“Como quisiera, que tu vivieras, que tus ojitos jamas se hubieran cerrado nunca, y estar mirandolos.” The words sung by a mariachi band moved fans to tears outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles for its performance of the classic ‘Amor Eterno’ to honor Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. 

Crowds gathered outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles to honor Kobe Bryant. 

Among the many memorials and tributes that fans offered, to honor of the basketball star and his daughter, were several mariachi bands, who sung Juan Gabriel’s classic ‘Amor Eterno’ and brought everyone to tears. 

Among the hundreds of people who gathered Wednesday evening at the makeshift memorial near Staples Center were more than a dozen mariachi musicians from throughout Los Angeles.

The 1984 song by Juan Gabriel, the late Mexican singer-songwriter, is commonly played at Mexican funerals, vigils and memorials. The lyrics capture the sadness felt by many around the world. Some of the lines of the song translate to: “You are the sadness in my eyes, that weep in silence for your love, I look at myself in the mirror and see my face, the time I’ve suffered because of your goodbye.

“How I wish that you lived, that your little eyes never had closed, and to be looking at them… Love eternal and unforgettable, sooner or later I will be with you, to continue loving each other.”

The mariachi left such an impression on fans, that ‘Amor Eterno’ trended on Twitter.

Several fans have been flooding social media with messages expressing how moved they were by the performance of the song using the term “Amor Eterno” which has been trending on Twitter. “Yesterday banda & today they sang “amor eterno” w/ mariachi. This song is so beautiful but so heartbreaking at the same time. For those that don’t know this is a very popular song usually played at a funeral in the Hispanic culture. it’s translates to eternal love,” wrote @_claarisaaa.

The death of Bryant and his daughter has caused a shock wave of devastation across the globe.

Fans have been gathering outside the Staples Center for days since the news broke, mourning the loss of the NBA legend and a budding basketball star that his daughter was poised to become.

“He really embraced the Latino community. He did interviews in Spanish,”

https://twitter.com/KnicksPapa/status/1222665868934553601

Mariachi band member Santiago Alberto explained the support and love that the Latinx community has for Kobe Bryant.”L.A. is a mostly Latino community and they welcomed him with open arms when he came to L.A.” Alberto put out a call to local mariachi performers online. Members of different bands, they played together for the first time Wednesday night.

“This is how we mourn our people, with mariachi, with live bands,” Moorpark resident Ramon Avila said. “We mourn him, but we also gratify him for everything he did for us.”

Kobe Bryant holds a special place in the Latinx community of L.A.

This particular demographic feels that he embodied many of our cultural symbols: “Black Mamba” was a practicing Catholic, he was married to a Mexican American woman, he spoke Spanish, dreamed big and worked tirelessly toward his goals. Many Latinos in L.A. have a special appreciation for the basketball star. 

Several celebrity friends of the basketball champion have been paying tribute to Kobe Bryant, including fellow NBA player LeBron James.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B72NUtWA0gS/

”Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had! I literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have. WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!! Man I love you big bro…” he wrote.

Even Latinx stars paid tribute, saying his legacy went beyond the United States.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zGQCbBeyj/?utm_source=ig_embed

“I would have never imagined that this would hurt me so much!” wrote Reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny. “I’ve never mentioned it because it doesn’t necessarily have to do with music, but this man has been an inspiration in many ways for me to be what I am today.” Ivy Queen, Anuella AA, and J Balvin, were among others who paid tribute to the NBA star.