Banda Styles

There are many different types of music that known as Mexican music. One of those types is banda and there even more included in the category of banda. Heres a brief quick little introduce to a few of the styles. 

The Mariachi Style: Amongst all the traditional styles of music in Mexico, the Mariachi style is the one that is the most representative. It really says a lot about the overall folklore and culture. It is thought that the Mariachi style of traditional Mexican music has its roots in religion. The natives of Mexico absorbed new instruments, particularly the violin. The Spanish style of music flourished in the Mexican area and soon enough the local style of music combined into a mix of the two styles emerged.

The Ranchera Style: This is a style of music that has been sung for hundreds of years in Mexican ranches, giving it  the name ranchera. The music is associated with the rural life of Mexico and its countryside, which I personally just fall in love with. I have good reason to, because the basic themes of the Ranchera songs are love, religion, and nature. Typically a romantic style of music and represents the Mexican culture in a respectful manner. 

The Nortena Style: Another more fast pace style of traditional Mexican music is made up of the songs that are composed by the people who live in the northern region of Mexico, hence the name Nortena, which means from the north. Its lively rhythms and beats are played out energetically by large guitars and accordions. The themes of this type are usually based on real life experiences such as illegal immigration, politics, drugs, and never forgetting love. 

Concerts/Dances

One way to enjoy banda music is play listening to it on the the radio or on your ipod, but another way is to go live concerts or dances where the bandas play for an live audience. Concerts are usually when a group is on tour or whenever there are festivals in certain towns or cities in Mexico. These live appearances usually are a big deal and bring a lot of commotion to smaller towns. The concerts are most often at a place where there is space to dance. Some examples of places where bandas preform live are: bull coliseums, stadiums, carnivals, and even fairs. Its almost always that a banda concert is also called a baile, which means dance.

Concerts and dances are the same thing when it comes to listening to banda live. When people buy tickets to concerts, they really just bought tickets to go dance. People in reality go dressed up to dance. What usually is seen at a concert is crowds of people dancing and maybe a couple rows of people surrounding the stage to try and get up on stage to dance with the banda. These shows are basically a time to display your dancing skills in front of the public. If you are lucky enough to be seen as a good dance, the banda usually allows some girls to come on stage and dance with the banda.

 

Coming up in about 2 weeks there is a baile that has high schools hyped! Its called Festival del Sol 2010. It is celebrating the success of a radio station who honors their 14th year of being present and supported in the bay area. There will be live banda performances from multiply famous groups and they are welcoming the whole family. Banda concerts usually cost $40-$70 per person, but this event is welcoming everyone because they are only charging $10 per person. Excitement of concerts/dances are always over the top! 

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE

September 16, was Mexican Independence Day. This day is celebrated by Mexicans to remember and live up the freedom they won from Spanish rule. There were conflicts for independence and the indigenous people were not going to be walked on. In the early hours of September 16, 1810, father Hidalgo, accompanied by several conspirators rang the bell of his little church, calling everyone to fight for liberty. This was the start of the Independence War! The war lasted about 10 years and in the end, the indigenous people won what they deserved. 

My school really stepped up this year to make all students aware of the joy in partying for freedom! The latino club Nuestra Gente planned a wonderful fiesta in honor of the day. Of course there has to be banda when commemorating such a huge deal to Mexicans. There was a banda who played for the kids and even the staff got to witness the festivity. One of the students from the sophomore class got up to sing with the banda!  Good turn out of people dancing and eating and just being a part of the Mexican culture. 

Some photos of kids and teachers that were entertained from lunch bell to lunch bell! 

Banda At Funerals

A more common tradition in Mexico than in the United States, is having a banda play at a loved one's funeral. This tradition actually started during a celebration of the Day of the Dead, known in spanish as Dia de los Muertos. Usually on the Day of the Dead, people take special things or foods with them to go visit someone at the cemetery. There are so many different ways of showing the dead that you still cherish their memories and that they will always be loved. In this case, love can be shown through music.

When theres is banda, family members generally make processions to the cemetery, but not always. If there is a procession it is also the bringing of offerings and decorations for the grave sites. Families show up with music and dedicate favorite songs to the dead loved ones. Sometimes for passionate families who like to stay and keep watch all night, have musicians play music while priests offer blessings. Lighting candles and singing along is accustom because it shows affection. Commonly after the ceremony, the family gathers to go have a meal together and the banda stays until every family member has left. 

Hearing a banda play at a funeral may sound a little overwhelming, but it really is beautiful. It was an exceptional way to express sorrow through music. The songs played can be favorites of the person who died, or songs that tell stories. The range and variety of banda music is so widely spread that it can fit to work for anything. Touching songs. Sad songs. Sentimental songs. Really anything to suit any mood. I honestly love  banda that I would be honored to have one play at my funeral. 

Julion Alvarez Y Su Norteño Banda

The focus of this post is on a specific banda that has become very popular. This particular group has been playing for several years now and not only have they gone to the top of the charts together, but also have become a close family. The lead singer, Julion Alvarez, has amazing vocals that really can be brought out more by his band. The cooperation and chemistry of the banda is noted through out there songs, music, and dances. Reading reviews on some of concerts done by Julion and his band, he has pleased many many fans with their hits and the fact that they get the audience really hyped! 

In the last two years this banda has had their songs win very high prestige awards. Songs like, "Y Tu" and "Eres Todo Todo" also "La Maria" have been played numerous times on the radio and on music shows on TV. 

Because this banda is still in their prime, many await a new hit to come any day now! 

An interesting fact is that the Nuestra Gente, club I'm in at my school, will be dancing to a song by Julion Alvarez Y Su Norteno Banda! Everyone voted to dance to "La Maria" and we all are very excited to show how much fun dancing to banda is especially to such a great group. 

http://julionalvarez.net/

Lyrics That Really Speak

There are many types of songs that can be done with a banda. This post is going to be about the banda songs that have real meaning, the ones with lyrics that speak from the heart.

Most people like to think of banda music as always or mainly very loud, powerful, and energetic. But nowadays when I listen to banda there a some songs that are still very dramatic, but in a different sense. It has also been shown through radio hits, that sweet emotional banda songs have become very popular.  These kind of banda songs use the music to express love and intimacy through the intensity of the band and lyrics. Even with this different kind of view, the music still hits. 

Have you ever just sat down in a quiet room and just listened to a song to try to understand what the real meaning behind it is? You should try it. Once you actually pay attention to some songs, it can change how you really feel for a song. With banda songs that are powerful yet softly romantic, you can seriously feel the passion and even pain that comes out in the songs. Not only can notice it entirely from the band, but from the actually lyrics the artist is singing. Intense Emotionality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr_B2R2gcQE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O2MIKFV3qk

Corridos!

Heres some info on whats involved in dancing corridos and how its done.

Dancing corridos is a Latin style of dancing that got very popular in the last five years. The music is especially made to have a certain beat or rhythm that allows people to dance it as a corrido. In spanish corrido means run; dancing corridos pretty much still means run but its in a way that has two people dancing very close and together as a pair. There is lifting and turning and dragging involved in dancing corridos. It does take skill to dance corridos but after a while it gets easier and the movements will just flow.

This is a type of dancing that me and most of my friends love to watch and dance to! Check out this couple hit it!! <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHgN58wkpMk&feature=related>