While you were away...

We had a fabulous five days in Amsterdam, and we are still recovering after the hectic Gay Pride partying - but what did we miss while we were away?

Not a lot, truth be told.

It's no great surprise - since we experienced extremely hot and sweaty temperatures in the 'Dam - that the rest of Europe has also been experiencing continuing heatwave conditions, not least the overheating rivers of Switzerland, pugs getting heatstroke, bananas ripening in Nottingham, and a shortage of fans across the UK; we also missed Boris Johnson's much-criticised opinion on burkas and the furore it has caused among the liberal elite; we (of course) ignored the latest ranting Tw*tter tirades of Trump against China and Iran; and we missed the announcement of the the death of stalwart of 80s-90s children's TV in the UK Barry Chuckle [I always found the Chuckle Brothers disturbingly creepy, but hey ho].

We missed the 118th anniversary of the birth of HM The Queen Mother, what would have been the 90th birthday of Andy Warhol, and the 80th birthday of national treasure Sir Terry Wogan; as well as the birthdays of some living legends, such as the last of the crooners Tony Bennett (92), Dame Barbara Windsor (81), our Patron Saint of Copla Andaluza Isabel Pantoja (62) and Geri Halliwell (now Horner, 46)...

...and speaking of La Pantoja:

Isabel Pantoja - Como Dos Barquitos

As the Dutch might say, Lekker!

Our favourite jailbird

After a fantabulosa weekend - our "Grand Picnic" on Saturday, and (at last) a beautiful sunny Sunday in the garden, it comes as a bit of a shock to the system to have to get up and get ready for yet another week in work...

¡Oh bueno, no importa! It was the birthday yesterday of our favourite Spanish Patron Saint, Senora Isabel Pantoja (currently halfway through a two-year prison sentence for assisting her boyfriend - the former Mayor of Marbella - in a money-laundering scandal) - so, on this Tacky Music Monday, it is only right that we should feature the "Queen of Copla" herself:

Isabel Pantoja - Cuna Cañí

Tener una buena semana, amigos...

The scandalous Senorita Pantoja

We continue today's sojourn to Spain (I wish), as another Hispanic diva - one of our most cherished here at Dolores Delargo Towers - also celebrates her birthday today!

Miss Isabel Pantoja - whose melodramatic life took an even more dramatic turn earlier this year when she was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for her part in the Marbella money laundering scandal that involved her ex-boyfriend (former Mayor of said city), his ex-wife and his brother. The sentence (as is the wont in Spanish law) was suspended due to it being her first conviction.

Thank heavens for that! Two years without La Pantoja's trademark histrionics would be unthinkable. Here she is with one of her more cheesy numbers (which in other circumstances might easily have passed muster on a Tacky Music Monday) - replete with twinkling lights, excessive décolletage, twirling maidens and safety maricons - enjoy!

Isabel Pantoja - Yemanyá

Isabel Pantoja (born 2nd August 1956)

Recuerdos felices

We are back, tanned and suitably refreshed, from a gorgeous week in Spain...

...and in a La Pantoja frame of mind!

Isabel Pantoja - Como Dos Barquitos

Isabel Pantoja official website (in Spanish, of course)

El fuego esta encendido

Just a few more days and we'll be off to Spain - the first trip in a year!

To continue our countdown in earnest, we are well overdue a return visit to the alluring talents of casa favoritos [house favourite] Señora Isabel Pantoja!

The lady herself is in a bit of a beleaguered state at the moment, facing as she is continued imbezzlement allegations related to her relationship with jailed mayor of Marbella Julian Munoz. Notably, even during the commencement of the legal proceedings early last year, the diva steadfastly carried on her triumphal concert tour of Spain...

Here are a couple of our favourites here at Dolores Delargo Towers - enjoy!

Isobel Pantoja - Asi Fue

Isobel Pantoja - Se Me Enamora El Alma

And of course, the by now classic remix of that same song:

Isobel Pantoja - Se Me Enamora El Alma (Pumpin' Dolls remix)

Queen of Copla

Tomorrow we will be in Spain again, and I can't wait! Even though we do spend the majority of our time doing nothing much in particular (that's what holidays are all about after all...), we have done plenty of exploring, and absorbed some of the cultural influences of that fabulous country over the years.

Not least of those is our enduring love for that most adored of Spanish divas (those that are still with us, that is), the lovely Isabel Pantoja. I am sure I have written about her before, but suffice to say that La Pantoja is to Spain what Liza Minelli is to Broadway - a timeless icon for gays and old ladies alike, her stage inevitably always coated with flowers thrown to her during every performance.

Born in Seville, home of Flamenco, to a family steeped in that tradition, it was inevitable that Isabel would become a performer. She hit the heights in the late 70s/early 80s, her success rivalling other grande dames of Spanish music such as the late Rocio Jurado. And her position as an iconic figure was ensured when - tragically - her husband, top bullfighter "Paquirri" was killed in the ring. Even recent scandals (her current husband the mayor of Marbella was imprisoned for corruption, and Isabel was implicated and later cleared) cannot dent her position as "Queen of Copla", and she continues to sell out massive concert halls and basks in the adulation of her audiences to this day.

So popular is La Pantoja that some of her classics have been remixed for a younger dance audience, and she continues to be played in the gay clubs in La Nogalera in Torremolinos today...

Isobel Pantoja - Se Me Enamora El Alma (Pumpin' Dolls remix)

Isobel Pantoja - Asi Fue (CC Herrerra remix)

Sunshine and Isabel

The last posting for a week as we fly off to Spain tomorrow for a well-deserved holiday, so why not feature that ultimate Andalusian diva Isabel Pantoja? Ah, sunshine...

Isabel Pantoja - Se me enamora el alma