Natalia LaFourcade at Observatory North Park in San Diego, California
Photos By: Alexander Dantés
By: Ryo Miyauchi
Mexican Pop-Rock singer Natalia LaFourcade graced San Diego last night with her presence at The Observatory North Park during her tour stop and we were there to witness the magic.
What’s difficult about being a non-Spanish-speaking fan of Natalia Lafourcade is not the language barrier. When you listen to the Mexican musician’s latest album, last year’s Hasta la raiz, you can feel the pain and longing in the music’s bones. The challenge is instead finding people you can bond with over her music. Her name is more like a secret handshake between the already converted — if you know, you know.
But, this past year has been better time than ever for newcomers to learn that secret handshake. Though her previous albums have won accolades, Hasta la raiz has proven especially successful with both the album and its somber yet headstrong title track sweeping last year’s Latin Grammys.
It was a moment to celebrate and an experience the musician looked back with gratitude during her recent San Diego show at the Observatory North Park. And by the fans’ reactions, the show felt like a homecoming for Lafourcade.
The setlist spanned old and new; A dance with “Mi lugar favorito” from Hasta here, a sing along to her popular cover of Agustin Lara’s “Amor, amor de mis amores” there, and a little behind-the-song commentary on “Ella es bonita” from Hu hu hu to top it off.
Many songs were received with cheers, but no other song in the setlist felt more rapturous than “Hasta la raiz.” For someone who has held Hasta so dear yet had only a few people to enjoy it with, standing with the fans all singing along to the title track felt like communion. Album highlights such as “Nunca es suficiente,” “Mi lugar favorito” and “Te quiero ver” struck a similar chord.
Lafourcade finished the set with a two-song encore, featuring the slow jam “Para que sufrir” and gutsy piano ballad “Estoy lista.” Just as it did on Hasta la raiz, the latter ballad played out as a bittersweet farewell and conclusion to a glorious two-hour set.