The Scorned women in Latin music
"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned" William Congreve, The Mourning Bride.
I had originally planned to release one long article on five scorned women in Latin music. However, their stories are so rich that I decided to do a series instead, opting to give each woman the time and care she deserves. In this series, we will learn about the previous women who called out men who cheated or lied to them.
In 2023, internet discourse exploded and quickly reached the global gossip mill after Shakira released an unprecedented collaboration with underground music producer Bizzarrap. Her song was a scathing confession and diss track of her lousy, cheating ex-husband, Piqué.
This song was just the latest entrance to a long and rich history of Latin songs performed by scorned women about less deserving men. The truth is, in comparison to other scorned women on the list, Piqué was treated with kid gloves by Shakira.
The spanish word for scorned woman is despechada.
The female performers on the series sing about not forgiving men who betrayed them by cheating, lying, or using them. These women challenge social expectations that demand that she be the bigger person, be gracious, and not divulge the inner workings of her personal drama.
These women have challenged those views with jaw-dropping performances of power and strength. Amongst meek, cheating, and lying men, these women are goddesses. They have formed a tradition in Latin music of the scorned woman by publicly denouncing treacherous men.
I wish to celebrate, not condemn them, for the anger and contempt they expressed for the men in their lives. The songs these women performed were not created for longing or healing. They were written to show explosive, raw anger in the face of betrayal.
Click on each women to learn about more of the tradition on female rage in Latin music.
2023. Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53
2004. Paquita la del barrio - Rata De Dos Patas
1999. Lupita D’Alessio - Inocente Pobre Amiga
1981. Amanda Miguel - Él me mintió
1979. Rocio Jurado - Ese hombre
Connect with me:
