This week, I’ve had Jose Antonio Mendez’s “La Gloria Eres Tu” #OnRepeat. One of the great (and potentially dangerous, time-consuming things) about YouTube is the videos that are listed on the side of the video you’re listening to or watching. I came across this song while listening to other music and I couldn’t stop playing it.
Jose Antonio Mendez was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Cuba who was considered one of the most recognizable singers of the Filín music genre; a type of music that was influenced by popular Cuban music and Jazz music, sounding similar to crooning (like Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr.). Some other well-known performers of Filín music were Elena Burke, Frank Dominguez and Omara Portuondo. One of Mendez’s most well-known songs (and my absolute favorite song he performs) is “Si Me Comprendieras.”
“La Gloria Eres Tu” is a beautiful song with a simple melody and guitar accompaniment. I’m a huge fan of simplicity in music–I think it is vastly underrated–and this song is no exception. Simply stated, the lyrics talk about someone being so in love that they consider that person to be their glory–they don’t need to go to heaven because they have found it already (please keep in mind that this is an over-simplified translation and that some meaning is lost when you translate from one language to another). The words are so simple, yet so profound, it almost makes you want to cry–it is a rare thing to find anyone who loves like what is talked about in the lyrics. Maybe that is why the lyrics are so beautiful. Mendez’s voice is rich and dark, adding inflection and licks reminiscent of both Nat King Cole and the vocal style of Tango and Bolero music.
Take a listen below:
Are there any musicians or groups that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!