A few years back, I did a brief personal study on Mexican pop music.

I wanted to see how it compared to current music trends north of the border – especially in terms of the lyrics. And now that Bob Dylan has won the Nobel Prize for literature, I thought maybe there is more story and insight in song writing than I realized, possibly even for “Achy Breaky Heart.”

Today’s Mexican music is different, and some of the songs seem to tell a contemporary story.

Mexico’s most famous style of music, mariachi, is traditional and long-valued as a cultural expression of its creative vibrance and charm, but that goes back to the French invasion of Mexico in 1864, when the music first set down roots.

Mariachi is a corruption of the French word for marriage, because the French influenced the Mexicans to play their music at marriages and other grand celebrations. The music and lyrics as a result were bold, masculine and upbeat. The early Mexican balladeers were the equivalent of Europe’s wandering minstrels, another influence from the French invasion. Interestingly the songs are romantic, also balladic, and remain so to this day, despite the intense rap influences from the north.

I have had translated some of the lyrics of the songs our young Mexican neighbors have been listening to, in order for you to compare subject matter and inspiration.

“Sangre Roja” (“A little red blood”) — Mexican rock.

A poor kid working on the streets washing cars is approached by a rich kid in a big fancy car and kills the poor kid. It’s not Irving Berlin, but it’s social commentary and tells us a little about universal privileged behavior.

“Te lo Pido, Por Favor” (“What I ask of you, please”) – Mexican rock.

Young boy asks his lover to never leave him, because he needs her so much. He says that wherever he goes, he will always take her with him. This is old-fashioned romance, but also a comment on the respect shown women, even today, as it has appeared to have diminished elsewhere. Remember when men tipped their hats when they passed a woman on the street. Today, women can’t be sure what will happen to them as men approach. 

“Payaso de Rodeo” (“Rodeo Clown”) — Mexican Country music, (yeah, you read that right.)

A man sings about meeting a rodeo clown while crossing the U.S. border. He’s delighted and impressed, totally entertained by the clown’s jesting and comic indiscretions. But the clown makes clear that it’s not exciting being a rodeo clown. And that this supplicant to such work should consider instead being a leader of men.

Room for one more: there’s the perennial “Cucaracha,” which is, by all accounts, a revolutionary political satire. 

A song about a cockroach (cucaracha) who can’t find his way, because he doesn’t have his marijuana to help him. Some say the jape about marijuana is metaphorical for mental illness and is directed at the hated, dictatorial Mexican president Victoriano Huerta (ruled for about a year and a half during the Mexican Revolution), who was ridiculed by his many enemies and the rest of the world as an incompetent fool. He turned to one of the world’s greatest war-mongers for an alliance.

Just some reflections, via a musical sensibility.