Behind the stage name "Jarabe de Palo" ("cane molasses") is singer and songwriter Pau Donés, born in the region of Aragon and a long-time resident of Barcelona. With two long-play records on the market, he had already secured a position as one of the best contemporary performers in Spain, with his fusion of Latin sounds with Rock and Blues. Backed by a band of accomplished musicians, he delivers some of the finest live performances in Spain.

Inspired by the music of The Beatles and Bob Marley, he formed his first group at aged 15 - called J & Co Band and later, Dentaduras Postizas - with his brother Marc, who played the drrums. Meanwhile, he studied Business and Economics and later he worked at an advertising agency, while playing gigs at Barcelona clubs at night. He was discovered by a scout from Virgin Records and cut his first record when he was 30. He lives in a remote village in the Pyrenees with his girlfriend, a snowboard instructor, and rides a Harley Davison.

Jarabe de Palo’s first hit came in 1997 with La Flaca (The Skinny One, inspired by a visit to Cuba) which became that summer’s top seller. Unlike most summer hits, which are soon forgotten, La Flaca is now considered a classic, and one of the best Spanish pop-rock songs of the decade.

La Flaca (click for song)

En la vida conoci mujer igual a la Flaca
coral negro de la Habana,tremendisima mulata.
Cien libras de piel y hueso, cuarenta kilos de Salsa,
en la cara dos soles que sin palabras hablan
que sin palabras hablan

La Flaca duerme de dia, dice que asi el hambre engaña,
cuando cae la noche baja a bailar a la Tasca.
Y bailar y bailar, y tomar y tomar
una cerveza tras otra pero ella nunca engorda
pero ella nunca engorda

Por un beso de la Flaca daria lo que fuera
por un beso de ella, aunque solo uno fuera

Mojé mis sabanas blancas, como dice la canción
Recordando las caricias que me brindó el primer día
Y enloquezco de ganas de dormir a su ladito
Porque Dios que esta flaca a mi me tiene loquito
O-oh, a mi me tiene loquito

The Skinny One (Flaca)

In my life have i met a woman like “la Flaca”

Black coral of Havana, an amazing mulata,

100 pounds of skin and bones, 40 kilos of salsa,

two suns on her face that speak without words

they speak without words

“La Flaca” sleeps by day, that’s how she tricks hunger,

when nightfall comes she dances at the clubs,

dancing and dancing, drinking and drinking,

yet she never gains a pound

For a kiss from the “Flaca” I would give anything,

For a kiss from her…if only one at least.

I wet my white sheets, like the song goes

Remembering the caresses she gave me the first day

And I’m going crazy wanting to sleep by her side

Cuz God this “Flaca” has really got me gaga

Oh, she really has me gaga