I've been watching this flamenco video for about a year now (whilst doing other things, of course). I like to watch it on its own or while playing other videos. Sometimes I use this as the video, meaning I watch this video while playing other videos to it in the background. Other times I use this as the music, meaning I have this in the background while watching other videos. Sometimes I have the sound off, sometimes on. I'll adjust the audio to the videos to make just the right mix. Sometimes I'll play a few videos at once and really mix it up. That's how you can be your own kind of amateur composer and it's a lot of fun and a great escape.


It's incredible how these flamenco dances and this flamenco music fit visually and acoustically with just about any type of music - rock, classical, folk, country, pop, well just about everything I've found. So I thought I'd share this with you. You might like it exactly as it is, on its own. Or you might like to mix this with your favourite music. Or you might not like it at all. It might be worth a shot for you. I do hope you like this in some way.

Amazing Flamenco - YouTube

Well I liked it!
I don't know anything about flamenco, but you can't live in Spain for long without hearing something about Joaquín Cortés and Sara Baras.
Joaquín Cortés is the personification of pavonearse I think

 

Hi Pesky Wesky. I looked up "pavonearse" and could only find a Spanish translation, so don't what it means.

I don't know much at all about flamenco either. I'm going to be in Spain in 2 weeks and I'm green on this topic - shamefully so. The video I posted above is actually what turned me onto those two dancers. Joaquin Cortes is the second-last video and Sara Baras is the last video. I've checked out some of their other videos and they're fantastic. I saw an interview with Joaquin Cortes but it was in Spanish. I think I understood he said he's a choreographer now.

Here's one of my other favourites with Joaquin Cortes. This also is an excellent song to mix with because the sounds are light and spaced apart, and the video matches everything:

I saw some of this group live in London some years ago - amazing...

Hi Thrax. Which group did you see in London? Do you mean all these performers in this video played in one spot one night?! I thought these were clips from different performances. Is it expensive to see flamenco live?

We are both great flamenco enthusiasts and belong to our local peña. We go to performances by dancers, singers and guitarists from all over the region. It's raw stuff, cante jondo, often with impromptu performances from spectators.
A Spanish friend who is also an enthusiast wrote me a list of performers I might like so before buying CD s I listened on YouTube.
My favourites are mainly the 'oldies'. Sabicas, Pepe Pinto, and of course El Camaron and the late Paco but I also like youngsters like Jose Merce.

I also like fado...my favourite being again the 'oldies' especially Amalia Rodriguez. I oncestayedin a hotel in a Portuguese village which had a balcony from which she gave an impromptu concert to crowds who having learned she was there flocked to the square outside!
Ana Moura is a current fado star... Worth a look on YouTube, all of them.

Hi Mary. What does peña mean? Google Translate says it means rock.

What a leg up for you to get the list of performers for you! Of the list you gave, I only know of the late Paco (from a post on this forum). But I haven't heard of the others, so I'll look them up. That's a start, eh?

What a fabulous story from Portugal. I'm sure that video plays in your head a lot.

This is great, they've done for flamenco what Riverdance did for Irish jigs and reels; made it internationally accessible and entertaining. There will always be purists who shake their heads and say it's not authentic, but so what - there's plenty of room for this flashy stuff alongside the traditional cante jondo and most importantly, plenty of young people continuing the tradition.

The traditional flamenco singing has its roots in suffering. The gypsies were regarded as little more than vermin in 18th century Spain and were "ethnically cleansed" from their settlements, e.g. the Triana district of Seville. It was illegal to be a "vagabond" so if they were caught, the men were sent to be galley slaves and the women were held in internment camps where many died of starvation.

Just as the blues originated with ***** slaves, cante jondo originated with people deprived of their liberty. A lot of people find it too painful to listen to, and it's certainly an acquired taste. This is one of the more accessible singers: let me know what you think!

La Niña de los Peines - Quisiera yo renegar (Petenera) - YouTube

Hi Alcalaina. Thank you for the history of this. I knew flamenco was rooted in the gypsies, but I didn't know anything else of what you posted. I absolutely love the flamenco song you posted. I have a love for blues, so when you introduced this as you did, it hit just the right spot.

So the flamencos I posted are not considered authentic? I understand Joaquin Cortes mixed his background of ballet and modern dance with flamenco.

I agree that it's an acquired taste. I love to hear flamenco guitar, but the singing is another matter. I could guess it has its roots in suffering even if I knew nothing about it, it certainly has the sound of someone in great pain.

Quite a few of my neighbours play and sing, and especially on summer nights there will often be an impromptu "jam session" or whatever the right term might be in flamenco circles going on on a corner of the street with a guitarist, percussion courtesy of a wooden box, singers and the hand clapping accompaniment. Normally I can well live without the singing but the other night I walked past a young lad of about 16 singing and he was wonderful.

Hi Lynn. I have to say the flamenco singing is my least favourite part of the flamenco. Native Canadian singing I find to be similar, so perhaps that helps me like it more. Of course, I have an acquired taste for Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, so my ears aren't quite as sensitive as they used to be. For me, first comes the clapping and foot tapping, second the dance, third the guitar and fourth the singing. What about you? How would you order them as to your preferences?

Have a look at el Nino de Peñaflor on Youtube, in particular El Abuelo.

You mean this one?

 

I saw some of this group live in London some years ago - amazing...

 

We are both great flamenco enthusiasts and belong to our local peña. We go to performances by dancers, singers and guitarists from all over the region. It's raw stuff, cante jondo, often with impromptu performances from spectators.
A Spanish friend who is also an enthusiast wrote me a list of performers I might like so before buying CD s I listened on YouTube.
My favourites are mainly the 'oldies'. Sabicas, Pepe Pinto, and of course El Camaron and the late Paco but I also like youngsters like Jose Merce.

I also like fado...my favourite being again the 'oldies' especially Amalia Rodriguez. I oncestayedin a hotel in a Portuguese village which had a balcony from which she gave an impromptu concert to crowds who having learned she was there flocked to the square outside!
Ana Moura is a current fado star... Worth a look on YouTube, all of them.

 

This is great, they've done for flamenco what Riverdance did for Irish jigs and reels; made it internationally accessible and entertaining. There will always be purists who shake their heads and say it's not authentic, but so what - there's plenty of room for this flashy stuff alongside the traditional cante jondo and most importantly, plenty of young people continuing the tradition.

The traditional flamenco singing has its roots in suffering. The gypsies were regarded as little more than vermin in 18th century Spain and were "ethnically cleansed" from their settlements, e.g. the Triana district of Seville. It was illegal to be a "vagabond" so if they were caught, the men were sent to be galley slaves and the women were held in internment camps where many died of starvation.

Just as the blues originated with ***** slaves, cante jondo originated with people deprived of their liberty. A lot of people find it too painful to listen to, and it's certainly an acquired taste. This is one of the more accessible singers: let me know what you think!

 

This is great, they've done for flamenco what Riverdance did for Irish jigs and reels; made it internationally accessible and entertaining. There will always be purists who shake their heads and say it's not authentic, but so what - there's plenty of room for this flashy stuff alongside the traditional cante jondo and most importantly, plenty of young people continuing the tradition.

The traditional flamenco singing has its roots in suffering. The gypsies were regarded as little more than vermin in 18th century Spain and were "ethnically cleansed" from their settlements, e.g. the Triana district of Seville. It was illegal to be a "vagabond" so if they were caught, the men were sent to be galley slaves and the women were held in internment camps where many died of starvation.

Just as the blues originated with ***** slaves, cante jondo originated with people deprived of their liberty. A lot of people find it too painful to listen to, and it's certainly an acquired taste. This is one of the more accessible singers: let me know what you think!

La Niña de los Peines - Quisiera yo renegar (Petenera) - YouTube

I agree that it's an acquired taste. I love to hear flamenco guitar, but the singing is another matter. I could guess it has its roots in suffering even if I knew nothing about it, it certainly has the sound of someone in great pain.

Quite a few of my neighbours play and sing, and especially on summer nights there will often be an impromptu "jam session" or whatever the right term might be in flamenco circles going on on a corner of the street with a guitarist, percussion courtesy of a wooden box, singers and the hand clapping accompaniment. Normally I can well live without the singing but the other night I walked past a young lad of about 16 singing and he was wonderful.

 

Technically very accomplished, but equal in raw passion to, thegypsy woman from Jerez who turned up.at our Peña..
Thanks for that.

 

Have a look at el Nino de Peñaflor on Youtube, in particular El Abuelo.

 

I found one of him aged 13, is that the one you mean? Wow!

They do start young though. The owner of the Flamenco bar here, a fine guitarist, sometimes accompanies his daughter, who's just ten. She has a fabulous voice.

I used to get strains of flamenco guitar music coming from the other end of the landing, but unfortunately my OH has had to stop playing for a while because he developed "tennis elbow" from too much practice! It's a very different style from a regular acoustic guitar.

 

Should have said 'Right arm'.

Or I suppose left if left- handed?

 

Peña means 'club'. Ours is a long- established small club which puts on events every three weeks or so. Membership is €30 a year and entry free for members.
Performers are mainly amateurs or semi- professional and there are often impromptu performances from the floor.
Can't wait until they start again next month.
The flamenco takes place in a long, dark room with tablao and framed faded photos and posters around the walls. It's attached to a small local bar/ cafe where you canget an excellent supper very cheaply.
I'm guessing most places in western Andalucia have clubs like that.

 

Peña means 'club'. Ours is a long- established small club which puts on events every three weeks or so. Membership is €30 a year and entry free for members.
Performers are mainly amateurs or semi- professional and there are often impromptu performances from the floor.
Can't wait until they start again next month.
The flamenco takes place in a long, dark room with tablao and framed faded photos and posters around the walls. It's attached to a small local bar/ cafe where you canget an excellent supper very cheaply.
I'm guessing most places in western Andalucia have clubs like that.

Wow. That would sweep me away. I do hope to find such a place. Thank you for the visuals.

 

Pesky Wesky, now I get what you say re Lingee. I was confused by the examples, because I thought these were examples of the "sashay" word and it didn't make sense. Thanks so much for explaining that. Indeed a very useful tool!

So these are bands, not styles. Sorry, again I misunderstood you.

Bummer about Pata Negra not being around anymore because they sound right up my alley. I've seen bands that I've loved live when they've been out of it, and it's really sad to see. Today I've been listening to their album Bluesleria. That you for your recommendation. Here it is:

I found a beautiful, soothing song by Esclarecidos. Again, thank you for this recommendation.

 

Pesky Wesky, I just found what I think is the perfect mix to make a show for the word pavonearse. I hope you try this because I think it's awesome.

Here's the recipe:

Step 1. Pull up two videos in two separate tabs, and pause both videos before they start.

Video #1 is Joaquin Cortes doing a 'modern' flamenco, which I think is directed by Carlos Saura:

Video #2 is Carly Simon singing "You're So Vain:"

Step 2. Mute Video #1.

Step 3. Now go to Video #2 and press play.

Step 4. Switch back over to Video #1 and press play. So the end result is you're listening to the music of Video #2, while watching Video #1 (muted).

I hope you enjoy the show!