Los Tigres del NorteAs we gear up for our trip to San Diego and Tijuana, we will spend our last DeCal talking about the musical culture of the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly narcocorridos as "an everyday form of resistance and symbolic emulations of power for Mexican American youth" (cited from Guadalupe Manriquez, a participant from spring '10).
Your two readings are:
1. Immigration Blues: Onward and Upward with the Arts, by Alec Wilkinson
2. Immigrant Songs
Your assignment is to share a song that is relevant to the readings and/or exemplifies the kind of music discussed in the articles. For example, you could find a YouTube version of "Contrabando y Traicion" and play a 1-2 minute snippet for the class. (Please be prepared to provide a brief translation if your song is in Spanish.) The goal of this assignment is to find a song that represents the border, either because it's from that region (like norteno music) or speaks directly/indirectly to an issue related to the U.S.-Mexico border. Please use the "Immigrant Songs" article to help you in this process, as there are several songs and artists listed at the bottom.
In your comment, please post 1-2 paragraphs in response to the articles, as well as list the song that you will be sharing with the class. Questions to think about:
-How familiar are you with narocorridos?
-If you have listened to them before, what types of themes are portrayed in these songs?
-If you have not, what was a take-away point for you from the article?
8 days!
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I have heard narcocorridos before. They are usually songs about immigration, 'narcos' (drug smugglers), corruption, murder, etc.
The article enlightened me as to the roots of norteno music coming from Czechs and Germans arriving to work in the mines. It just goes to show how integrating Mexicans have been of the 'white man' immigrating to their country. I also found it ironic that Richard Nixon's favorite music was Mariachi music since much of the animosity against illegal immigrants is fueled by the Republican party.
For my song, I chose "Frijolero" by Molotov. It is about immigration, but specially focused on the racism the immigrants face in America, challenging the other to put himself in the immigrant's shoes:
Si tuvieras tú que esquivar las balas
de unos cuantos gringos rancheros
Les seguirás diciendo good for nothing wetback?
si tuvieras tú que empezar de cero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iJMOBcPQyg
Pal Norte by Calle 13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBYO1ZfxxSM
Chorus:
I have your antidote... for this it has not identity
we are identical... for this it came without notice
I have your antilico*... for those who are not here,
for those who are here and for those who come
I have listened to Pal Norte and Calle 13's music many times, and never had I ever really stopped to translate and process what he is rapping about. What I discovered is that Pal Norte is a lot like poetry, and the entire song makes extreme and almost random detached comparisons between the immigrant journey and other items and objects in the world. His take on the immigrant experience is interesting and unique, and he uses a lot of diction and language to describe immigration that is not usually included in the discussion. This makes his music resonate and gives real meaning to his fans. Sometimes the journey and the experience just cannot be described in professional or cliche terms. Perhaps there really are moments when an emigrant feels like a squirrel or an animal with paws barely squeezing by (as he references in his song.) Calle 13, a big name in Reggaeton and Latin American music in general does a good job in making his music real to his audience. He alludes to the details and small components of everyday life mutual to many different Latin Americans and immigrants.
I think the take home point of the article is that the norteno music and narcocorridor culture is all about representing the real, honest, and genuine stories of immigrants. It does not seek to make them into heroes, to necessarily focus on tragedy and injustice, or to spotlight a political viewpoint; but rather the music is an agency of expression of the struggles and achievements seen and experienced throughout the immigration process--to share with other immigrants the good and the bad, the heartbreaking and the extraordinary moments.
I have heard heard norteno and narcocorridos music before, but I had never really stopped to unpack the lyrics. I think they reveal a lot about the real life experiences of immigrants. From the article, the main thing I got was that the stories told in the songs of bands like Los Tigres are the honest stories of real immigrants. It neither glorifies or degrades the experience, but presents it as it is, a sort of dignified defeat, as the article puts it.
The song I selected is Mojado by Arjona. This song tells the story of an immigrant who leaves home to cross the border:
He packed a few shirts, a hat,
His vocation Adventurer
Six councils, seven pictures, a thousand memories.
He packed his desire to stay
His condition become
The man who dreamed and has failed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd-8pQ0TSu0
I will be sharing "Estoy Enamorado" by Wisin y Yandel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whBcmlaSLJM
I am not too familiar with narcocorridos, because I have only ever heard one in my spanish class. The one that I heard was talking about violence that occurs, because of drug trafficking. What I found the most interesting was that Norteno music is "lower-class music. I didn't know this, I didn't think there was a type of music that would seem like it was worth less than the other. It was especially important that the article also mentioned that "Class isn't so important in the gringo world, but in Mexico it is." This made me think about the class structure in Mexico and how less privileged people engage in drug trafficking, because they need the money. So, it would make sense that this type of music critiques import issues that oppress Mexicans. It made me think about how much music can capture the thoughts of everyone, that aren't able to express their thoughts for others to hear. Music makes it possible for the voices of others to be heard.
I have heard of narcocorridos and I think I have heard some songs with out actually caring to listen to what was being told. I alway knew, though, that the songs brought up themes of things that are seen as crimes.
From the articles, I was just reminded by music's ability to capture attention and convey to its audience that they are not alone. The thing about music is that it stands as a prominent voice and allows one to feel like they have a community even if they are in the kitchen alone with a radio. People can sing songs and carry them in their heads where ever they go as a reminder of where they come from or where they want to go or where they are at. Music is cool like that.
The song I chose is by Manu Chao and it is called "Politik Kills." Although it does not directly talk about immigration, it does convey the dangers of politicizing things. What I like about this song is that it talks about things that politics 'need' to kill:
'politik need force poltik need cries
politik need ignorance politik need lies
politik kills politik kills politik kills
politik kills politik kills politik kills
politik kills politik kills politik kills'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV0-biHAtNY
Manu Chao drives home the point that politics can manipulate anything and use it against you, including "your mind." When people are sucked into viewing things in a political or economical or governmental sense, we dehumanize things. I get this from the way the song is sang -- very monotone-ish and repetitive, absent of real emotion.
So when it comes to immigration, I think that the way we have used politics to manipulate the theme of immigration or borders has literally killed a lot of people. Politics can easily convey a sense of power, so in that sense, power kills too -- the power that the drug traffickers seek kills, the power that the US strives to gain and maintain kills, the power that people try to establish over each other kills. I don't know. I love this song.
I am very familiar with narcocorridos. In fact, my entire life I have grown up hearing this genre of music on my way to school, at home, and family reunions/parties. It wasn’t until I was in highschool that I started to listen to them more on my own in my leisure time. Narcorridos embody various themes in their songs, immigration, love, narco culture, violence, drugs, money as a symbol of power, ‘negocio’ (business) symbol for drugtrafficking, religion (santa muerte & Jesus Malverde), claiming of territories.
Since I have been here at Berkeley, I have had a difficult time addressing narcocorridos and their significance in my life and identity. Some argue that narcocorridos glorify ‘narcocultura’ and by listening to it we are appraising it. However, is this the case for the Mexican youth in the US? I enjoy listening to this music because it is what I know, it is the culture that I grew up with, it is reality, and because I truly enjoy the musical melodies to these songs. Does this mean that I am glorifying the narcos and violence because that is primarily what they talk about in their songs? I don’t think so. Despite the fact that these songs focus on the AK47’s of druglords, how they have to kill to protect their territories and merchandise, or how they express their connections south and north of border—this doesn’t mean that people that listen to this music are in support of this.
I will be sharing "Gallo de Sinaloa" by Roberto Tapia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2irhQuJagY
When I was younger narcocorridos was all my family would listen to, especially at big family parties. At that age, around 10yrs old, I would really like these songs, but I didn’t know what they were talking about. No on every told me that the songs were symbolically representing Mexican life at the border, usually dealing with drugs, drug trafficking, women, and immigration. My dad and brother in law still listen to corridos, but not as much as before. Even now when I hear a song I’m not sure what it is referring to because I did not grow up in Mexico nor was I ever exposed to the culture at the border or in Northern states. I definitely think that narcorridos express the narcoculture that many people living in the border region are exposed to. This type of music actually tells us a story and we can gain much insight about what is going on in the region by listening to the music. It reflects the culture that thousands of people are living, but yet we are unaware of it. Many people say that narcocorridos is “lower class” music, which I somewhat agree to. Those who worked for plantation owners and in the haciendas were most exposed to the themes covered in the music, so they sang about them to expose others to the issues and their true lives.
As a kid I really liked “Mis Tres Animales” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana. Now I think it is funny that I like it because it is about drugs. Back then I obviously didn’t know that it was about drug trafficking, but even now that I know what it’s about, I can say that I enjoy listening to it because it reflects a part of Mexican society that is reality for many people. The song describes how he was poor but when he got into the drug business, he has become a “great man” because he meeting the American demand for his “pets”. At the end the song does say that drugs might hurt the people, but no one is obligated to them, and if you don’t know how to tame them, then don’t use them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQPB4JAUe3c
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