What songs should I put on a mix CD for an upscale Cinco De Mayo dinner?
April 29, 2010 8:42 AM   Subscribe

What should I put on a mix CD of Cinco De Mayo music?

An upscale restaurant has asked me to make a mix CD of music to play at their Cindo De Mayo tequila dinner. What songs should I include? I know nothing about Mexican music whatsoever. The music will mostly be in the backgroud while people are eating, so it should be on the mellow side.
posted by TurkishGolds to Media & Arts (17 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Lots of Herb Alpert.
posted by nitsuj at 8:54 AM on April 29, 2010


Sara Montiel seems to end up on a lot of Cinco De Mayo mixes.
posted by The Whelk at 8:54 AM on April 29, 2010


Liz Phair's song, "Cinco de Mayo"?
posted by Pomo at 8:55 AM on April 29, 2010


Cinco de Mayo
posted by timsteil at 8:57 AM on April 29, 2010


Mexican Moon
posted by The Whelk at 9:02 AM on April 29, 2010


Manu Chao
Gotan Project

(Neither of these is Mexican, but both have Spanish influences.)
posted by spinto at 9:03 AM on April 29, 2010


Nortec Collective
posted by Zoyashka at 9:09 AM on April 29, 2010


You might check out the artists who were profiled in American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music for ideas on music selections.
posted by kuppajava at 9:11 AM on April 29, 2010


Ozomatli. They even have a brand new album out.

Celia Cruz - She is pretty much mandatory.

Santana

Gipsy Kings - Not Mexican, but Latin

Los Lobos

Los Lonely Boys

Kumbia Kings

Disclaimer: In spite of my user name, I'm not technically officially Mexican. (Long, scandalous family story.) So take my recommendations with a grain of salt. Except for Celia Cruz.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:13 AM on April 29, 2010


Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the US more than in Mexico, so focus on stuff that's from the US or the borderlands (Los Tigres Del Norte, Selena, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, etc).

If I were celebrating Cinco de Mayo I'd want nothing but banda, which is probably too loud and working class for a high class joint like the one you are charged with supplying music. Stick to Nor-Tec Collective and you'll be fine. Nor-Tec musicians include Ramón Amezcua (Bostich), Pedro Gabriel Beas (Hiperboreal), Ignacio Chávez Uranga (Plankton Man), Fernando Corona (Terrestre), Roberto Mendoza (Panóptica), Jorge Ruiz (Melo), José Trinidad Morales (Pepe Mogt), Jorge Verdín (member of Clorofila), and Fritz Torres (member of Clorofila).
posted by billtron at 9:49 AM on April 29, 2010


Calexico. I would particularly recommend Dub Latina, Guero Canelo and Across the Wire from Feast of Wire.
posted by nestor_makhno at 10:10 AM on April 29, 2010


Los Tigres del Norte
posted by rhizome at 10:15 AM on April 29, 2010


Grupo Fantasma
posted by sanko at 11:09 AM on April 29, 2010


Non, je ne regrette rien
posted by Pollomacho at 11:27 AM on April 29, 2010


Here are some of my favorite Mexican singers and their greatest hits. This is traditional Mexican ranchera music, backed by mariachis, all of which would be suitable as background music for an upscale venue:

José Alfredo Jiménez - La Media Vuelta, El Rey, Si Nos Dejan, Amanecí en tus brazos, Llegando a ti, Tu recuerdo y Yo, El caballo Blanco, Que te Vaya Bonito, Camino de Guanajuato

Pedro Infante - Bésame Mucho, Amorcito Corazón, Te Quiero Así, La Que Se Fue, Corazón, Dulce Patria, Maldita Sea Mi Suerte, Así Es La Vida, Mañana Rosalía, Mi Cariñito, Dicen Que Soy Mujeriego, Cien Años

Los Panchos (a/k/a Trio Los Panchos) - Sabor a Mi, Sí tu me dices ven, Solamente una vez, Perfidia, Un siglo de ausencia, Rayito de luna, Noche de ronda, Sin ti, Ya es muy tarde, Quizás quizás quizás, Perdida, Una Copa Mas

Jorge Negrete - México Lindo y Querido, Ojos Tapatios, Yo Soy Mexicano, Amor con Amor Se Paga, Serenata Tapatia, Hijo del Pueblo

Tito Guízar - Cielito Lindo, La Cucaracha, Granada, Solamente una Vez, Allá en el Rancho Grande

Vicente Fernandez - A Pesar De Todo, Amor Mio, El Ultimo Beso, Estos Celos, Guadalajara, Lastima Que Seas Ajena, No Vuelvo A Amar, Para Siempre, Por Tu Maldito Amor, Se Vende Un Caballo, Un Millon De Primaveras, Y Me Vieron Llorar

Also look for Luis Miguel (not so old school, more pop), Ana Gabriel, and Rocío Dúrcal.
posted by Majorita at 11:53 AM on April 29, 2010 [3 favorites]


La Golondrina, of course, which was Maximiliamo's favorite song.
posted by gteffertz at 2:00 PM on April 29, 2010


Also Maná.
posted by nestor_makhno at 4:10 PM on May 2, 2010


« Older What's the deal with e-cigarettes anyway?...   |   Stories & Fables which highlight the... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.