"Matador" or "El matador" (
Spanish for "Killer"), is a song written by Flavio Cianciarulo, bass player of
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, a rock band from
Argentina. It was first released in their 1993 album ''
Vasos Vacíos
''Vasos Vacíos'' (Spanish for "Empty Glasses") is the 8th album by Argentine rock, ska, and reggae band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. This album, released in 1993, was a compilation album which included tracks from the band's previous seven albums (1 ...
'' and it is considered their
signature song
A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a Handwriting, handwritten (and often Stylization, stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and ...
since the song topped the charts all across
Hispanic America.
Alongside "Mal Bicho", "Manuel Santillan, El León" and "Desapariciones" (a cover of
Rubén Blades' song), "El Matador" is one of the Cadillacs' several thematic songs about the oppression and
forced disappearances during the years of military dictatorship across the Southern Cone, particularly
Argentina's last civil-military dictatorship (1976-1983). The song narrates the story of a revolutionary (known as "El Matador") who is being hunted down by pro-dictatorship law enforcement agents, and the narrative is told from the revolutionary's POV. The song also references
Víctor Jara
Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez (; 28 September 1932 – 16 September 1973) was a Chilean teacher, theater director, poet, singer-songwriter and Communist political activist. He developed Chilean theater by directing a broad array of works, rang ...
, a
Chilean folksinger and supporter of the
Allende government who was kidnapped, tortured and assassinated shortly after the
Chilean coup of 1973 by military officials loyal to the
dictator Augusto Pinochet.
In popular culture
This song is played when Nicaraguan boxer
Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga walks to the ring.
"El Matador" was the intro song for #1 tennis player in the world
Rafael Nadal in the 2010 US Open Night Sessions.
This song is part of the soundtrack of the movie ''
The Matador''. It also appeared in the movie ''
Grosse Pointe Blank'', as well as its soundtrack.
The
University of Southern California's "
Spirit of Troy" Marching Band, always played "El Matador" when their
USC Trojans football quarterback
Mark Sanchez entered the field.
The song "
Single-Bilingual" by British duo
Pet Shop Boys
The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo i ...
features a sample throughout the entire length of their song.
External links
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs''Official Site''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matador, El
1993 songs
Argentine songs
Song recordings produced by K. C. Porter