Dressed in an extraordinary ball gown designed to celebrate the culture of her native Mexican heritage, Ángela Aguilar looked stunning onstage at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Nominated for the Best Regional Mexican Music Album, Ángela was there to perform for guests with a rendition of the traditional Mexican folk song ‘La Llorona.’ Beginning the performance alone, she was soon joined onstage by fellow artists and Grammy nominees Aida Cuevas and Natalia Lafourcade.
‘La Llorona’ tells the story of a ghostly woman weeping in sorrow for her drowned children. Music Man readers will love to hear how each of the three singers brings their separate strengths to the piece, their voices weaving together to give the song a truly haunting quality. The video online attracted masses of fan attention, as it received over 75M views, astonished viewers leaving comments like “Now I know the meaning of the phrase that singing is the language that everyone understands.”
I, for one, would certainly have to agree with this viewer’s comment. Despite not knowing Spanish, the first time I heard this song I got a real sense of sorrow from the music, the mystery of the tale shining through before I’d even heard its meaning. Part of this was down to the amazingly effective composition of the song. However, much of it was thanks to the powerfully crafted performances of these three singers, who used their voices to paint a vivid picture in my mind.
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While it would seem that the voices of these three artists were a match made in heaven, this rendition of ‘La Llorona’ actually found its inception thanks to a solo performance by Ángela Aguilar. When nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in 2018, Ángela performed her rendition of the song on her own. She amazed listeners so much that she received an enthusiastic standing ovation and worldwide critical acclaim, leading to the collaborative performance at the Grammys.
Not only is this performance of ‘La Llorona’ an example of how music can transcend linguistic and cultural barriers, but it is also a perfect example of how folk songs are passed down, finding new life among new generations. With popular covers having been released throughout the latter half of the 20th century, this is one song that keeps coming back around, and the cover performed by Ángela, Aida, and Natalia has guaranteed that its legacy will continue. No matter where our Music Man readers come from, what language they speak, or how old they are, this is one performance that is sure to touch their souls.
Ángela Aguilar, alongside Aida Cuevas and Natalia Lafourcade, mesmerized audiences with their haunting rendition of ‘La Llorona’ at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Their performance is a testament to the universal language of music and its power to transcend barriers. To explore more about this unforgettable moment and the artists involved, be sure to check out the useful links provided below.