Over the winter break, my wife, teenage daughter, and I took a trip to Los Cabos, Mexico, where my nephew was getting married.
It was a wonderful time, in a wonderful place.
Photo Credit – Mrs. Rollerboogie
Among them for me were some unexpected musical discoveries.
Lounging poolside at our resort one warm, sunny day with a tropical drink in hand (this could have been literally any day in Cabo), I suddenly was aware of an intoxicating bass line emanating from a large speaker at the towel hut.
As I focused in more on the song, I became mesmerized. Along with that driving bass, a relentless four to-the floor house beat with Latin percussion practically bodied the unsuspecting breezy afternoon.
Floating in and out of the mix was an otherworldly slightly off pitch chant in Spanish, sampled from something that sounded like it was from a different time and place altogether.
The result of all this was:
An absolute banger of the highest order.
But what was it? I went up to one of the pool attendants and in broken Spanish asked for the name of the group and the song.
She directed me to a Spotify playlist on a phone.
The song’s title was “Agua”, and the artist was listed as Jude & Frank, J8man. Mission accomplished.
Another day, I was up early and on my own for a bit, so I boarded a trolley that drove back and forth on a short route between our hotel and two others down the street from it.
Music was playing overhead, and I was stunned to hear an enthusiastic mariachi version of The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me.” Was that what I thought it was?
The wide grin on my face confirmed that, yes, indeed it was. As I was leaving the trolley, I asked the driver for the name of the artist. He simply responded “mariachis”.
“Yes, I know it’s mariachi music… but I want to know the name of the band” I thought to myself. But I could get no further information from him.
We returned home to a typical icy cold blast of Chicago winter, complete with a snowstorm.
As I drove through the slush to work early the next morning, instead of feeling sad and depressed that our idyllic vacation was over, I felt energized and ready to take on the day.
It greatly helped that I had “Agua” blasting on repeat all the way there.
And that song from the trolley? I managed to find it online.
Turned out that the driver had given me the exact name of the group: As they were, in fact, called The Mariachis.
Of course, I wondered if there was more where that came from, so I did a deeper dive. I found that there are many great mariachi covers of pop, rock, country, and even cartoon and video game themes. I have included a playlist that I compiled that’s perfect for when I need a little aural sunshine to turn that frown upside down on a bitter cold, miserable day.
And of course, there is “Agua” on call, if I need to just let myself go and have a total musical meltdown.
Ah, “Agua.” How did I ever live without it?
Do you have any vacation musical memories? I’d like to hear them.
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That beat! That is a fun song. And I can’t say I’m not jealous of your chance to visit Los Cabos. I’ve heard it’s great down there.
It’s amazing! I had always heard great things about it too, and am so grateful we finally got to experience it. And my nephew’s wedding was like a dream wedding. I still can’t believe I was there.
Sounds and looks like a lovely time.
I dig the “Agua” song. It’s sonically similar enough to a dance track from my high school days to put it into my head, as if it were the next track in a mix.
It’s not as classy as “Agua,” but just as catchy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CF_R2-dZ2c
Now I’ve got to hum a song that’s loosely based on “Agua.”
I want a burrito. Or an empanada.
Yes, I can hear the connection.
We went to Greece in 2001 and I bought a CD by a band called Folder #9. The album was called “Το Παιχνίδι” and it’s rock with some electronics, sort of like Garbage but with male vocals and in Greek. We really enjoy it. I can’t find it on YouTube. Would one of you on Spotify check for it there?
https://www.discogs.com/release/3537865-Folder9-%CE%A4%CE%BF-%CE%A0%CE%B1%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B9
And the year before, I picked up Catatonia’s “Equally Blessed And Cursed” in London. Cerys Matthews sings like a 12-year-old but I find her disarming and devastating.
https://youtu.be/jWcQwOKu9yA
It’s a shame everyone streams now. Otherwise I’d have bought more CDs in more places.
No Folder #9 on Spotify. Ancient history it seems.
Thanks, JJ. It might be on whatever the most popular streaming services are in Greece. If only we had a Greek correspondent, named something like ΦΦ Live At Καβάλα.
I looked on YouTube as well, and found this, but the band name translates to “Babies on Fire” according to Google, so I’m thinking this is decidedly not it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMw-Y_Jgjio
Decidedly. It’s cool though, so another good track found (indirectly) through travel.
Some of those are a lot of fun. Though for me it’s maybe something to listen to in small doses. My favorite from the playlist is the one that I’ve come across before; El Mariachi Bronx. They played at Glastonbury 2010, I’d seen them recommended beforehand as the punk / mariachi cross over you never knew you needed so we checked them out and they were great. That reminder has settled what my worktime listening will be tomorrow as I catch up with them.
That’s one of my favorite tracks on the list. Cool that you saw them live.
When we were living in Central New York, we went on a trip to Rome in February 2016 to escape the miserable cold. We spent most of the trip hanging out in the Trastevere neighborhood, close to the flat we were renting in the Jewish Quarter.
One evening we stopped in a little roadside stand that just sold french fries, and the Notorious B.I.G. classic “Going Back to Cali” was playing. For some reason, it hit me as a sign — we would be moving back to California (where we had lived from 2005 – 2012). Turned out to be a truly prophetic vision — by July that very year we had indeed come back to Cali.
RB (Bro)- Awesome article as always! The vibe in Cabo and the music is so cool! We were so happy that you and the family were able to make the trip. It meant the world to us! I’m glad you enjoyed Scott & Sophie’s wedding; it was an honor to introduce you to all of our friends and Scott & Sophie’s friends! ❤
P.S. I loved the photo credit to Mrs. Roller Boogie Lol!
Awww, nice to connect here, bro. It really was an incredible wedding in an awesome locale. We have to get the rest of the family to Cabo!
Indeed! We could get a huge AirBnb.
Thinking about my 3 months in Mexico back in 2005 and I didn’t really connect with local music. Living out of a tent on a tropical beach miles from civilization meant there was a lack of radio or cultural crossover. I did see a U2 covers band in Guadalajara with the novel approach of 5 members and went to a Mariachi themed steak restaurant, complete with overly loud band to hammer home the theme.
My main Mexican musical memory though is that I travelled back and forward between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta on local buses a few times. I don’t know if there’s only one driver, they all had the same taste in music or there was one cassette trapped in the tape player but these 5+ hour journeys were invariably soundtracked by late 70s disco. Lipps Inc: Funkytown and Anita Ward: Ring My Bell seemed particular favourites.
Unlike for others, that particular piece of travel didn’t broaden my musical horizons.
Very different and very intriguing experience. I’ll see your U2 cover band in Guadalajara and raise you this- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gzmKHBmv84
Different country, but great Spanish version.
(reads title)
I learned the word agua from Sesame Street. My first Spanish word. Mad props to the SS OGs: David, Luis, Maria, Gordon, Susan, and Mr. Hooper.
(continues reading)
Pauses Elvis Costello’s “She” to hear the banger.
(seven seconds in, hits pause)
Need to know what sasami means: “high quality chicken meat.”
(unpauses)
I like it.
The search for great international music is my new obsession. I’m making up for all those years of browsing through the world music section at Tower Records, wondering what all these artists sounded like. My budget didn’t allow me to go beyond the high-profile acts such as The Ukrainians, Les Negresses Vertes and Les Mystere des Voix Bulgares, which could be found in the main section.
I learned “agua” from Sesame Street as well! Also counting to 10 in Spanish.
“She” is a beautiful song, almost too beautiful to get paused, but in my world, Agua is worth it.
Nice work @rollerboogie! I hope you have enjoyed your vacation (I actually haven’t known Los Cabos yet, but I guess it’s beautiful). I’m sorry that I didn’t read this before.
“Agua” is so catchy, and thank you for giving us another great playlist to listen (by the way, I see that you have covers performed by Mariachi Rock-O, last year I heard their cover version of “What’s Going On” and it’s good, too.
Thank you, Edith. I am listening now to Mariachi Rock-O’s cover of “What’s Going On” and it’s really good.