Week 12a: Agustín Lara / Farolito

Agustín Lara

FAROLITO / CALLE / PUERTA

Agustin Lara is a phenomenon--certainly one of Mexico's greatest song writers and performers--and the stories about him are legion. Some of them are even true! Lara (originally from Vera Cruz, according to one version), led a mysterious and adventurous life--in all senses--reflected year-by-year in his songs. Farolito might be the best known, but listen as well to Mujer, and María Bonita (written for María Félix) and Imposible (his very first)... They're all good--and all completely different from the ranchera tradition we've been following. This is another side--otra cara--de México! I'll give you a good selection (from a double cd) which you can edit down into your favorites as a playlist. Contrast with José Alfredo. And what would Don Octavio have to say?

PROJECT: Look into Agustin Lara's life--all the stories--and build your project around them--and la canción romántica in your own life...  Let FAROLITO be your guide...

DOWNLOAD: https://berkeley.box.com/s/xvj6rftnvsydgkvmy0gq

READING: For those who can handle the Spanish, I'll include Yolanda Moreno Rivas' chapter (attached as pdf). READ CAREFULLY. It has good photos, too. Please come to class ready to share the stories with your non-Spanish reading classmates. For our English readers--you can find a lot on line.

VIDEOS: The first two are audio--his original versions. The second two are from films:
AGUSTIN LARA - FAROLITO (PRIMERA VERSION) - YouTube
AGUSTIN LARA - IMPOSIBLE - YouTube
AGUSTÍN LARA - María Bonita - YouTube  FILM. Agustin Lara at the piano--filmed live. There are a few other videos like this, on YouTube if you search carefully.

FILM Bandoneon Tango y el Bolero "Pecadora" Libertad Lamarque - YouTube  Watch Agustin Lara presenting Libertad Lamarque here in the first minute of the video; he then accompanies her as she sings. (Libertad Lamarque was originally from Argentina, but she became very popular in Mexico (where she lived in exile) especially in film. 1930s and '40s. Look for Pedro Infante and Libertad Lamarque together in the film, Ansiedad-- it has a wonderful version of Farolito.)