Chupacabra (album)
Encyclopedia
Chupacabra is the debut album by Imani Coppola
, released on October 28, 1997. The title refers to the legendary chupacabra
(literally "goat sucker"), a creature believed through some parts of the Americas
to drink the blood of livestock
. Ann Powers wrote in The New York Times
that Coppola's album was buoyed by "fanciful raps and supple vocals as she establishes her identity as a modern-day flower child with common sense."
Among the album's tracks, the song "Legend of a Cowgirl" became a hit on MTV
. According to Coppola, the rap song, which includes a sample of Donovan
's "Sunshine Superman", started as an idea she had for a movie about women who "love 'em and leave 'em and ride off into the sunset." Part of Coppola's marketing included a music video for “Legend of a Cowgirl” that received heavy rotation on MTV. The video showed Coppola in dream sequences as a biker chick, a catsuit-wearing alien-type and a diva in heels and a huge afro. In one scene Coppola dismounts her bike, marches up to a hitchhiking cowboy and kisses him. In another scene Coppola, clad in a skintight, shiny black catsuit, is surrounded by nearly-naked dancing men in silver bodypaint and Speedos. "It was very uncomfortable 'cause we had no room and their penises and their bums are just flopping around," says Coppola. "It was like, 'Whoops, sorry. Didn't mean to touch you!' But they were all gay, so it didn't really matter. They were cute though. It was a shame."
Imani Coppola
Imani Francesca Coppola is an American singer-songwriter and violinist probably best known for her 1997 hit "Legend of a Cowgirl" which sampled the instrumentals from "Sunshine Superman" by Donovan...
, released on October 28, 1997. The title refers to the legendary chupacabra
Chupacabra
The chupacabras is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico , Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities...
(literally "goat sucker"), a creature believed through some parts of the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
to drink the blood of livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
. Ann Powers wrote in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
that Coppola's album was buoyed by "fanciful raps and supple vocals as she establishes her identity as a modern-day flower child with common sense."
Among the album's tracks, the song "Legend of a Cowgirl" became a hit on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. According to Coppola, the rap song, which includes a sample of Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
's "Sunshine Superman", started as an idea she had for a movie about women who "love 'em and leave 'em and ride off into the sunset." Part of Coppola's marketing included a music video for “Legend of a Cowgirl” that received heavy rotation on MTV. The video showed Coppola in dream sequences as a biker chick, a catsuit-wearing alien-type and a diva in heels and a huge afro. In one scene Coppola dismounts her bike, marches up to a hitchhiking cowboy and kisses him. In another scene Coppola, clad in a skintight, shiny black catsuit, is surrounded by nearly-naked dancing men in silver bodypaint and Speedos. "It was very uncomfortable 'cause we had no room and their penises and their bums are just flopping around," says Coppola. "It was like, 'Whoops, sorry. Didn't mean to touch you!' But they were all gay, so it didn't really matter. They were cute though. It was a shame."
Track listing
All tracks by Imani Coppola, Mike Mangini except where noted- "I'm a Tree" 3:33
- "Legend of a Cowgirl" (Imani Coppola, Donovan Leitch, Mangini) 3:47
- "Naked City (Love to See U Shine) 4:26
- "It's All About Me, Me, and Me" 4:12
- "Piece" 3:48
- "Karma and the Blizzard" 4:37
- "One of These Days" 3:20
- "Pigeon Penelope" 3:19
- "Soon (I Like It)" 4:10
- "Forget Myself" 3:49
- "La Da Da" 20:47 ["My Day" (Hidden Track)]
Personnel
- Amanda Busto – Vocals (bckgr)
- Imani Coppola – Guitar (Acoustic), Fiddle, Guitar, Strings, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Choir, Chorus, Fender Rhodes, Illustrations
- Jeff Coppola – Vocals
- Tom Coyne – Mastering
- Dave Crafa – Guitar
- DJ Nastee – DJ
- David Drafa – Guitar
- Skoti Alain Elliott – Bass, Engineer, Mixing
- Sharon Kearney – Guitar, Mixing Assistant, Assistant
- Kiku – Art Direction, Design
- Mike Mangini – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Percussion, Strings, Arranger, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Vocals (bckgr), Producer, Mixing
- Nastee – DJ
- Carl Rushing – Programming, Vocals
- Matthew Scannell – Guitar
- Nina Schultz – Photography