< 'Amor Eterno' For El Paso, Gilroy, Dayton And Beyond

July 24, 2024

(SOUNDBITE OF JORGE REYES' "EL COSTUMBRE")

FELIX CONTRERAS, HOST:

From NPR Music, this is ALT.LATINO. I'm Felix Contreras.

You know, I had another show planned for this week, but I think we need something else after the recent events in various parts of the United States and in El Paso in particular. I'm going to offer some music this week to help us all mourn, to remember and hopefully, in time, heal. I've done this before, and people told me that it helped, so I've selected some music that I turn to when I need to go within, when I need to reflect. So I'm not going to talk much this week; I'm just going to let you know how to find our playlist at the end of the show.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "EL COSTUMBRE")

JORGE REYES: (Singing in non-English language).

CONTRERAS: And right now, we're listening to Mexican musician Jorge Reyes' mix of pre-Colombian and electronic music as a sort of call to prayer.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "EL COSTUMBRE")

REYES: (Singing in non-English language).

CONTRERAS: And next up, we're going to hear some music from the film "El Norte." It's a story about Guatemalan immigrants coming to the United States. And in this particular scene, it's a song sung at a funeral. It's sort of the theme of what we're doing this week. The lyrics are in Mayan, and they say, it's not true. We came here to live. We came here only to sleep and dream. All things are lent to us. We are only on Earth in passing. Tomorrow or the next day, giver of life, we shall go home to you.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "EL NORTE")

ZAIDE SILVIA GUTIÉRREZ: (As Rosa Xuncax, singing in Mayan).

(SOUNDBITE OF OMAR SOSA'S "MADRE")

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ESTUPENDA GRAÇA")

LYLE MAYS AND PAT METHENY: (Vocalizing, singing in non-English language).

(SOUNDBITE OF DEVADIP CARLOS SANTANA'S "GOLDEN DAWN")

(SOUNDBITE OF EBLEN MACARI'S "ALTIPLANO")

(SOUNDBITE OF PAT METHENY AND ANNA MARIA JOPEK'S "LETTER FROM HOME")

(SOUNDBITE OF NIÑO JOSELE'S "PEACE PIECE")

(SOUNDBITE OF GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA'S "REQUIEM")

CONTRERAS: You can find information about the songs on this week's show on our website. That's npr.org/altlatino. Or write to me on Facebook and Twitter. We are NPR's ALT.LATINO. I'm going to close the show with a song called "Amor Eterno," which was written by Juan Gabriel. It's one of his most popular songs, and it's a poignant despedida or a goodbye. And it has been played so often in El Paso this week, it's become more like a consoling family member. A partial translation of the lyrics include these lines. How I wish that you lived, that your little eyes had never closed and to be looking at them. Love eternal and unforgettable. Sooner or later, I will be with you, continuing to love each other.

Thank you for listening. This has been NPR Music's ALT.LATINO. I'm Felix Contreras. Take care of yourselves.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "AMOR ETERNO")

ROCÍO DÚRCAL: (Singing) Tú eres la tristeza de mis ojos que lloran en silencio por tu amor. Me miro en el espejo y veo en mi rostro el tiempo que he sufrido por tu adiós. Obligo a que te olvido el pensamiento, pues siempre estoy pensando en el ayer. Prefiuero estar dormida que despierta. De tanto que me duele que no estés. Como quisiera, que tú vivieras. Que tus ojitos jamás se hubieran cerrado nunca y estar mirándolos. Amor eterno e inolvidable, Tarde o temprano estaré contigo para seguir amándonos. Yo he sufrido tanto por tu ausencia. Desde ese día hasta hoy no soy feliz. Y aunque tengo tranquila mi conciencia, sé que pude haber yo hecho más por ti. Oscura soledad estoy viviendo, la misma soledad de tu sepulcro. Tú eres el amor del cual yo tengo el más triste recuerdo de Acapulco. Como quisiera que tú vivieras, que tus ojitos jamás se hubieran cerrado nunca y estar mirándolos. Amor eterno e inolvidable. Tarde o temprano estaré contigo, para seguir amándonos. (Vocalizing) Amor eterno, eterno. Amor eterno, eterno.

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