The Importance of Corridos and Los Tigres Del Norte to Chicanos

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Corridos is a Mexican narrative folk ballad usually on a topical subject. It has helped many Mexicans express typical Mexican life through music for well over a century. Corridos were developed in Mexico during the 1800s

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Corridos embraces 3 main qualities in their songs: Lyric, Epic, and Narrative

The lyrics is the most important and is what separates corridos from any other. The lyrics are the most important because helps the narrative part tell the story in 1st person or 3rd person point of views which helps the understand notable events in Mexican society.

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Corrido Sheet: these were sheets for the lyrics of the corrido songs. It would introduce and celebrate new artists in corrido’s. These two specific sheets were introduce on 1911 and 1915 during the height of the Mexican Revolution.

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The Mexican revolution led many migrants to go up north into the United States. 1928-1940 Becomes the boom era for corridor because of technological developments. San Antonio and Los Angeles became known as the capitals of recording corridor.

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During the Mexican Revolution of 1910 corridos wanted to have heroes. Many had interest in a “Robin Hood” character type who was an outlaw and who smuggled.

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Corridos were considered old fashion until 1974 when the younger generation fell in love with smuggling once again. Developed in the late 19th century, as a mixture between German folk music (which was introduced to Mexico with the arrival of German migrant workers in those years), and local Northern Mexican music

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Over time Corridos has become known as “musica de la frontera” (Border Music) because it has become popular along both sides the U.S/Mexico border.

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The group is centered around their lead vocalist Jorge Hernandez who is joined by his brothers Hernan (bass, vocals), Eduardo (accordion, saxophone, bass, vocals), and Luis (guitar, vocals), as well as his cousin Oscar Lara (drums). The family is from a small town called Rosa Morada, which is located in the state of Sinaloa. In 1968 they left Mexico for California in hopes of a better life and in search of a better means to support their family following the injury that prevented their father from working. They landed in the city of San Jose and there they will reside all of their lives. 

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The group tells us in their home webpage that their name comes from an immigration officer they met before crossing the border. They say he would call them “Little Tigers”. There they were picked up by a local record company called Discos Fama. It was owned by an Englishmen named Art Walker who would take them under his wings and help them find jobs and materials, and also helped them record all of their early albums. In the beginning they were only locally popular and finally had a breakthrough song after Jorge Hernandez and Art walker heard a mariachi singer perform. During this time there were only a handful of songs talking about drug trafficking but this song was much more cinematic then others. The song talks about a woman smuggler who shoots the man and takes off with the money. After getting permission to record this song they would release “Contrabando y Traicion” (“contraband and betrayal”) in 1974. 

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During this time there were only a handful of songs talking about drug trafficking but this song was much more cinematic then others. The song talks about a woman smuggler who shoots the man and takes off with the money. After getting permission to record this song they would release “Contrabando y Traicion” (“contraband and betrayal”) in 1974. This would be the breakthrough they needed to become the band they are today.

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The band has modernized the music, infusing it with bolero, cumbia, rock rhythms waltzes, as well as effects of machine guns and sirens integrated in the music. They would become so popular because their music would portray “real life” in a manner that hits people differently all across the Americas. The music throughout the years also talks about life, love, and the struggle to survive in this imperfect world. The two biggest topics though that they talk about is narcotics and illegal immigration thus again portrays “real life”.

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In total they have over 50 albums, recorded over 500 songs, and appeared in over a dozen films and most times the movies were based on the music they were making. The group has been nominated 13 times for a Grammy and has won 5 in total.

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“contrabando y traicion” tells a story about drug smuggling how a women falls in love with a man but in the end betrays him, killing him and takes off with the money. This was the first Narco Corrido Los Tigres Del Norte performed in 1974 that would eventually help them become recognized both in mexico and the United States 

Anthony Influence in music #1

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Narco corridos focus on drug lords and their achievements of controlling the drug route. The main focus behind this type of music is to inform people in general the kind of lifestyle others take on and the consequences that are to be faced if one chooses this kind of lifestyle.

Anthony Influence in music #2

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Los Tigres Del Norte singing narco corridos was a breakthrough since they broke away from the traditional way people were used to listening about corridos since it wouldn't talk about drugs or violence just focus on real life events.

Anthony Influence in music #3

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Narco Corridos have become such a huge trend over time and in today's society in mexico and in the united states it has become popular. Today's artist focus on singing about different drug lords and the territories they control. Many people are curious about narco culture and why many people take this route what pushes them to take on this path. 

Anthony influence in music #4

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This demonstrates how the influence of Narco Corridos spread across the border into the united states and what parts of mexico Narco Corridos mostly came from. 

Anthony Influence in music #5