What is a chirigota and list of all those of the Carnival of Cádiz (COAC) in 2023

The Cadiz Carnival It is one of the most powerful in Spain for different reasons, but one of them is its more than long duration. Even though the Carnival itself lasts only a few days (to which must be added later the ‘Chico Carnival’, also known as the Carnival ‘of the jartibles’, those who, after so much partying, are still not ‘jartos’ of Carnival), weeks before the start takes place in the Gran Teatro Falla de Cádiz the Official Contest of Carnival Groups (COAC) where different types of groups or musical bands compete with rhythm and humor for several weeks to take the title.

Four types of musical groups participate in the COAC: chirigotas, comparsas, choirs and quartets. The RAE defines the chirigotas as “groups that sing humorous songs at carnival”, although the truth is that all four do exactly the same thing. That is why it is important to differentiate each of the categories that participate in the COAC. Specifically, the chirigota is made up of a group of a minimum of seven people and a maximum of 12, who interpret their songs (also known as ‘chirigotas’), with at least two voices.

The fact that carry the melody in the chirigota It is usually the tenor, accompanied by second voices, and it is common for it to be musically accompanied by bass drums, drums, guitars or güiros (a scraper-type percussion instrument). Each chirigota that performs at the COAC has a repertoire made up of a presentation —linked to the costume worn by the components of the chirigota itself—, two pasodobles and two cuplés, both with original music, a chorus sung at the end of each couplet (and also original) and a medley, divided into quatrains. Unlike the comparsas and the choirs, what scores the most in the chirigotas are usually the cuplés and the refrain.

The jokes of the COAC of 2023

• I was going to my house and I appeared in the galaxy (The Abductees) – January 21
• Cádiz how beautiful you are with your fucking mother (Los bipolares) – January 21
• The Seized – January 22
• The Midwives of Villacapona de la Frontera – January 22
• Those of the verdict – January 22
• The Chirigota del Barranco – January 23
• I don’t come for one day – January 23
• Kaditi Kid – January 23
• Everything happens to me: the misfortunes – January 24
• The my soul – January 24
• I have not gone out before because my mother would not let me – January 24
• Lazio’s chirigota – January 25
• All About Her Marvel – January 25
• La boquita cerrá’ – January 25
• Çembrando copla (The comparça of the people) – January 26
• Hotel and Resort Cadi, here is your home – January 26
• No forgiveness – January 27
• My God, what a late! – January 27th
• Chirigota Juanito Manos Verdes – January 27
• Isabelita’s child – January 28
• Amoaescuchá’: street chirigota – January 28
• Sunstroke as hell – January 29
• The Cuñaos – January 29
• The Cadi-lac – January 30
• Her parents – January 30
• With the truth ahead, the sincere – January 30
• Los Viñanos – January 31
• Paw Patrol – January 31
• Fariña of my eyes – January 31
• Ayyy, what do I eat you – February 1
• Now I don’t remember the name – February 1
• This year we come with hope – February 2
• Whoever follows her gets her – February 2
• Here I am missing – February 2
• Taliban Front of the Irreverent Republic of Kadikistan – February 3
• Those who go to bed with you – February 3
• I am the one – February 3
• Follow me – February 4
• The bosses of Cádiz – February 4

What chirigota won the COAC in 2022?

With a total of 714.22 points, the chirigota winner of the Carnival Contest of Cádiz in 2022 (which was held between May and June and not between January and February, as is usually the case) was ‘The mission (the gospel according to Santander’), led by Manolito Santander, José Manuel Sánchez Reyes and Carlos Pérez, who this year are performing in the preliminary phase on January 31 under the name of Los Viñanos. Here you can see the performance of ‘The mission’ in the preliminary phase of the 2022 COAC: