Mexican singer and actress Chavela Vargas’ ‘La Llorona‘ was one of the songs played on the first episode of the new Netflix comedy horror series Wednesday this week — Wednesday, Season 1, Episode 1, “Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe“.
‘La Llorona‘ is the guitar-heavy title track from Vargas’ album of the same name, which was recorded in Spain and came out in 1994 on the WEA record label.
At the time of its release, Vargas was already 75-years-old, and had been in the entertainment industry for over 55 years.
The singer got her start in Mexico after leaving her native Costa Rica due to the lack of opportunities in the music industry.
She eventually became a Mexican citizen, and was known as one of the country’s national treasures.
During her long career, Chavela Vargas released almost 40 albums, earned a Latin Grammy award, and even held her first concert at Carnegie Hall at the age of 83.
Not bad for a woman who dressed as a man for most of her young adult life, openly lived her life as a lesbian, and refused to bow down to the dictates of society. No matter which society she lived in.
Listen to Chavela Vargas’ ‘La Llorona‘ as heard on Wednesday this week on the Spotify widget, and in the video.
The dramatic song itself is a lament about the person she loves. The person she will never be able to be with, no matter how much she tries.
Watch Wednesday via Netflix.