One part about the art is how both the heavy shadow and light create an excellent illusion whether or not La Llorona actually facing the audience or has their back to them
The truth of the legend of La Llorona is pre-Hispanic and was adapted to the colonial era. It is not scary, much less a demon as they paint it. She is our Great Mother who cried for the fall of Tenochitlan, her home. The antecedents of this character are much older, so much so that they are lost in pre-Hispanic myths and are based on various representations of mother goddesses such as Cihuacóatl, Coatlicue or Tonantzin. This is one of the dire omens that announced the fall of Tenochtitlán: "Many times you could hear a woman crying; she went screaming at night; She was shouting loudly: -My children, we now have to go far away! And sometimes she said: -My children, where will I take you? Source: “Vision of the defeated. Indigenous relations of the conquest”, Miguel León Portilla." La Llorona is, without a doubt, one of the strongest legends in our country. It is most strongly associated with the Mexica culture, since its appearance is related to the dire omens that announced the arrival of the Spanish to ancient Mexico. However, La Llorona has parallels far from the Anahuac Valley. There are Mayan, Zapotec and Purépecha deities with characteristics very similar to Cihuacóatl-the goddess with whom the myth is associated in Nahua territories. Mexica goddess, collector of souls, who predicted the fall of Tenochtitlan and created the legend of La Llorona. Although the madrecita(Tonantzin) lives in the form of Guadalupe.❤
Ya it seems like a mixture of pre colonial Mexican legends and European ghost mythology, I’ve also heard association with her and La Malinche, but i have a feeling that came later.
"Early colonial times provided evidence that the lore is pre-Hispanic, originating in the central highlands. However, La Llorona is most commonly associated with the colonial era and the dynamic between Spanish conquistadores and indigenous women. The most common lore about La Llorona includes her initially being an Indigenous woman who murdered her own children, which she bore from a wealthy Spaniard, after he abandoned her. The villainous qualities of La Llorona, including infanticide and the murdering of one's own blood is assumed to be connected to the narrative surrounding Doña Marina, also known as La Malinche, or Maltinzin in her original nomenclature. Today, the lore of La Llorona is well known in Mexico and the Southwestern United States." I would suggest La Llorona is just a woman archetype of the same sort of Lilith and others of the Greek's Tragedies. She kill her sons to spite against the man that abandoned her. BTW, Tenochtitlán falling and the Aztec being nearly exterminated was a long overdue outcome. Every people around them was forced to give humans to sacrifice and pay tribute to the Aztec. Cortes had it easy to find allies against the Aztec when he showed his technological superiority and just need manpower to hold the territory. Then they moved from a master to another. But, at least, the new one didn't ask for human sacrifices to their gods.
@@Danheron2 La Llolona kill his son in spite of the man that abandoned her. La Malinque allied with the spaniards and got vengeance against the Aztec that massacred her people. And didn't kill her babies.
There are also parallels in european culture too. Coming from the UK, I'd vaugely heard of La Larona, but I know full well the similar legands and stories that populate the area around me. From what I can tell, she seems similar to the legends of the kelpies, the banshee and the water fae.
i like than you write this review about the legeary of La Llorona. In latin American is the most famous legeary about the continent. In Mexico have your varieties. In the central it's associated with Malinche and tonantzin/Coatlicue and the destroyed of mexica empire. Now, in other place, about all towns or peripheries it said than La llorona walk in the night. In youtube there are more videos about people than listened to La llorona.
@@letyourhairdownandgowildLa Llorona is a woman who tragically drowned her two kids in her madness and grief after finding out her husband cheated on her. After killing the kids she snapped back to reality, and was so horrified at what she had done that she killed her self.
@@Karlieneits so beautifully ominous Like a mother gently whispering a sort of lullaby to her children "Do not cry, my loves" Then, in just as loving of a tone, she remarks: "You'll be dead, soon"
Now we venture unto a river of flowing tears, whispering to us the secrets of those mourning and the last breath of those who have, hopefully, left in peace. Thanks for this introspective dirge.
@Karliene Thank you so much. I just have those moments of inspiration when music or an experience pulls me into a period of reflection. Some of your songs never fail to help me settle into a time of embracing my own emotions and composition
Here already, you're a surprise Karliene. The only thing I know about her is from Grimm tv show, and I remember her as the only one who really scared me for some reason. She pretends to cry, always near a lake, then the kid goes to her, she takes them by the hand and they immediatly seem to see her as their own mother, then go away. 3 kids, to exchange their souls and rescue her dead children or something like that. Is it correct ? You really captured her well.👍🏼 I love the music, your voice is so mesmerizing, thank you for posting ! 🔥❤️
It really is. The minute I read about her sad, haunting tale I knew I was going to write a song for her. She has all the tonal qualities I love to play with in music from deep sadness to terrifying malevolence.
Thank you. And I also love learning about these cool folktales. I didn't know about this particular ghost legend until a few of my listeners mentioned her as a possible song idea, and I loved it instantly. I'm glad I can pass the story on through my music :)
Love it! Such a haunting, beautiful song. This time, about a story I grew up hearing as a child. We were all warned about La Llorona. Heck, my parents have stories about her and my dad swears he heard her as a child. I do think her story is tragic. But those poor kids.
I thought it was a cover when I saw this popped in my recommended, but it turned out to be an amazing original! Love your story-telling, one of the best lyricist out there!
That was amazing your song about La Lornana was amazing, sad, and creepy all perfectly well made for Halloween for people like me in Texas were some people say she haunts the river and lake in some parts of Texas and most in Mexico. I remember when I was little I found out about her in a American Girl doll book and it still hunts me to this day. Love your music keep up the great work ❤❤❤❤
Hi Samantha Good morning I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this compliment. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹
Oooh, haunting song for a legendary figure. I first ran into the mythos in a Lady Mechanika story arc. Emily Zarka did a good review on Monstrum (PBS Storied) as well. Good addition to the lore's soundtrack, Karliene!
My father is mexican and i always loved the glorious beauty of mexico everytime i visit, from starting from 4 years old to before the pandemic and always heard this . The story of her spirit ‘s sorrow is so tragic . One night during my visit , i (4yrs old ) was staring at the many stars outside of my abuelita ‘s front door and she hurried to my side and hugged me close and told my mom the tale of La llorona. Crazy enough after we had gone to village and it was our last night , my tio was just out with his friends and suddenly he was alone and encountered the weeping Woman . Being so scared and tipsy he ran to the nearest church he could find to claim Sanctuary.
@@Karliene Hi , I am so honored that you replied 🤗 !! I adore all of your songs and the album Anne Bonny , and it’s truly an sad yet an her cautionary/ painful spirit . There has been a few accounts of sightings of her in various parts of the country and even in Texas.
@@ciarameehanbravo7690 Hi Ciara Good morning I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this compliment. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹
Hi Pegasus Good morning I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this compliment. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹
I first learned the tale of La Llorona a very long time ago and I first heard a different far older song of the same name when I first saw Coco around the time it came out on Blu-Ray
@@Karliene no Mama Imelda sings the song as it’s her favorite and the La Llorona song I refer to is a much older one though I don’t remember if the song came first or the legend Also I loved that movie as well
Hauntingly beautiful! I love the epic orchestral texture you added to give it an even creepier dimension! I'm gonna listen to this chilly song on loop for Witch Season, alongside your other masterpieces. :)
@@Karliene Of course I do, it's my favorite time of the year! 🖤 and it's even more exciting knowing you're inspired by it as well, it means we have more masterpieces to look forward to!
Hi Cathy Good morning I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this compliment. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹
A very mysterious composition in which there is something attractive and enchanting. I like the sound of your backing vocals. In some moments it reminds me of the voice of a ghost. Great arrangement and production!
I absolutely love the pulse and thrum of the bass- its like a heartbeat. I imagine it was intentional. That desperate, soft but pleading call, like fog that chokes visibility. As someone who grew up in a swamp, in a small family that experienced loss, this fits so well. It’d be even better if you lengthened the tempo and really drew on that plagued sense of “Yes I buried someone, but they’re not gone. I can hear and feel them, but they’re poisonous now.” Your song “We’re The Devils” did a fantastic job at this.
That's some great feedback with some good things to think about. Thank you so much. I was also thinking this song would sound super creepy as a more minimal music box lullaby, so maybe I'll make another version of it one day and play with the tempo to see what that does.
@@Karliene 100%, I think you are correct. Taking this song and then stripping it down to its most basic components, I feel like is the best way to go. It takes a cognitive idea, and rips it down to its most basic elements, which allows it to connect to others at the most primal levels. It’s a difficult thing to execute, and it won’t resonate with everyone, but for those it does resonate with, it will never let go.
@@anjelica948 Hi Anjelica Good morning I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this compliment. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹
Another fine tribute to a woman of legend and terror Karilene. Who may I ask will be next fir this spooky season??? Kuchisake-onna? The White Lady? Bloody Mary? Perhaps The Vanishing Hitchhiker?
@@Karlieneany chance for a song on the Irish tale of the Banshee? Or if you're still interested in tragic women creatures of Latin America La Mula Sin Cabeza aka the woman who seduces a priest to make love to her inside the church and then gets cursed into a mule who has flames where her head should be as a punishment for defiling the sacristía (though to be fair, the priest also gets punished since he turns into a headless ghost)?
Like always, it's such a beautiful song ! I can't stop seeing La Llorona as a distant cousin of the Night Washerwomen in the Celtic Mythology, or even to the Bean Nighe...
Hi ektevalia Good morning I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this compliment. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹
_\\\¡¡¡"✨🇲🇽Cómo Mexicana, Me Fascinó (*˘︶˘*).。*♡ Cantas Hermoso✨. La Llorona es el Espectro de una Mujer que Llora por eso la llaman así es muy conocida en México y su origen se debate, muchos dicen que es de la época colonial y que es el espíritu de una mujer que cegada por el rencor del engaño de su amado ahogo a sus hijos en un río y cargada de culpa su espíritu vaga por doquier, otros dicen que es la aparición de una diosa mexica (Azteca) que anuncia en lamento el destino tan funesto del imperio a manos de los conquistadores. Muchos Llegan a Escucharla, ella se aparece solo en donde hay agua como el río o la lluvia, personalmente si creo que exista, tengo familiares que la han escuchado y muchas personas han contado que también la llegaron a oír y muchos de ellos temieron verla. Excelente Video Amiga 😘 Te Quedó Hermoso ✨ Me Encantó ❣️Saludos y Abrazos desde México 🌸 (づ。◕‿‿◕。)づ🇲🇽🌷🏵️🌺🌹"!!!///_
Love all your songs, specially for the unic way you sing them. Also love this one, but as spanish woman it hurts a little bit to hear how you pronounciate La Llorona, because it sounds La Llarona. I repeat. Love this song even with this little mistake. Hope you the best with the next one and, of course, I'll be expecting with all my heart another succes and lot of love and joy for your incredible job❤ (sorry if I made any mistake writting such long opinion in english😅)
Ah, that's a shame that I fluffed it. I actually looked up many pronunciation videos here on YT to ensure I was pronouncing it right, but I think I didn't quite land on the 'yoh' part of her name. Someone told me to say it like La-yoh-rona, but I can hear that I'm maybe saying 'lah-yah-rona' which is wrong. That's what happens when you do multiple takes over and over and don't refer back to the pronunciation. I do apologize.
I only know of the story of La Llarona through New Mexico. Part of America. You see a female had 2 kids. There father died. So La Llarona fell in love with another man. But he did not show love in return. He stated because she had kids. So in love with the man she chose to drown her own kids for his love. But he still did not love her back. She died and went to hell for what she did. But her punishment was not over. She was sent to roam the Rio Grand looking for her kids. But the river had shrunk. She searched and searched screaming for them. Destined for all eternity to roam searching for her kids. But she sees other kids and takes them for her own. And they say if you hear her screams you or a family member will die. A cop heard her screams. He even quite being a cop and his hair turned as white as a ghost after hearing her himself. Others have had simular experiences. And the story seems to expand into areas of Mexico as well. And even I have heard her screams a distance away while camping on the Rio Grand. So many believe it's just a story. It's lies brought on by myths or to scare kids. But is it really?
_¡¡¡Wow!! Que Hermosa, tienes una Gran Voz, me Alegra que hicieras la Llorona 🥀🖤🥀(♡ω♡ ) ~♪🏞️ Te Quedó Perfecto, no paro de Oírla, la Llorona, la Mujer que Llora, vestida de Blanco, que se Aparece en Ríos, Lagos y Lagunas, Todo lo que tenga que ver el Agua, muchos dicen que se trata de una Diosa ya sea Cihuacóatl la Diosa del Nacer y del Fallecer, Señora de las Almas, la Madre de los Aztecas o Coatlicue: la Diosa de la Fertilidad, Señora de la Vida, de la Muerte y del Renacimiento o Chalchitlicuhe la Diosa del Agua, otros dicen que se trata de un Espíritu errante de una Mujer con un Destino Trágico, Lamentándose por sus Hijos, lo Cierto es que sus Llanto Causa Escalofríos y penetra en lo más Profundo del Alma de quién la Escuche, no solo porque es Desgarrador y Aterrador sino que podría ser Señal de Mal augurio, muchos están Convencidos de que sus Llantos son Predicadores de terribles Eventos, una prueba de ello es lo que Oyeron los Aztecas/Mexicas antes de ser Colonizados por los Españoles. Sigue así eres la Mejor. Saludos y Abrazos desde México🇲🇽🦋(つ✧ω✧)つ!!!!_ _La Llorona_ *_LYRICS/LETRA;_* ♪ ♪ *_Oh, hear her Cry_* _(Oh, escúchala Llorar)_ *_By riverbank_* _(Por la orilla del Río)_ *_No lullabye_* _(Sin canción de Cuna)_ *_Can Bring them Back_* _(Puede traerlos de Vuelta)_ *_For now, they Sleep_* _(Por ahora Duermen)_ *_Forever Cold_* _(Por siempre Fría)_ *_And now she Weeps and Weeps_* _(y ahora Ella Llora y Llora)_ *_Haunting us All_* _(Persiguiéndonos a Todos)_ ♪ *_She takes their Hands_* _(Ella toma sus Manos)_ *_And down she Leads_* _(y hacia bajo los Guía)_ *_To shady Riverbanks_* _(A las orillas Sombrías de los Ríos)_ *_To make them Sleep_* _(Para hacerlos Dormir)_ ♪ *_La Llorona_* *_La Llorona_* *_Love Made her Weep_* _(El Amor la hizo Llorar)_ *_So now they'll Sleep_* _(Así que ahora Dormirán)_ ♪ *_She Takes their Hands_* _(Ella toma sus Manos)_ *_And down she Leads_* _(Y hacia bajo los Guía)_ *_To shady Riverbanks_* _(A las orillas sombrías de los Ríos)_ *_To make them Sleep_* _(Para hacerlos Dormir)_ ♪ *_La Llorona_* *_La Llorona_* *_Love Made her Weep_* _(El Amor la hizo Llorar)_ *_So now they'll Sleep_* _(Así que ahora Dormirán)_ ~a~~~~~~♪ ~hoaa~e~~~♪ ~Haae~♪ ~Haai~Haaaeii~iiii~♪ ♪
This would fit Imelda Rivera from _Coco_ so very well. Love made her weep (she lost her husband and that affected her deeply - banning music from her home was her way of weeping), so now she'll make sure her descendants can sleep soundly (built a business from the ground up and passed that down).