Julieta Venegas has been perfectly situated to dabble in the sounds of North America. Born in Long Beach, California, and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, the legend of Latin music has combined the best of both worlds, using her prowess as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist to win over Spanish-speaking audiences with music relatable to English-speaking ones.
That’s not to say that her music isn’t infused with the sounds of Mexico—this is, after all, the artist who has proved that the accordion is actually tolerable. It’s just that a deep dive into regional Mexican sounds—which can be an acquired taste for the uninitiated—isn’t necessary to appreciate the genius of Venegas.
Given a catalog that is eight albums deep (not including an MTV Unplugged performance, a theatrical concept album, and non-album singles), painting a portrait in just ten songs can pose a challenge. That said, this sampling will give you an idea of Venegas’ versatility, one characterized by a transition from alternative rock to pop to indietronica to whatever suits her fancy.
“De Mis Pasos” (1997)
The first single from Vengas’ debut album, Aquí, is an edgy track, focused on learning from past errors and making the accordion seem…hip.
“Hoy No Quiero” (2000)
Venegas’ second album, Bueninvento, stuck with the restless twenty-something vibe, exemplified by this alt rock essential.
“Enero y Abril” (2000)
From the same album—ranked by Rolling Stone in 2012 as the third greatest Latin rock album of all time—came this gem. Note the unique drum groove, complemented by Venegas’ quirky vocal syncopation.
“Algo Está Cambiando” (2004)
Whether by choice or by recommendation, on her third album, Sí, Venegas transitioned to a pop sound that didn’t display her eclectic arsenal but did translate into larger commercial success.
“Me Voy” (2006)
The most successful song from her fourth and most successful album, Limón y Sal, is a classic breakup tune.
“Eres Para Mi” (2007)
Also from the fourth album, this track—a collaboration with Chilean rapper Anita Tijoux—does more justice to Venegas’ skill set.
“Bien o Mal” (2010)
The lead single from album number five, Otra Cosa, is another pop tune.
“¿Por Qué?” (2013)
By her sixth album, Los Momentos, Venegas seemed to be back in experimental mode, meaning less recognition but also funky tracks like this one.
“Ese Camino” (2015)
On the seventh album, Algo Sucede, Venegas returned to the accordion-driven pop exhibited here.
“Caminar Sola” (2022)
And finally, on her eighth and most recent album, Tu Historia, Venegas looked back on her portfolio and sampled from a potpourri of elements, as displayed here.
Hablando por parte de todos los estudiantes de español alrededor del mundo, gracias, Julieta Venegas, por habernos dado algo para escuchar que no es mariachi o reguetón.
