Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul
From: GUEST,Chelsea
Date: 17 Aug 15 - 12:18 PM

I'm doing research on Carlos Chávez's "La Paloma Azul," arranged for some concerts he put together at the Museum of Modern Art in 1940, and this discussion is fascinating! The Brubeck version corresponds roughly to the melody he uses in the first half, which also seems to have a lot in common with the folk tune "El Mosquito" (see Campos, "Folklore y la Música Mexicana," p. 263), while the second half of Chávez's version matches the Mariachi version.

I'm wondering if anyone has a copy of an old song book or something that might show how the mariachi version originated—the one that goes "Que bonita Paloma Azul, que con tus alas transita por donde quiera"—any luck there?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 01:44 PM

In the song "Zenaida," there is a verse:

Paloma blanca, presta tus alas
para volver al jardin aquel,
tan delicioso, qui a mí encanta:
quiero robarlu dulce miel.
(2246, Cancionero vol. 1)

Also noted in vol. 1, Coplas del amor feliz, is Palomita blanca del pico dorado (1073); Palomita blanca, pico de coral ("Los borachos;" 2282). and the song "La Palomita", (Paloma de alas azules, tienes tu piquito de oro; 2280).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 01:21 PM

"La paloma Azul" (que del cielo bajó) is recorded as no. 2009 in Cancionero folklorica de Mexico, vol. 1.

Several versions of "Una paloma blanca" have been collected in Mexico.
There may be more than one song; I haven't gone through the verses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul
From: Monique
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 05:28 AM

The children's song has been collected in Spain as "Una paloma blanca" (you can see different versions there). I also came across a version that goes "A los títeres tocan, yo te pago la entrada" (At the puppet show, they're playing, I'll pay the entrance fare for you) that makes more sense than in the two alternate lines in the version above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul
From: Monique
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 03:41 AM

It's a Mexican circle game kids' song:

La paloma azul
que del cielo bajó,
con las alas doradas
y en el pico una flor,
de la flor una lima,
de la lima un limón;
vale más
mi morena
que los rayos del sol.
Y a los titiriteros
quien me paga la entrada (1)
yo te amo y te quiero
y me muero por ti.

(1) Can also be found as "que me pagan la entrada"

You can find it here with a score (it's more or less the same tune as another kids' song "Al pasar la barca").

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 02:05 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbZtVo8l2Mo is a rather nice sex education cartoon that begins and ends with yet another song titled "La Paloma Azul." I couldn't catch enough of it to give you a transcription.
Anybody familiar with this one?
I'm counting three songs, each with a different melody and different lyrics. Could be an interesting exploration.

-Joe-

Subject: ADD Version: La Paloma Azul (The Blue Dove)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 01:50 AM

These are the lyrics to the mariachi song that also bears the title "La Paloma Azul, with a very different melody. It's one of my favorite mariachi songs.

LA PALOMA AZUL

Qué bonita paloma azul que con sus alas
Transita por donde quiera,
Qué bonita paloma azul
No se lleva con cualquiera
Abre tus* alas para el dueño de su amor

Qué bonito cantan los jilgueros en la sierra,
Pero más bonito cantan en tiempo de primavera.
Qué bonita paloma azul no se lleva con cualquiera
Abre tus alas para el dueño de su amor.

Qué bonito cantan los jilgueros en la sierra,
Pero más bonito cantan en tiempo de primavera,
Qué bonita paloma azul no se lleva co cualquiera
Abre tus alas para el dueño de tu amor


(*or sus, depending on the singer)

Here's a typical recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHoBWBh5hEQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Paloma Azul
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 01:40 AM

Here's the Brubeck recording, strictly instrumental:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfuWuce5Ovw
The melody is very familiar to me, but I don't think I've ever heard this arrangement. I really like it. Is this the melody that fits your lyrics, Tony?

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: LA PALOMA AZUL
From: GUEST,Tony Patriarche
Date: 27 Jun 14 - 12:28 AM

There are two Latin-American folk songs by this name. One is by (I believe) Graciela Amador with the first line "De tus encantos, celestial Paloma Azul".
However, the one I wish to add I have only been able to trace in various recordings by Dave & Chris Brubeck. Here are the lyrics, with my own singable translation:

LA PALOMA AZUL

Ya me voy para Laredo, mi bien
Te vengo a decir adiós. [dos veces]
Y ya te mando decir, mi bien
Como se mancuernan dos. [dos]

No me busques por vereda, mi bien
Búsca me en la travesia,
Y ya te mando decir, mi bien
Lo mucho que te querriá.
Adiós.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION by TP

I'm on my way to Laredo, my dear,
I've come to bid you adieu, [repeat]
I leave you with these last words, my dear,
We were joined like a cufflink, we two. [repeat]

Don't look for me on the sidewalk, my dear,
Search the desert if you pursue,
I leave you my final saying, my dear,
How greatly I could love you.
¡Adieu!

If anyone knows anything further about this song, or has more lyrics, please contribute!