viVa MeXico!! This week finds us in a little celebratory mood since  it’s Mexico’s 200th bday, so we’ve dug through our wax to bring you a little trip through some of the country’s musical past, including some interesting versions of some classic Mexican standards done by a variety of artists. We start things out with some pre-hispanic drumming and end up with a funky version of Jose Afredo Jimenez’s uber macho hit “El rey”.

In between we check out some versions some of Mexico’s most eccentric and eclectic artists, take Juan Garcia Esquivel’s versions of the mariachi standard “La raspa”, or the messed up jazz/cumbia/rock/swing and everything else sound of Mexico City’s goofball combo, Los Xochimilcas, with a song that translates as “Let the ugly ones die.”

Enjoy the tunes. EB&CG

playlist:

Luis Alcaraz–Viajera

Acerina–Telefono a larga distancia

Agustin Lara + Carmen Rey–Porque te vas?

Los Machucambos–La cucaracha

Lobo y Melon–A caballo blanco

Emilio Dominguez y la sonora veracruzana–La bamba

Los Xochimilcas–Que se mueran los feos

Juan Garcia Esquivel–La raspa

Juan Garcia Esquivel–La bamba

Hermanos Carrion–La malagueña

Aldemaro Romero y Monna Bell–Jarabe Loco

Hermanos Castro–Cucurucu Paloma

La Socied Organizada en Sonido–El rey

Los Socios del Ritmo–Mexico mio