Mexican Music- Traditional and Modern

When it comes to world rock music industry the Spanish-speaking rock industry is the 2nd largest after English. Mexico, the largest Spanish-speaking country is the epicentre and launch pad for many of the Latin America rock acts. Many up and coming rock acts or groups, from Colombia, Argentina or Cuba for example move to Mexico to build their career up and grow their fan base.

Mexico being one of the oldest Spanish-speaking countries developed their own variations of Spanish traditional music like “corridos” and “Paso Doble”. From their they have developed a tradition with a variety of other musical styles, and one of the most musically diverse countries of all Spanish-speaking countries.

Also Mexico has made large contributions to music styles that have become popular in the country, to such an extent they are just as much a part of their musical culture as they were in the country of origin

Here are a few of the traditional styles of music popular in Mexico

Norteño- This music is a cross between Mariachi and American country music, from the Northern areas bordering the United States. It is characterised by many, as music to play in a Mexican cantina full of drunk people, singing about their lamentations of life. A popular band in this genre is Los Tigres del Norte

Mariachi- the emblematic music of Mexico born from mixing of colonial era immigration style music usually played by a large group with many different styles of instruments, guitar, and wind sections the most predominant

Corrido- is a style of Mariachi, with protest lyrics just like “La Cucaracha” which is a song from the Mexican Revoltuion

Ranchera- a type of Mariachi usually with one man with a guitar Vicente Fernandez and Antonio Aguilar, the latter with his famous song “Yo Soy El Aventurero- I am the Adventurer”

Cha Cha Cha- Mexico’s dance style musical genre, originally from Cuba, but widely popular in Mexico with many Mexican composers adding to the genres repertoire

Cumbia- originally from Colombia, Mexico as many countries has experimented and developed their own type of cumbia. It is generally an upbeat tropical sounding music mixing percussion (e.g bongos) with large wind sections

Bolero- this type of “Bolero” was originally a music style from Cuba, but Mexican bolero composers have definitely left there mark on this style of bolero. Agustin Lara is a famous Mexican bolero composer

Ψ Note Below

In creating this post I have come across too much t about Mexican pop and rock’n'roll so I have decided to leave it for another post. So stay tuned  to our future post- “Mexican Pop and Rock”

Paulina Rubia, one of the sexiest artists in the Mexican pop industry- Image via Wikipedia

• El Jarabe Tapatío
• La Bamba- Richie Valens
• Besame Mucho
• La Cucaracha
• Mariachi Alegre

• Gimme tha Power- Molotov
• Mariposa Traicionera- Maná
• Afuera- Caifanes
• Eres- Café Tacuba
• No Dejes Que- Caifanes (Jaguares)
• Dame Otro Tequila- Paulina Rubio
• La Historia de Taxi- Ricardo Arjona
• Hacer El Amor con Otro- Alejandra Guzmán
• Si Tu Supieras- Alejandro Fernández

Popular Songs from Mariachi, Ranchera, Norteño

• Yo…El Aventurero- Antonio Aguilar
• El Chofer- Vicente Fernandez
• Malagueña Salerosa
• Ay Chavela- Antonio Aguilar
• Contrabando y Traición- Los Tigres del Norte
• Volver
• La bikina

ψ Note from above The women singing the song ‘Besame Mucho” is neither a Mexican nor a Spanish native speaker. Cesaria Evora was born in the Portuguese speaking island of Cabo Verde. During her career she was one of the biggest names in the Portuguese music arena, and a well renowned international singer. In December last year she left us, she and her beautiful voice will be sadly missed.