Mexico: Ranchera Singer Chavela Vargas Dies

The singer Chavela Vargas, born in Costa Rica but of Mexican nationality, died on the afternoon of August 5 after respiratory arrest at the age of 93.

Known for songs such as “La Llorona” [es], Chavela became famous for her interpretation of ranchera music and for being a pioneer among female singers of this musical genre.

OtraAmérica [es] describes her relationship with Mexico despite it not being her birth country:

En México encontró su sitio y de México se sentía. Allí llegó con 17 años (o a los 14, no está claro) y conoció la vida dura y el cantar de cantina en cantina hasta que a los 30 años conoció a José Alfredo Jiménez. Tanto fue mexicana que cortó los lazos con su país de origen y hasta el día antes de su muerte, cuando dio instrucciones de que si llamaba alguien de Costa Rica preguntando por su salud, no se dieran detalles.

In Mexico she found her place and she felt at home. She arrived at 17 years of age (or at 14, it isn't clear) and experienced a difficult life singing from bar to bar until she was 30 and met José Alfredo Jiménez. She was so Mexican that she cut ties with her birth country until the day before her death, when she gave instructions if someone called from Costa Rica asking about her health, to not give details.

The article continues explaining:

Ella se anamoró del “México de antes”. El de ahora lo consideraba dormido. Abandonó hace tiempo Ciudad de México para vivir en Tepoztlán, cerca de los espíritus y las energías que la mantenían vibrante.

She fell in love with the Mexico of yesterday. She considered today's Mexico to be asleep. She left Mexico city years ago to live in Tepoztlán, near the spirits and energies that kept her vibrant.

Chavela Vargas, Tepoztlan, Mexico. October 2010. Photo by Enrique Perez Huerta, copyright Demotix

After learning the news, various netizens published their condolences under the tag Murió Chavela Vargas [es] (“Chavela Vargas has died”).

Vallejo Ibarzabal (@Ibarzabal_) [es] writes:

@Ibarzabal_: Murió Chavela Vargas, dama de poncho rojo, pelo de plata y carne morena, mestiza ardiente de lengua libre, gata valiente de piel de tigre.

@Ibarzabal_ [es]: Chavela Vargas died, lady of the red poncho, silver hair and brown skin, a free-speaking mestiza, a valiant cat with the skin of a tiger.

While José A. Gutérrez (@gutierrezfalcon) [es] recalls a phrase from the song “La Llorona” [es]:

@gutierrezfalcon: También de dolor se canta, cuando llorar no se puede” >Murió Chavela Vargas.

@gutierrezfalcon [es]: You also sing of pain, when you can't cry.” >Chavela Vargas died.

Boris Berenzon (@bberenzon) [es] writes:

@bberenzon: Cuando te hablen de amor, es preciso decir otra mentira: ¡Murió Chavela Vargas! Una historia de congruencia y una ética del deseo puro.

@bberenzon [es]: When they speak to you of love, it is necessary to tell another lie: Chavela Vargas died! A history of congruence and an ethic of pure desire.

The user @Yojojoii [es] expresses his sadness in this way:

@Yojojoii: Y yo aqui terminando ensayo y enterándome que murió Chavela Vargas

@Yojojoii [es]: And I'm here finishing my exams and finding out that Chavela Vargas died.

On his part, Allán Jackez (@JackezOfficial) [es] criticizes those who weren't fans nor did they know her music but post tweets with condolences:

@Yojojoii: Gente q da el pésame por la muerte de Chavela Vargas y nunca escucharon su música y no saben su historia. Murió Chavela Vargas Official -

@Yojojoii [es]: People who are expressing their condolences for the death of Chavela Vargas and never listened to her music story and never knew her history. Chavela Vargas died Official

The Facebook account Chavela Vargas Official [es] is also the scene of multiple manifestations of condolence and regret for the death of the artists. The account published a message with her final words [es]:

Sus últimas palabras: “Me voy con #México en el corazón” @ChavelaVargas

Her final words: “I go with #Mexico in my heart” @ChavelaVargas

Victoria López Guzmán [es] writes:

Chabela linda! mujer guerrera, voz intensa y maravillosa… Siempre estarás en nuestra memoria y en nuestros corazones! Tu voz nunca se apagará!

Chabela beautiful! Warrior woman, intense and marvelous voice…You will always been in our memory and in hour hearts. Your voice will never extinguish.

On the same Facebook account dedicated to the singer, Adrián Harim Jiménez [es] expresses: