NorteñoBlog

It would become known as the Great Purge of 2017. A complex cultural exchange, once teeming with diverse reflections of the human experience, suddenly found itself ruled by a simplistic dictator. Well, ok, not strictly a “dictator” — after all, the people bestowed upon this ruler unprecedented power. But what began as novelty soon turned to tedium, then oppression, as one by one anyone who didn’t resemble our fearless leader began to vanish. To explain away those who disappeared, there was always a reasonable enough excuse. They promoted violence rather than unity. They were part of the old order; there was no room for them in our new, more streamlined era. If they refused to conform to the new paradigm, more supple individuals could easily be found to take their places.

And THAT, amigos, is how we went from having 17 regional Mexican songs on Billboard‘s Hot Latin chart six weeks ago, to only eight-count-’em-eight this week.

17 was already low, but 8/50 is the lowest portion in NorteñoBlog’s almost three-year history. When I started following this particular desfile, eight out of the top 25 was on the low side. The culprit, I’ve hypothesized, is One Song To Rule Them All “Despacito,” which, due to its unprecedented bigness, is sweeping along other songs that have the good fortune to sound like “Despacito.” Sooner or later, once we impeach “Despacito” from its perilous perch, I predict some of the fine radio hits on the Regional Mexican chart will make their way back to Hot Latin, to leaven the eternal boot-stomp of the club bangers.

Hits like…

Luis Coronel’s mid-tempo puppy-dog banda ballad “Tal Como Eres,” at #20 RegMex airplay, which, in typical Coronel fashion, exalts a woman whose boot he does not feel competent to lick, this time swiping a keening hook from Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” (“Can’t read my, can’t read myyyy…”) Thing is, this usually undistinguished singer has never keened so well, and the brass arrangement is overstuffed with flourishes of its own. You could argue Coronel pioneered the current wave of norteño teen idols, but this is the first time I’ve wondered whether I might enjoy a new Luis Coronel album. VALE LA PENA

Even better is #27, the breakup banda “Vamos a Darnos un Tiempo” by blog favorite Roberto Tapia, who sounds great whether he’s doing backbeat banda pop or more neo-trad waltzes. “Vamos” falls squarely into the latter category, and the guitar-laced horn charts are chunky and violent, blat against blat, the better to depict the emotional violence wreaked by the narrator and his mujer upon one another. Although, when Tapia sails into his upper register to mourn the good times, you never doubt that he at least wants to regret leaving her. Pick to Click!

Since NorteñoBlog has been NorteñoSlacking these past few weeks, a second Pick to Click is in order. At #38 we find two more teen idols, this time from the DEL Records stable of unquestionably well-treated and unexploited performers: Kevin Ortiz, the middling younger brother of Gerardo, and sierreño guitar hotshot Ulices Chaidez. They’re dueting on “Corona de Rosas,” a country-ish story song. A young muchacho leaves the farm to seek his fortune. When he returns home wearing his new, fancy clothes, he finds his padre has died, buried beneath the titular corona. That’s the whole song — but in that simplicity lies all the complexity of the immigration narrative, echoing the apostle Luke’s Prodigal Son story, and even chased with a bit of “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” The guitar/horn rhythms of the enhanced sierreño band pull off the same simple/complex trick. Kevin’s best song yet:

Also interesting:

At #16, multifaceted quartet Calibre 50 follows up its smash lite beer jingle “Las Ultras” with another sad immigration story, “Corrido de Juanito.” This one follows a man who moved to the U.S. years ago and now finds himself trapped, unable to visit his Mexican family or converse with his English-speaking children.

At #36 we find “Rafa Caro,” a cover of Grupo Efectivo’s narcocorrido ode to real-life narco Rafael Caro Quintero, as sung by the teenage-looking Kristopher Nava and his biracial band T3R Elemento. This is interesting rather than good — Nava pushes his way through the song like the frantic-to-impress kid he likely is.

At #29 and 30 are a couple older songs: “Los Viejitos,” a former Mexican hit and Pick to Click from blog fave Marco A. Flores, and “Te Perdono,” one of the weaker songs from Intocable’s overrated 2016 album.

These are the top 50 Hot Latin Songs and top 40 Regional Mexican Songs, courtesy Billboard, as published September 2.

1. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber (31 weeks!)
2. “Mi Gente” – J. Balvin & Willy William
3. “Felices Los 4” – Maluma
4. “Escapate Conmigo” – Wisin ft. Ozuna
5. “El Amante” – Nicky Jam (31 weeks!)
6. “Subeme La Radio” – Enrique Iglesias ft. Descemer Bueno, Zion & Lennox (25 weeks!)
7. “Ahora Dice” – Chris Jeday Presenta J Balvin, Ozuna & Arcángel
8. “Chantaje” – Shakira ft. Maluma (42 weeks!)
9. “Tu Foto” – Ozuna
10. “Imitadora” – Romeo Santos

11. “Krippy Kush” – Farruko, Bad Bunny & Rvssian
12. “Me Enamoré” – Shakira
13. “Bailame” – Nacho
14. “Me Rehuso” – Danny Ocean
15. “La Rompe Corazones” – Daddy Yankee x Ozuna
16. “Bonita” – Jowell & Randy & J. Balvin
17. “Que Va” – Alex Sensation + Ozuna
18. “Hey DJ” – CNCO & Yandel
19. “Soy Peor” – Bad Bunny (26 weeks!)
20. “Mayores” – Becky G ft. Bad Bunny

21. “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Solo” – J Balvin ft. Bad Bunny (24 weeks!)
22. “Si Tu La Ves” – Nicky Jam ft. Wisin
23. “Ahora Me Llama” – Karol G x Bad Bunny
24. “Deja Vu” – Prince Royce & Shakira (26 weeks!)
25. “Probablamente” – Christian Nodal ft. David Bisbal(#5 RegMex)
26. “Robarte Un Beso” – Carlos Vives & Sebastian Yatra
27. “Para Que Lastimarme” – Gerardo Ortiz (#9 RegMex)
28. “No Le Hago Falta” – Banda Los Recoditos (#3 RegMex)
29. “Bella y Sensual” – Romeo Santos ft. Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee
30. “Ni Tu Ni No” – Jennifer Lopez ft. Gente de Zona

31. “Quiereme” – Jacob Forever ft. Farruko
32. “Mi Religion” – Yandel
33. “Sobredosis” – Romeo Santos ft. Ozuna
34. “Vengo a Aclarar” – El Fantasma y Banda Populares del Llando (#4 RegMex)
35. “Esta Noche Se Me Olvida” – Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda (#6 RegMex)
36. “Que Me Has Hecho” – Chayanne ft. Wisin
37. “Esa Boquita” – J Alvarez
38. “Las Cosas No Se Hacen Asi” – Banda MS (#2 RegMex)
39. “Mi Tesoro” – Zion & Lennox ft. Nicky Jam
40. “El Farsante” – Ozuna

41. “Te Acuerdas de Mi” – Plan B
42. “Bebe” – Ozuna x Anuel AA
43. “Quedate Conmigo” – Chyno Miranda ft. Wisin & Gente de Zona
44. “Explicale” – Yandel ft. Bad Bunny
45. “Las Ultras” – Calibre 50 (#13 RegMex)
46. “Una Lady Como Tu” – Manuel Turizo
47. “Dure Dure” – Jencarlos + Don Omar
48. “Si No Vuelves” – Gente de Zona
49. “Ella Es Mi Mujer” – Banda Carnaval (#10 RegMex)
50. “El Ratico” – Juanes ft. Kali Uchis

¡Adios!
“Mas Que Ayer” – Arcangel x De La Ghetto
“Me Acostumbre” – Arcángel x Bad Bunny
“Encanto” – Don Omar ft. Sharlene Taule
“No Te Hagas” – Bad Bunny x Jory Boy
“Héroe Favorito” – Romeo Santos
“Sigo Extrañandote” – J Balvin

—————–

1. “Porque Me Enamore” – Ulices Chaidez y Sus Plebes
7. “Sería Un Error” – Regulo Caro
8. “Porque No Te Enamoras” – Joss Favela

11. “Se Defiende” – La Séptima Banda (25 weeks!)
12. “Por Obvias Razones” – La Maquinaria Norteña
14. “El Amor de Mi Vida” – Raul Casillas
15. “Casada o No” – Chuy Lizarraga
*16. “Corrido de Juanito” – Calibre 50
17. “Solo Dejame Besarte” – Los Huracanes del Norte
*18. “Ayer y Hoy” – Banda el Recodo
19. “A Tu Amigo” – Javier Rosas y Su Artillería Pesada
*20. “Tal Como Eres” – Luis Coronel

21. “Recordando a Manuel” – Lenin Ramirez ft. Gerardo Ortiz & Jesus Chairez
*22. “Yo No Tengo Remedio” – Pesado
23. “Si Te Vas Ya No Regresas” – Jesus Mendoza
*24. “Que Siga Lloviendo” – Duelo
25. “Sinceramente” – Alta Consigna
26. “Tu Diseño” – Larry Hernández
*27. “Vamos a Darnos un Tiempo” – Roberto Tapia
28. “No Es Un Juego” – Jesús Ojeda y Sus Parientes
*29. “Los Viejitos” – Marco Flores y La Numero 1 Banda Jerez
*30. “Te Perdono” – Intocable

31. “Medico de Barra” – Los Invasores de Nuevo Leon
32. “Horas Extras” – Chiquis Rivera
33. “Me Mato” – Norteño 4.5
*34. “Esperando Mi Juicio” – Virlan Garcia
*35. “Desde Que La Vi” – Los de la Noria
*36. “Rafa Caro” – T3R Elemento
37. “Necesito Una Compañera” – Jonatan Sanchez
*38. “Corona de Rosas” – Kevin Ortiz ft. Ulices Chaidez
*39. “En Definitiva” – Alfredo Olivas
*40. “Ya No Sera en Tu Boca” – Nano Machado

¡Adios!
“Eso Si Me Dolió” – Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
“El Benny” – Fuerza de Tijuana
“Eres Vida” – Duelo
“Los Angeles Existen” – Pesado
“Despacito” – Siggno
“Caricias Clandestinas” – Remmy Valenzuela
“Hasta Que Amanezca” – Lucero
“El Gallero” – El Komander
“Pudo” – Banda Los Sebastianes

“Mi 45” – El Fantasma (#10 RegMex)
“Durmiendo En El Lugar Equivoca” – La Adictiva Banda (#16 RegMex)
“Un Aplauso” – Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey (#8 RegMex)
“Gente de Accionar” – Grupo Codiciado (#35 RegMex)
“Pa’ Que No Me Anden Contando” – Voz de Mando
“El Pasito Perrón” – Grupo Dinastia Mendoza
“Y Me Pregunto” – Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda (#6 RegMex)
“Ojala Que Me Olvides” – La Arrolladora Banda (#11 RegMex)