Cri-Cri is known as the "grillito cantor" or "the singing cricket". He is a character created by Francisco Gabilondo Soler in his childhood and may even be considered "his inner personality"
The character became so famous and gave its author such renown, that it became a second name for Gabilondo. In the mid part of the 20th century he became the most recognizable singer of children's songs in Spanish. Gabilondo's dedication to this segment of the population has been greatly admired, comparable to Walt Disney in his honest approach to making life fun for those who are getting started in life.
La Olla Y El Comal
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Oye Olla, oye, oye!
si te has creído que yo soy recargadera
buscate a otro que te apoye".
Y la Olla se volvió hacia el primero:
"Peladote, majadero!
es que estoy en el hervor de los frijoles
El Comal a la Olla le dijo:
"Cuando cruja, no arrempuje!
Con sus tiznes me ha estropeado ya de fijo
la elegancia que yo truje".
Y la Olla por poquito se desmaya:
"Presumido! vaya, vaya;
lo trajeron de la plaza percudido
y ni animas que diga que es galán de la pantalla".
El Comal le dijo a la Olla:
"No se arrime, fuchi, fuchi!
Se lo he dicho a mañana, tarde y noche
y no hay modo que me escuche"
Más la otra replicó metiendo bulla:
"Ay rascuache, no me julla"!
si lo agarro lo convierto en tepalcates
y ni ánimas que grite pa'que venga la patrulla"
El Comal miro a su pareja:
"Que dijistes? Ya estás vieja!
Si no puedes con la sopa de quelites
mucho menos con lentejas "
Y la Olla contestó como las bravas:
"Mire joven, puras habas!
hace un siglo que te hizo el alfarero
y ni animas que ocultes los cien años que se traga.
The song "La Olla y El Comal" by Cri-Cri is a playful conversation between a pot ("olla") and a comal, which are both traditional cookware in Mexican cuisine. The comal accuses the pot of using him as a rest, to which the pot responds she's busy boiling the beans and can't spare any room on the stove. The comal then complains that the pot's soot has ruined his elegance, but the pot retorts that the comal is just a presumptuous old thing who has been around for over a century. The comal ends up insulting the pot's cooking skills, and the argument escalates until the pot threatens to turn the comal into clay if he doesn't behave.
This song can be interpreted as a humorous commentary on the relationship between women in Mexican society, especially the tension between older women who feel marginalized and younger women who are approaching their prime. The pot represents the older, experienced woman who is busy with her tasks and doesn't have time for frivolous conversations. The comal, on the other hand, represents the younger woman who is eager to show off her beauty and skills, but is ultimately not as useful as the pot. The insults and threats between the two can be seen as a reflection of the power struggles in Mexican families and communities, where older women are expected to be subservient to their younger counterparts.
Line by Line Meaning
El Comal le dijo a la Olla: "Oye Olla, oye, oye! si te has creído que yo soy recargadera buscate a otro que te apoye".
The Comal told the Olla, "Hey, Olla, listen! If you think I'm your support, then find someone else to rely on."
Y la Olla se volvió hacia el primero: "Peladote, majadero! es que estoy en el hervor de los frijoles y ni animas que deje para asté todo el brasero".
Then, the Olla turned to the Comal and said, "You fool, you idiot! I'm in the heat of boiling beans and you can't expect me to leave the entire stove for you."
El Comal a la Olla le dijo: "Cuando cruja, no arrempuje! Con sus tiznes me ha estropeado ya de fijo la elegancia que yo truje".
The Comal told the Olla, "Stop pushing me around when you crackle! Your soot has already ruined the elegance that I bring."
Y la Olla por poquito se desmaya: "Presumido! vaya, vaya; lo trajeron de la plaza percudido y ni animas que diga que es galán de la pantalla".
The Olla almost fainted and said, "Conceited! Oh wow, they brought you from the dirty plaza and you can't even convince me that you're a film star."
El Comal le dijo a la Olla: "No se arrime, fuchi, fuchi! Se lo he dicho a mañana, tarde y noche y no hay modo que me escuche"
The Comal told the Olla, "Don't come near me, yuck! I've told you day and night, and yet you don't listen to me."
Más la otra replicó metiendo bulla: "Ay rascuache, no me julla"! si lo agarro lo convierto en tepalcates y ni ánimas que grite pa'que venga la patrulla"
The Olla replied, making a fuss, "Oh, scavenger, don't bother me! If I catch you, I'll turn you into mud and you won't even dare to call for help."
El Comal miro a su pareja: "Que dijistes? Ya estás vieja! Si no puedes con la sopa de quelites mucho menos con lentejas "
The Comal looked at his partner and said, "What did you say? You're already old! If you can't handle a simple quelites soup, then you definitely can't handle lentils."
Y la Olla contestó como las bravas: "Mire joven, puras habas! hace un siglo que te hizo el alfarero y ni animas que ocultes los cien años que se traga.
And the Olla replied fiercely, "Listen young one, it's all lies! The potter made you a century ago and you can't even hide the fact that you're so old."
Contributed by Dylan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.