Music Mondays | Natalia Lafourcade

Natalia Lafourcade
Image | Martinbayo

Natalia Lafourcade is one of Mexico’s beloved contemporary artists, and for good reason. Releasing her first album at the age of 17 in 2002, she established herself in the pop scene, but then took a different turn in her work. She departed from the indie pop feel of her earlier albums to explore the folk sounds of Mexico, first through a tribute album to the famed 20th-century Mexican singer and composer Augustín Lara.

In 2015, she released Hasta la Raíz, which blended pop with some more traditional folk elements, and it was a smashing success, winning two Latin Grammys and one Grammy. Then, Natalia Lafourcade continued exploring the past. She released Musas Volumes 1 and 2, which was a collection of covers of well-known Latin American composers in collaboration with folk duo Los Macorinos.

Her embracing of tradition comes through in some of her most well-known works. She sang on the theme song of Disney’s Coco, “Recuérdame” (watch this beautiful rendition in English, “Remember Me”), and “Hasta la Raíz” is featured on season 2 of Netflix’s Song Exploder. Natalia Lafourcade’s clear and sweet voice is  instantly recognizable and soars smoothly over the beautiful guitar and horn compositions of her more recent years as well as here earlier spunky pop tunes.

“Hasta la Raíz” is Natalia Lafourcade’s most famous song. Its traditional huapango rhythm and lilting melody has made it an instant feel-good song about appreciating everything in life as a learning experience. “Tú Sí Sabes Quererme” is an adorable composition about finding love after a long time. In the video below, she plays with Los Macorinos, and the joy they show playing together is palpable even through a screen.

“Un Derecho de Nacimiento” is a protest song, and in the music video, various artists affirm their power and rights. “Mi Religión” is a song off her latest album, Un Canto por México, Vol. I and an ode to the power and beauty of music. The video I attached has the lyrics as well as some footage of the various places in Mexico where the music videos were filmed.

Lastly, “En el 2000” was Natalia Lafourcade’s breakout single, and this performance offers a toned-down, more intimate version. In the same video is my personal favorite, “Ya No Te Puedo Querer,” a sad (yet upbeat) song about longing for and moving on from a relationship.

“Hasta La Raíz” (“To the Root”)

”Tú Sí Sabes Quererme” (“You Really Know How to Love Me”)

“Derecho de Nacimiento” (“Right of Birth”)

”Mi Religión” (“My Religion”)

“En El 2000” (“In 2000”) & “Ya No Te Puedo Querer” (“I Can’t Love You Anymore”)

Natalia Lafourcade is an international superstar, but when she first visited KCRW in 2015, she was just starting to become a familiar name in the American po...