We had great fun tonight at Taqueria Lopez with Ms. Bunch of Pants. They had a mariachi band! Who were really good! At the beginning of their set, they stood in the front of the restaurant and did a song which involved some kind of line dance. Very cool. I forget the name of the song but according to Ms. Pants it meant, "The crazy mariachis want to dance." How appropriate!
After that song they walked around the restaurant and sang for each table. When they came to our table Ms. Pants requested "El Cascabel," her favorite mariachi song. They didn't know it (well, they knew it, but not how to perform it) so they offered to play a similar song. And it was great! Fast paced and fun and had lots of interesting changes of tempo. At one point they sang about how fun it is to fly, and the trumpet player flapped his arms and made "whooshing" noises. I wish I had caught the name of the song.
We were lucky to be there with someone who not only speaks Spanish but has a favorite mariachi song to request. The other tables of Americanos got much less fun songs like "Guantanamera" and the theme from Love Story. Which didn't make a very good mariachi song, I have to say. On the other hand, at the very beginning of the set they played "Roll Out the Barrel," which made a great mariachi song.
They said the mariachis perform there twice a month. We're definitely going back in two weeks. Anyone want to come?
6 Comments
"Cascabel" was how we used to sing "Jingle Bells" in Spanish class.
Cascabel, Cascabel
Musica de amor
Dulces horas, gratas horas
Juventud en flor...
But I'm guessing maybe that wasn't what they sang. Or was it? Inquiring minds want to know.
This is the song we requested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BfoYTwjjeQ
I think I would have liked your version of "Jingle Bells" much better!
yes, i want to go! :)
Cool, we'll see you there! :)
Is there a big Latino population in Portland? Surely there's a taqueria there with mariachis?
Of course I want to go ;-)
Awesome! We're trying to come up with a favorite mariachi song to request, but all we've got so far is "Viva Mexico," which we know from old movies, but which seems to be very short so maybe not a good request.