Banda music for people who don't necessarily like banda music...

If you're like me, one of the biggest challenges in adjusting to living in Mexico is that frigging banda music. But, I guess you can indeed acquire a taste for anything that doesn't kill you. Once you strip away those tuba farts and the overproduction that goes into these recordings, you can see there is some really beautiful music hiding beneath the obnoxious surface. For example, here's a link to a Griss Romero cover of a current banda hit. Check it out, I think you're in for a very pleasant surprise. For more, just turn on the autoplay feature on Youtube and let it play out. Don't worry about the language. Trust me...they're all love songs.

Banda would be OK if they would just learn to play together better. I fear alot of autotune on the recordings. Banda Carnival is my favorite band and does play locally during the year. You are correct very little close between many bands playing live and making a studio recording.

The love songs were very nice.

Z

I've heard music on the radio where the singer is very
flat. It seems they don't re-record it or fix it with the sound board. It's just published as is--UGH!

Another example: Here's the original version of No Me Pidas Perdón (Don't Ask Me to Forgive You) by Banda MS. It's a true blockbuster of a recording, with over 311 million views on Youtube. If the setting looks familiar...well, it should.




And here's the deconstructed acoustic cover version by Cuitla Vega, sans farting tubas and kitschy Lawrence Welk arrangement.

Zedinmexico wrote:Banda would be OK if they would just learn to play together better. I fear alot of autotune on the recordings. Banda Carnival is my favorite band and does play locally during the year. You are correct very little close between many bands playing live and making a studio recording.  

The love songs were very nice.
Z

I'm also a fan of Banda Carnaval. Here they are live, playing a cumbia song with Jenny and the Mexicats.

Hey Smartalex the guys in the blue suits move like Pips (Gladys Knight and the XXXx). Very cool and in tune yea!!! So you agree some Banda is musically cool.

Z

Banda music with the tuba's reminds me of German October fest. I like it in the right circumstances such as sitting in the beer tent during the fiesta.

Zedinmexico wrote:Hey Smartalex the guys in the blue suits move like Pips (Gladys Knight and the XXXx).  Very cool and in tune yea!!! So you agree some Banda is musically cool.

Z

You take my sarcasm much too seriously. I have indeed acquired a taste for banda. Beside Banda Carnaval, I'm also a fan of Banda MS and Espinoza Paz. I'm also a fan of Los Angeles Azules, but I think of them as a cumbia group.

CanuckBob wrote:Banda music with the tuba's reminds me of German October fest. I like it in the right circumstances such as sitting in the beer tent during the fiesta.

Banda is actually rooted in German polka music...seems to go quite well with beer.

We were introduced to Banda in Mazatlan and via the BEST in the county...Banda El Recodo who have won many awards for their music. Having said that - I still thinks it sounds like polka on steroids! Ugh.....

It is acid in my ears..

I once heard the Jalisco State Banda when I was working in Guadalajara, and it was really good. They actually played together!

Smartalex wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:Banda music with the tuba's reminds me of German October fest. I like it in the right circumstances such as sitting in the beer tent during the fiesta.

Banda is actually rooted in German polka music...seems to go quite well with beer.

Right on.....
Owners/managers of big US truck stops told me that when Mexican or Mexican American trucks drivers couldn't find banda cd's, their next choice was Polish polka cd's along the I-80 and I-70 routes east of the Mississippi where the Poles live.

This was posted to Youtube just a few days ago. Thought I'd add it to the mix here. Griss Romero, with backup from Silvia y Karmen, cover Contigo by Calibre 50.

For folks unfamiliar with Banda. Banda Carnival is playing with some other bands in Ajijic at the Bull ring I believe in a week or so. Starts at 4.  Look for posters around Ajijic for more info.  Looks like four bands or so. Have a stiff drink before you go and keep an open mind about tubas and acordeans (sp). This could be fun.  I have no idea the order of bands playing.

Z

Thought I'd update this thread...since I recently discovered Octubre Doce. Here's their version of Te Metiste by Ariel Camacho. Enjoy...

Well, the original may not be exactly banda...but close enough. Here's an acoustic version of Prometiste by Pepe Aguilar. Take a good listen to the singer in the yellow skirt. That's Marisoul Hernandez of La Santa Cecilia, who are very popular in their hometown of Los Angeles.



Oh yeah...she does English too.