“Rata inmunda, animal rastrero, escoria de la vida, adefesio mal hecho.”
Loosely translating to “filthy rat, creeping animal, scum of life, shoddy monstrosity” in English, these are the opening lyrics to one of Paquita la del Barrio’s most popular songs, “Rata de dos Patas.”
Whether the lyrics to her songs — most penned by other composers, including Manuel Eduardo Toscano — were poetic is subjective, but they were very much the essence of Paquita. She was refreshingly honest, which made her one of the most unique artists of her generation.
It was announced on Monday (Feb. 17) that the great and oh-so-blunt Paquita la del Barrio had died at age 77, leaving behind a hefty catalog of female anthems that have soundtracked Spanish-language households in Mexico and beyond for decades.
“With deep pain and sadness, we confirm the sensitive passing of our beloved ‘Paquita la del Barrio’ at her home in Veracruz [Mexico], being a unique and irreplaceable artist, who will leave an indelible mark in the hearts of all who knew her and enjoyed her music,” reads a statement posted on her official Instagram account. “In this moment of great pain, we respectfully ask all media and the public to give us space and understanding so that her family can experience their mourning in privacy and peace.”
Paquita la del Barrio was a force to be reckoned with in regional Mexican music, a genre historically and still dominated by men. Her perspective and take on rancheras — often calling out the macho culture — was not only unique, but extremely important. No one was else was singing what Paquita la del Barrio was singing about, and for that, she will go down in history as one of the most iconic singers in Latin music.
Injecting pathos into her delivery, Paquita made women feel seen. Our point of view mattered, too, she proclaimed, singing about the peaks and valleys of womanhood and, more often than not, singing directly to the men who disrespected her. “I should shut up like a lady would,” she sings in “Taco Placero.” “But now they will know that you are a dud in bed.”
While most of Paquita la del Barrio’s songs became anthems, here are five emblematic ones (in no particular order).
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“Rata de dos Patas”
Yup, the title of this song is “Two-Legged Rat” when translated to English, and this is hands down Paquita la del Barrio’s most iconic track. There are so many great lines that you can’t help but recite, including “Me estás oyendo? Inútil!” (In English, “Are you listening to me? Useless.”) There’s a freedom that comes with singing this song of spite. While it didn’t have much impact on the charts, it’s safe to say that “Rata de dos Patas” has stood the test of time and will go down as the ultimate Spanish-language, girl-power anthem.
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“Me Saludas a la Tuya”
“Me Saludas a la Tuya” is almost a satire as Paquita quips about an exchange she’s had with an ex-lover. “Thanks for remembering about my mom,” she sings defiantly. “It had been a long time since I was reminded of her with such flowery language, but please tell your mother I say hello as well.” It’s a witty way of telling someone to essentially f— off. And only Paquita could pull that off while singing alongside a gorgeous mariachi tune.
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“Piérdeme el Respeto”
In this accordion-led ballad, Paquita gets real by expressing exactly what she wants from a situationship. “I don’t like lies/ Why should I deny it, I want to be with you, too/ Don’t come to me with the story that you’re a gentleman/ I know your way very well,” she sings, armed with courage. “Lose respect for me/ Let go of things/ And make me, I beg you, the most indecent propositions/ More indecent.”
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“Tres Veces Te Engañé”
A heart-wrenching norteña, Paquita gets vulnerable in “Tres Veces Te Engañé,” narrating a tragic ending to what could have been a fairytale. “I was always faithful, but this time it was different,” she sings, almost gutted. “I bumped into someone/ I think unintentionally, I cheated on you three times/ The first out of anger, the second on a whim and the third for pleasure.”
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“Taco Placero”
You listened to Paquita because she was singing about things you probably couldn’t say out loud, although you were thinking about it … “But how stupid you were/ You turned out to be unmanly/ Speaking about a woman that really has no name/ I should shut up like a lady would/ But now they’re gonna find out that you’re a dud in bed,” she sings in the irreverent “Taco Placero.”
