Songs of Hope, Gracias a La Vida

At times silence and reflection are ways to consider deep change -- although I agree that things have been a bit too silent here at Music Road of late. I hope you have been enjoying perusing the ten years of archives, though -- I have been pointing some of those stories out to you over on Twitter. I am there as @kerrydexter if you care to follow.

Music is a good companion for such times. Not so much in the sense of protest songs -- though they have their place, anger only gets you so far, and it's not sustaining for good choices in the long run, either. Compassion, friendship, reflection, good questions, faith, community -- thos things help with hard times and sustaining hope and focus.

There will be much more music to come here along the music road. I invite you to stay tuned, and in the meantime take a listen to Tish Hinojosa and Joan Baez singing Gracias a la Vida -- Thanks to Life.

Baez has recorded the song on her album Gracias a La Vida

An album from Hinojosa to explore is Aqella Noche

You may also wish to see a few other things I have been writing on related subjects
at Wandering Educators the Music for Shifitng Times series
at Wandering Educators Music of Resilience
at Wandering Educators Songs of Friendship
here at Music Road Songs of Hope part one

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A Tejano Country Christmas

The cover of A Tejano Country Christmas is a shot of the riverwalk in San Antonio all in lights for the holiday season. Within in album, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, La Differenzia, Joel Nava, Rick Orozco each contribute Tejano flavored takes on familiar songs of the season. Tejano is a sort of rough mix of country, norteno, and a few other things -- and there are plenty who’d think that a far too simple definition. In any case, there are fine voices, great rhythm, a sense of fun and a sense of reverence, so all the elements of a good holiday record are in order, especially if you grew up along the southern border of the United States or other areas where Spanish is widely spoken. Here you’ll find danceable versions Frosty el Snowman and Blanca Navidad, along with Jingle Bell Rock and Jingle Bells. The sacred side of the holiday is there too, with Amigos del Mundo, Adeste Fidelis, and Noche de Paz. Whether you know Spanish or not, these singers will have you joining in on familiar melodies before they’re done.

you may also want to hear

Tish Hinojosa: From Texas for a Christmas Night

Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis: Happy Holidays

Music Road: Robin & Linda Williams: The First Christmas Gift

Tish Hinojosa: Best of the Sandia

Best of the Sandia: the Watermelon Years

Tish Hinojosa is a major talent, an artist of real substance, a first generation Mexican American who makes that experience the substance of her musical ideas on love, loss, change, connection, and trust. These tracks are taken from projects recorded in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and include a heretofore unreleased duet with Kris Kristofferson. She’s still a major talent a decade an half on from these songs, and these are still worth repeated listening. Taos to Tennessee, Eres Tu, and Prairie Moon are three of my favorites.



read about Hinojosa's latest project Our Little Planet

photograph of Tish Hinojosa and Marvin Dykhuis at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar in Austin, Texas

If you enjoy what you are reading here, come visit -- and perhaps, subscribe -- to my newsletter at Substack for more stories about music, the people who make it, and the places which inspire it.

-->A way to support Music Road,
through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this.

Another way to support: you could Thank you for considering...