Sunday, August 05, 2012
Hoy ha muerto Chavela Vargas, 93
Chavela Vargas was born in Costa Rica, but came to Mexico when she was young, and became identified with the Mexican rancheras and boleros she sang. In her eighties, she enjoyed a revival of interest in her music through the appreciation of fans, Pedro Almodóvar's promotion of her music in his films, and the support other musicians such as Joaquin Sabinas. She also came out as lesbian in her eighties, although she lived openly, and claimed that Frida Kahlo was one of her lovers. Recently she recorded a homage to García Lorca. She died peacefully at the age of 93. "Vamonos"
Que no somos iguales
dice la gente
que tu vida y mi vida
se van a perder
que yo soy la canalla
y que tú eres decente
que dos seres distintos
no se pueden querer
Pero yo ya te quise
y no te olvido
y morir en tus brazos
es mi ilusión
yo no entiendo esas cosas
de las clases sociales
solo sé que me quieres
y que te quiero yo
Y vamonos donde nadie nos juzgue
donde nadie nos diga que hacemos mal
vamonos alejados del mundo
donde no haya justicia
ni leyes ni nada
nomás nuestro amor
- Y le dije que nos fuéramos
lejos a un lugar diferente
donde fuéramos iguales
juntitos los dos ¡échele compadre! -
Si no somos iguales
qué nos importa
esta historia de amores
tendrá que seguir
Y como alguien me dijo
que la vida es muy corta
esta vez he venido
para siempre por ti
y yo quiero que sepas
que no te obligo
que si vienes conmigo
es por amor
di con todas tus fuerzas
lo que soy en tu vida
pa' que vean que me quieres
como te quiero yo
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3 comments:
A gay French Jewish leftist buddy introduced me to the music of Chavela Vargas back in the 1960s when she was already considered ancient. I'm amazed she lasted this long after her rather wild life, and her music just gets better with each year. She's sort of of the Mexican hybrid of Hank Williams and Etta James, and was most certainly a goddess. Thanks for the mention.
She had a whole second career in her 70s-80s, after burning out from alcoholism. Her public coming out was done then, but she lived fairly openly as lesbian when she was younger. I know she published an autobiography, but I don't know if it has been translated. I love how her voice just tears into a song.
My favorite, apocryphal story about her was that she was in love with the wife of a Mexican general who she shot in a lover's jealous fit, and she had to leave the country for a while. If it's not true, it should be.
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