Guadalajara (song)

"Guadalajara" is a well-known mariachi song written and composed by Pepe Guízar in 1937.[1][2] Guízar wrote the song in honor of his hometown, the city of the same name and state capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Versions

The song was first popularized by Lucha Reyes, a Mexican singer who was born in Guadalajara and is often regarded as the "mother of ranchera music".[2]

In the 1940s, Mexican singer Irma Vila recorded the song and sang it in the musical film Canta y no llores... (1949).[3] Her rendition was later remastered and released in the compilation album Irma Vila, La Reina del Falsete: Todos sus éxitos.

In 1950, Mexican singer Flor Silvestre recorded the song for Columbia Records; her version also became a success and was included in several compilation albums, including Canciones mexicanas, vol. 1,[4] Fandango ranchero, and Flor Silvestre canta sus éxitos (1964).

Demetrio González, a Spanish-born singer of Mexican music, performed the song in the film Los cinco halcones (1962).[5][6]

One of the most popular interpretations outside of Mexico was that of Elvis Presley in the final scene of the film Fun in Acapulco (1963).[7] Other notable non-Mexican interpreters of this song were Nat King Cole[8] on his album More Cole Español (1962),[9] Percy Faith on Viva the Music of Mexico (1958),[10] and Desi Arnaz on The Best of Desi Arnaz Mambo King.[11] Among the notable Mexican interpreters are to mention Rafael Jorge Negrete[12] and Vicente Fernández.[13]

Lyrics

The entire lyrics are published below. Many performers omit some of the verses. For example, Pedro Infante[14] and Elvis Presley have only sung the first two verses; Presley sang the second verse twice and replaced the first two lines in the repetition as follows: Ay ay ay ay ay ay! Mis hermanos. Ay ay ay ay! Mexicanos. (i.e. Ay ay ay ay ay ay! My brothers. Ay ay ay ay! Mexicans.).

Spanish

English translation

Guadalajara, Guadalajara. Guadalajara, Guadalajara. Tienes el alma de provinciana, Hueles a limpia rosa temprana A verde jara fresca del rio, Son mil palomas tu caserio, Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Hueles a pura tierra mojada. Ay ay ay ay! Colomitos lejanos. Ay! Ojitos de agua hermanos. Ay! Colomitos inolvidables, Inolvidables como las tardes En que la lluvia desde la loma No nos dejaba ir a Zapopan. . Ay ay ay ay! Tlaquepaque Pueblito. Tus olorosos jarritos Hacen mas fresco el dulce tepache Junto a la birria con el mariachi Que en los parianes y alfarerias Suena con triste melancolia. Ay ay ay ay! Laguna de Chapala. Tienes de un cuento la magia, Cuento de ocasos y de alboradas, De enamoradas noches lunadas, Quieta, Chapala, es tu laguna, Novia romántica como ninguna. Ay ay ay ay! Zapopitan del alma, Nunca escuché otras campanas Como las graves de tu convento, Donde se alivian mis sufrimientos Triste Zapopan, Misal abierto donde son frailes mis sentimientos. Ay ay ay ay! Guadalajara hermosa. Quiero decirte una cosa: Tu que conservas agua del pozo Y en tus mujeres el fiel rebozo, Guadalajara, Guadalajara Tienes el alma mas mexicana. Guadalajara, Guadalajara.

Guadalajara, Guadalajara. Guadalajara, Guadalajara. You are the heart of the province,[15] You smell like the pure early rose,[16] Like the fresh green river, You are homeland of thousand doves. Guadalajara, Guadalajara, You smell like pure moist soil. Ay ay ay ay! Colomitos lejanos.[17] Ay! Familiar water eyes. Ay! Unforgettable Colomitos, Unforgettable like the afternoons On which the rain from the hills does Not let us go to Zapopan. Ay ay ay ay! Tlaquepaque village. Your odorant jugs Provide for the freshest sweet Tepache With Birria and Mariachi Which on the markets[18] and potteries Do carry for a melancholy mood. Ay ay ay ay! Lake Chapala. You are an enchanting romance; A romance of sunsets and sunrises, Of romantic nights in the moonlight. Calm, Chapala, is your lake. Incomparably romantic like nothing else. Ay ay ay ay! Cordial little Zapopan, I have never heard more beautiful bells Than the ones of your cloister Where my suffering is eased. Nostalgic Zapopan, Open Missal in which monks are my feelings. Ay ay ay ay! Beautiful Guadalajara. One thing I have to tell you: Your well water is eternally Like the devoted Rebozo of your women. Guadalajara, Guadalajara. You’re the actual heart of Mexico. Guadalajara, Guadalajara.

References

1. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions, Part 3. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1938. p. 289. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
2. Burr, Ramiro (1999). The Billboard Guide to Tejano and Regional Mexican Music. Billboard Books. pp. 178, 222. ISBN 0823076911. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
3. "Irma Vila "Guadalajara" (1949)". YouTube. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
4. "Canciones Mexicanas. Vol. 1". WorldCat. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
5. Demetrio González: Guadalajara at YouTube
6. Los cinco halcones at IMDb
7. Elvis Presley: Guadalajara at YouTube
8. Nat King Cole: Guadalajara at YouTube
9. NKCDiscography at Classic TV Info.com
10. Product info at CD Universe.com
11. Product info at CD Universe.com
12. Rafael Jorge Negrete: Guadalajara at YouTube
13. Vicente Fernández: Guadalajara at YouTube
14. Pedro Infante: Guadalajara at YouTube
15. It is usual in Mexico to describe the entire country outside the capital, Mexico City, as Province. Guadalajara is the second biggest city of Mexico (behind Mexico City) and often described as the most typical Mexican city of all.
16. This refers to the nickname of Guadalajara which is called as “ciudad de las rosas” (i.e. “city of the roses”).
17. „Colomitos lejanos“ is another name (appellation) for the recreation area called „Bosque Los Colomos“ in Zapopan (please compare with article Colomitos lejanos dated April 8, 2012 in Informador.mx)
18. According to the Spanish Wikipedia is Parián an old word for “Mercado” (market).

External links

• Information about the song at GuadalajaraGuadalajara.com