I was saddened on Sunday to hear the news that singer Chavela Vargas passed away at age 93 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Though the legendary singer was originally from Costa Rica, she emigrated to Mexico City in her teens and would eventually become known as the queen of Ranchera and a Mexican popular culture icon.
According to her official Facebook page, her last words were “I leave with Mexico in my heart.”
I’ll never be able to listen to “La Llorona”—or many other songs—without thinking of her. Here are a few of my favorites.
“La Llorona”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCoV4ObhiuE[/youtube]
“Que Te Vaya Bonito“
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sqz2LwQLIo[/youtube]
“El Último Trago”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtenL7GCa04[/youtube]