Singing Santa Fe's Praises

I mean, open your eyes. It's gorgeous here. And spiritual. And iconic. Everybody in Santa Fe who isn't an artist is a writer or a musician, so where are the songs?

Let me back up for a minute. There is a Santa Fe acoustic trio I really enjoy called American JeM. Their genre is Americana, which I think means they give you an old-timey feeling without using a banjo. I asked them once why they don't sing more songs about Santa Fe, and they said they don't know any. The closest they come to it is "New Mexico Rain," an exquisitely crafted song by Michael Hearne, who's not in JeM.

Great lyrics, but not Santa Fe-specific. Anyhow, my friends in JeM said if I wanted Santa Fe songs so badly I should write some myself, so that's what I've been doing. Like this one, to the tune of "California Dreamin'"…

Thank you. You're a great audience. This next song was inspired by "New Mexico Rain," so JeM can just recycle the same tune. I think that's considered a sign of respect in the music business. I call this one "Santa Fe Heat."

Wait! You're stopping me here? What? Just because señoritos and vistos aren't really words? That's harsh! Well, you should've let me finish, because that Golondrinas rhyme would have put us on the map! It could have been the city anthem this town has needed for 400 years, but now it's gone.

And, as all of us are starting to realize, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

Santa Fe Reporter