Maria Jimenez y La Cabra Mecanica La Lista de la Compra | Dose of reality and honesty to the rhythm of a rumba
It was about time to tell you about the Spanish musician called Lichis, his honesty writing, his musical fusion, his ex-band La Cabra Mecanica (The Mechanical Goat), and a song that is part of Spanish rock history, La Lista de la Compra (The Shopping List), which also meant the resurgence of a Spanish singing star of the 70’s, Maria Jimenez.
Reading Time | 4 min
Listening Time | 3.41 min
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Video | María Jiménez y La Cabra Mecánica La lista de la compra
- Trembol | Story behind the song
- You can’t miss | Best parts of La lista de la compra
- This is what it says | La lista de la compra Lyrics in English
- Did you know? | Fun facts about Lichis, Maria and the song
- Much more | Best of Lichis, María Jiménez and La Cabra Mecánica
- Technical Note about La lista de la compra
La Cabra Mecánica ft. María Jiménez La lista de la compra (The Shopping List)
Trembol | What makes Maria Jimenez and La Cabra Mecanica tune so special?
If you used to listen to some Spanish music back in the early 2000, you have surely danced to the rumba of ‘La Lista de la Compra‘.
I have always been moved by the stark way in which the song depicts reality, without artifice or imposture, and what is more surprising, being a love song. This is what the lyrics main part says:
You who are so beautiful and so smart, you who deserve a prince 🤴, a dentist 🦷, you decide to stay by my side.
La Cabra Mecánica (The Mechanical Goat) was a Spanish pop rock band formed by the great musician Lichis and other artists that were coming in and out of the band. They always blended music genres as a sign of identity, releasing 6 albums between 1997 and 2010.
They were not very successful until their 3rd album, Vestidos de Domingo (Sunday Dresses), with a remarkable production by Alejo Stivel and, of course, with La Lista de la Compra.
María Jiménez, on the other hand, was very popular between 1976 and 1995 for her unabashed and natural way of singing and acting. She released up to 14 albums, but after that she fell into oblivion and was even associated with the term “folkloric” in a negative way. Her Joaquín Sabina covers album in 2002 and this song with La Cabra Mecánica, brought her back into the limelight.
The combination of all these experiences, a meaningful lyric and a music that makes you move without wanting to, make ‘La Lista de la Compra’ a very special song.
Lichis (Facebook Image)
María Jiménez (Facebook Image)
La Cabra Mecánica, María Jiménez and Joaquín Sabina (Facebook Image)
Lichis (La Cabra Mecanica) and Maria Jimenez tell us the story behind La Lista de la Compra
‘La Lista de la Compra‘ came about when Lichis, the band’s founder, was moving house. He was fully involved in all the tasks and thought of recording a song that spoke naturally about how much he felt like a housewife. This is how Lichis explained it:
That was the feeling of the song: to vindicate things as they are … I put washing machines, I cook and I do the shopping. It’s not a fucking feminine archetype. I’m also a housemaker.
- The thing is, engrossed in housework, he couldn’t quite find a catchy chorus for the song.
- He decided to take a break and go downstairs for a beer 🍺
- It turned out that in the bar they had a poster of María Jiménez, who had been an erotic myth for Lichis in his youth, although he mostly remembered the strenght she had.
- He ran upstairs and finished the song in one go.
- The chorus was a tribute to Maria, and at that moment he thought, “Why not asking her to sing the song“.
- He picked up the phone, called her and she gladly accepted. María Jiménez counted:
The song seemed very heavy to me, I really liked the story. It tells something so normal, with the language I use everyday.
The whole thing was recorded in 10 minutes, I couldn’t believe it. When I came out I saw the girl of one of Lichis’ partners, who was crying, “What’s wrong, daughter?, I asked, “Nothing, I got emotional”, she said.
🎵 Find out more amazing stories behind the best songs ever.
You can’t miss ⭐️ The best of La Lista de la Compra
1. First chorus sung only by Lichis, ending in a very Spanish instrumental part.
2. María Jiménez breaks in with all her power, making the song raise – lots of art!
3. The final part with a rumba base and sung almost like a rap by Lichis is magnificent.
This is what it says | La Cabra Mecánica y María Jiménez La Lista de la Compra Lyrics in English
LYRICS LA CABRA MECÁNICA & MARÍA JIMÉNEZ | LA LISTA DE LA COMPRA | SPANISH
En el mismo folio
La lista de la compra y una canción
Como un cupón
De los ciegos
Rima la soledad
Con el atún en aceite vegetal
En oferta
¡Vaya precios sin competencia!
Una mano pide al cielo
La otra en el cajón del pan
Hay manchas de grasa
De llanto, de tinta,
Estoy harto de tanto frotar
Tú que eres tan guapa y tan lista
Tú que te mereces
Un príncipe, un dentista, ¡tú!
Te quedas a mi lado
Y el mundo me parece
Más amable
Más humano
Menos raroTú que eres tan guapa y tan lista
Tú que te mereces
Un príncipe, un dentista, ¡tú!
Te quedas a mi lado
Y el mundo me parece
Más amable
Más humano
Menos raro
Y tú
¡Qué bonito el mar!
Cuando lo miro a tu lado
Olvido las pateras
Las mareas negras
Los alijos incautados
La playa donde se dejan
Morir las ballenas
Este infumable plato combinado
Una mano pide al cielo
La otra en el cajón del pan
Hay manchas de grasa
De llanto, de tinta,
Estoy harta de tanto frotar
Yo que soy tan guapa y tan artista
Yo que me merezco
Un príncipe, un dentista, ¡yo!
Yo me quedo aquí a tu lado
Y el mundo me parece
Más amable
Más humano
Menos raroYo que soy tan guapa y tan artista
Yo que me merezco
Un príncipe, un dentista, ¡yo!
Yo me quedo aquí a tu lado
Y el mundo me parece
Más amable
Más humano
Menos raro
Aunque me engañe
Y me diga que no
Siempre estás tú detrás
De mi mejor yo
Aunque no soy pa ti
Que soy pa contigo
El mundo es tan redondo
Como el piercing de tu ombligo
La cosa se pone dura sin tu aliento
Siento con amargura
Que estoy perdiendo la frescura
Que se vuelve frío sin tu calor
Y sin droga dura
Que tú
Tú que eres tan guapa y tan lista
Tu que te mereces
Un príncipe, un dentista, ¡tú!
Te quedas a mi lado
Y el mundo me parece
Más amable
Más humano
Menos raroTú que eres tan guapa y tan lista
Tú que te mereces
Un príncipe, un dentista, ¡tú!
Te quedas a mi lado
Y el mundo me parece
Más amable
Más humano
Menos raro
LYRICS LA CABRA MECÁNICA AND MARÍA JIMÉNEZ | LA LISTA DE LA COMPRA | ENGLISH
On the same sheet
The shopping list and a song
Like a coupon
Of the blind people association
Loneliness rhymes
With tuna in vegetable oil
On sale
What unbeatable prices!
One hand prays to the sky
The other in the bread drawer
There are grease stains
Of weeping, of ink,
I’m sick amd tired of rubbing
You who are so beautiful and so smart
You who deserve
A prince, a dentist, you!
You stay by my side
And the world seems to me
kinder
More human
Less strangeYou who are so beautiful and so smart
You who deserve
A prince, a dentist, you!
You stay by my side
And the world seems to me
kinder
More human
Less strange
And you
What a beautiful sea!
When I look at it next to you
I forget the boats
The oil slicks
The seized drug caches
The beach where
Whales are left to die
This unbearable combo platter
One hand prays to the sky
The other in the bread drawer
There are grease stains
Of weeping, of ink,
I’m sick and tired of rubbing so much
I who am so beautiful and such an artist
I who deserve
A prince, a dentist, me!
I stay here by your side
And the world seems to me
kinder
More human
Less strangeI who am so beautiful and so artistic
I who deserve
A prince, a dentist, me!
I stay here by your side
And the world seems to me
kinder
More human
Less strange
Even though I cheat myself
And deny it
You’re always behind
Of my best self
Although I’m not for you
I’m to be with you
The world is as round
As your belly button piercing
It gets hard without your breath
I feel bitterly
That I’m losing my coolness
That it gets cold without your warmth
And without hard dope
That you
You who are so beautiful and so smart
You who deserve
A prince, a dentist, you!
You stay by my side
And the world seems to me
kinder
More human
Less strangeYou who are so beautiful and so smart
You who deserve
A prince, a dentist, you!
You stay by my side
And the world seems to me
kinder
More human
Less strange
Did you know...?
Much more | Best of Lichis, La Cabra Mecanica and Maria Jimenez
María Jiménez Se Acabó (It’s over)
Jiménez’s greatest success, whose life motto is to subscribe to: “I always do whatever I want“ 😂
La Cabra Mecánica Felicidad (Hapinees)
Another great signature track, with well-written lyrics and an eclectic rhythm.
Lichis & Rubén Pozo Mesa para Dos (Table for two)
Lichis’ new project with ex-Pereza Rubén Pozo is high quality, as is this single.
Technical Note about La Lista de la Compra
- The song is in the key of D major and moves almost entirely between D and G.
- Like a good rumba, it is accented at the end of the second pulse of each 4 by 4 measure, that is, if you are singing: “ta – ta – ta – ta”, in the 2nd “ta”, you have to make stronger the final: “tA” 🙄
La Lista de la Compra Chords
- 📝 The chorus follows these chords: D maj7# – C m7 – D 7 – G m7 – C m7 – G m7 – A 7 – D 7 – C m7 – D
- 🎼 The verses play: D – G – D – G – C m7 – F 7 – D m7 – D 7
María Jiménez and La Cabra Mecánica (YouTube screenshot)
Header and Featured Image used in this article and on Social Media: Lichis & María Jiménez Facebook Images and Photo by David Ballew on Unsplash
0 Comments