About
Biography
Las Ketchup is a Spanish girl group from Córdoba, Andalusia, founded in 2001 by flamenco record producer Manuel “Queco” Ruiz. The group originally consisted of three sisters—Lucía Muñoz, Lola Muñoz, and Pilar Muñoz—daughters of renowned flamenco guitarist Juan Manuel Muñoz Expósito, known as “El Tomate” (The Tomato). Their stage name, Las Ketchup, was inspired by their father’s nickname, reflecting their deep roots in Andalusian musical traditions. A fourth sister, Rocío Muñoz, joined the group in 2006. The sisters grew up immersed in flamenco culture but initially had no ambitions to become pop stars. Their unique blend of flamenco, Latin pop, and reggae influences, combined with catchy melodies, would soon propel them to global fame.
Las Ketchup burst onto the international music scene in 2002 with their debut single, “The Ketchup Song (Aserejé),” from their album Hijas del Tomate (Daughters of the Tomato). The song, a flamenco-Europop fusion with a gibberish chorus inspired by a misheard version of The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” became a global phenomenon. It topped charts in 27 countries, including Spain, the UK, Italy, France, and Australia, and sold over seven million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles ever. The accompanying dance craze amplified its viral success, reminiscent of the Macarena. Hijas del Tomate sold over two million copies globally, earning a Latin Grammy nomination and awards like the NRJ Music Award for International Breakthrough of the Year.
Their follow-up single, “Kusha Las Payas,” achieved moderate success but failed to replicate the meteoric rise of “Aserejé.” After a brief hiatus, during which Pilar welcomed a child, the group re-emerged in 2006 with a new album, Un Blodymary, and represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens with the album’s title track. Now a quartet with Rocío, the group aimed to recapture their earlier success, but “Un Blodymary” finished a disappointing 21st with only 18 points. The performance, featuring office chairs and lackluster choreography, was widely criticized, and the group faced legal disputes that stalled their recording career. After 2006, Las Ketchup released no new singles and entered a period of relative obscurity, though they continued occasional performances in Spain.
Las Ketchup made a notable comeback in 2016, performing “The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)” as an interval act during the first semi-final of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, the national pre-selection for Eurovision. The performance, featuring the original trio of Lucía, Lola, and Pilar (without Rocío), surprised fans and reignited nostalgia for their 2002 hit. The group’s energetic delivery and iconic choreography captivated the audience, with even host Petra Mede joining in. This appearance marked a resurgence in their public presence, as they capitalized on the enduring popularity of “Aserejé.” That same year, they performed at various events, including shows in Spain, signaling their intent to remain active on the live circuit.
After their 2016 revival, Las Ketchup continued to perform sporadically, focusing on live shows rather than new music. In 2018, the group faced scrutiny following a controversial performance at Finland’s Karjurock festival. The 22-minute set, which included two renditions of “The Ketchup Song,” was marred by logistical issues—they arrived nearly two hours late and mistakenly shouted “Que tal Helsinki!” despite being over 200 kilometers from the capital. Finnish media, including tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, labeled the gig “disastrous,” though the audience still enjoyed the iconic choreography. During an interview, the sisters mentioned touring Northern Europe and working on a comeback album, though no new music materialized.
In 2018, Las Ketchup released remixes of “The Ketchup Song,” including a “Radio Mix” and “Club Edit,” which introduced their classic hit to a new generation. These remixes were well-received, particularly among fans on platforms like TikTok, where the song’s dance routine gained traction, amassing over 33 million views by 2022. The group’s music continued to resonate, with covers and parodies appearing globally, from Mexico to Japan.
By 2022, Las Ketchup embarked on a world tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of “The Ketchup Song.” The tour kicked off in Madrid in March and included stops across Europe and Mexico, drawing younger audiences nostalgic for early-2000s pop. The sisters expressed pride in their role in paving the way for Spanish flamenco-pop artists like Rosalía, with Pilar noting in a Rolling Stone interview that they “opened doors in many countries.” However, legal issues from earlier years had impacted their careers—Lucía and Pilar became hairdressers, while Lola studied flamenco and planned a biography about their father.
