Narcocorridos Research Paper
Zaharulla Duni
Professor J. Shwirian
English 101
11-4-115
This paper will examine the negative impact narcocorridos have had on the increased violence in Mexico. These ballads have contributed to the increase in crime in certain parts of Mexico because they glorify they lives of drug lords and their actions. People of low socio economic status, who are typically most at risk for entering into a life of violence and gangs, look upon these songs as a way to escape the pressures of reality. These songs evoke a mood of violence inspiring people in a negative way.
To understand the relationship between narcocorridos and the violence in certain parts of Mexico it is first important to understand what exactly a corrido is and review the history …show more content…
of gangs and violence in certain parts of Mexico. A corrido is a song that tells a story accompanied by accordian music and played to a polka rhythm (CITATION). According to JEREMY SCHWARZ, narcorridos "...are the soundtrack to the booming and increasingly violent drug trade in northern Mexico." (Schwarz, 2). The topics of corridos range from stories of heroes from the Mexican Revolution to Mexican bootleggers crossing the border during Prohibition and imaginary stories of heroes (Wald). One of the first narcocorridos was written by Los Alegres de Teran called Larga Blanca (White Cargo). According to Wald, this song tells a stoy about a cross border smuggling trip around 1940 which carried heroine and cocaine. By the 1970's narcocorridos had increased in popularity. The song Contrabando y Traicon (Smuggling and Betrayal) by Los Tigres de Norte attracted many listeners. It is the story of a couple selling marijuana in Los Angeles. After the deal, the man tells the women he is leaving her for his real sweetheart. She then shoots him, takes the money, and leaves (Wald). This song illustrates the violence in these ballads. In the 1990's narcocorridos again met with popularity because of the murder of Chalino Sanchez, a famous smuggler and singer. After this incident the lyrics became more gruesome and violent and eventually made their way to the United States where they have been gaining listeners.
The history of Mexican gangs and organized crime dates back to Prohibition.
They would smuggle alcohol from the US Mexican border. Then they smuggled cocaine through the Andes with other Spanish gangs. Once the other Spanish gangs stopped smuggling cocaine, the mexican cartels became powerful. Gang violence has increased in certain parts of Mexico because of the increase in illegal drugs. There has always been violence in gangs, but the murder rates in Sinaloa, Mexico, for example, has increased. In 2010, Sinaloa had 2,505 murders, according to national statistics (AFB). As Beittel states, "violence is used by traffickers to settle disputes, and a credible threat of violence maintains employee discipline and a semblance of order with suppliers, creditors, and buyers." In the article, "Mexico songs tell tales" Jeremy Schwartz quotes a University of Sinaloa researcher, "'Almost everyone here has seen a killing or shooting,' Ayala said. 'There are very few people who have escaped having a family member or a friend with some nexus to the narco world.'" Young people, especially men, fall prey to the world of drugs and violence by being inititated by older family members and friends, and because there is promise of money and
protection.
Narcocorridos glorify the life of drug lords. The money and fame are detailed in creative lyrics that make that world look enticing. These songs have the drug lords appear as overly confident, defiant of authority, and tough. The song El Corrido de Lamberto Quintero written by Paulino Vargas demonstrates this persona. One part of the song states, "His companion said to him, 'There’s a pick-up following us.'/Lamberto, smiling, said, 'What are machine guns for?'" (Wald) There is a sense of the Superman Syndrome; nothing can touch me. I am safe, indestructable, omnipotent, immortal. These ballads accentuate all the positive parts of the lifestyle without drawing attention to the real struggles of this violent lifestyle. The song Mis Tres Animales (My Three Animals) sung by Los Tucanes de Tijuana is about a drug lord boasting on how he is making money off of drugs and to who he is selling them to. (Wald) The three animales (the parakeet, the rooster, the goat) figuratively represent cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. (Wald)
Professor J. Shwirian
English 101
11-4-115
This paper will examine the negative impact narcocorridos have had on the increased violence in Mexico. These ballads have contributed to the increase in crime in certain parts of Mexico because they glorify they lives of drug lords and their actions. People of low socio economic status, who are typically most at risk for entering into a life of violence and gangs, look upon these songs as a way to escape the pressures of reality. These songs evoke a mood of violence inspiring people in a negative way.
To understand the relationship between narcocorridos and the violence in certain parts of Mexico it is first important to understand what exactly a corrido is and review the history …show more content…
of gangs and violence in certain parts of Mexico. A corrido is a song that tells a story accompanied by accordian music and played to a polka rhythm (CITATION). According to JEREMY SCHWARZ, narcorridos "...are the soundtrack to the booming and increasingly violent drug trade in northern Mexico." (Schwarz, 2). The topics of corridos range from stories of heroes from the Mexican Revolution to Mexican bootleggers crossing the border during Prohibition and imaginary stories of heroes (Wald). One of the first narcocorridos was written by Los Alegres de Teran called Larga Blanca (White Cargo). According to Wald, this song tells a stoy about a cross border smuggling trip around 1940 which carried heroine and cocaine. By the 1970's narcocorridos had increased in popularity. The song Contrabando y Traicon (Smuggling and Betrayal) by Los Tigres de Norte attracted many listeners. It is the story of a couple selling marijuana in Los Angeles. After the deal, the man tells the women he is leaving her for his real sweetheart. She then shoots him, takes the money, and leaves (Wald). This song illustrates the violence in these ballads. In the 1990's narcocorridos again met with popularity because of the murder of Chalino Sanchez, a famous smuggler and singer. After this incident the lyrics became more gruesome and violent and eventually made their way to the United States where they have been gaining listeners.
The history of Mexican gangs and organized crime dates back to Prohibition.
They would smuggle alcohol from the US Mexican border. Then they smuggled cocaine through the Andes with other Spanish gangs. Once the other Spanish gangs stopped smuggling cocaine, the mexican cartels became powerful. Gang violence has increased in certain parts of Mexico because of the increase in illegal drugs. There has always been violence in gangs, but the murder rates in Sinaloa, Mexico, for example, has increased. In 2010, Sinaloa had 2,505 murders, according to national statistics (AFB). As Beittel states, "violence is used by traffickers to settle disputes, and a credible threat of violence maintains employee discipline and a semblance of order with suppliers, creditors, and buyers." In the article, "Mexico songs tell tales" Jeremy Schwartz quotes a University of Sinaloa researcher, "'Almost everyone here has seen a killing or shooting,' Ayala said. 'There are very few people who have escaped having a family member or a friend with some nexus to the narco world.'" Young people, especially men, fall prey to the world of drugs and violence by being inititated by older family members and friends, and because there is promise of money and
protection.
Narcocorridos glorify the life of drug lords. The money and fame are detailed in creative lyrics that make that world look enticing. These songs have the drug lords appear as overly confident, defiant of authority, and tough. The song El Corrido de Lamberto Quintero written by Paulino Vargas demonstrates this persona. One part of the song states, "His companion said to him, 'There’s a pick-up following us.'/Lamberto, smiling, said, 'What are machine guns for?'" (Wald) There is a sense of the Superman Syndrome; nothing can touch me. I am safe, indestructable, omnipotent, immortal. These ballads accentuate all the positive parts of the lifestyle without drawing attention to the real struggles of this violent lifestyle. The song Mis Tres Animales (My Three Animals) sung by Los Tucanes de Tijuana is about a drug lord boasting on how he is making money off of drugs and to who he is selling them to. (Wald) The three animales (the parakeet, the rooster, the goat) figuratively represent cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. (Wald)