Gracias a la Vida

About Gracias a la Vida

Gracias a la Vida (subtitled Joan Baez canta en español), or Here's to Life: Joan Baez sings in Spanish is a 1974 studio album released by American singer-songwriter Joan Baez. It was performed mainly in the Spanish language (just one song in Catalan language). Baez stated at the time that she released the album as a "message of hope to the Chileans suffering under Augusto Pinochet", in the wake of the death of Salvador Allende. (Baez is known for her criticism of US foreign policy in Latin America, and has toured and worked on behalf of improving human rights in the region). Songs include selections by Chilean composers Victor Jara (who was tortured and killed in the aftermath of the 1973 coup d'état) and Violeta Parra, who composed the title song. A more upbeat version of "Dida" appears on Baez's Diamonds & Rust, released the following year. Countries represented in the track listing range from Mexico and Cuba to Chile and Spain. The album was moderately successful in the US but extremely so in Latin America. more »