A Rat is a Rat - Rata de Dos Patas by Paquita La Del Barrio
In 2004, Paquita La Del Barrio released the album Taco Placero which had the song, “Rata de Dos Patas”
Who is Paquita La Del Barrio?
Paquita La Del Barrio was born Francisca Viveros Barradas and she is a singer from Veracruz Mexico. She grew up facing a lot of hardships at a young age such as proverty and heartbreak. When she was just 15 years old, she married er 44 year old husband. After seven years together, she ended her marriage with him when she found out he had a whole other family behind her back. At the age of 23, she moved to Mexico City and began performing at local bars. It wasn’t until 1986 when she performed for the major television network, Televisa where she got a record deal and studio time to start recording some albums.
What is “Ratas de dos Patas” about?
Ok so the literal translation is “rat with two feet.” We all know a person like that. And the lyrics are exactly what you’d say to someone or something you really absoultely detest. Paquita’s lyrics are targeted at someone who did her dirty. So she refers to them as several insults like “damn cockroach,” “hyena from hell,” and the lowest of lows like lower than like the ugliest creepy crawly. A lot of the inspiration for Paquita’s songs come from sexism and machismo in Mexican culture.
''We Mexicans have this machismo situation. Women are always hurt by what men do to them,'' she added. ``I don't sing what others sing. I sing the truth, even if the gentlemen don't like it.''
- Paquita La del Barrio for Miami Herald
By the time ‘Rata De Dos Patas” came out, Paquita was 57 years old. We can assume she had enough expereince beyond her first marriage to understand that
Last Note
It’s SO interesting how ranchera music is a genre that can uphold machista ideals but also tear them down. A lot of popular ranchera music praises chivalry and BEIN A MAN whatever that means. This article by Washington University Political Review goes over the genre in-depth if you’re looking to read more critiques.