Paquita la del Barrio: Celebrated Singer Leaves a Legacy of Empowerment and Critique

Paquita la del Barrio, renowned for her spirited ranchera and bolero music that challenged traditional machismo like a piñata, has passed away at her home in Veracruz, Mexico. The iconic singer was 77 years old. Her team announced her passing on her official Instagram account, although the cause of death wasn’t disclosed.

Mexico City’s Department of Culture paid tribute to her impactful career, acknowledging her lasting legacy: “[She] etched an unforgettable mark with her distinctive voice and style, [her music] resonated across generations, evolving into anthems of female empowerment and social critique.”

In the 1980s, Paquita la del Barrio—meaning “Paquita from the neighborhood”—became a Mexican cultural phenomenon. Her candid lyrics and potent disdain for the men who wronged her resonated deeply with audiences. One of her most famous hits, “Una rata de dos patas,” sharply described an ex-lover as a “two-legged rat,” a “wretched leech,” and a “venomous snake.”

Her forthright, often piercing lyrics sprang from her own life experiences. Born Francisca Viveros Barradas in 1947, she ran away as a teenager with a man more than 20 years her senior. After having two children with him, she discovered he had another wife and family.

“I’ve endured a lot. Love takes you where it wants,” she shared with USA Today in 2021. “Those emotions are what draw people to my music.”

In the 1970s, she started performing in cantinas around Mexico City. Initially performing with her sister as Las Golondrinas, she soon emerged as a solo artist under her new stage persona, Paquita la del Barrio. Over her career, she recorded over 30 albums and toured throughout South America, Spain, and the United States.

“In Mexico, machismo is a reality. Women often suffer because of men’s actions,” she told The Miami Herald in 2008. “I don’t sing other people’s songs. I sing the truth, even if it doesn’t please the gentlemen.”

Throughout her illustrious career, Paquita la del Barrio received two Latin Grammy nominations and made five appearances on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. She was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

In songs like “Tres veces te engañé,” Paquita brilliantly channeled her anguish into lyrics brimming with fury and empowerment. In the chorus, she sang, “I cheated on you three times. The first out of anger. The second on a whim. The third for pure pleasure.” Her fearless attitude was captured in another line from the song, “Me estás oyendo, inútil?”—which translated to English means, “Are you listening to me, you good-for-nothing?” This line became her signature catchphrase.