Ana Gabriel: Simplemente Amigos

by Efren Castro

Maria Guadalupe Araujo Yong was born on December 10th, 1955 in Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Mexico to Ramon Araujo Valenzuela and Isabel Yong. She began singing and composing her own music from the age of 6/7, influenced by music from the romantics of Mexico. Despite becoming one of the most powerful and influential Mexican singers of modern times, she cites her maternal grandfather, Roberto Yong, a Chinese immigrant to Mexico, as her only form of vocal training. In 1984, she entered the festival “Valores Juveniles”. She was originally denied entry because they contacted her 24 hours after her audition and was unable to go at such short notice but was encouraged to apply under the “Composer” category, in which she won 2nd place. The next year, she released her first album “Un Estilo”. Since then, she has released countless iconic songs such as,

For years, Ana Gabriel has been questioned about her sexuality. In 2016, she was asked if she was gay by a reporter. When she asked the reporter why she kept getting asked that question, the reporter said it was because she had not been in a public relationship with a man. She clapped back by saying,

“Well, you haven’t seen me with a woman either, and you know why? Because I have many, and I am a very faithful person…”

What’s most interesting about her is that she never confirms or denies if she’s gay. Her most direct statement about her sexuality came from an interview from the magazine “TV Notas” where she is asked, once again, if she is gay. Her response:

”¿Por qué me hacen siempre la misma pregunta? No me han visto con un hombre; pero tampoco con una mujer. A esta edad tendré que agarrar a alguien más grande y sin paraguas, entonces, sí me volteo. Mejor soy asexual como los ángeles”

Translation: Why do I always get the same question? They [reporters] haven’t seen me with a man; but they haven’t seen me with a woman. At this age, I’d have to get someone bigger and with no protection, so, I’d have to make a 180. Maybe I’m asexual, like the angels.

Her responses toward the question of her sexuality allude to an answer nonconforming to what most of her fans have expected from her for years. It also doesn’t feed the masses of reporters looking to craft a narrative to turn into a head line, that can be done without her input. Maybe the reality is, her most honest answer toward her sexuality may be one that cannot be defined.

Though she has never been in a public relationship, it doesn’t mean that she has never had love interests in the past. It’s been rumored that she used to date soccer player Hugo Sanchez after being serenaded outside her hotel after a show in Aguas Calientes, Peru. Outside of rumors, she has never addressed their relationship as romantic and often refers to him and his current wife as close friends. In a 2017 video taken during a show in Las Vegas, she discussed her admiration for his perseverance in his career. She mentions that he helped her learn what it meant to never lose sight of your goals and move forward.

Ana Gabriel has many in which she calls her close friends that have come and gone (or stayed) in her life, one of the most prominent being Mexican actress and singer Veronica Castro. They met in 1988 and became close friends really fast. According to reporter Jorge Carvajal, they would often take trips together and share rooms. One night, they had even shared a bed. During this night, Gabriel would, allegedly, admire Castro as she slept. Of course, this is all rumors out of a romantic fairy tale but their friendship was well documented. Gabriel and Castro would perform together many times, the most infamous being their cover of “Un Viejo Amor” (An Old Love) in which they are seen to be really close together. Many on TikTok even believe that they exchange loving glances at each other throughout the performance.

One of Gabriel’s most famous songs “Simplemente Amigos” has even been rumored to be dedicated to Castro. Gabriel even performed it live on her talk show where Castro can be seen mouthing the chorus.

The song itself is a ballad about two forbidden lovers that have to pretend to be friends in public. Lyrics like…

“Siempre // Cómo ya es costumbre día a día es igual // No hay nada que decir // Ante la gente es así // Amigos simplemente amigos y nada más // Pero quien sabe en realidad // Lo que sucede entre los dos”

Translation: Always // Since it’s a habit, every day is the same // There’s nothing more to say // In front of the people, it’s like this // Friends, simply just friends, and nothing more // But, in reality, who knows // What happens between us two.

and…

“Cuanto daria por gritarles nuestro amor // Decirles que al cerrar la puerta nos amamos sin control”

Translation: What wouldn’t I give to scream out loud our love // Tell them that behind closed doors we love uncontrollably

…strike a shared nerve amongst queer and LGBT+ people; the desire for shameless love combatting the obligation of secrecy for survival. The reason why this love is forbidden is never specified in the song. A hetero ear living in Mexico during the early 90’s would perceive the story behind the song as something akin to “Romeo and Juliet”. This is probably why the song rose to prominence amongst Latinx households without anyone batting an eye. The song went on to win Pop Song of the Year at the Lo Nuestro Awards in 1990, the same year the album the song came from “Tierra de Nadie” (Land of No One) won best Pop Album of the Year and she won Best Pop Female Artist. For the next ten years, she was nominated for multiple awards at the Lo Nuestro awards for her work in music.

Direct answers to Ana Gabriel’s sexuality are, ultimately, unimportant. Though she is an open supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, her musical impact on queerness is subtle but grand. Will we ever know what “Simplemente Amigos” is ultimately about? Probably not, but its story will always stay the same. When we consume music, we tend to fit it into our own lives. When we are happy, we listen to happy music and when we’re sad, we listen to sad music. “Simplemente Amigos” is a gift given to us who fear never being able to love freely and openly. It’s meant to squeeze the air out of our bodies to show us what makes us live. It’s the shared space between us and our parents that don’t understand our identity but know every lyric to our deepest anxieties. Not many songs can do that.