En expoflamenco We recently discussed a remarkable book, The letters of the cante, published by Ediciones Colibrí in 2024. We said that in this book the stars, or the researchers and creators, come together in an impeccable meeting, as is the case of this book written by three hands, as well as it is a guarantee to have in the same work the signatures of Jose L. Blanco Garza, award-winning lyricist at the Seville Biennial, Jose L. Rodriguez Ojeda, known for his lyrics in the voice of many good singers and for his teaching work, also a fine poet, and that of the professor and journalist Francis Oaks. In this link the full review can be consulted.
And a little further back we were dealing with another half-brother, Jondowebsite, now unfortunately lost with all its contents, of the complete flamenco lyrics –or almost– of Rodríguez Ojeda, whose last book we are now commenting on, Song of the Road, subtitled Collected Poetry (1994-2024). Previously, another collection of his lyrics had appeared in Ediciones Signatura, My lyrics for him cante, 2008.
De Almost all my lyrics for the cante, Edited by Anantes In 2020, we said it was difficult to say it better and more jondo and that we were, and continue to maintain, for the mastery in the use of the language of flamenco lyrics or verses, from the compilation of Demophilus, from which it is heir; for the depth in the treatment of universal themes such as love, death, sentences, God, social denunciation, the mother, etc.; for its perfect fit in the cante or in the different styles or palos of the same, which he knows very well, before a masterpiece of the genre, almost without. We remembered that this is also how the prologuist, a master of flamenco communication like José María Velázquez Gaztelu, which places it "halfway between the slow melancholic glow of Manuel and the deep song of Antonio and, ultimately, establishes a clean literary complicity with Francisco Moreno Galvan». That said: a masterpiece of the genre of flamenco lyrics, of the lyric that serves as a poetic support for cante flamenco.
We ended with some samples, which we remember here and wherever necessary, because we never tire of their quality, combined with the voices of the singers who have sung them, por soleá:
Take this pain with me
so many moments spent
that I already have affection for him.
There are those who lean against a tree
looking for the good shade
and the tree falls on him.
This world is badly made
with deception and lies
from the very foundations.
By petenera:
The sorrows that time heals
They are not very bitter,
that this pain that I have
it does not heal over time.
Or, among others, because he has dealt with numerous palos, cante from Levante:
I spend my time enjoying myself,
when the work is done,
almost my entire day
in case one day the mine
He won't let me go out anymore.
«Collected poetry from eight books by the Carmona poet, also a great lyricist, where the flamenco It has its place, as it could not be otherwise taking into account the quality as a poet and fan of flamenco by José L. Rodríguez Ojeda. A good edition of Colibrí, also featuring attractive illustrations by José Ramón Ramos, a trademark of the publisher.
José Luis Rodríguez Ojeda, a luxury for his Carmona native, is well known and loved among fans and artists flamencos, especially singers, who often ask him for lyrics for their records. He is the author of more than ten books, from Consequence of walking –1994– to the latter, Song of the Road. Collected Poetry (1994-2024).
He won the second prize for poetry. Luis Cernuda and his lyrics have been recorded by more than twenty artists of the canteWe'll mention them all to avoid controversy or disagreement, knowing that they are all equally important to him, as demonstrated by his efforts and the quality of his work. Here they are, in the same order they appear in the book. Almost all my lyrics for the cante: Calixto Sanchez, Curro Malena, Miguel Vargas, José Parrondo, The Huts, Manuel de Paula, Jose Valencia, Julian Estrada, Jose Galan, Juan Casillas, Pepe Peregil, Paco Moya, Kiki from Castilblanco, Blond Son, Manuel Cuevas, Gema Jimenez, Laura Vital, Manuel Castulo, Michael Ortega, Placido Gonzalez, Antonio Ortega, Manuel Romero, Maria Marin and Edu Hidalgo. As we see, of all generations, what has made José Luis's lyrics part of the imagination flamenco from all of us.
Here's an example, Calixto Sánchez por granaína, live, with the guitar of the late Pedro Bacán:
He and many others know of our weakness for Miguel Vargas, to whom we have dedicated a book, and that is why we chose a cante his, with lyrics by José Luis, from the album My illusions in the air, with the guitars of Manolo Franco y Jose L. Postigo, Edited by Senator In 1996, with all the lyrics of our poet, except the well-known Marianas Close the door, by maestro Paco Moreno Galván. These are the lyrics to this magnificent seguiriya:
The world is a lie,
It was always a lie,
very little from one hand to another
the truth is sold.
To tell me your sorrows
don't let anyone come to me,
I don't tell anyone about mine.
and yes, they are big.
In that dark little street
there was a corner
where by crying I relieved the pain
from my heart.
The second one we can hear in this live recording on Canal Sur, in 1990, with Manuel de Palma:
En Song of the Road, his books of poetry are gathered, not of flamenco lyrics, although flamenco lyrics are poetry, of course, but it is a clear distinction at the same time. Here we will see in chronological order the books of poetry not intended for cante, although I can talk about cante, but in any tone, language, or meter. Thirty years, from 1994 to 2024, and eight books of this type of annotated poetry, plus several unpublished ones. A limerick reproduced on the back cover can summarize his poetics:
In the song of the road
-grave tone, light sound-
what I lived I imagine
between chance and destiny,
between dream and reason.
As this metapoetic poem expresses and as the book's accurate prologuist says, Francisco Martínez CuadradoIn his verses, there is no mask, no empty rhetoric, no high-sounding words or sentiments. And life appears, reflected in his work, he concludes, as an experience that is not a bed of roses, but rather the uncertain and changeable path of life. He offers a truly competent overview, book by book.
We focus on the book that has references to the flamenco, without being, we repeat, flamenco lyrics, but poems inspired by the flamenco and its many aspects. To Gazel, poems by cante, from 2000, brings us closer to the artists, the letters, and the places flamencos like Triana, to palos or styles, etc. A varied range of sensations very well expressed in these verses. Of the much-used duende he says: "Because for me the Flamenco / is the feeling of the heart / and it is also knowledge" (p. 89). The poem Flamenco lyrics, p. 102, after evoking Demophilus and his son Manuel MachadoAs well as Manuel Balmaseda, expresses his devotion to letters and the need to take them himself to write a good part of his poetry:
They also serve as a mold
in my opinion, it is the last
for written verses;
as they continue now.
Read them, they are my life.
And my life is my work.
There are several poems dedicated to palos Specific ones, such as the soleá, the seguiriya, the toná, the malagueña, the petenera, the cantiñas, the liviana, the guajira, the lullaby, and the romance. The malagueña is as follows:
I want it to end, even with damage
for being turbulent love,
memory, in a few years,
he erects a monument to him;
memories that are deceptions.
In the chapter of tributes, we see portraits of Luis Caballero, Pedro BacánJuan Casillas, Miguel Vargas, and the painter and lyricist Francisco Moreno Galván. The tribute to the latter concludes:
His word, his letters for him cante;
that strong saying in a countryman's voice
shakes, as then, my conscience
and it makes me feel that the people exist.
In short, poetry collected from eight books by the Carmona poet, also a great lyricist, where the flamenco It has its place, as it could not be otherwise taking into account the quality as a poet and fan of flamenco by José L. Rodríguez Ojeda. A good edition of Colibrí, also with illustrations by Jose Ramon Ramos, attractive, already the publisher's brand, and QR edition of Pedro Ramirez which enliven and complement the reading, with the possibility of listening to some poems in the poet's voice.
→ José L. Rodríguez Ojeda. Song of the Road. Collected Poetry (1994-2024). Seville, Colibrí Editions, 2024
