Search - Chavela Vargas :: Somos

The best of her later albums....

Moe James | Oakland | 04/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chavela has the knack for making emotion break through the language barriers. Whenever I play her music my friends ask, "She sounds so intense and profound- what is she singing about?" Hearing music like this makes me so happy that Chavela is still making albums that touch the soul. I can't get enough of her.



This album has some re-recordings of songs that when originally recorded by her in the 1960's evoked a sense of pain and passion. The new recordings have a different emotional feel-longing and rememberance. Paloma Negra, Fallaste Coraz?n, Enorme Distancia etc. are just few examples.



That's not to say that there aren't any new surprises on this album. El Preso N?mero Nueve offers a interesting spin on morals, religion, pride and revenge as prisoner number nine confesses his sins to the priest before being put to death.



Also, Noche de Mi Amor can make you cry. Too many of us take for granted the ones we love. In a world where Vegas weddings are just as common as the divorces that follow, this song is basically about a person wanting the whole world to join in and sanction the one she loves. From the Sea, to the Sun, to a Thousand Bells Ringing- Chavela sings passionately of a love in her life that she wants to celebrate with pride just before her voice fades out at the song's end. Coming from an woman in her eighties, this means a lot!



Buy it for this sound alone.

"

Still very exquisite music but.............

MR WT MAKHATHINI | Durban, South Africa | 07/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is my 3rd Vargas CD & I must say she still sound good but the commitment of her voice is not there any more e.g. when i compare the song "Paloma Negra" in this CD and the version in Frida [Soundtrack]you can hear that her voice is lacking that ethusiastic vivaciousness, strong, powerful lyrics coming from deep down her body.The version on Frida wins my vote.Still traditional music with acoustic guitars by Oscar Ramos & Victtoria Arechabala,Bobi Fernandez on percussion & Jose Miguel Fernandez on Teclado. I'm about to give up on these import CDs the reason being that there are no liner notes at all not even in Spanish.(I got a Spanish import).The music of Vargas is timeless really.After acquiring a 3rd CD it has become rather necessary for me to be curious about learning Spanish a little bit even though the music transcends all barriers but I have reached a stage whereby I need to know what the music says because for me its beginning to sound the same.But otherwise its very a good investment for my soul and I can indulge with this music any time,any place."