Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Soundtrack of Life

I am truly blessed. The love of my life adores me, his words, not mine. But he holds the line at my singing and for good reason. I cannot carry a tune to save my life.
This does not preclude me from enjoying good music and I truly love to dance (though I've taken no formal training, I just shake my booty).
My man immediately introduced me to flamenco guitar artists...remember Charo? Coochi-coochi? She plays a mean guitar. And he's fond of newer artists like Jesse Cook, Ottmar Leibert and Strunz and Farrar (and we've been able to see them all in concert in fairly intimate venues). Some of their songs are so emotional and passionate, they've become the soundtrack to our love affair.
But there's one song in particular that stands out from all the others: Malagena Salerosa, a classic mariachi song. The rock band Chingon recreated it and we like that rendition. But we really like going to El Encanto in Cave Creek and asking the guitarist to sing it--he can carry those notes for forever.
So I created this digital assemblage of a flamenco dancer and the music:

Malagena Salerosa

The impetus for this was the word of the week at EIM: "rhythm." I started with the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, which is hosting the world's only heavy metal mariachi band on Sunday: Metalachi. I'm not sure if Planet Earth needs more than one, but they have a VERY interesting sound.
In between, I learned that there are minimum requirements for the players in a mariachi band--there are specific numbers of violins, guitars and horns that make up the band. And pity the poor guy who has to lug around the humongous guitarron. He's the unsung leader as it is this instrument that sets the beat.


I leave you with this one.
What's the soundtrack to YOUR life?

12 comments:

  1. great idea for your inchie and love how it reflects your love life!

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    1. Thank you, Kia , for your lovely comments. I am blessed all the way around!

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  2. I second that - great idea for the inchie and a gorgeous story.

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    1. Thank you, Zoe, and for your lovely comments.

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  3. i love how you incorporated the rhythm of your love life into your inchie. Great story and I love the info about the mariachi bands

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    1. Thank you, Tina! It's friends like you that makes life full and wonderful!

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  4. Nice idea to give us a sample overview of your music loves &. Mariachi band, we just had the Mexican fiesta in Barcelonette near where we go in France

    Sally

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    1. Thank you, Sally! Just about every day here is a fiesta; it's hard not to be happy! I think it'd be a hoot to see a Mexican fiesta in a Spanish town in France!

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  5. A lovely story to go with your inchie.

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    1. Thank you, Wendy! We have a wonderful good time.

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  6. Would you believe that I was once a guitar teacher? I even studied it in college. I no longer play, but that's a story for another day, and I really enjoyed your post and the music video you attached!

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    1. OOH! That's serious stuff, Jean! I am jealous--can't play an instrument either. You'll have to share that story some time. Glad you enjoyed the music. c

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