Return of the Friday Night Video… and Lorena

Lorena had some family problems to keep her occupied over the last few months, so has been laying low.  She managed to catch “The Best Mariachi in the World” performing in Chicago.  The video was posted on youtube by 16-year old San Antonio filmmaker, “Neff” back in December 2006.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to see the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán at the Chicago Symphony Center celebrate their 110^th anniversary at this special concert. This mariachi group began in 1848 by pioneer, Gaspar Vargas and has flourished to its present-day ranking as the best mariachi group in the world. It was more than an auditory treat; it was a delicate expression of musical greatness, one so rare that it allowed the audience to not only hear the music dance in their ears, but feel every note as if they were devouring a never-ending supply of flan topped with cajeta.

At the beginning of the concert the mariachi geniuses played their violins, and through this harmony, the notes exploded through the air and with every transition it carried everyone closer to querido Mexico! From notes C to D, an audience was transformed and Mexico was found in the strings and voices of the charro-clad mariachi.

As the song Guadalajara twirled in the air and caused an outbreak of song and dance amongst the audience, I was home—it didn’t matter that the song is about the beautiful state of Guadalajara, and not my beloved song of Acuarela Potosina, which praises the wonders of San Luis Potosi—the place was Chicago but I felt like I was sitting on a bench in front of the cathedral in the Plaza de Armas.

Inexplicably, Mariachis have this mysterious power. The music is transcendental, and those away from Mexico need only hear the lyrics “Guadalajara, Guadalajara; Guadalajara, Guadalajara. Tienes el alma de provinciana…”, and one is pining for their hometowns in Mexico. Ay, Ay, Ay!