Mariachi Polka is not at all totally crazy. Here in southern California we are much closer to Mexico than you, and in fact a lot of us are actual Mexicans! And half of the radio and TV stations are Mexicans. Come here and listen, and you will hear a lot of polka on those stations, but it is traditional European polka, not the trumpet/violin mariachi style.

Both this forum and Flanges & Hummus attract some "interesting" drive-bys, eh?


I kinda doubt that. Like Sarah Palin, I can see Mexico from my front door! Oh wait, wrong country ...


In fact, a lot of me is actual Mexican!


And, amazingly, half of all Mexicans are radio and TV stations!


Yes, listening to Mexican radio is definitely the main reason to visit Southern California.


Not exactly. Polka is not a significant part of Mariachi. You do hear some Mariachi here, but norteño styles are much more common and popular. And the two broad norteño styles are: Tex-Mex aka Ranchero, and Banda Music. Ranchero is accordion-based and influenced by the German populations in central and south Texas. Banda Sinaloense is brasswind-based and an outgrowth of French-style military bands during the era of Maximillian. Extended listening to either style will make your brain melt and ooze out of your ears.

_________________
Vivat diabolus in musica! MTGuru's (old) GG Clips / Blackbird Clips

Joel Barish: Is there any risk of brain damage?
Dr. Mierzwiak: Well, technically speaking, the procedure is brain damage.

I remember that I used to listen to the local Mexican radio station on my commute to class during my undergrad. It was excellent listening practice for my Spanish.

I found that, as my comprehension of what they were singing about increased, the effect MTGuru is referring to increased in equal measure.

I actually like banda music - in measured doses. It's both fascinating and completely bizarre. Take a bunch of military surplus brasswinds and drums. Learn to play everything at the extreme-distortion top of your lungs, to be heard in a large outdoor plaza. Then adapt ranchero-style songs and corridos to sound like cross between Mexican folk, J.P. Sousa and Lawrence Welk on acid. Voilà - banda!


Yes, it sounds very old-fashioned and rustic, until you realize they're sometimes singing about Facebook and mobile phones, and sex and drugs and violence ...

_________________
Vivat diabolus in musica! MTGuru's (old) GG Clips / Blackbird Clips

Joel Barish: Is there any risk of brain damage?
Dr. Mierzwiak: Well, technically speaking, the procedure is brain damage.

I'm sure you're right. But, remember, the musical genre hybrid referenced is "Mariachi-Polka Waltz-Punk." Get much of that your way?

[Thread revival. - Mod]

My understanding is there is a quite a German influence on Mexican music and much of it does indeed have a polka sound. Google "música norteña".

-l2t