO, Comendadora by the Peruvian government, a ...

, recipient of the

Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award The Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is an honor presented annually by the Latin Recording Academy, the same organization that distributes the Latin Grammy Awards, to commend performers "who have made contributions of outstanding artistic ...

, also covered "Fina estampa" on multiple recordings, including her 1983 tribute to Granda, ''Lo Inolvidable de Chabuca Granda'', and on her 1997 album ''Libertad de Manzanero''. Salsa artist

Celia Cruz Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a naturalized Cuban-American singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during t ...

recorded the song for her 1974 album, ''La Ceiba'', and it was also later included on ''The Very Best of Celia Cruz''. "Fina estampa" was also popularized in ranchera versions by

Aida Cuevas Aída Cuevas (; born Aída Gabriela Cuevas Castillo; September 24, 1963) is a Mexican singer and actress. Life Aída Cuevas began singing in amateur contests at the age of 11 and was quickly discovered because of her exceptional talent. Her f ...

and

Lucha Villa Luz Elena Ruiz Bejarano (born November 30, 1936), more commonly known by her stage name Lucha Villa, is a Mexican singer and actress. Early life Born in Camargo, Chihuahua, Luz Elena Ruiz Bejarano was given her pseudonym "Lucha Villa" by telev ...

. The Peruvian operatic tenor

Juan Diego Flórez Juan Diego Flórez (born Juan Diego Flórez Salom, January 13, 1973) is a Peruvian operatic tenor, particularly known for his roles in bel canto operas. On June 4, 2007, he received his country's highest decoration, the ''Knight Grand Cross in t ...

, backed by the

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Fort Worth, Texas. The orchestra is resident at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall. In addition to its symphonic and pops concert series, the FWSO ...

, covered the song for his 2006 crossover album of Latin American standards. Critic James Manheim of AllMusic described Flórez as "completely at home" in his "delightful" rendition of the song.

Recognition

In 2017, Granda's body of musical work was declared a part of the "Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación" (" Cultural Heritage of the Nation"). "Fina estampa" was cited in the declaration as one of Granda's emblematic works. In 2019, ''

La República LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...

'', one of the two major national newspapers in Peru, included "Fina estampa" on its list of the six best songs of Granda that have represented Peru around the world. The magazine ''

Caretas ''Caretas'' (Masks) is a weekly newsmagazine published in Lima, Peru, renowned for its investigative journalism. History ''Caretas'' was founded in October 1950 by Doris Gibson and Francisco Igartua. In the mid-1950s, Gibson's son, Enrique Z ...

'' also included the song in its 2020 listing of Granda's five most emblematic songs. In 2020, on the 100th anniversary of Granda's birth, Peru's Ministry of Culture published a book on Granda's life and works, written by Rodrigo Sarmiento Herencia. Sarmiento opened the book by naming "Fina estampa" among Granda's four most recognized works, demonstrating her unfading creative capacity and talent.Sarmiento, "Llego Rasgando Cielos, Luz y Viento", p. 11.

References

External links

Fina estampa ''Fina Estampa'' (''Looks & Essence'') is a Brazilian telenovela that first aired on Globo between August 22, 2011 and March 23, 2012 in 185 chapters.

at Spanish Wikipedia