Renowned Mexican singer Paquita la del Barrio, famous for her fierce critiques of machismo through ranchera and bolero music, has passed away at her home in Veracruz, Mexico. She was 77.
Her team announced her death on her official Instagram page, but no cause was given. Mexico City’s Department of Culture honored her legacy in a statement, saying, “She left an indelible mark with her unmistakable voice and unique style. Her music transcended generations, becoming anthems of female empowerment and social criticism.”
Born Francisca Viveros Barradas in 1947, Paquita la del Barrio—translated informally as “Paquita from the block”—rose to fame in the 1980s with her bold, biting lyrics about heartbreak and betrayal. One of her most iconic songs, Rata de Dos Patas (Two-Legged Rat), compared an ex-lover to a leech and a poisonous snake, earning her a devoted following among women who saw their struggles reflected in her music.
Her personal experiences shaped her songwriting. As a teenager, she eloped with a man over 20 years older than her, only to later discover he had another wife and family. The betrayal fueled the raw emotion that defined her lyrics.
“I’ve suffered a lot. The heart goes where it wants,” she told USA Today in 2021. “Those feelings are what guide people to my music.”
Paquita began performing in cantinas in Mexico City in the 1970s, first as part of the duo Las Golondrinas with her sister before launching a solo career. Over the decades, she recorded more than 30 albums and toured extensively across Latin America, Spain, and the United States.
Her outspokenness on gender issues made her a cultural icon. “Mexicans have this machismo situation. Women are always hurt by what men do to them,” she told The Miami Herald in 2008. “I don’t sing what others sing. I sing the truth, even if the gentlemen don’t like it.”
Paquita’s contributions to music earned her two Latin Grammy nominations, five entries on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards.
Songs like Tres Veces Te Engañé (I Cheated on You Three Times) turned her personal pain into defiant anthems. The song’s chorus—“The first time out of anger. The second time on a whim. The third time for my pleasure”—became a declaration of independence for many women. Another phrase from the song, Me estás oyendo, inútil? (Are you listening to me, you good-for-nothing?), became her signature catchphrase.
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