Farewell, Lhasa…

This morning, I was saddened to learn (via DAMMIT JANET!) that Lhasa de Sela has died of breast cancer.

For those who don’t know who she is, she’s the closest thing Canada has ever had to its own Mercedes Sosa (who also, sadly, passed away recently.) In fact, she covered a Fito Páez song that “La Negra” Sosa also did, “Yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón”. This cover was used to great effect in the documentary The Take, by Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis, about the struggle of the occupied-factories movement in Argentina. That was my first contact with that haunting voice.

Here’s one of her last pieces, which feels hauntingly prescient now:

Sleep well, Lhasa. You are loved and missed.