Linda Ronstandt, "Los Laureles"

Instrumentation: mariachi band, guitar, male singer, violins, trumpets, and Ronstandt's vocals, much different style and sound than the previous song I listened to by her.

Structure: 15 second intro of only instruments then loud and pronounced introduction by Ronstandt. The tempo slows when Ronstandt begins singing. There is a lot of interplay with trumpet and violins while the guitar just sets a beat to the background. Violins play between each verse, serving to bridge one chorus to the next. Additionally the trumpets and violins and accents to almost every lyrical line. Each verse has a similar structure, so the different playing by the instruments between each section adds novelty to the song and diminished redundancy. Song begins with festive tone, but takes on a slower tempo to add to the meaning of the love song. The song is strophic in that each verse uses the same rhythm and sound. Ronstandt's vocal range is very broad, singing low and high throughout the song. The volume stays fairly loud, approaching the level of yelling when Ronstandt accentuates a notes. It is clear that Ronstandt and Ranchera music focuses on getting the message out to the audience.

Texture: The common terms of texture, in my mind, do not compliment the style of Mariachi. However if I had to group it I would say the song mostly moves homophonically, since the instruments are moving along with the singer and main melody. Yet occasionally they offer their own melodies and the song takes on polyphonic traits.

Lyrics/ Response: While doing research about the song I learned that this song is a typical Ranchera song and dates back to the 1920's. I learned that it was traditionally sung by men, as with all Mariachi, and in the original version refers to women as, "cursed women." However in Ronstandt's version she alters the lyrics to refer to women as the "blessed women." Yet the meaning of the song still retains its story about a man losing a woman to another lover. It seems that Ronstandt acknowledges how woman "ruin...men" and that it is their duty to fulfill this social order, and continue to be viewed through the eyes of men who do not appreciate them and "curse" them. I find Ronstandt's performance to be meaningful yet the lyrics to paint a whole other picture of subordination and objectification.