This song is so emotional for me. I guess it makes me think of my parents and their parents and so forth. The struggles they went through to give me the life I have today. With every listen my gratitude grows.
I love both versions, though this one has a different vibe because in the movie, it's the last time we hear from her, and at the end she goes to where her mother is, and I feel like that makes it sadder, whereas this one is more triumphant to me.
Yeah, I actually prefer the live version: like you said, it has like a more triumphant vibe, and I loved it; the lyrics are melancholic and nostalgic, but the joyous music and how she sings it makes sense, since she is remembering her life and times were she was happy (even though she had to deal with immigration, she still finds joy, and makes sense, she was a child with her mother, remembering Cuba, etc.), which makes the music and the vibe fit perfectly. In the movie, the vibe and the singing is sad and melancholic, which conventionally, fits the lyrics, but I would’ve liked if they would’ve kept this concept. Also, I would’ve liked if there was more Spanish in this song, and even more when she talks to her mother. But this song is great anyways lol.
The situation here where she's wrestling with what to do with her winnings is amazing... but the movie's version, where its her coming to terms with her life before she passes is so heartbreaking. Truly an amazing piece of music in both situations.