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.
Los Enanos Toreros
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
la plaza ya está llena por ver al matador.
Ha dicho Nariz Verde que a ver quien es mejor,
él o Panza Roja que presume de valor.
¡Que suelten al perro con cuernos de papel!
que su gran barrigota ya es de otro color!
Y en cuanto sale el toro, se arranca con furor,
y el tonto Panza Roja se llevó un revolcón.
Al salir Nariz Verde el perro embistió,
pero como es valiente con gracia lo toreó.
Y todos los enanos aplauden a rabiar:
¡Que viva Nariz Verde, lo queremos ver torear!
Domingo por la tarde, en lo alto brilla el Sol;
de nuevo mano a mano el flaco y el panzón.
Ha dicho Nariz Verde que nadie hay como él,
pues ese Panza Roja ya perdió mucho cartel.
¡Que suelten al perro con cuernos de papel!
Chuchuca, otro enano, salió a abanderillar
temblando como gato que acaban de bañar.
Y el par de banderillas las puso a su entender
en la cola del toro y salió a todo correr
Y Don Pimpirulando, por no quedar atrás,
trepado en unos zancos salió con los demas.
Y en la mitad del ruedo el viejito barbón
se puso de Tancredo arrancando la ovación.
The lyrics of Cri-Cri's song Los Enanos Toreros tell the story of a bullfight between two dwarf matadors, Nariz Verde and Panza Roja. The scene is set on a Sunday afternoon, with the sun shining down on the packed stadium. The two matadors have a rivalry, with Panza Roja boasting of his courage, and Nariz Verde challenging him to prove himself. The crowd eagerly awaits the spectacle, as the bull is released into the ring. Panza Roja charges at the bull with indecision, and is promptly thrown about by the powerful creature. Nariz Verde, on the other hand, elegantly and bravely maneuvers around the bull's attacks, winning the admiration of the audience.
In the second verse, the two dwarfs face off again, with Nariz Verde claiming superiority over his competitor. Chuchuca, another dwarf, enters the arena to wave the colorful flags, but is obviously scared out of his wits. Despite his fear, he manages to place the flags on the bull's tail and run out unscathed. Don Pimpirulando joins the fray on stilts, and the elderly Tancredo gets the crowd cheering by performing stunts in the middle of the ring. In the end, Nariz Verde is victorious and the crowd applauds his skill.
Line by Line Meaning
Domingo por la tarde, en lo alto brilla el Sol;
It's a Sunday afternoon and the sun is shining bright.
la plaza ya está llena por ver al matador.
The plaza is already full of people waiting to see the matador.
Ha dicho Nariz Verde que a ver quien es mejor,
Nariz Verde said, let's see who is better
él o Panza Roja que presume de valor.
Him or Panza Roja who boasts of his courage.
¡Que suelten al perro con cuernos de papel!
Release the dog with paper horns!
¡Allá va Panza Roja con tal indecisión
Here comes Panza Roja with such indecision
que su gran barrigota ya es de otro color!
That his big belly is turning a different color!
Y en cuanto sale el toro, se arranca con furor,
As soon as the bull comes out, it charges with fury
y el tonto Panza Roja se llevó un revolcón.
And foolish Panza Roja gets knocked down.
Al salir Nariz Verde el perro embistió,
When Nariz Verde came out, the dog charged
pero como es valiente con gracia lo toreó.
But with courage and grace he bullfights the dog.
Y todos los enanos aplauden a rabiar:
And all the dwarves applaud like crazy:
¡Que viva Nariz Verde, lo queremos ver torear!
Long live Nariz Verde, we want to see him bullfight!
Domingo por la tarde, en lo alto brilla el Sol;
It's Sunday afternoon and the sun is shining bright again.
de nuevo mano a mano el flaco y el panzón.
Again face to face, the skinny one and the big-bellied one.
Ha dicho Nariz Verde que nadie hay como él,
Nariz Verde said that there's no one like him.
pues ese Panza Roja ya perdió mucho cartel.
Since Panza Roja lost a lot of his reputation.
¡Que suelten al perro con cuernos de papel!
Release the dog with paper horns again!
Chuchuca, otro enano, salió a abanderillar
Chuchuca, another dwarf, came out to place the banderillas.
temblando como gato que acaban de bañar.
Trembling like a cat that was just bathed.
Y el par de banderillas las puso a su entender
And he placed the pair of banderillas as he pleased
en la cola del toro y salió a todo correr
On the bull's tail and ran away as fast as he could.
Y Don Pimpirulando, por no quedar atrás,
And Don Pimpirulando, not to be outdone,
trepado en unos zancos salió con los demas.
Climbed on some stilts and went out with the others.
Y en la mitad del ruedo el viejito barbón
And in the middle of the arena, the old bearded man
se puso de Tancredo arrancando la ovación.
Pretended to be a clown, starting an ovation.
Contributed by Blake H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.