corridos

Corridos are a form of Mexican folk song and narrative ballad that tell stories in verse, often with a clear protagonist and a concrete event. They originated in rural Mexican communities and in the Mexican American border region, gaining prominence in the early 20th century during the Mexican Revolution, though their roots lie in earlier oral traditions such as romances. The tradition spread through singing, printed broadsides, and later commercial recordings, and they remain a key element of regional Mexican music.

Subject matter and form: Corridos typically recount episodes such as battles, political events, heroic deeds, crime, or social issues. They may present a particular viewpoint and often serve to inform, warn, or entertain. Some later corridos describe drug trafficking or cartel figures, which has sparked controversy and censorship in various communities. Because they reflect the storyteller’s or community’s perspective, they are sometimes treated as historical documents or as propaganda.

Musical context: In contemporary practice, corridos are closely associated with regional Mexican music styles such as Norteño and Banda. Common instrumentation includes accordion, bajo sexto, guitarrón, bass, and percussion. They are performed in a narrative, sometimes episodic form, with a recurring chorus and vivid, direct storytelling language.

Variants and impact: Corridos can be categorized as biographical (about real individuals), historical (recounting events), revolucionarios (about the Mexican Revolution), or narco corridos (about crime figures and drug trafficking). The genre has a broad audience in Mexico and in Mexican diaspora communities, including the United States, where it continues to influence popular culture and discussions of social issues.