It's not a Monday and I'm writing a music related post. Three Tunes Tuesday seems to be more popular these days anyway, so why not pick a Friday for it? The group I want to talk about actually falls into the genre of Banda, which is not my favorite type by any means. This group, however has been so immensely popular in this country of my choice of Mexico, that I can't get around admitting how it has inadvertently grown on me. This notion was driven home over these past holidays, when it even entered my subconscious mind, playing in my ears even after not having listened to it for days.
Electric Brass With Cowboy Hats
The style of the group clearly falls into the category of Duranguense literally translated "from Durango", where it apparently originates from. It is a characteristic mix of a traditional brass band, and electronic keyboards, along with sappy ranchera style lyrics. Supposedly the zenith of this musical style was around the late 2000s, which incidentally was when I first came to Mexico. And the group K-Paz de la Sierra most likely contributed to it, as I remember hearing "this music again" blasting everywhere, from markets to restaurants, and internet cafes to car radios. By the way, this has hardly changed over the last ten years either, which makes it safe to call this group Mexicanissimo or the most Mexican music.
Why The Most Mexican?
What about all the other groups of banda, norteña, and duranguense, let alone all the other styles of music? Rock is pretty big here too, as well as salsa, cumbia, and other tunes you can dance to. Plus there is huge repertoire of old classic songs that each Mariachi group loves to add their own spin to. In a place with such musical variety, how can anyone choose one band and give them the superlative? I personally base my decision simply on the fact that during my entire time here this was the one band whose music has been seemingly everywhere. On parties, or just in traffic. At the barber's, or in the supermarket. And one time I remember late at night in the chinampas two kids passing by on a bicycle, screaming their lungs out: Pero te vas a arrepentir cuando veas que no es nada su riqueza comparada con lo que a ti te di. That's when I recognized once more: It's THAT song again...!
From Durango, or Chicago?
But now that I looked into the background of K-Paz I had to realize they are not from Durango, or from Mexico for that matter. The band was formed and re-formed a number of times in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Though admittedly, all members originate from Mexico, maybe even from Durango, but not necessarily so. The name simply hints at the Sierra, which probably refers to the mountains (and not the saw) that are abundant in most regions of Mexico, including Durango. K-Paz on the other hand is a clever word game, including the word for peace (paz) but together sounding like capaz, meaning "(cap)able". Though let's be honest, "The Competent Ones From The Mountains" doesn't sound nearly as elegant as simply K-Paz de la Sierra.
And that's really all I can say about this music. It's still not my favorite, and I do not have any of their music downloaded (yet). However, it has certainly entered the realm of nostalgia, which I know is bound to make me revisit it, especially when I'm not in Mexico. In fact, I may even pull the Mexican thing of playing it full blast somewhere, just like this music is supposed to be played. It's pure Mexican culture, after all.