Name: Listening & Speaking

Listening Sheet

Directions:
1. Go to one of the following website: http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2016/09/02/juan-gabriel-memorial-music-history

2. Title: Paying Tribute To Mexican Musical Hero Juan Gabriel This program aired on September 2, 2016.

We look back on the huge impact of Mexican pop icon, Juan Gabriel.
Vocabulary/Key Words & Definitions
9. authenticity(n)
1. mentor (n)

2. orphanage(n)
10. jealousy (n)

3. flamboyant(adj)

11. revenge (n)

4. stardom(n)

5. catchy(adj) 12. grief (n)

13. swaggering (adj)

6. extravaganza(n)

14. abandonment (n)

7. joy(n) 15. endearing (adj)

16. warden (n)

8. commodity (n)

17. entourage(n)

So many popular Mexican singers are macho. Juan Gabriel was not. And he was the bestselling
Mexican musical artist of all time. A Latin American music icon. A cross somehow between Elvis, Tom
Jones and Liberace. Last week he performed for a sold-out crowd in Los Angeles, went home, and
died. At 66. He grew up in an orphanage. He sang of simple things. And millions sang his songs. This
hour On Point, the story of Mexican superstar, Juan Gabriel. -- Tom Ashbrook

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Designed by: Juan Fernando HEREDIA V. @CEI-UAS April 2017.
Guests

León Krauze, anchor at Univision’s KMEX in Los Angeles. Contributor to the New Yorker. Author of
“La Mesa.” (@LeonKrauze)

Leila Cobo, executive editor for Latin content and programming at Billboard magazine. (@leilacobo)

Millie Bermejo, professor of voice at Berkeley College of Music. Advisor for Latin Culture Celebration
at the Berklee College of Music. (@artedelduo)

From Tom’s Reading List

New Yorker: Postscript: The Festive Genius of Juan Gabriel, 1950 - 2016 -- "Dressed in sequins and
multicolored outfits, Juan Gabriel was the exact opposite of the other towering figure of late-twentieth-
century Mexican vernacular music: Vicente Fernández, mustachioed charro and suave ladies’ man.
Despite his fame, Juan Gabriel rarely took himself too seriously, posting candid videos and, on
occasion, staging tender interviews. While he never admitted to being gay or spoke openly about his
sexuality, Juan Gabriel was flamboyant onstage, channelling both Liberace and Elvis Presley."

Billboard: Juan Gabriel's Last Day: 'Full of Joy, Laughter and Love' -- "But that’s the kind of thing he
would do, suddenly, with people he liked and loved. He’d surprise them just like that. One time, I was
with him in Cancun, and he told me, 'I’m going to surprise Paulina Rubio in her wedding tomorrow.' He
called his mariachi at midnight and asked them to arrive at the reception, all dressed in white. 'Don
Alberto,' they said, 'We don't have white mariachi outfits.' 'Find them,' he said. 'We’re going to
Paulina’s wedding.'"

Los Angeles Times: To his fans, Juan Gabriel was their 'godfather,' their family, their home — "Nancy
Cortes learned two things growing up: Respect your mother. And respect your mother’s love for Juan
Gabriel. Her family woke up to the Mexican singer’s smooth, raspy voice every morning, his love
ballads playing on a loop. To badmouth Juan Gabriel was to risk punishment by shoe."

Section 1 Time (0:40-12:15)

1. Q: When did Juan Gabriel say he started singing?

A:.

2. Q: Where did Juan Gabriel come originally from?

A:.

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Designed by: Juan Fernando HEREDIA V. @CEI-UAS April 2017.
 3. Q: What happened to Juan Gabriel´s father?

A:.

4. Q: What did his mother do after her husband’s incident?

A:.

5. Q: What kinds of people did Juan Gabriel meet in the streets of Ciudad Juarez?

A:

6. Q: According to Leila Cobo, How big was Juan Gabriel?

A:

7. Q: In order to explain JG to his American audience, Tom describes him as a

combination of Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Liberace. How can you explain this

comparison to a Mexican public?

A:

8. Q:. How do the hosts explain the success of Juan Gabriel’s first hit “No tengo dinero”?

A:

9. Q:. How do they compare the music of Juan Gabriel to that of Vicente Fernandez?

A:

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 10. In your opinion: What makes a particular artist a singular icon in a particular culture?

A:.

Section 2
Time (14:20-25:00)

1. What did “El Noa Noa Bar” mean to the life of Juan Gabriel?

2. What does Anna from New Orleans say Juan Gabriel means to her?

3. How does Luis from Harrisson, NY say about Juan Gabriel’s live performance?

4. Millie Bermejo once interviewed Juan Gabriel, What was her impression of him?

5. What does Leon Krauze say about Juan Gabriel’s time in prison?

6. What does Alejandro from Brooklyn, Massachusetts say about Juan Gabriel’s
music?

7. What does Leon Krauze say about the lyrics in “Pero qué necesidad”?

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Designed by: Juan Fernando HEREDIA V. @CEI-UAS April 2017.