For example, It is quite disconcerting to hear Lola back to back on "Ya No" and "Me equivoque contigo"-songs which should be very different in emotional tone sound all too similar. With all of her musical excelence, Lola has a dreadful sameness from song to song-even songs which should be handled quite differently. Linda has a much broader emotional range. Not having listened to Lola for quite some time, I went through a stack of stuff from both Linda and Lola to refresh my ear. Last night as I was browsing the reviews of this record, I got curious about the various comparisons to Lola Beltran. Whatever else she may have sung in her career, I find in Linda's Mexican singing the authentic flavor of Old Mexico. And now Linda Ronstadt carries on the true Mexican tradition in her later work. I always thought the real spirit of Mexican music was better represented by such as Las Hermanas de Alba. She sounds too urbane and too international to me-in the manner of Catarina Valente. I have always wondered about those who praise Lola Beltran as the "great" Mexican singer. I am not a Mexican, but I have circulated for years in the Mexican parts of Los Angeles, and I have travelled throughout Mexico, enjoying the native musicians on street corners and in parks and cafes.
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