It was 1992, and I was travelling aimlessly in South America in the full grasp of a mid-life crisis. In Santiago, Chile, one evening, I turned on the TV and watched with my mouth open as this little woman brought down the house at a large concert venue. I had never heard of Ana Gabriel, but the audience certainly knew her songs by heart. It turned out she was performing at the annual festival in Viña Del Mar, a short bus ride from Santiago. I arrived in time for the final evening of the festival, where I saw some great acts, but none was as exciting as Ana Gabriel had been, even though I only saw her on TV.

She is coming to Tijuana this weekend, and I may take advantage of the chance to finally see her live in concert.