For generations, the corrido, a traditional Mexican song style, has been an integral part of storytelling in Mexican culture.
Originating in the 19th century, corridos often told the stories of both the victors and losers of battles, heroes and outlaws. They spoke on social issues and illustrated odysseys.
Present day, a relatively new subcategory, known as corridos tumbados, has made an imprint on the worldwide music industry.
Natanael Cano is a corridos tumbados pioneer who is often credited as being its creator and a leader in this Mexican music revolution along with other artists such as Junior H., Gabito Ballesteros and Grammy Award-winning Peso Pluma.
Pluma, in particular, has taken Mexican music to new heights.
According to Billboard, his 2023 collaboration with group Eslabon Armado on the song “Ella Baila Sola” became the first regional Mexican song to ever make the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. His third studio album “Génesis,” which ultimately won him his Grammy, was the highest-ranked regional Mexican album ever, debuting on the Billboard 200 at number three.
Heralded as “the corrido for the new generation,” corridos tumbados incorporates instruments commonly found in traditional Mexican regional music such as the 12-string guitar, upright bass and various brass instruments as well as the same storytelling concept. It then meshes it with modern production and beats which are heavily influenced by the hip-hop, rap and reggaetón scenes.
It is these modern twists that have garnered the subcategory popularity, especially from Hispanic youth
“I think it’s so popular with us now because we grew up with corridos, we listened to the songs of our parents’ generation. However with corridos tumbados, it feels like we have our own version, a genre that makes us feel young and rebellious. We took something from our childhood and made it our own.” – Adriana Hernandez, UNG senior communications major
Even with the success of the subgenre, there is controversy about some of the lyrics.
While the escape from a less fortunate situation or even romance are common themes, topics such as drugs and accusations of glorifying cartel violence are also common.
The New York Times reports shows in parts of Mexico have been cancelled because city officials like Mayor Montserrat Caballero Ramírez of Tijuana cite concerns about violence and corrupting the youth.
The controversy parallels the criticism of rap based in the U.S.
In an interview on the Soy Grupero YouTube channel, Pluma reassures that he believes kids should not listen to songs filled with violence, but that he does not condemn these acts. Rather, the words he speaks on are a reality.
