Ocorrido

The corrido is a narrative folk song from Mexico and the Mexican diaspora, traditionally used to tell stories about events, people, or social issues in a concise, journalistic style. Lyrics typically describe a specific incident with place names, dates, and real names, and are often structured around a main storyline with a refrain. Corridos are performed in various regional styles and can be accompanied by guitars, accordions, bajo sexto, or other regional instruments.

Origins and spread: The corrido emerged in 19th-century Mexico and gained prominence during the Mexican Revolution, when songs circulated to document battles, heroes, and political events. As Mexican communities migrated to the United States, corridos spread to border regions and beyond, integrating with norteño, banda, and other regional genres. They function as oral history, social commentary, and storytelling across communities.

Themes and form: Corridos cover a wide range of topics, including heroic figures, bandits, historical episodes, emigration, love stories, and crime. A characteristic feature is a clear narrative arc with specific geographic and personal details, sometimes followed by a refrain. The songs aim to capture real or perceived events, and their tone can be celebratory, cautionary, or critical.

Reception and variation: In recent decades, narco-corridos focusing on drug trafficking have sparked controversy for perceived glamorization of violence or distortion of facts. Proponents argue they reflect lived experience and memory, while critics call for caution and accountability. Scholars study corridos as a window into regional memory, language, and social issues, and the form remains vibrant in Mexican and Mexican-American musical cultures.