Song: La Flaca by Jarabe de Palo

La Flaca has a classical coastal vibe.  Of course this song is catchy, the rhythm and lead guitar drive the thing, and the drums constantly slap you in the face to keep movin’ on the dance floor, but the lyrics really push this for me song over.  That and the constant change in delivery and flow of the song.

In the life a woman known as the Skinny Girl

Coral black from Havana, extremely mulatto

A hundred pounds of skin and bone, forty kilos of Salsa

And in her face two suns that speak without words

Speak without words

The Skinny Girl sleeps during the day, they say that’s how she gets hungry

And when the night fals, she descends to dance with the glass

To dance and dance, and drink and drink

One beer after another, but she never gains weight

But she never gains wait

Chorus

For one kiss from the Skinny Girl, I’d give everything

For one kiss from her, I’d give everything

For one kiss from the Skinny Girl, I’d give everything

For one kiss from her, even just once

Even just once

Soaking wet are my white sheets, like the song says

Remembering the caresses that brought the first day

And I’m becoming insane trying to win favor to sleep by your side

Because, God, this skinny girl makes me crazy

She makes me crazy

Chorus

Chorus


The song may sound a bit misogynistic, which it is a bit. However, this guy singing is infatuated with this party girl who seems to be hiding so much of her life that she ends up burying some pain it each night in drink and dance.  He knows her well. If he’s a friend or an acquaintance, we can’t quite tell. But it’s obvious that he wants more. 

La Flaca is a song of intrigue where the lyrics give you just enough of the story to want more.  The harmonies lift you through the end, repeating the lyrics, “Even just once.”

I love it.