A gringo guide to the three queens of Mexican songwriting

So, you person already impressed your caller Mexican friends by name-dropping artists
from the past 2 articles. Now, earlier that last changeable of mezcal and a triumphant
exit, you person a accidental to instrumentality it to a level that volition get you labeled “Gringo Supremeo.”
The main information for this list, arsenic opposed to the past two, is songwriting quality.
There is thing incorrect with being a popular prima whose worldly is written by others, but
writing timeless songs is simply a full antithetic satellite than performing them. Put different way,
the Three Queens of Mexican Song Writing (our heroic pistillate Mexican popular stars connected this list) bash not person backup dancers (apologies to Yuri and Alejandra Guzman).

Consuelo Velazquez

The opus is known worldwide, but not the writer. How galore days tin 1 spell successful Mexico
City without proceeding a mentation of “Bésame Mucho” wafting from a café oregon shop? That
song unsocial should beryllium capable to enactment the large Consuelo Velazquez connected the list, but she
has contributed overmuch more.

Ms. Velazquez comes from an epoch of euphony that, successful astir immoderate country, could be
considered a aureate age. If the names Gershwin, Sinatra, and Ellington are familiar,
Valezquez should besides be. In fact, “Besame Mucho” was released successful 1941 (although
written successful 1932), the aforesaid twelvemonth arsenic “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Stardust,” and
“Chattanooga Choo Choo.” This was good earlier stone and rotation erstwhile popular songs were clever, simple, and mostly astir love. But “Besame Mucho” was not satisfied staying in
its ain decade. After all, erstwhile the Beatles screen a song, it is beauteous overmuch a classic, and
there person been hundreds of renditions since then.

A bully spot to commencement discovering the different hits of this prolific composer is the album
recorded by Rodrigo de la Cadena. Using modern technology, helium sings duets with Ms.
Velazquez from the historical signaling “Su Piano, Su Voz, Su Intérprete.”

Ana Gabriel

One of the galore fantastic things astir Mexican euphony is that it is arsenic varied and vast
as euphony successful the United States. Consider the genre of jazz. Like dense metal, the
subgenres look endless, with Swing, Bepop, Afro-Cuban, Dixieland, Fusion, and more
all nether 1 umbrella. As such, Ana Gabriel reminded Mexico that its philharmonic past is
vast.

Ranchera was not invented by Ms. Gabriel, but she is surely the archetypal sanction radical will
think of erstwhile mentioned. Much similar Fado euphony successful Portugal, the mourning tones and
hints of longing specify it. Starting conscionable aft the crook of the century, Ranchera was
centered connected the glory of the revolution, which was altered into tortured emotion songs that
retained the yearning. Ms. Gabriel’s haunting vibrato takes 1 to the bosom of the
heartache.

The aching successful her dependable besides fits good with Mexican romanticist ballads (as distinguished
from ballads known successful the United States). A cleanable illustration is her deed “Ay, Amor.” If
heartache is water, this opus is simply a tidal wave, arsenic proven by the crowd’s singing on successful a
1990 performance.

To bask the full, box-of-Kleenex experience, see “Simplemente Amigos,”
“Destino,” oregon “Quien Como Tú.” No wonderment she is the bestselling Mexican pistillate creator of each time.

Natalia Lafourcade

If determination were ever an creator to unrecorded up to the bequest of Juan Gabriel, it would beryllium Natalia
Lafourcade. There it is. Go up and stroke up the comments section. It’s on.
The elephantine spread near successful 2016 erstwhile Mr. Gabriel passed was filled by the arsenic talented
Ms. Lafourcade, who was fortunate capable to grounds a opus with him (“Ya No Vivo Por Vivir”).

Growing up successful a philharmonic household successful Veracruz, Ms. Lafourcade was immersed successful a wide
variety of styles. Her parent was a composer who graduated from the National
Conservatory of Music and aboriginal created the euphony pedagogy Macarsi Method. A beingness in
music was much destiny than a hunt for stardom.

Like different artists who hop from 1 Mexican genre to another, she is simply a precise rounded
composer. Yet she brings a definite sophistication to each portion with melodies and chord
progressions that exemplify her jazz and classical influences. She not lone honors Latin
traditions specified arsenic bolero, cumbia, and mariachi, but elevates them to new
elegance.

Her smash hit, “Nunca es Suficiente,” is simply a seemingly elemental cumbia, but if 1 listens
closely to the melody and inheritance coloring, it is wide Ms. Lafourcade is simply a studied
composer and not a specified popular star. To guarantee the song’s authenticity, she later
partnered with Los Angeles Azules for the afloat cumbia attraction and a video viewed a
stunning 2 cardinal times.

Finally, arsenic if earning respect from Mr. Gabriel, Ms. Lafourcade took it to a caller stage
with an full medium dedicated to the immortal Augustin Lara, containing an exquisite
version of the celebrated “Farolito.” But 1 does not participate a task similar that lightly arsenic it is
akin to going into the workplace to grant Elle Fitzgerald. This is Carnegie Hall signifier talent.
Oh, by the way, she sold-out Carnegie Hall successful 2022.

Natalia Lafourcade has galore years up to polish each her awards and lend new
music. Where galore artists are considered the champion of their generation, she volition certainly
be considered the champion of each time.

How did we do? Is anyone other missing from our (quite comprehensive) database of Mexican pistillate popular stars? Do we request a 4th instalment? Please permission your suggestions successful the comments conception and grow each of our playlists.

Jimmy Monack is simply a teacher, lensman and award-winning writer. He profiles absorbing radical each astir the satellite arsenic good arsenic penning astir and photographing stone concerts. He lives successful Mexico City. www.jimmymonack.com