There are two
kinds of Mexican music: music from Mexico and music about Mexico. Of
course, within each of these groups exist many genres, and there is even music which
counts as both kinds. Yet through all this diversity, there is a common, obvious thread in
these songs: they romanticize to the point of uncomfortability.
They romanticize lost love, found love, machismo,
womanizing, drinking, self-destruction, death, and most of all, Mexico. Often, they are
funny, self-deprecating, or even self-consciously ironic, but this in no way diminishes
the severity of the romance. I'll put it this way: now that I can understand the words, I
feel guilty about liking most of the corridos and rancheros I listen to here (I haven't
quite gotten used to cumbia music, sort of a simplified and sappy form of salsa, which is
very popular with kids).
Nonetheless, I think we Americans need to appreciate the
corny and ludicrous nature of, say, a Vicente Fernandez lost-love ballad. It is like the
comic relief in a Shakespeare play, a break from the realness of reality. If you thought
Backstreet Boys was sappy (very popular here also, with females and males), you
probably didn't realize that macho Mexican men spend hours in cantinas singing songs
where, in place of a violin or accordion solo, there is a crying solo. That's
hardcore. These men have reached the
level of "Steel Magnolias."
In the spirit of weeping as an instrument, and on behalf
of the United States, I would like to pick up the gauntlet. I have proposed and divised a
tournament, featuring sappy Mexican songs (not the absolute sappiest, just the sappiest
ones I know) from both sides of NAFTA (I'm making a joke here, but in reality, I have some
problems with NAFTA). USA
versus Mexico, in a battle to the cervesa.
Despire the
fact that they are also in North America, I should be clear Canada is not participating,
as decided by the judges (that's me). Yes, Lawrence Welk did frequently play "La
Cucaracha," but the floating bubbles are corny in completely the wrong way (poor
Lawrence just couldn't get off the bubble). And I couldn't find any appropriate songs by
Hank Snow or Alanis Morrisette. Once Celine Dion does a Spanish album, then we'll talk,
Canada.
So now, come, let's begin the
NAFTAA Sweet Sixteen Tournament
Pancho and
Lefty, Willie
Nelson & Merle Haggard
Devil Woman, Marty Robbins
Mexico, Cake
The Streets of Laredo, Jack Thorpe
Ain't No God in Mexico, Waylon Jennings
San Antonio Rose, Bob
Wills
God Don't Make Lonely Girls, The Wallflowers
Una Mas Cervesa (one more beer), Texas
Tornadoes
Crying for MEXICO
Piensa En Mi (think of me), Lydia Mendoza
Sigo Siendo El Rey (I'm still the king), traditional
No Vale Nada La Vida (there is no value to life), traditional
La Que Se Fue (she who went away), Jose
Alfredo Jimenez
Pobre Mujer (pitiful woman), Flaco
Jimenez
En Brazos de Otro Hombre (in arms of another man), traditional
Mentiras (lies), Mario Rivera
Y
Me Vieron Llorar (and they saw me cry), Vicente
Frenandez
