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Iglesia by robzand
One of my favorite jobs ever was when I was just finishing college, editing for an academic journal.
…if you’re wondering what this has to do with el 5 de Mayo…I’m getting there…
this is me back then, looking very high minded and contemplative
Besides meeting lots of amazing academics, I got to hang with a very cool staff. We had detailed, heated discussions over misplaced modifiers and amazing conversations about actual life too. And occasional hallway chair races.
A friend of mine was the designer, Robert. I’d occasionally wander back to the design office and gawk at Robert’s design library, and ask him a barrage of questions, which he would answer with the patience of a monk.
Robert was one of the coolest guys ever and also one of the whitest guys ever, which I bring up because I was totally shocked to find out he played mariachi, in a band, an actual real mariachi band. We went to hear his band and it was awesome, he took his music as seriously as his design.
A few years ago I emailed Robert for a good, authentic, Cinco de Mayo playlist. And I got it. So incase you want the real deal, here it is. Mariachi autentico for your 5 de Mayo.
Volver Volver, Mariachi Sol de Mexico
Sergio El Bailador, Bronco
El Cascabel, Conjunto Tlalixcoyan
En Mi Viejo San Juan, Daniel Santos
Solamente una Vez, La Sonora Santanera
Bonito Tecalitlan, Mariachi Aguila Real
El Mariachi Loco, Mariachi Arriba Juarez
La Negra, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan
Flor Silvestre, Trio Calaveras
Las Tres Huastecas, Trio Calaveras
Guadalajara, Paco de Lucia
El Relampago, Lila Downs
Flor Sin Retono, Oscar Chavez
Notes from Robert: “There is a lot of great Mariachi music and I like the songs for different reasons. Sometimes it is the story they are telling in the song and sometimes it is the melody of the music. A lot of mariachi music is played quite poorly but the groups I mentioned above have excellent musicians and so you will find good recordings of their songs.”
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you so much! I didn’t see this until after our family’s celebration tonight, but I’m now so excited for next year — thanks!!!
Was Robert’s last name Spencer, by chance? BTW–Thanks for the fun mail ideas. My copies of your ideas have been very happily received. :-)
Love to see a Puerto Rican song on the list, just yesterday I was singing this bolero after a nostalgic episode.
Volver, voler, volver… uyyy que buena canción, :P
Oh my goodness, I love this! I had a mariachi at my wedding, and walked down the aisle to Solamente una Vez. I’ve been wanting to download some mariachi songs from iTunes, but never knew where to start. This is perfect. Thanks for sharing, Robert.
You look so serious Amber Lee! I hope that your May is moving along nicely! Hugs, Stephie x
Were you at BYU Studies? I was there…working with Rober Spencer. Was it him? I’m dying to know now!
Melody. wow. i’m emailing you.