Mercedes Sosa - Mercedes Sosa en Argentina

MASSIVE MIGHTY MATERNAL ANDES MOUNTAINS MOVED MONUMENTAL LIPS AND GAVE BIRTH TO THE SOUND OF MS. MERCEDES SOSA

Have you ever seen the Andes in person? I rode the train from Q'osqo (Cuzco) to the foot of Machu Picchu overwhelmed by their sudden height and strength and width and power.

If you cannot see them, hear them here. Mercedes Sosa sings.

Gracias a la Vida.
Solo le pido a Dios.
Maria va.

Never again feel resentment nor offense, so trivial in the bright shade of these mighty maternal mountains. This mountain mother music suffered more and more than any man can endure and still sings with strength. Come here to rest and to rest once more, weary, weeping, find strength. This is Mercedes Sosa, carajo!

Recorded in February 1982, upon her triumphant return to Buenos Aires after decades of hundreds of thousands of her own companions disappeared by the right wing military dictatorship, she here sings with full voice. Hear her now. This is a fine introduction to her music. Hear her. Here and now. And never find fear again, but a strong loving merciful compassion deeper still than the Mother Earth, higher and wider than the Andes. Hear her now, and all else sounds so very small, and weak, and miserly. Hear her here, now, please. Listen to the lyrics. Gracias a la vida. Solo le pido a Dios. Worth learning Spainsh to hear with understanding, but not necessary. Hear her, now.

I played this music on a classical guitar long ago, almost another life it seems, to accomapny a singer in Gracias a Dios. This here is music to live for. Do so. Hear her now. Feel your own bones grow strong once more, like the mountains. Hear her now. February 4, 2008

Superb CD

My iPod is about to burst in flames from playing "GRACIAS A LA VIDA"and "SOLO LE PIDO A DIOS" so many times. All songs are great, but those two are out of this world. Sosa's voice gives you goosebumps and nearly brings you to tears. June 28, 2007

Mercedes' Return!

Mercedes Sosa (1935) is one of the greatest Argentinean folk singer!
She jumped to public attention when she was only fifteen years old winning a singer's radio contest. From that point on she continues growing up as a notorious figure in the folk singers medium.
Due to difficult political situation at Argentina she was forced into exile by military Junta.
She made a triumphant and defiant return early in 1982 with a series of live concerts at Opera Theater. From those recitals this outstanding CD was recorded!

The songs of this CD reflect not only Argentinean music but a wide Latin American repertoire, collected by Mercedes in her forced errand.
"Sueño con Serpientes" authored by Cuban Silvio Rodriguez presents the struggle between the Poet & the Serpent in a dream like language. Mercedes' voice reaches very high notes singing this song.
"Maria, Maria" authored by Brazilians Milton Nascimento & Fernando Brant, with unmistakable afro rhythm is interpreted brilliantly by Sosa.
Chilean composer Violeta Parra contributes with two top notch compositions: "Gracias a la Vida" sang fervently by all the audience and "Volver a los 17" are delivered with Mercedes giving way to all her sentiment.
"La Arenosa" whose text is authored by Manuel J. Castilla and music composed by Cuchi Leguizamon, two well known folklorists, is a composition more in line with Mercedes' traditional collection.
Finally Mercedes Sosa incursion in Argentinean Rock with Charly Garcia's "Cuando Ya me Empiece a Quedar Solo" and Argentinean Tango with Cobian & Cadicamo's "Los Mareados".
Two big hits to close the CD "Polleritas", traditional motif, sang with unquenchable fire and Isella's "Cancion con Todos" driving the audience absolutely mad!

You shouldn't miss this gem by all means!
Reviewed by Max Yofre. August 5, 2005

Buenísmo!

No pierdan tiempo y compren este CD. Es buenísimo, una selección de canciones que me dá ganas de haber estado en ese concierto....que pena! Pero gracias que hay este CD, que es hermoso como pocos podrán ser. Y Mercedes estaba fantástica, en lo mejor de su talento e inspiración. October 16, 2004

THE VOICE AND CONSCIOUSNESS OF A TRAGIC HISTORY

It is probably impossible to find new words to praise Mercedes Sosa's voice and place in Argentina's popular music. Through the better part of the last forty years, Mercedes has been the tender and fierce voice of everyone who has been suppressed and quieted by injustice, in Latin America. An exquisite tone and profound interpretation of each song she's chosen to sing has made her a goddess in Latin America and Europe.
Here's a true artist and a committed citizen, singing songs that make no concessions to their beauty nor their message.
This CD is probably her best in many levels, her choices here, cover every song she's made a classic, and the fact this concert marked her return to Buenos Aires -after her exile during the years of Argentina's "infamous decade"- proves that courage must exist closely to creativity to be timeless.
Here you'll find some of the best work from Latin America: Como La Cigarra (Maria Elena Walsh), Solo Le Pido A Dios (Leon Gieco), Sueño Con Serpientes (Milton Nascimento), and many more great renditions of the best composers from the South of America.
William Carlos Williams said that "there are no news in poetry / yet people die, miserably, / from the lack of what is found there." Well, here is some of that poetry, which I know nourished me and so many others, during some of the worst moments of our beleaguered country.
Five starts because I could not give it ten! November 10, 2003

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