Cucurrucucú paloma
"Cucurrucucú paloma" (Spanish for Coo-coo Dove, in reference to the dove's onomatopoeia) is a Mexican Huapango song written by Tomás Méndez in 1954 and introduced by Lola Beltrán in the film Cucurrucucú Paloma in 1965.[1]
Over the years the song has been used as the soundtrack for several films and has reached a level of popularity even outside its country of origin, being translated into several languages. The lyrics of the song talk about the loss of a loved one and the suffering attached to it.
The song appeared in other movies, such as Le Magnifique, Escuela de vagabundos, The Last Sunset, Happy Together, Talk to Her, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done, and The Five-Year Engagement. It has also been recorded by popular singers such as Luis Miguel, Rocío Dúrcal, Pedro Infante, Perry Como, Caetano Veloso, Miguel Aceves Mejía, Harry Belafonte, Hibari Misora, Nana Mouskouri, Julio Iglesias, Shirley Kwan, Lila Downs, Joan Baez (on her album Gracias a la Vida), Rosemary Clooney, and The Del Rubio Triplets.
The song was played as a regular huapango song until Harry Belafonte sang it in Carnegie Hall like an art song. Lola Beltrán's original rendering is considered by Mexicans to be the most powerful and faithful to the spirit of the song.