Cool video of a great song by Mexican-American hip-hop band Akwid. The combination of traditional norteño instrumentation and vocal style with the hip-hop beat is smart and unique. Sorry about the ad at the beginning, but I promise it’s worth it.
Here’s a TV production of a couple of songs by old-school singer/actress Laura Léon. The music may not be terribly trendy, and the production is a bit overcharged, but I do like her big, husky voice.
A great song by Gloria Trevi, the ultimate rebellious teenage girl. She was the highest paid Spanish language woman singer in the 1990s, passing singers like Gloria Estefan by a wide margin. She had some tragedies, including sending time in Brazilian and Mexican prisons, but here career has been going strong again for the past 10 years or so.
Her songs often start quietly, then build to a climax that threatens to collapse the roof. This is by far the greatest vocal performance I’ll ever post here.
A lively song by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, probably the most popular Norteño band in Mexico. Hugely successful, they can fill stadiums on either side of the border. There has been some controversy over the years, though, over whether they have had ties to major figures in the drug trade.
A cool video of a song by Chetes, a founding member of the influential 90s rock band Zurdok.
Hey, listen to this one… The hugely popular cumbia band Los Angeles Azules, playing what may be their best-known song. Sophisticated people like to sneer at them, possibly because of their common appeal, or possibly because cumbia pop music went out of style in some circles many years ago. I guess you can sneer at me, then, because I really get a kick out of it.
Here’s a little bit of genius. Los Tigres del Norte, the hugely popular Norteño band, performs with hip hop singer René from Calle 13 in an MTV Unplugged session… I never would have expected the styles to fit together, but it’s wonderful!
Nice video and a nice song from well-known pop singer Natalia Lafourcade.
Lovely Mexican singer Julieta Venegas sings her famous song with the help of the wonderful Spanish hip hop performer Mala Rodríguez in an MTV Unplugged session. The song is great, the women are beautiful, and they’re having fun… It works really well!
A nice song by the lovely Mexican singer Yuri. She’s appearing in concert in Acapulco on July 12. I haven’t been to Acapulco for about 5 years, and I’d get on a plane right now, if I could. Great beach, delicious seafood, a fun concert… sign me up!
Bruce Critchley's Mexico Here and There 