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February 23, 2020 by Rafael Parra Hispanic Culture, Our Top Picks 0 comments

Top 5 Most Famous Classic Mariachi Songs with Spanish Lyrics

Mariachi culture holds such a big influence over the continent of America, that most people will instantly recognize a mariachi band at first glance. You’ve probably seen mariachi bands in real life, or in movies like Coco. But have you ever seen a mariachi band play live? I highly recommend it! 

In order to prepare you for your next mariachi concert, let’s explore some of the most popular songs, festivals, and customs this music genre has to offer. Also, if you haven’t already, read up on our history of mariachi to better understand the rich cultural significance of this music style.

Where Can You Find Mariachi?

The best way to find mariachi bands near you is to use a search engine to find local bands and events. In some Latin American countries, especially in Mexico, It’s common to see mariachi bands walking around restaurants and parks during night hours. 

mariachi

On the Streets

They will find a group of friends, families, or partners and play a couple of songs for them in exchange for some change. After the first song is finished, people will start making song requests. If you’re ever in a situation like this and request a song yourself, you’ll definitely impress your Spanish speaking friends!

At Festivals

Two of the biggest mariachi events are the international mariachi competition, a battle royale that test mariachi bands all over the world, and Mariachi USA, a large scale mariachi concert.

Have Fun With Mariachi

A true fan of this famous music style knows that singing at the top of their lungs is the optimal way to enjoy las rancheras. If you learn the lyrics to one of the classic songs, you can huddle up with your best buds and experience singing and also one of the best parts of mariachi music: El Grito

¡El Grito!

Described as “crying and laughing at the same time,” el grito consists of a very specific way of shouting to express the joy of mariachi and the pains of life its lyrics describe. It’s origins, while unclear, are usually attributed to Mexican oral tradition. The moment where el grito is of the utmost importance, in my opinion, is when you hear mariachi music unexpectedly. 

Compete to Scream

This iconic shout will be performed by anyone and everyone who feels the passion of the music at the time, or if you personally relate to the lyrics of the song. Because this is a common practice that accompanies classic mariachi music, people even hold competitions to see who does the best one! Gritos are judged on loudness, pitch, length, and passion. 

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Type in your name and email to get 6 weird, wacky, and super entertaining Spanish stories for you and your family! Enjoy a magazine-style eBook with pictures and English-Spanish parallel text. Start reading in Spanish today!

Classic Mariachi Songs

If you’re lucky enough to listen to a live band, these three classic songs are essential for you to know. Listen to them, enjoy them, and hopefully learn some new Spanish vocabulary!

El Mariachi Loco

This is the perfect song for beginners. You can know absolutely no Spanish and still learn this song in less than a day. El Mariachi Loco, or “The Crazy Mariachi” is a song about a band member who wants to dance but can’t find a partner. Poor mariachi loco!

Vocabulary

  • Loco – crazy
  • Bailar – dance
  • Gozar – to have fun

El Rey

This tragic song called “The King” talks about a man who’s just broken up with his wife, and how he’ll carry on without her. Composed by one of the mariachi music legends, Vicente Fernandez, El Rey is a must-know for all music fans of this genre.

Vocabulary

  • Rey – king
  • Reina – queen
  • Piedra – stone
  • Afuera – outside
  • Camino – road
  • Destino – destiny
  • Llorar – cry

Las Mañanitas

Did you know that Latin America has it’s own “Happy Birthday” song? While we usually sing a translated version of the classic song, Las Mañanitas is the default mariachi birthday song. This song is usually played during the early morning hours of someone’s birthday (as early as 5 am!), and some people even hire live bands to play for the birthday person. Also, it’s common to light fireworks to make some extra noise. The lyrics talk about how the song was usually sung to King David, “and because today’s your birthday, we sing them to you.” 

Vocabulary

  • Despierta – wake up
  • Luna – moon
  • Pajaritos – birds
  • Cantaba – sang
  • Hoy – today
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Acá Entre Nos

Vicente Fernandez is one of mariachi music’s best songwriters. Acá Entre Nos translates to “between you and me.” The song talks about how the singer lies to his friends about no longer being in love with their ex-girlfriend, and then he admits to the girl that “between you and I, I’ve never stopped loving you”. It’s a sad romantic story, perfect for a well timed grito.

Vocabulary

  • Acá – here
  • Amigos – friends
  • Verdad – truth
  • Soledad – loneliness
  • Adorar – adore
  • Preguntar – (to) ask

La Mano de Dios

Let’s finish this list with a positive love story! La Mano de Dios, or “God’s Hand”, is a song that talks about a love so strong that only God is able to break it apart. This type of music is a testament to the romantic personality Latin Americans are known for.

Vocabulary

  • Nacimos – (to be) born
  • Amor – love
  • Esperando – (to) wait
  • Mundo – world
  • Mar – sea
  • Profundo – deep

Sing To Your Heart’s Content

Expand your horizons with new experiences by listening to new kinds of music, which helps you better understand a specific culture, language, and even feeling. As you may already know, learning language through music is a common tactic for learners of every level of fluency. In addition to music, you can take a free class at Homeschool Spanish Academy to practice the songs’ vocabulary and to learn even more from certified Spanish-speaking teachers!!

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Would you like to learn more about Spanish culture? Check these out!

  • What’s the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?
  • Which Languages Do They Speak in Brazil?
  • 6 Unique Festivals in Spain You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
  • Your Child Knows Some Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary Into Real Conversations
  • 29 Cool and Catchy Spanish Phrases To Use With Friends [+Audio]
  • Fun Ways to Practice Spanish with Family (Even If Everyone’s at Different Levels)
  • 10 Simple Spanish Words Your Preschooler Can Learn This Week
  • The 25 Most Useful Spanish Phrases You Need to Learn Today
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Rafael Parra
Rafael Parra
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
A native Spanish speaker from Guatemala, I'm a psychology student, creative developer, and aspiring polymath who's always learning new things and improving as a person. I'm a nerd when it comes to language, education, and videogames. My goal is to practice all these disciplines in unison and make something great with my time.
Rafael Parra
Latest posts by Rafael Parra (see all)
  • Top 10 Science Fiction Spanish Books for Adults (with PDFs) - August 22, 2024
  • 200+ Beginner Spanish Vocabulary Words PDF: Learn Spanish Fast! - August 15, 2024
  • 60 Best New Year Quotes in Spanish 2024 - January 18, 2024
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