Gracias a La Vida

Joan Baez | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000006SNG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,134 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #81 in Music > Imports > Folk
  • #94 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Spain

Editorial Reviews

The title translates as "Here's To Life" and the song it comes from was written by famed Chilean songwriter Violeta Parra. This album includes songs from the Chilean "New Song" movement of the 1970's (when it was recorded) as well as traditional Mexican ballads. It is also one of Ms. Baez's most acclaimed recordings for her gracious delivery and sensitivity to the material and the sheer beauty of her interpretations of the material at hand. Even if you don't understand a word of Spanish, you can't help but be moved by these outstanding performances. And if you "hablas Espanol", they are even sweeter to the ear. A&M 1994

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful, authentic collection of folk songs, March 2, 2005

By 

Sarah - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Gracias a La Vida (Audio CD)

As a music seller, naturally, I've heard *of* Joan Baez, but had never heard her music. A few days ago I came across a review for "Gracias A La Vida." One reviewer mentioned the similarities to Linda Ronstadt's excellent "Canciones de mi padre," which has been one of my favourite Spanish-language CDs for years. Strangely enough, at work the next day, I was going through boxes of old audio cassette tapes from the last twenty years, when to my surprise...a copy of "Gracias A La Vida" appeared. I put it into the tape player, not knowing what to expect from an album more than thirty years old.

The fourteen songs feature Veracruz harp, Latin guitar and percussion, and the warm, clear voice of Joan. The beautiful Spanish lyrics are profound in their simplicity and grace. "Gracias a la vida" (Here's To Life), by Violeta Parra, begins as a solo, but turns into a magical duet towards the final chorus. "Llegó con tres heridas" (I Come With Three Wounds) is a very short, moving song that contains only four simple lines: "I come with three wounds: those of life, death and love." Again, the haunting harmony and simple strumming of a guitar are the sole embellishments.

Her version of the Mexican ballad/folktale "La Llorona" (The Wailing Woman) is stunning. There is a melancholy that seeps into your soul upon hearing this ballad, with its castanets, strummed guitars, violin, and pain-drenched lyrics ("They say that I do not feel pain, Llorona, because they don't see me cry"). Other outstanding versions of "La Llorona" include recordings by the legendary Chavela Vargas (recently seen in Julie Taymor's biopic of Frida Kahlo; Chavela was one of Frida's real-life lovers) and Mexican songstress Lila Downs (both found on the Frida soundtrack by Elliot Goldenthal).

The Huapango "El Preso Numero Nueve" (Prisoner Number Nine) is the first song on the CD that sounds exactly like the gorgeous ranchera/mariachi CDs by Linda Ronstadt recorded some twenty years after "Gracias A La Vida" was released. Bright mariachi brass and violins slide into strummed guitars in this haunting tale of a prisoner executed for a crime of passion. Next, the sinuous Cuban anthem "Guantanamera," penned by national poet-hero José Martí, followed by the poignant "Te Recuerdo, Amanda," by Chileño Victor Jara, who was assassinated by the Pinochet regime. Mariachi returns on "Cucurrucucu Paloma," trailed by the haunting a capella interlude "Paso Rio," which brought to mind the power of Gregorian chant.

Next, a beautiful song in Catalán, "El Rossniyol" (The Nightingale), with the soothing simplicity of a lullaby. The tone swings back to Mexican traditional on the lilting "De Colores." "Las Madres Cansadas" (The Weary Mothers) and "No Nos Moverán" are powerful testaments to the human spirit to overcome. Finally, the album closes on a bright note with "Esquinazo del Guerrillero" (Guerilla's Serenade).

Although many of the songs are short, there is much beauty and vibrant Hispanic culture to be enjoyed, including huapangos, songs of protest, and ballads, all tied together by Joan's lovely voice and perfect Spanish (her father was Mexican). If you enjoy "Gracias A La Vida," be sure to check out Linda Ronstadt's excellent "Canciones De Mi Padre" and "Más Canciones de Mi Padre," performed with the legendary Mariachi Vargas. Happy listening!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars POIGNANT, MOVING, SOULFUL, June 20, 2001

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gracias a La Vida (Audio CD)

I do not know a word of Spanish, but this 1974 recording always moves me. The songs are so beautiful that one doesn't really need to understand the words to enjoy the music. Some are easy to sing along to, like the foot-tapping title track, Guantanamera, Cucuru Paloma and De Colores, while others are rather sad and a little more structurally complex, like Llego Con Tres Heridas and El Preso Numero Nueve. Subtitled 'Joan Baez Sings in Spanish', the album does contain one Catalan number and is a proper folk recording with songs from Spain and various Latin American countries. Most of the tracks have addictive Latin rhythms and catchy hooks; the instruments include acoustic, bass & classical guitars, cello, harp, harmonica, percussion, strings, flute & woodwinds while a Mariachi band provides backing on two songs.

It opens with the inspiring title track (Here's to Life), a lilting song written by Violeta Parra that lists lots of things to be grateful for. Llego Con Tres Heridas (I Come with Three Wounds) which follows is melancholy as Joan sings Miguel Hernández's lament on life, love and death. The mournful mood continues on the tuneful traditional song La Llorona (The Weeping Woman) after which the Mariachi band takes over on the rhythmic El Preso Número Nueve (Prisoner Number Nine). Guantanamera is especially buoyant with appealing guitar textures and on the wordless Dida, Joni Mitchell duets with Joan. The melodious Victor Jara song Te Recuerdo Amanda (I Remember you Amanda) has a more complex structure than the traditional material.

Cucurrucucú Paloma receives a festive treatment by the brilliant Mariachi Uclatlan and their swirling instrumental and vocal patterns, in sharp contrast to Joan's a cappella rendition of Paso Rio which introduces the slow Catalan folk song El Rossinyol (The Nightingale), another sombre excursion. The vibrant sing-along De Colores with its rousing melody precedes a tender and sad ballad Las Madres Cansadas (Weary Mothers). The protest song No Nos Moveran (We Shall Not Be Moved) is introduced by a spoken monologue by Rondalla Amerindia and the album concludes with an uptempo ballad titled Ezquinazo del Guerrillero. Gracias A La Vida is a most enjoyable listening experience with plenty of modal and stylistic variety.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure of Spanish music and poetry, March 6, 2000

By 

B. Kelly (upstate NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gracias a La Vida (Audio CD)

I am a teacher of high school Spanish, I have been using this record for 2 decades in the classroom!. I finally decided to look for it in CD as the record/record player slides into history! Just today I used Rossinyol which is an example of the Catalan language. Guantanamera is poetry by Cuba's boy patriot, Jose Marti. La Llorona is sad, sorrowful legend. There is poetry by Pablo Neruda and United Farm worker songs of solidarity. It is a vertiable wealth of Spanish culture in one place.