Good piece! I think it's worth noting that Chalino shot and killed a man who raped his sister and that led to his imprisonment. Legend has it that they handed him a note on stage in Culiacan before his performance that said, "after this, we are going to kill you" and he performed anyway. Then they killed him and it's gone "unsolved". Shockingly. But I think he earned the moniker of El Rey de Corridos (narco). Interesting about Pilar. I hadn't heard of her before and it's good to know the genre is being used for some good.
I started down the route of providing more biographical details on Chalino, but I got sidetracked by other historical facts and I needed to keep my word count down in order not to anger my editors. But thanks for filling in the gaps with the comments, which my editors fortunately never read!
Hi Mike. Really interesting post, thank you! I feel like the question any would be censor should ask, is whether the glorification of crime and violence in art is the same as inciting crime and violence. I think it would very hard to prove a "yes".
I guess I should have read the post before commenting on the picture, haha! I just got excited with the picture! Thanks for writing about this topic as it’s an issue that has had and continues to affect not only Mexico but its neighbors as well. Also, just wanted to say that although Los Tigres del Norte (pictured above) do sing corrido-style music and have sung about crimes, they lean toward the social and political aspects and impacts these have had on people which is why I like listening to them. Since the 80s! Thank you again for writing about this topic.
lol - no worries, Esperanza - I often comment as soon as I see something interesting and before I've read everything 🤣. And thanks for offering that clarification of Los Tigres del Norte - I actually like some of their music, and I failed to clarify that they (and many other musicians) don't only sing corridor-style songs. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I'm with you in that attempting to legislate a musical expression away is not the way to roll. With or without rock. Actually, attempting to legislate book expression, or other types, either. Doesn't do any good except maybe to satisfy some senators and whonot with the illusion of having solved a problem.
Not really into narco ballads, although I did watch Breaking Bad, and thought that was an interesting way to start that episode.
Legislating morality is such a trip down authoritarianism lane. I'm with you, Victor. I mean come on, this isn't Florida.
While I have mixed feelings about the Breaking Bad story, I think that production-wise it was one of the best television series ever produced. So much craft and attention to detail went into it - adding that narcocorrido was inspired.
Thanks for reading, Victor - it is always good to hear from you!
The song at the end by Vivir Quintana is haunting. So glad there are some voices offering another perspective that is not glamorizing all the pain and suffering related to the drug cartel/wars. It is a difficult aspect of Mexico that I believe keeps many people from seeing all the beauty the culture has to offer.
Another good post, Mike. Quintana has quite a voice--in both ways! I've known about narco-corridos and the fate that befalls so many of the singers, or at least in the past. So interesting to hear of the origins. From behind prison walls, where all is for sale.
Yes, the origins are unsurprising given the subject matter. And it is all getting a bit long in the tooth. Good to have those other varieties of corridos out there!
More than I hoped to know but now I know it, I'm blown away! Thank you for telling us all about Chalino and the attempts to ban this specific form of musical expression. Fascinating!
The whole freedom of speech / freedom of expression thing is interesting and not easy. I tend to believe that you cannot and should not legislate expression - that kind of thing usually ends up either not working, or working too well to the detriment of all expression. I like that the listeners are somewhat growing tired of it - these organic changes in audience taste and preferences make much more sense.
I tend to be a little protectionist too in that way, but ultimately do believe that people will find a way to express themselves. As you say legislating it doesn't always ONLY impact the intended victim of that legislation.
And while I'd love to tell everyone what they should and shouldn't listen to... We're all responsible for having a little common sense and doing a bit of research, rather than just being latent sponges. What do you think about consuming [content] responsibly, Mike??
I think the trick is to not let the content we consume alter our values - at least not in a negative way (although then we get into the whole question of who defines "negative" - maybe "harmful" is a better term?). But insofar as art is a reflection of our world and society - we need to accept that it will reflect the good and the bad (and the things we don't agree with). Forcing it to do otherwise doesn't serve much good in a free society.
There are, of course, exceptions. Art or expression that causes harm to the subject - or is produced without the subject's consent - is of course out-of-bounds and should be protected against.
Good piece! I think it's worth noting that Chalino shot and killed a man who raped his sister and that led to his imprisonment. Legend has it that they handed him a note on stage in Culiacan before his performance that said, "after this, we are going to kill you" and he performed anyway. Then they killed him and it's gone "unsolved". Shockingly. But I think he earned the moniker of El Rey de Corridos (narco). Interesting about Pilar. I hadn't heard of her before and it's good to know the genre is being used for some good.
I started down the route of providing more biographical details on Chalino, but I got sidetracked by other historical facts and I needed to keep my word count down in order not to anger my editors. But thanks for filling in the gaps with the comments, which my editors fortunately never read!
*for those who don't realize, I am Mike's AI alter ego.
Hi Mike. Really interesting post, thank you! I feel like the question any would be censor should ask, is whether the glorification of crime and violence in art is the same as inciting crime and violence. I think it would very hard to prove a "yes".
Agreed, proving such a thing has been attempted in the past, with not very good results. Thanks for the comment!
seeing them live is in my bucket list!
I guess I should have read the post before commenting on the picture, haha! I just got excited with the picture! Thanks for writing about this topic as it’s an issue that has had and continues to affect not only Mexico but its neighbors as well. Also, just wanted to say that although Los Tigres del Norte (pictured above) do sing corrido-style music and have sung about crimes, they lean toward the social and political aspects and impacts these have had on people which is why I like listening to them. Since the 80s! Thank you again for writing about this topic.
lol - no worries, Esperanza - I often comment as soon as I see something interesting and before I've read everything 🤣. And thanks for offering that clarification of Los Tigres del Norte - I actually like some of their music, and I failed to clarify that they (and many other musicians) don't only sing corridor-style songs. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I'm with you in that attempting to legislate a musical expression away is not the way to roll. With or without rock. Actually, attempting to legislate book expression, or other types, either. Doesn't do any good except maybe to satisfy some senators and whonot with the illusion of having solved a problem.
Not really into narco ballads, although I did watch Breaking Bad, and thought that was an interesting way to start that episode.
That last song Vivir Quintana was intense.
Good article, Mike!
Legislating morality is such a trip down authoritarianism lane. I'm with you, Victor. I mean come on, this isn't Florida.
While I have mixed feelings about the Breaking Bad story, I think that production-wise it was one of the best television series ever produced. So much craft and attention to detail went into it - adding that narcocorrido was inspired.
Thanks for reading, Victor - it is always good to hear from you!
The song at the end by Vivir Quintana is haunting. So glad there are some voices offering another perspective that is not glamorizing all the pain and suffering related to the drug cartel/wars. It is a difficult aspect of Mexico that I believe keeps many people from seeing all the beauty the culture has to offer.
Agreed, Christy! Well said, thanks for reading (and listening 😉)!
Another good post, Mike. Quintana has quite a voice--in both ways! I've known about narco-corridos and the fate that befalls so many of the singers, or at least in the past. So interesting to hear of the origins. From behind prison walls, where all is for sale.
Yes, the origins are unsurprising given the subject matter. And it is all getting a bit long in the tooth. Good to have those other varieties of corridos out there!
More than I hoped to know but now I know it, I'm blown away! Thank you for telling us all about Chalino and the attempts to ban this specific form of musical expression. Fascinating!
The whole freedom of speech / freedom of expression thing is interesting and not easy. I tend to believe that you cannot and should not legislate expression - that kind of thing usually ends up either not working, or working too well to the detriment of all expression. I like that the listeners are somewhat growing tired of it - these organic changes in audience taste and preferences make much more sense.
I tend to be a little protectionist too in that way, but ultimately do believe that people will find a way to express themselves. As you say legislating it doesn't always ONLY impact the intended victim of that legislation.
And while I'd love to tell everyone what they should and shouldn't listen to... We're all responsible for having a little common sense and doing a bit of research, rather than just being latent sponges. What do you think about consuming [content] responsibly, Mike??
I think the trick is to not let the content we consume alter our values - at least not in a negative way (although then we get into the whole question of who defines "negative" - maybe "harmful" is a better term?). But insofar as art is a reflection of our world and society - we need to accept that it will reflect the good and the bad (and the things we don't agree with). Forcing it to do otherwise doesn't serve much good in a free society.
There are, of course, exceptions. Art or expression that causes harm to the subject - or is produced without the subject's consent - is of course out-of-bounds and should be protected against.
I happen to agree with all of this! Nicely put.