She was married to the famous Spanish bullfighter "Paquirri" (Francisco Rivera), who died September 26, 1984, at the horns of the now infamous bull Avispado in Pozoblanco, Córdoba.
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Madrina
Isabel Pantoja Lyrics
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Rondabas por mi dehesa
Y un día me hablaste, llegando a mi altura:
-Su buen corazón, condesa,
Hará que en el toro, yo llegue a figura.
Y ordené a mis mayorales,
Conmovida por tu vó:
Que a éste lo apadrino yo.
Subiste a los carteles,
En un momento...
Los brillos de tus caireles,
Son mi tormento.
Madrina,
Por fuera jardin de rosa,
Por dentro zarza de espina.
Madrina
Mi pena es de dolorosa
Mas nadie me la adivina.
No sabes de mi amargura, pues tu locura
Solo es el toro
Y a solas me bebo el llanto, de tanto y tanto
Como te adoro.
Madrina...
Madrina, sin un lucero
Madrina, sin un te quiero...
La gente no se imagina,
-que el hombre de mi corazón-,
Me llama solo: madrina.
Por culpa de una sonrisa,
Que echaste a unos ojos que había en barrera:
Un toro de mi divisa,
Manchó de amapolas tu estampa torera.
¡Si se salva, Padre mio,
En silencio seguiré;
En tus manos los confío,
Que eres el del gran poder!
De nuevo por las arenas
Vistes de luces;
Y yo mi caudal de pena
Lloro entre cruces.
Madrina,
Por fuera jardin de rosa,
Por dentro zarza de espina.
Madrina
Mi pena es de dolorosa
Mas nadie me la adivina.
No sabes de mi amargura, pues tu locura
Solo es el toro
Y a solas me bebo el llanto, de tanto y tanto
Como te adoro.
Madrina...
Madrina, sin un lucero
Madrina, sin un te quiero...
La gente no se imagina,
-que el hombre de mi corazón-,
Me llama solo: madrina
The song "Madrina" by Isabel Pantoja tells a story of the complex relationship between a female bullfighter and her sponsor, referred to as "madrina" (godmother). The song opens with Madrina encountering the bullfighter (referred to as "condesa" or countess) who she believes has the potential to become a great bullfighter with a good heart. Madrina orders her workers to separate two bulls from the herd to be given to the bullfighter as a sponsorship. Within moments, the bullfighter becomes a star and her glittering success is only seen by Madrina, who is tormented by her own unrequited love for the bullfighter. The chorus repeats the word "madrina" and emphasizes the strange and solitary nature of the sponsorship relationship. The second verse reveals that Madrina's sponsorship was not without consequence- the bullfighter's smile at someone in the audience has caused a catastrophe leading to a bull fatally injuring the bullfighter. Madrina waits silently and prays that the bull will not be killed as the audience cheers. Finally, the song concludes with the recurring chorus emphasizing the bittersweet nature of the relationship -Madrid looks like a "jardin de rosa" (garden of roses) but is actually a "zarza de espina' (thorny bush) and Madrina is left alone with her love and sorrow.
The song "Madrina" has a clear and emotionally charged narrative that captures the complexities of the intensely patriarchal world of bullfighting. Bullfighting sponsorship often takes a paternalistic and romantic aspect that the song critiques. The song could also be interpreted more generally as a story of unrequited or secret love that is hidden beneath a glamorous sheen that the world sees. The chorus of the song is quite memorable and haunting, repeating the word "madrina" several times in a repetitive and almost lullaby-like manner, reinforcing the loneliness and emotional depth of Madrina's character. The lyrics of the song manage to convey a richly detailed setting and complex emotions in a relatively short space of time, making it a powerful and insightful example of Spanish songwriting.
Line by Line Meaning
Rondabas por mi dehesa
You were wandering around my estate
Y un día me hablaste, llegando a mi altura:
And one day you spoke to me, reaching my level:
-Su buen corazón, condesa,
"Your good heart, Countess,
Hará que en el toro, yo llegue a figura.
will make me a famous bullfighter."
Y ordené a mis mayorales,
And I ordered my ranch foremen
Conmovida por tu vó:
Moved by your words:
-Apartarle dos erale,
"Separate two young bulls for him,
Que a éste lo apadrino yo.
I will sponsor him."
Subiste a los carteles,
You appeared on posters
En un momento...
In no time...
Los brillos de tus caireles,
The shine of your hair ornaments,
Son mi tormento.
Are my torment.
Madrina,
Godmother,
Por fuera jardin de rosa,
Outside, a rose garden,
Por dentro zarza de espina.
Inside, a bramble bush.
Madrina
Godmother
Mi pena es de dolorosa
My sorrow is painful
Mas nadie me la adivina.
But no one understands it.
No sabes de mi amargura, pues tu locura
You don't know my bitterness, because your madness
Solo es el toro
Is only about the bull
Y a solas me bebo el llanto, de tanto y tanto
And alone I drown in tears, so much and so often
Como te adoro.
How I adore you.
Madrina...
Godmother...
Madrina, sin un lucero
Godmother, without a star
Madrina, sin un te quiero...
Godmother, without an "I love you"...
La gente no se imagina,
People can't imagine
-que el hombre de mi corazón-,
-that the man in my heart-
Me llama solo: madrina.
Only calls me: godmother.
Por culpa de una sonrisa,
Because of a smile,
Que echaste a unos ojos que había en barrera:
That you gave to some eyes in the stands:
Un toro de mi divisa,
One of my bulls,
Manchó de amapolas tu estampa torera.
Stained your bullfighting image with poppies.
¡Si se salva, Padre mio,
If he survives, my Father,
En silencio seguiré;
I will continue in silence;
En tus manos los confío,
I entrust him to you,
Que eres el del gran poder!
For you are the one of great power!
De nuevo por las arenas
Again in the arenas
Vistes de luces;
You dress in lights;
Y yo mi caudal de pena
And I, my wealth of sorrow
Lloro entre cruces.
Cry among crosses.
Contributed by Jack P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.