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Let's listen to another coletilla together!

Let's listen to another coletilla together

In my last blog post, we looked at a coletilla, with this letra:
Son los toreros
Los que se ponen
 cintas en el pelo

In this blog post, we're going to listen to that same coletilla being sung again, but this time by a different singer!

This way we can compare how two different singers use the same (coletilla) letra.

The video..

The video below starts off with the cantaora singing a main letra before moving on to sing the coletilla.

Listen carefully to the tone and melody of the letra, and then compare it to the tone and melody of the coletilla.

The cantaora also sings a second coletilla after the first one, to accompany the dancers off stage during their final.

What to listen out for..

In this clip, the cantaora sings the first sung line 2 times – 'Son los toreros', and the second sung line 2 times – 'Los que se ponen cintas en el pelo'.

(and then she sings another coletilla straight after..)

Written out the coletilla letra would look like this:

Son toreros, Son los toreros (first sung line x2)
Los que se ponen
 cintas en el pelo
Los que se ponen
 cintas en el pelo (second sung line x2)

Your turn!

📽 Click on the image below to watch the video [1 min] and listen to the cante 👀 🎧

Can you get a feel for the shorter phrasing in the coletilla than the main letra and the more upbeat melody?

Did you notice?
In this clip, the dancers were still wrapping up their pataíta at the end of the first coletilla and so the cantaora started singing a new coletilla, to accompany the dancers.
 
The singer could also have chosen to repeat the same coletilla, until the dancers were off stage..
 
Remember, the singer will never abandon you during the final! They will at least continue with jaleos or more singing until you finish your final.
 
I hope this description and training video help you make more sense of the differences and nuances between the main letra and the coletilla.
 
It's really only by repetition and listening to a lot of Bulerías Por Fiesta that we can train our ears to the nuances over time!
 
VIDEO CREDIT:
Here's a link to the whole video on YouTube, 'Miguel Poveda y Los Habichuela ESPECTACULAR Fin de fiesta por Bulerías' uploaded by Flamenco y Bulería OFICIAL.
 
Take the time to watch the whole thing! These performers really know how to put the 'Fiesta' in Bulerías Por Fiesta! 🎉
Until next time, happy dancing 💃🏻
Belinda x
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If you've ever felt like you're learning steps...
but not quite understanding what's happening in the dance
You're not alone
Flamenco becomes much clearer when you begin to see how the music, singing, and movement fit together
That's what we work with inside The Online Dance Studio
A space where dancers learn to listen, recognise, and respond
— not just remember
A space where you can finally hear what's going on
— and know what to do with it
Hi, I'm Belinda
I teach flamenco in a way that helps dancers understand what they're doing and why, so they can dance with intention and enjoyment

Many dancers tell me after taking my lessons they suddenly think: "Oh... now I understand what's happening."

That moment never gets old
 
Learn more about me here
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