Narcocorridos

Do narcocorridos glorify and incite the violent and gruesome behaviors they depict? Narcocorridos are a type of popular Mexican music that derives from traditional ballads called corridos. Corridos were popular in the first half of the 20th century because of their relation to the Mexican Revolution. They told stories about famous revolutionaries. Narcocorridos emerged later and became popular by the 1970s. The difference between these two music genres is that narcocorridos do not tell stories about revolutionaries but address the topic of drugs and the drug culture in Mexico. They tend to focus on drug smugglers and often portray them as heroes. Today, narcocorridos are popular on both sides of the United States – Mexican border, especially
These types of songs do not only praise drugs, alcohol, and violence but also tell what it is like to be a drug leader. They tell how easy it is to obtain things when having that kind of power. These types of songs are degenerating and are a bad influence to anyone who listens to them. Some listeners might try and imitate this type of lifestyle especially those who see this as the only way out. Young people who look up to these drug lords want to be like them. For instance, Sauceda states “Young people of Latin-American decent wear Cowboy hats, Scarface and Ed Hardy shirts trying to imitate the drug lords and traffickers of Mexico” (Sauceda). This goes to show that people who listen to this type of music are influenced in a negative manner especially the young fans. They see these drug lords and wish to be like them. This is particularly true in neighborhoods where people tend to struggle economically. They view this as the only way to make some money and live comfortable. Some simply choose this way of lifestyle because of fear. They see all the power a cartel can have and some might say they have more than their government. They see the Mexican government fighting the drug violence and realize they are not even close to ending this nightmare. They end up joining these groups to seek a way of protection for them and their families. In other words, the only way they can protect themselves from
Those who choose to perform can face a fine of up to $30,000. This genre has also been banned from most radio stations, so how is it that narcocorridos contribute to the violence they depict? The radio stations in the United States continue to play this type of music that is why the banning has failed in Mexico. Despite them being banned from both radio stations and public performances in Mexico, artists in the United States continue to perform narcocorridos. Furthermore, one can simply download the music illegally and continue to listen despite the banning of the music. Just recently, the band Los Tigres del Norte was fined $25,000 for playing a narcocorrido in Chihuahua, Mexico. It seems that artists do not fear for the sanctions in place and continue to do their thing. In other words, they may be banned but people find other ways to acquire this music so the banning had no impact. To those who say that narcocorridos do not glamorize drug violence, why would the Mexican government prohibit this type of music? María Eugenia Campos Galvan governor of Chihuahua told reporters “The way things are now with insecurity; we can’t permit drug traffickers to be venerated in songs”