Guzmán returns with ex-rival
Mexican rock powerhouse Alejandra Guzmán is known for her brash onstage persona. It’s part of what’s made her a certified icon. But she says it’s previously gotten her into some trouble.
Guzmán, who plays the Majestic Theatre on Sunday with pop star Paulina Rubio, says she has changed.
“I haven’t drunk in a long time, so now I’m gonna show a totally different Alejandra. But it’s part of me, you know?” she said. “It’s the essence. It’s always there. The only thing I’m getting rid of is the part that destroys me.”
Guzmán and Rubio have a long, prickly history. They both dated singer Erik Rubin in the early ’90s, and that led to a public rivalry. Guzmán has admitted her song “Hey Güera” was a dig at the blond-haired Rubio. (“Güera” is slang for a blond woman.)
Rubio’s debut single “Mio” (“Mine”) has long been rumored to be a response to “Hey Güera.” She sings about a man being “halfway” hers and “with someone else.” Adding to the drama, both songs were produced by Miguel Blasco.
Now, the Mexican superstars are sharing a stage. They even close the concerts with a “Hey Güera” and “Mio” mashup.
“I believe that people need a little bit of pepper,” Guzmán said with a laugh. “It’s surreal. It’s strange. But that’s part of it. It’s a little bit of a game for me.”
Guzmán spoke about the tour and staying true to herself from her home in Mexico.
Q: Why this tour with someone who caused you so much angst? A:
Because they talk a lot about us, and we were in a way rivals because of a man a long time ago. It’s part of this show. Taking all these things and putting it together. We come from two different worlds. It’s a little crazy, but I’m glad to come back to work. To come back to the theaters, to the stage, to
listen to the applause. I miss it so much.
Q: What has your relationship with Rubio been like prior to Perrisimas? A:
With Paulina, we were in the same area code. We both
lived in Pedregal. My brother used to go out with her. She came with pink hair. I remember asking her to give me some of it. And she did! I have a lot of memories. And the bad memories because of Erik. I knew he was unfaithful. But I believe
that sometimes it’s the man, not the woman. But maybe both. I don’t know.
Q: You’ve been able to evolve as an artist and stay true to yourself. Is it a tough balance?
A: I came back to my old Alejandra, to my old rock ’n’ roll self. You always try to do something better, but the one that everybody knows is what works. Like “Hey Güera,” the arrangement of that song, it doesn’t need anything. It’s powerful, and sometimes I say, “Why am I not playing this song as it is?”
Q: Are there songs that still excite you every time you perform them? A:
Of course! “Eternamente Bella” is, like, “Yeah!” I still feel pretty and happy and young. I like “La plaga” because everybody goes crazy with it. I like “Diablo en mi” because I play a big drum. It’s like my recess time.
Q: What are must-haves to take with you on the road? A:
I take palo santo to burn off all the bad vibes. Palo santo and copal. A candle. And just feeling the connection with the powerful one. I try to meditate. I try to do things to get in control of my life and to program myself with what I want to feel and to make new connections in my brain and my body. We have everything to fix ourselves. We have to believe in ourselves and talk to ourselves, talk to our bodies, talk to our neurons. I was reading something that said, “If you see outside, you dream. If you see inside, you awaken.”
Q: Live performances are finally back on track. A:
It’s been a long time waiting for this moment. We need art. We need to express. We need to sing, to dance, to be free.