Al compas del mundo - programa #76 - Rock and roll Mexican style, from the 1950s and 60s

I found a thrill at a Mexican Hat Diner

- A lot of familiar themes will emerge in this program, that is, familiar to those raised “back in the day” in the US as well as the homeboys and girls south of the border. I originally thought of including nothing but cover versions of well-known US top 40 hits but found original songs that needed to be shared. The vernacular coming out of our radios caught on quick in Mexico and inspired a whole generation of rockandroleros. Admittedly it smacks of a ripoff scam when you pluck a popular tune from the hit parade and imitate it almost verbatim, the only real change the language used to sing it. But that’s capitalism, folks. Home-grown sounds begin at the beginning: Sergio Bustamante (and His Lunatics!) recounting the history of Elvis Pérez, who disdains everything traditional about Mexican culture – in fact, he prefers soda and hotdogs to birria stew and tequila. Some say this was the first true Mexican rock and roll hit, even though it’s equal part mariachi music. And Los Locos del Ritmo sing about a girl who’s known as “Butter” for her provocative dancing…and more, no doubt. There’s plenty of rebellion here: “Delincuente”, “La niña rebelde”, “Rebelde radioactive” and other teenage pouting and shouting. Here’s a few translations - “Wooly Bully” becomes “Bule bule”; “Hang on Sloopy” becomes “Es Lupe”; “Blue Suede Shoes” becomes “Zapatos de ante azul”; and “Great Balls of Fire” turns into “Grandes bolas de fuego”. Perhaps the only title not in need of translation (apart from “Money Honey”) leads us to end at the end with the all-time classic “Tequila”, and yes, several of the musicians and the song writer were of Mexican descent and, therefore, fit to become part of this brief look at Mexico’s history of rock and roll.

Song List for 'Rock and roll Mexican style, from the 1950s and 60s' - First broadcast 5-11-23

01 Sergio Bustamante y Sus Lunáticos - Elvis Pérez

02 Los Camisas Negras - Zapatos de ante azul

03 Los Sonámbulos - Grandes bolas de fuego

04 Los Crazy Boys - La niña rebelde

05 Los Rockin Devil's - Perro lanudo

06 Los Locos del Ritmo - La Mantequilla

07 Los Camisas Negras – Fiebre

08 Hermanas Velazquez – Pitágoras

09 Los Sinners - Rebelde radioactivo

10 Los Apson - El ultimo beso

11 Los Hooligans - Money honey

12 Los Hitters – Delincuente

Grandes bolas de fuego

13 Los Blue Caps - Vuelve primavera

14 Los Teen Tops - Bule bule

15 Los Rockin Devil’s - Es Lupe

16 Los Johnny Jets - Por fin

17 Enrique Guzmán (with Los Teen Tops) - Buen rock esta noche

18 Los Jets – Mentiras

19 Los Grecos - Si si

20 Los Ovnis – Loca

21 Manolo Muñoz - Ay preciosa

22 Los Hermanos Carrión - Mágia blanca

23 The Champs – TequilaMágia blanca

Anotherside of Pitágoras

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