How mariachi music conquered Spain and the Hispanic world
Charro films and lenient censorship explain how mariachi took root in Spain. The music industry and migration also played a part.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Mariachi: the silent conquest Spain never talked about
Mariachi didn't take hold in Spain by chance: it was a cultural conquest without a single shot fired. Films, radio and cassettes made it possible. For decades, the sounds of Jalisco echoed in the bars of Navarre and in cars crossing the country.
Charro films and lenient censorship
Postwar Mexican cinema struck a chord with audiences who understood honor, swagger and settling scores. Censorship, strict with domestic productions, turned a blind eye to the adultery and mayhem typical of foreign fare. Many films were musicals. The trend continued through the 60s and 70s, and faded in the 80s.
Corridos, industry and Spanish pop
No long car journey was complete without corridos: 300 kilometers meant six hours of cassette. Migration to Mexico also played a role. Behind it all was a powerful music industry in Mexico and the US, although not every strong industry achieves generational reach. Here it did: artists like Sabina, Los Secretos and Enrique Urquijo drew on ranchera music; Urquijo even formed a side project. In Navarre, there are still bands devoted to Mexican music.
If this story proves anything, it's that popular culture knows no borders. The question is how long the echo will last now that consumption is fragmented. Most likely, mariachi will live on, reinvented. Or it may end up as a souvenir for tourists. That has peine before.
Mariachi didn't take hold in Spain by chance: it was a cultural conquest without a single shot fired. Films, radio and cassettes made it possible. For decades, the sounds of Jalisco echoed in the bars of Navarre and in cars crossing the country.
Charro films and lenient censorship
Postwar Mexican cinema struck a chord with audiences who understood honor, swagger and settling scores. Censorship, strict with domestic productions, turned a blind eye to the adultery and mayhem typical of foreign fare. Many films were musicals. The trend continued through the 60s and 70s, and faded in the 80s.
Corridos, industry and Spanish pop
No long car journey was complete without corridos: 300 kilometers meant six hours of cassette. Migration to Mexico also played a role. Behind it all was a powerful music industry in Mexico and the US, although not every strong industry achieves generational reach. Here it did: artists like Sabina, Los Secretos and Enrique Urquijo drew on ranchera music; Urquijo even formed a side project. In Navarre, there are still bands devoted to Mexican music.
If this story proves anything, it's that popular culture knows no borders. The question is how long the echo will last now that consumption is fragmented. Most likely, mariachi will live on, reinvented. Or it may end up as a souvenir for tourists. That has peine before.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (20 replies).
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