RIP, Lhasa

January 7, 2010 8:30 PM

From the official press release: The singer Lhasa de Sela passed away in her Montreal home on the night of January 1st 2010, just before midnight. She succumbed to breast cancer after a twenty-one month long struggle, which she faced with courage and determination. For those unfamiliar with this wonderful trilingual singer: Love Came Here, Anywhere On this Road, La Confession, and That Leaving Feeling, with Tindersticks' Stuart Staples.

And some nice live tracks: Love Came Here, Rising, 1001 Nights.

posted by You Should See the Other Guy (20 comments total)

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posted by zarq at 8:56 PM on January 7, 2010

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posted by dipping_sauce at 9:14 PM on January 7, 2010

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posted by Monday, stony Monday at 9:39 PM on January 7, 2010

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I found her album The Living Road on eMusic years ago, and was bowled away by her rich, sultry and incredibly engaging sound. I was gratified to her work used on the soundtrack to last year's film Cold Souls. Her most recent release, Lhasa, was on the long list for the 2009 Polaris Prize. I'm just stunned.
posted by Bromius at 9:42 PM on January 7, 2010

Staples is my second favorite artist after Nick Cave so it's nice to read more about some he's worked with. Would have been better if it had been under better circumstances. Good duets are a dying art form.

Caner sucks.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:21 PM on January 7, 2010

Oh no. She was incredible; I could always hear her pour her whole heart into each song... She had such magic in her. Thank you so much, Lhasa.

Soon this space will be too small
All my veins and bones
Will be burned to dust
You can throw me into
A black iron pot
And my dust will tell
What my flesh would not

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posted by Grimp0teuthis at 11:07 PM on January 7, 2010

I heard this yesterday and it made me sad. Now I read this and I'm sad again. She was amazingly gifted and her voice was both beautiful and unique. La Llorona is one of my favorite albums. I recommend you listen to the first track if you want an introduction.

God dammit this year isn't starting out well.

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posted by chairface at 11:12 PM on January 7, 2010

oh no. Her show at the Aladdin in Portland blew me and my wife away. A truly unique presence. I already miss her and the new music she would have made.

Among my father's last words to me were "Cancer sucks." Couldn't agree more then, nor now.
posted by dylanjames at 11:15 PM on January 7, 2010

Llorando
de cara a la pared
se apaga la ciudad

Llorando
Y no hay màs
muero quizas
Adonde estàs?
posted by twoleftfeet at 11:16 PM on January 7, 2010

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posted by lapolla at 12:50 AM on January 8, 2010

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posted by scrm at 3:11 AM on January 8, 2010

I heard about this on WFMU, and didn't want to believe it.

♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:13 AM on January 8, 2010

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posted by lupus_yonderboy at 3:38 AM on January 8, 2010

this makes me sad. she was a singular talent.
posted by peterkins at 4:40 AM on January 8, 2010

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posted by jammy at 4:41 AM on January 8, 2010

FUCK.

mi corazón sufre
posted by danny the boy at 4:56 AM on January 8, 2010

My wife told me about this last night; so sad.
The Living Road was on heavy rotation in our house for quite some time and was always on hand for nighttime driving music. She will be missed.
posted by chococat at 6:12 AM on January 8, 2010

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posted by kch at 9:43 AM on January 8, 2010

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posted by Scott H at 10:02 AM on January 8, 2010

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posted by patrick rhett at 10:59 AM on January 8, 2010