An intimate album, that’s what proposes Claudia Meyer through La Negra. Review of a vibrant homage, a wonderful occasion to (re)discover some classics.
LA NEGRA – CLAUDIA MEYER
The French singer needed to pay tribute to Mercedes Sosa, also known as La Negra, the Argentinian musician, immense, and known for more. Meyer needed to do it in a very unique way, too. First with a show, presented as a duet with Marc Benabou on the drums. By covering Sosa’s repertoire, Meyer could have chosen many different directions. She settled for sobriety and fidelity to the originals. From start to finish, Claudia Meyer’s vocals are intense, carrying many emotions, and are so strong they’re almost indescribable.
Indeed, Meyer not only doesn’t sing in her mother tongue here, already a difficult exercise but also tries to be just when conveying these legendary Argentinian songs. Yet, these constraints are the reason behind her sublime covers. Because Claudia Meyer is more than attached to La Negra, to Sosa. She’s linked and it shows through each note. The respect she has for La Negra is incommensurable, and her way of interpreting Sosa’s songs brought tears to my eyes. Gracias A La Vida dramatically opens the record, which will be elevated by vivid colours throughout. I mainly think of La Maza, Volver A Los Dieze Y Siete, Trunca Norte, and Cuando Tenga La Tierra. The latter, and others, get a larger picture in, a social force, something politic. That’s also who was La Negra, the voice of silent people.
Beautiful stories, wrapped in nostalgia, sorrow, and grief, also shine in this record, like Los Hermanos. But two tracks stand out. Two duets from another time. The first one is Siempre En Ti, with Mercedes Sosa’s own vocals, and the very last track of the record Alfonsina Y El Mar, with Maurane. Claudia Meyer couldn’t have created La Negra without both of these great artists. She dedicates the homage paid to Sosa to her friend Maurane, with whom she was close thanks to their common love for the Argentinian legend. The whole story is fantastic, and the singing is spotless. On a sober production, it really is a great way to discover both Claudia Meyer and La Negra.
