Posted by DD republished from Mexico News Daily
One of Mexico’s best known bands found itself on the wrong side of the law in Chihuahua last weekend for performing a song glamorizing the life of the narco.
“Many want to climb to my height, I just see them fall away, they want to scratch at my crown, those that try have been dying off.”
The words form part of a song by Los Tigres del Norte, arguably the originators of the narcocorrido sub-genre of northern Mexican music, called norteño.
Narcocorridos, or narco ballads, contain lyrics glamorizing narco life but the municipality of Chihuahua is having none of it.
Los Tigres performed the song, called Jefe de Jefes, or Chief of Chiefs, at the Santa Rita Fair in Chihuahua on Sunday before a devoted audience that sang along. But local authorities were
not entertained.
The municipality fined the band 500,000 pesos (US $27,000) and shut down the stage for the duration of the fair.
The municipality of Chihuahua introduced a law in 2015 prohibiting the public performance of music that glorifies drug traffickers. Breaking the law could bring a fine of up to 5,000 times the daily minimum wage and 36 hours of jail time.
As far as the current mayor is concerned, the law remains in effect.
“This is not the appropriate time [for such music],” said María Eugenia Campos Galván. “We cannot allow the veneration of drug trafficking figures through songs given the current security conditions.”
There are similar laws prohibiting narco ballads in the state of Sinaloa, where Los Tigres del Norte are from.
Corridos, or ballads, became the staple genre of music throughout the northern states of Mexico at the turn of the 20th century. Back then, singers sang of the deeds of the heroes of the Mexican Revolution, giving them an epic shine.
By the 1970s, war heroes gave way to drug lords. Los Tigres pioneered the narcocorrido genre by recreating in their songs the “adventures” of drug smugglers on the Mexico-United States border, lauding the narco and outlaw lifestyle.
A reaction against the music is not so surprising considering that the state of Chihuahua is no stranger to the devastating effects of rivalry between drug cartels. The border city of Ciudad Juárez was the scene of a cruel territorial war between the Sinaloa and Gulf cartels.
Today, after a few years of respite, the state is seeing a resurgence in homicides.
Funny how government restrictions for Narco corridos are well implemented. When in truth its government involvement of such practices. Such hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteE42
How about Freedom Speech
Delete7:20 HA HA good one :-)
DeleteGreat music
DeleteNo first in Mexico
It's the local government not the federal government.
DeleteThe ignorance of this band caused the shutdown that put many vendors and others out of business at that venue for the rest of the fair. The selfish idiots do not care as the fine will be paid by the Narco's that wanted them to play it, and that is a fact. In fact they are guaranteed if they lose anything they will be reimbursed for all costs by the Narco's. In reality they put these people in a bad situation as they plan on these events each year and have invested money and time for the events. So who pays. As always the working people. Maybe Los Tigres should make the people they hurt whole again by paying them for their loses. Ignorance knows no end.
ReplyDeleteThere is no ignorance to it. It's a must or you will pay the consequences. You would do the same if you were in their spot so quit judging. Viva México!
DeleteThe article say that the authorities shut down the stage. That might have prevented some musicians from playing, but how would it have put vendors out of business?
DeleteAlso, the fine works out to 100,000 pesos per band member, or about $5,400. These guys are wealthy enough that it's not going to hurt them enough to worry about reimbursement.
Los Tigres Del California (where they live) are a joke.
Deletethere is more to a fair then the music tonto
DeleteJefe De jefes is long gone, Aruto Beltran Leyva
DeleteFor those of you that do not know. The area that was closed down was where the big concerts were held with higher priced tickets. Not the free shows at the fair. When you go in to see the show they take your gum, candy, cigarette's and more. Those vendors lost all that business for the rest of the shows in the Palenque for the rest of that night I am now informed. I live in Chihuahua and was misinformed by my wife who went to the Aida Cueva concert a night or so earlier. She told me the Palenque was closed for the rest of the fair, but the rest of the fair was open. So 10:02 I am not Tonto but I would bet a million to one that I am far more excelled in making a very good living here in Mexico than you. So what might that make you? Sorry it came down to making it personal but you rang the bell first. I do know that the Narco's pay the fines as they want the music played and guarantee the artists that they will pay them. So the Artists cannot lose either way. My wife will not admit what she told me, as she likes to embellish things a bit, and now I know the concerts will go on for the remaining nights as the fine was paid so it could remain open. She is a wonderful person and she gets a little excited. Not a big deal for me as she is the best woman I have ever met in my life. (3:46) Thank you for a reasonable explanation without making it personal. I am assuming you are an educated person by your well written response. They can pay the fine but I know they are covered by other money. It has gone on like that at the fair since the corrido ban.
DeleteEl Mayo ahora tiene la corona...
DeleteI can't believe Norteno and other Mexican music hasn't become popular world wide!
ReplyDeleteGotta be joking...corridos are awful.nails on chalk board
DeletePolkas have been around forever. Spanish jibberish doesn't make em any better. A lot of 90yr olds still enjoy em here in the US though.
DeleteWhen I lived in Virginia, I would go into a shop called The Swiss Bakery and wonder "Why am I hearing Norteno?" And then I would realize "Oh yeah, German accordion music." Also, I have a CD of Tejano Accordion Music in which the first cut is "Beer Barrel Polka". So Mexican music already is popular world wide!
DeleteWe should be asking ourselves why Son Huasteco isn't popular would wide.
Me too. It's really sad that Latin Music only breaks thru in US with white trash low quality "Latin" pop, rock, and re- gay-ton.
DeleteMexican only listen to r&b
Deletebeer barrel polka is German music,not mexican.
DeleteWhat song did they perform? Also, Sinaloa and Gulf war in Juarez?
ReplyDeleteIt's in the article, read it.
DeleteIf civil authorities are resorting 2 doing this then it just shows their level of desperation. What do you suppose Hitler was listening 2 before he had millions exterminated. - Sol Prendido
ReplyDeleteHitler didnt do it alone. Hitler didnt need music for reasoning to do what he did. He had money and power to do that. He needed to convince the people to do it for him. Instead of music he used another form of propaganda, speeches. Narcocorridos are nothing more than propaganda.
DeleteSuch corridos were banned long time ago . If correct? Rather the group for talking bad against the Mexican government. Think it's the latter.
DeleteE42
Propaganda doesn't earn over a decade of Grammys. Listening 2 music is no different than watching a movie. Once it's over we all go back 2 our lives. If anything their both used as a medium 4 entertainment. - Sol Prendido
Delete@936 Unfortunately Mexican youth does not know how to separate this they believe and wish to be glorified in a corridos and music videos not knowing that most artist rent the cars and houses to film in the USA has hipsters investing things like uber and mricro brewerys mexico has wanabe narkillos asiendo un desmadre
DeleteArturo Beltran Leyva D.E.P
ReplyDeleteEl muerte!
DeleteViva ABL!!!!
ReplyDeleteArturo Beltran Leyva R.I.P the real deal hands down.
ReplyDeleteThat's peanuts for Tigres, almost like paying 50 dollars.
ReplyDeleteLol no! More like 1000
DeletePara Los Tigeres Del Norte, esa pinchi multa y otras tres son como un pelo de gato.
DeleteThe fair organizers should move the Feria (the Fair) to outside town or off city limits and let city hall stick their decency up the ass but then again, the police army navy paracos may go and murder eerybody like in Tlatlaya.
Ya the tigers are billionaires!! That's y they play shows at the county fair. Right after they judge the best cow for the 4H club. LOSERS
Delete9:16 the Rolling Stones went to play in Cuba, Paul Mc Cartney played in mexico, even KISS Went to play "Kiss my Ass" and La Bamba en la capital, just because they wanted to so it, I don't see why los Titeres del Norte can't play some humble venues, even pay to do it and pay 5he fines too. I mean "Los Tigeres"
DeleteThese guys look like some Elvis impersonators.
ReplyDeleteElvis impersonators? Na buddy Elvis was a junky. These guys say no to drugs.
Delete11:56 nobody sings like the king,
Deletewhatever happened later in his life did not make him famous when he started, also, it is hard to feed the animals the same ideal projection all the time, and remember, back in the day stimulants and depressants were not illegal or known to US Law Enforcement, cocaine heroin and meth were, but they were still a dirty little secret, the greñudo hippies were still washing their pants, they were still innocent like Elvis the Pelvis.
@9:29 hey listen man my point is that to us Mexicans it's very taboo and WEAK MINDED to fall pray to Addition all I'm trying to say is I WISH THA KING would have said no to drugs. BUT like MOST Americans they think they have it under control but noo if u consume drugs honestly you are a WEAK minded Individual and to ME That's where the problem is.!!! Why do u think all this killing is going on in my beloved home land?? It's because us FUCKIN AMERICANS are so addicted to DRUGS!!
DeleteBy the time elvis died, his preferred pills were still medicine, and these days we are discoring the US government has been supplying "pain killers" and paying doctors to prescribe them until the victims are well addicted, and have to settle for cheaper heroin on the streets...
Deletethat is the OXI EPIDEMIC, wonder how much it cost to lobby the lawmakers that passed the laws?
--before that, we have the well documented CRACK EPIDEMIC, reporting on it cost some people their freedoms, their reputations, their jobs, and their lives like Gary Webb, that crack was invented by US.government agencies and supplied by the boatload to the Americans less likely to "just say no", minorities, and some of their redeemers were entrapped into it with lead or silver.
Don't sweat it gold cup, we are just playing house with our little tea cups while trying to rope some Big Ass Pigs,
--I have NO problem with drug addiction, my big problem is with the profiteers high up in government and business...
Line 'em up and start their trials.
Hey Goldcup! Don't you ever talk about the King like that!!!! :-D
DeleteThese idiots are funded by cartels Their career was jusmpstarted by cartel leaders way back when
ReplyDelete1:17 the cartels have not been buying the Tigeres' records or their concerts for the last 40 years. Some said they were from colombia too you know?
DeleteI think I can get these guys on the MTV Music Awards.
ReplyDeleteChock it up to, any publicity is good for business in this arena. Their street cred just went up a notch and more people will be interested. Ignore them, turn down the volume, change the dial, that's how to deal with this noise.
ReplyDeleteI wouldnt be suprised if this band is on someones hit list
ReplyDeleteLol they aren't on a hit list...theae guys started narco corridos with Banda Del Carro Rojo and Camelia la Texana...aint no-one have a hit on them, they are legends!
DeleteTigres del Norte do not write their own narco corridos. In fact they may just be singers only. They buy corridos from writers and or smaller musicians and may change a lyric or two and that is how they gain their fame!
DeleteI'm wondering what the mayor thought was going to happen. They hired Los Tigres, whose most famous song is "Jefe de Jefes", and audiences usually want bands to play their hits. Los Tigres played in Sinaloa last year, where they supposedly weren't going to play any narcocorridos. But they played them anyway and nothing was done. So the band knew that the audience was expecting "Jefe de Jefes" and they had reason to think that they could perform it without problem. Why did the mayor think they wouldn't play it?
ReplyDeleteI'm not arguing about whether they should have played it or whether the municipality should have fined them. I'm just wondering why anyone would hire Los Tigres and expect them not to perform their hits. Was there a negotiation before the performance that the article doesn't mention?
I didn't even read your comment when you said the most famous song los Tigre's have is jefe de jefes. I wish people would actually know what they are talking about before saying something about something.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt's just music. Seriously??
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right but a corrupt government must pretend they are doing something about the cartels and this is how.
DeleteThey can pretend all they want. But the world knows who's literally behind the drug trafficking.
DeleteIt's not rocket science!
7:15 Who is that?
DeleteI suspect I don't know him or them by name,
let's name the suspects, and make sure there is no usual suspect on the line up unless it is to relate one to the other by their deals or by marriage, you know? It is a mess since the new laws passed.
Don Arturo...
ReplyDeleteWHAT! They all glorify DIRT.
ReplyDeleteThe real question is: will they pay the infraction and will the funds be used for?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is the lack of values...Mexico as a society have lost track of their value system aka family education and so on....it shows on the music on the life styles aka fashion type of food they consume and what they aspire to be...they have shit role models...of you break it down to lowest terms..they could blame America the music and what ever...but is society that accepts and encourages the cycle of stupidity. If I choose to go fair and they have narco musicians maybe is not the place for myself and my family...same goes to the mexican culture...refuse to attend social or cultural events where narco musicians will perform...supply and demand...if something is not profitable it would not be offer...music needs consumers and radio time...mexicans revolt against social programming of narco musicians and the life style they impose on the youth...before is to late...God bless America and and the second amendment rights to be and purse happines...thanks to all American veterans on memorial day weekend "I appreciate your service" free drinks on me at buffalo wild wings in el Paso texas to veterans....
ReplyDeleteGlorifying narcos is like glorifying terrorists. Only God deserves glory. Ask Arturo when you get to hell and he will tell you. What's the point of making all that money when you're not around to enjoy it!!!
ReplyDeleteNo Bill of Rights in México, no 1st Amendment. Free speech is a principle bellwether of good governance. The world should be free to sing whatever the fu<# it wants. Period.
ReplyDeleteIf it offends you, change the station, turn it off, or walk away. I would, their music annoys me; but it's not for me [or anybody] to deny others of their pleasure.
Heads continue to roll in Veracruz & censorship of music is the issue? Insane prioritization.
Exactly, and that's why the US is on top of the food chain.
Delete9:09 freedom of speech is used to manipulate the less gifted brainiacs too often, when I see the "trompitos" I see the results of having allowed so many extreme right "libertarians" to have their freedom of "unchecked speech", by mow their Alt realities is all that matter, they got all the powers according to themselves.
DeleteIn mexico, less sophisticated, all that has to be done is blame the narcos for everything, or the "spineless mexicans", both propositions wrong.
I guarantee they were TOLD what to play, can't blame them for wanting to leave with the same amount of holes they showed up with
ReplyDeleteThats what I was thinking, 27k is not a bad price to ealk out alive.
DeleteGreat song.
ReplyDeleteLol people saying los Tigres del Norte are representative of Narco corridos are so out of touch and ignorant it's not even funny lol..... it's like saying madonna is a pop star today
ReplyDelete6:36 the Tigeres do represent, but my favorites are los RAZOS, and el Beto Quintanilla con su voz aguardientosa llena de pollos, "Las Aguilas Andan Solas, Los Pilares de la Carcel, Mi Ultima Contrabando" o "Una Cruz de Mariguana" con "Las Aguilar del Norte" de colombia, where there is NO DOUBT they are about drugs and cartels that leave nothing to the imagination.
DeleteBut you can't argue with a municipal government full of idiots.
I just saw Los Tigres in the beginning of February! What a show! They are amazing!!!! The whole crowd went crazy when they came playing/singing Pacas de kilo, Including Myself! Hands down, The best concert I have ever been to with Los Huracanes in 2nd place!
ReplyDeleteNot glorifying the drug war/cartels, I grew up with their Music... I grew up watching their movies! Los Tigres are one of the most famous bands out of Mexico and Their Music is Very well known. What the hell did the government expect them to play? Love songs and shyt?
Jefe De Jefes is a song close to My heart, We play it for My Father in Law... QEPD!
@731am....your logic is exactly why Mexico is a 3rd world nation..why would you glorify narco grupos "tigeres del Norte" playing "pacas de a kilo" have you listen to the lyrics?? The good about all this , is that you get the culture you deserve!!! Narcos violence ignorance a loyal lunatic fan base that keeps fueling their music.. and a shit government aka Pena nieto...because you see it as normal that is the issue...deal with your twisted cultural normality and enjoy your unlimited violent culture!!!narcos are no better than terrorist groups..
DeleteYa, I get it. We play Dr.Dre "nuthin but a G thang" for my 70 yr old father n law too. LOL!!!!!
DeleteThis is what's wrong with society in Mexico.
DeleteI remember when I went to my first Frank Sinatra concert.
Delete9:16 mexico is as it is, but not because of "narco-corridos, the corridos make people happy enough to pay for them, the mexican government extort and exact their Versaillesque way of living like the Rich and the Beautiful from all the mexicans, and the people don't have the option to attend the mexican government music or not
DeleteI wander if me & my buddies dress up like circus clowns and sing about John gotti to polka music, if we could make some $$$???
ReplyDelete6:49 try it, I wish you good luck.
DeleteThese dudes have movies too??? Please put a link!!! They gotta be hysterical!!!
ReplyDeleteTheir on YouTube. Type "Los Tigres del Norte Películas". Or "Peliculas Mexicanas". Lots of obscure films free 2 watch. - Sol Prendido
Delete" The Teflon Don would chop off ur head and eat it " que the polkas... Lalalala. I just made a corrido!!!
ReplyDeleteson unos hipocritas hace un par de meses criticaban los corridos y bien que se an beneficiado de ellos por mw de 30 años pinches vatos 2 caras!!!!
ReplyDeleteA few hundred yrs ago, us Americans had to defend our way of life from an army of British and Spanish soldiers. Groups of farmers, carpenters, and common people took up arms and sent them back across the Atlantic. This took place around 1776. Maybe uve heard of it. It can be done.
DeletePS: we didn't dance to music glorifying them!!
We Americans are having a serious problem with Islamic terrorists. Do u think a band would get off the stage alive after playing music glorifying Islamic terrorists?? At a county fair??
DeleteEl Mayo ahora tiene la corona...
ReplyDelete