Sunday, November 1, 2015

#BoTB — Día de Muertos special: Llorona

The Mexican fascination — some would say 'obsession' — with death dates back to before the European encounter. Most pre-Columbine civilizations had beliefs based on the concept of duality (twins, for instance, were considered sacred, as were homosexuals and hermaphrodites in many of these cultures)... And nothing embodies the essence of duality like life and death.

Mictlantecuhtli, god of the underworld (or Mictlan). Sculpted in raw clay in life size. Found in a building dedicated to the cult of death at El Zapotal, La Mixtequilla, in the Mexican state of Veracruz.
Photo: Carlos Blanco / Raíces / Arqueología Mexicana

Within this cult to the dead — not quite to ancestors, mind you, in the Asian sense, but rather to the actual extinguishing of life — there are many myths, many legends, that formed the foundations of an entire belief system that would shape the Americas. Like much of prehispanic culture, they survived through syncretism: they were adapted into a Christian context, given a "proper" veneer of European civilization, and set loose among the Spanish crown's newest subjects to do the job all those friars couldn't do.

The Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead — November 1st and 2nd — is, perhaps, the prehispanic tradition that best illustrates this. It's not a Mexican Halloween, though... It's not creepy, or scary, nor does it involves pranks of any kind. The Day of the Dead, quite simply, is the day that our dead loved ones come back to visit with us. And, rather than a motive for fright, it's a cause for celebration... I'll post more about it tomorrow (and, since I'm in Mexico at the moment, I'll try to get some good photos to share with you)... This was meant only as a brief introduction to the Battle being played out here today and, as usual, I'm rambling on and on and on...

La Llorona is one of these prehispanic-turned-modern myths. Every important culture in the territory that we now know as Mexico had some sort of legend or story about a woman that wailed along the banks of a river. In some cases it's a goddess, a sort of siren that lured men to her in order to a) drive them insane, or b) murder them. (In some cases it was actually a) and b)...) The fact that this legend survived once the Spanish Colonia set in is testament to how deep the belief is ingrained into Mexican DNA... Although the modern version doesn't involve a goddess (or virgin or saint of any kind) but rather a woman who's lost her children — that's what she wails: "¡Ay, mis hijos!" (Oh, my children!) — there are still remnants of the "holy" sense this legend sprouted from. And proof of that is in the popularity of the song, Llorona, made famous outside Mexico by the 2002 movie Frida:





But the song is far, far older than that. So old, as a matter of fact, that no one seems to agree who composed it. Or even what the official lyrics are. Like most traditional Mexican songs, each new interpreter adds, or changes, or skips... (I'd love to translate them for you, but... well, it's a bit more complicated than I thought.)

The singer who made it famous, though, was Chabela Vargas—a woman born half a century too early, whose trademark gritty voice and general lack of feminity scandalized two generations and earned the admiration and respect of the next two. She sings in the Frida soundtrack, but that version is incomplete and, quite sincerely, not one of her best. Here's the one that I like of hers (with the bonus of some Frida photos... the actual Frida, not the movie, not Salma Hayek):

CONTESTANT NUMBER ONE:
Chabela Vargas





Contestant Number Two, funnily enough, also sings on the Frida soundtrack... And that version is one of the very best I've heard. I give you

CONTESTANT NUMBER TWO:
LILA DOWNS




What do you think? Which version struck you as better (or less worse)? If you had to listen to one of these — absolutely had to, no other choice — which one would you prefer? Let me know in the comments! I'll count up the votes, add my own, and post the results on the 7th.

In the meantime, here's another Llorona interpreter... Not one of my favorites, but the animation with it, if you're not familiar with the Day of the Dead traditions, you might enjoy watching.



Felíz Día de Muertos! Remember to hop over to these other blogs and check out their own Battles... Some pretty epic ones will be fought, and your vote can make a world of difference. Oh, and awesome Debbie D. Doglady has a teaser for you at her Battle post... She's going to host me on Monday 9th Nov, as part of the MIRACLE tour in blogs, and the song she chose for today's Battle is the key.


Thanks for the visit!

P.S. — I'm traveling in Mexico this week, and internet is... well, intermittent. I'm having trouble getting the laptop connected, and when it does connect, YouTube videos take forever to load, let alone play. So I'm way behind on my BoTB visits... But I will get there. I promise. And I apologize for the delay.

25 comments :

  1. What a fascinating history lesson. That was enthralling, Guilie! The legend of La Llorona reminds me of the German legend of Lorelei. Coincidentally, Chavela Vargas' voice is reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich's. Her rendition is fraught with emotion and you can't help being drawn to it. On the other hand, Lila Downs also has a good voice and I like the Mariachi style of the arrangement. Tough battle......must listen to both again!
    Okay, I'm voting for Lila Downs. Her version is easier to listen to. Chavela's is so heartwrenching, it gets emotionally exhausting.

    Thanks for the mention! Looking forward to Nov, 9. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad it felt like a tough choice, Debbie... I haven't decided my own vote yet, and I'm really wavering, but I thought it might be because of the added links, emotion-wise, that either singer has for me... so your own indecision felt like validation. Thank you for that ;) And the first vote goes to Lila! You're right, Chabela's is more fraught with heavy emotion, which can make it a tough listen... Unless you're sitting in a cantina, halfway through a bottle of tequila :D

      Thanks for the visit, Debbie! Nov 9th can't get here fast enough ;)

      Delete
  2. I like Chebela Vargas' version best. I don't know that I like her voice better but I do like the music better. She has put so much heart and emotion into the song. Interesting back stories and cultural interpretation of the Day of the Dead.
    I'm listening to Lila Downs again now but I'm very drawn to the emotion in Chebela's version so my vote goes to her.
    Michele at Angels Bark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cool, Michele! Got you down for Chabela. You make a good point: sometimes it's not about a voice (or a guitar, or whatever) being better than another one, but rather that the combination works better, or brings more magic, or... something :)

      Thanks for the visit!

      Delete
  3. Oh I love this song! It is so rich and beautiful but I am one who loves folk songs from different countries. This is hard for me to pick because the first one is so rich and one hears the intense feelings while the other brings in instruments that people from other countries would know more with the country of Mexico. Now it all goes down to which one I would listen more to. The problem is I would listen to both but I think I shall give it to Lila Downs....nope scratch that...I must go with Chavela's rendition. It has so much spirit and I think that is reflective not only of what the song represents but also of these 2 days in honour of the Dead so she gets my vote. Her voice is haunting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm very, very pleased you enjoyed this, Birgit! It's always hard to make a choice when the music (and genre!) is not only unfamiliar but also in a foreign language... I love your reasoning, though, and how you evaluated both. Got your vote down for Chabela :) Thanks for the visit! (And my apologies for the late response... I'm traveling in Mexico with limited internet access, so I'm late-late-late. But catching up :) )

      Delete
  4. The Vargas version certain is sung with a lot of emotion and I like the simplicity of the guitar back-up.

    As you probably already know I'm a big Lila Downs fan. Her voice is easier for me to take than the other singer. I'm not as fond of the mariachi band back up on this particular song, but over all it is delivered well.

    This is rather difficult. Ideally I'd have Lila singing with the guitarist on the other one, but taking all things into consideration I have to vote for the incredible Lila Downs.

    By the way, Downs was playing yesterday I think it was here in Los Angeles at a cemetery for a Día de Muertos festivity. They had several musical artists and other festivities. I was tempted to go, but it takes a lot to get me out of the house sometimes. Also it was an all day affair outdoors and I wasn't too up on that. Downs also performed at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood on September 19th--that I would have been tempted to go see but I didn't find out about it until after the fact.

    Anyway, again my vote is for Lila Downs.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee, how delightful to have had Lila playing nearby! I've never seen her live, but I'm sure it must be a wonderful experience. Though, yes, I might've hesitated on the day-long thing, too... I'm not a big fan of crowds. The experience must've been wonderful, nonetheless.

      I'm with you on the proposed mix-up: Lila with Chabela's guitar back-up would make a fabulous version. And yes, Chabela's voice isn't exactly what one would call easy listening... One more vote for Lila :)

      Thanks for the visit! Will be by your place sometime this afternoon :)

      Delete
  5. Yo quiero Chavela Vargas. Es muy hermosa. Está tocando emocional. Frida Kahlo es el más grande pintor. I feel her work when I listen to the music, so I vote for Chavela Vargas.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Janie—¡tu español es fantástico! And wow, too, on what you pointed out about Chabela's version reflecting Kahlo's work... Frida really was an amazing artist. Her paintings have such huge heart that it's weird to think of them being so small in actual, physical, size.

      Another vote for the emotion-packed Vargas version! Thanks for the visit, Janie... I'm way behind on my rounds due to limited internet access, but I'm catching up. Slowly, but surely :)

      Delete
  6. Oh, Lila Downs all the way. Lee made me a convert on that one. Love this battle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha... Glad to see Lee's influence at work, Cherdo ;) I'm sure Lila would be honored. Got you down for Ms. Downs!

      Delete
  7. Voting for Vargas. Not sure which one though. She seems younger in the first one, sadder in the second one.

    The Downs one annoyed me with the male backing vocals. I think it might be the worst of the four.

    The Leon version is too slow or pausy or something.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr. Ellipsis! Okee doke, one more vote for Ms. Vargas. The second one was the only one in the contest (vs. the Lila + mariachi that you hated). Sometimes it does come down to which version annoys the least, doesn't it?

      Thanks for the visit!

      Delete
  8. Chabela Vargas gets my vote I enjoyed that version of the song better than Lila Downs.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oftentimes I render my vote based on which version I'd listen to more often. In this case, that really isn't going to work for me. I don't think I'd put either of these on my IPod. So, that changes my own standard of deciding. I think the first one was more emotional. It was obvious even to me, who didn't understand any of the words, that the singer was really moved by the message. I don't think her voice is the most beautiful, but it was compelling. So, I give it to Chabela Vargas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very interesting way to make a decision, Robin... Emotional involvement by the performer. Compelling voice rather than 'beautiful'. I like it. And I'm sure Chabela would, too. Another vote for Ms. Vargas!

      Thanks for the visit, Robin. I'm way behind on the rounds this week... Internet access in Mexico hasn't been very welcoming, so I'm having issues connecting, loading videos, playing them. But I'm catching up :)

      Delete
  10. Guile, I think we watched this movie on Netflix, but I certainly don't remember the song. *sigh* Oh well...the first contender I really didn't care too much for and honestly, if you hadn't told me this was a woman singing then I'd swear it was a man. The second contender was the better of the two, so I'm giving my vote to Lila Downs, but like Robin said you won't find either of these on my playlist. It just don't my style, but I certainly appreciated hearing them through the BoTB. Have safe travels!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cathy, you're not alone... Chabela *does* sound like a man (I think it's on purpose, part of her way of challenging the status quo). Your vote for Lila's version is duly noted, and thanks so much for the good wishes!

      Delete
  11. I like the Lila Downs version the best. It's much shorter than the first one, but that's only secondary. I prefer the singing in the second one and the instrumental bits. Have a good time in Mexico.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jeffrey! Your vote for Lila has been registered :)

      Delete
  12. Hi Guilie - I've left it open to come back and listen and to read your post more thoroughly. Loved the photo and then the information will add so much more ...

    I even had lack of internet connection for most of the time I was travelling here in the west country - it's still a challenge - I'm certain Mexico more so. Enjoy the travels and change of landscape etc ..

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've now listened to the first one - which I positively loved ... I'll be back again to listen to the others ... but I suspect this is 'my one'! Cheers Hilary

      Delete
    2. I'm glad you enjoyed this, Hilary! Day of the Dead celebrations are so complex, so rife with historical and cultural implications and influences, that a single post—even a series of posts—could hardly do them justice. Maybe a book? (Now there's an idea ;) ) But I will be posting more on it, soon (ish), because it's so fascinating, and I'll look forward to hearing your feedback on those :)

      Thanks for the visit! (And apologies for the late response... Now that I'm back in Curaçao I'll catch up :) )

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...