“Four Paths” Style: Ranchera, mariachi, forsaken love song. A song about picking your life path when you feel lost. The cuatro caminos refers to the four cardinal directions. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon
Lyrics Translation:
Es imposible que yo te olvide. Es imposible que yo me vaya. Por donde quiera que voy te miro. Ando con otra y por ti suspiro.
It is impossible for me to forget you. It is impossible for me to leave. Because wherever I go, I see you. I am with another and I sigh for you.
“Sleepless” Album: Puro Tejano Gold (Pure Texan Gold), 2008 Style: Texan ranchera with a very slight cumbia influence. Bobby Pulido is a Mexican-American singer. This song is about unrequited and unknown love. The poor guy falls in love with a voice he heard on the radio. Listen to his sleepless tale below. Country: USA (Texas) Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Será fe que yo encontré… una voz de ternura Que me llena de placer, cuando la oigo hablar. Con ella me enamoré, aunque nunca la conoci. Sueño en su querer y en sus brazos quiero dormir.
It must be fate that I found… a tender voice Who fills me with pleasure, when I hear it speak. I fell in love with her, even though I never met her. I dream about her love and I want to sleep in her arms.
“About-Turn” Style: Ranchera, heartbreak, wavering between denial and acceptance. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon
Lyrics Translation:
Te vas porque yo quiero que te vayas. A la hora que yo quiera te detengo. Yo sé que mi cariño te hace falta Porque quieras o no yo soy tu dueño.
You leave because I want you to leave. At whatever time I want, I (can) stop you. I know that you need my affection, Because whether you want it or not, I am your boss.
“And All For What?” Lyrics Style: Pop or ranchera versions, romance song Songwriter: Pedro Reyna Cisneros Country: Mexico Listen @ YouTube to Intocable (ranchera) or Natalia Lafourcade (alt pop)
“I Forgot Again” Composer: Juan Gabriel (1974) Albums: Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán (1990); Maná MTV Unplugged (1999) Style: Mariachi, ranchera; bolero; rock; lost love song; always guitar. A classic Mexican ranchera song full of emotion, soulfully mourning still being in love with someone who doesn’t love them back. Good pick for a karaoke song. Country: Mexico
Wikipedia originally said that Juan Gabriel wrote and released it in 1990, but that time can’t be right because Julio Jaramillo sung it also and Julio died in 1978. Anyway, Juan Gabriel re-released it in 1999 around the same time that Maná released their version. It won Maná a Latin Grammy in 2000.
Update: English Wikipedia now says 1975, but Spanish Wikipedia says Juan Gabriel released this song in 1974 in his collaboration with the famous and transgenerational Mariachi Vargas.
Lyrics Translation:
Probablemente ya De mí te has olvidado Y sin embargo yo Te seguiré esperando.
Probably, by now You’ve forgotten about me And nevertheless, I Will continue to wait for you.
“Do Not Threaten Me”Lyrics Style: Ranchera, old heartbreak song. Poor José Alfredo is so heartbroken and the breakup is not even official yet. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon
Translation:
No me amenaces. No me amenaces. Cuando estes decidida a buscar otra vida, Pos agarra tu rumbo y vete.
Do not threaten me. Do not threaten me. When you have decided to seek another life, Well, take your path and go.
“Beloved Dove”Lyrics Style: Ranchera, love song. A popular old romantic song in Mexico. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon
Translation:
Por el día que llegaste a mi vida, Paloma querida, me puse a brindar, Y al sentirme un poquito tomado, Pensando en tus labios, me dio por cantar.
For the day that you entered into my life, Beloved dove, I began to toast, And on feeling a little drunk, Thinking of your lips, I was inspired to sing.
“Your Memory and Me” Composer: José Alfredo Jiménez Style: Ranchera, sad song about reminiscing at a bar about a lost love. Country: Mexico Listen: YouTube
Translation:
Estoy en el rincón de una cantina, Oyendo una canción que yo pedí. Me están sirviendo ahorita mi tequila, Ya va mi pensamiento rumbo a ti.
I am in the corner of a bar, Listening to a song I myself requested. They are serving my tequila to me right now, Already my thoughts are on their way to you.
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