When the carnivals of Cádiz arrive, the atmosphere shows that the party has arrived and that everyone is ready to enjoy. But there is something that stands out in these festivities in the city of Cádiz and that are a tradition for everyone: the chirigotas of Cádiz. They are a contest of costumed people who sing funny song lyrics referencing the current world.
The classic chirigotas of the Cádiz carnival
The form of song are fun couplets with simple musical forms from sevillanas, rumba, pasodoble, etc. There are contests where the groups compete for various prizes and the voices of the groups, the lyrics and also the clothing or costumes are taken into account to win. The main objective of the chirigotas is to have fun, laugh and for the public to have a good time partying both with the lyrics and the show that is put on.
The official contest is called COAC, which stands for the Official Contest of Carnival Groups and is held at the Gran Teatro de Falla in Cádiz. The groups of chirigotas get on stage to compete and make the audience have fun. There are also carnival choirs, troupes and carnival quartets.
In the chirigotas there can only be a maximum of 12 people but there must be a minimum of 7 for it to take place. On stage, at least two voices will sing, and one of them must be the tenor. The chirigota must have background music that is made up of a bass drum, a snare drum, guitars and other musical elements. The chirigota must have a type of costume that goes according to the lyrics of the song that they are going to interpret. In addition, they must also include two pasodobles, two cuplets, a chorus and a medley, also burlesque and humorous.