MEXICAN MUSIC: REFRITOS

By Don Fantástico

Hello again, dear lechones! Are you enjoying your stay in Mexico? Well, I hope so because this pretty country is full of color, smells, life, smiles, great food, lots of parties, awesome landscapes, beautiful ladies and great music. We all know Mariachi is folk music from Mexico and it´s amazing! But this is not what we´re going to talk about.

Have you ever heard old music sang in Spanish and somehow it sounds strangely familiar to you?

If not, you should check out this video:

Since rock n´roll became famous worldwide, people in Latin-America loved the music but they thought it would be more tight if they´d sing it in Spanish. So, a bunch of Latin bands and soloists decided to take the same tunes and compose some lyrics so they could really feel the music. This phenomenon, called refrito (refried), is to take a famous song, movie, or show in another language (mainly English) and perform it in Spanish. Some refritos were translated pretty closely from the original version whilst others are completely different.

In the mid 80's a new musical trend was born- ¨Rock en tu idioma¨ (rock in your language). It was a movement produced by BMG Ariola Music Entertainment to introduce 100% original latin bands especially from Mexico, Argentina and Spain. Before, Spanish language rock did not exist except for those that were refritos. Since that moment refritos stopped being so common but we still have some jewels.

There are hundreds of refritos. In order to give you a small taste of the most terrible, Don Lechon and friends thought 10 were enough. Don´t forget to buy some popcorn!

1. "Eclipse total del amor" - Lissette

Based on: "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - Bonnie Tyler.

  *Watch for brilliant 80's quality production

2. "La noche en que Chicago se murió" - Banda Toro

Based on: "The Night Chicago Died" - Paper Lace 

  *Pretty horrible banda version

3. "Mi corazón te seguirá" - Guardianes del amor

Based on: "My heart will go on"- Celine Dion

4. "Tu sexo está en fuego" -Master Plus

Based on: "Sex on fire" - Kings of Leon

 *This version is epic.

5. "Extraños en la noche" - Marco Antonio Muñiz.

Based on: "Strangers in the Night" - Frank Sinatra.

6. "La sombra del amor" - Indio

Based on: "Unchained Melody" -The Righteous Brothers

7. "Hotel California" - Los Bandidos

Based on: "Hotel California" - The Eagles

8. "Vuela, vuela" - Magneto

Based on: "Voyage, voyage" - Desireless.
  *Watch the coordinated YMCA type dancing.
 
9. "La Plaga" - Enrique Guzmán

Based on "Good Golly Miss Molly" - Little Richard

10. "Otro ladrillo en la pared¨ - Amateur Mexican Band Cover

Based on:  "Another Brick in the Wall" - Pink Floyd

I know you enjoyed it, so here´s a bonus. Technically not a refrito but still cool.

"Bed of roses" (Spanish version) - Bon Jovi 

Neverthless, Bon Jovi is still a f&%$## boss!

Thank you very much and see you next post.

-Don Fantastico 

MEXICAN HOCUS POCUS PRODUCTS AND ACCESORIES

By Don Zorrillo, the spy.

Hola amigos! This is Don Zorrillo, Don Lechón´s spy and comrade. I´m in charge of the mystic and stinky side of the blog.

This time I was in charge of a really exciting assignment: Investigate Mexican witchcraft products and accessories for the blog.

To infiltrate this strange and interesting scene, I impersonated a pilgrim looking for a spell to help me get a new job. I visited one of these weird stores one can find mostly in all Mexican downtowns. Outwardly many of them seem like a herbal remedy tiendas to cure common body-pains but also you can find prêt à porter articles of witchcraft, such as candles in all colors, for different purposes such as to find love, to recover a lost lover, magic powders and soaps to attract the opposite sex, and magic sprays to ward off envy.

Have you seen the way they wrote the word ¨sprays¨?  ; ) 

Thanks to Graciela and her husband for all their information.

These are some of the most representative and popular Mexican witchcraft products:

1000 ml bottle costs 22 dollars.

 SIETE MACHOS PERFUME: "Seven Machos Perfume"

This old Mexican perfume created in a drugstore in 1930 was used in the 50´s by high society ladies. Over time it became a talisman of Mexican culture because of its cabalistic number and its use for limpias (a ritual that purifies your soul of bad vibrations; usually involving an egg and a pepper tree branch sprayed with Siete Machos which is then passed over your body). It's a mix of seven different flowers whose names are masculine in Spanish. It has a very concentrated and unpleasant fragrance often associated with a cheap perfume.

LA SANTA MUERTE: "The Saint Death"

Note all the booze, money and tobacco.

 The saint of death isn't recognized by the Catholic Church as an actual saint but many Mexicans give offerings to death and ask for material things and particularly love.

JESÚS MALVERDE

 The patron saint of the narcos, Mexico's drug traffickers. The Mexican Robin Hood from the state of Sinaloa. Legend says he lived in the early 1900's and killed the corrupt authorities and gave to the poor. Now he serves as the Saint of the narcos and they like to leave fat stacks of cash at this alter.

They sell tens of hundreds of different kinds of soaps for a variety of purposes.

MEXICAN MAGIC SOAP

For love, passion and desire.

The first item on this entertaining list of magical products is a soap that goes by the name Miel de Amor, which translates to "Honey of Love." From the packaging I'm sure everyone can guess what the purpose of this soap is. It's made from 100% pheromones so you know you're getting some bang for your buck. "Ecstasy, climax, desire, passion", all these adjectives on the box make the use of this magic soap sound like a good time.

 "MONEY, COME TO ME" INCENSE

The picture of a magnet and large amounts of money on this box says it all. If you ever are in dire need of some cash flow, you may want to try lighting some of this incense.

"COME TO ME" SOAP.

This Ven a Mi soap promises to attract that special someone you've been eying in your local market or at the tortilla shop down the street.

¨AGAINST DAMAGES¨ SOAP

Against diseases, envy, failures and hate.

FETISHES

These dolls simply called "fetishes" are kind of weird which is why I'll leave this one to the readers' imagination.  

THE WHITE CAT AMULET

Black cat means bad luck whereas white cat means good luck. Clever supposition.

For those with bad luck this White Cat Amulet may help to "attract an abundance of prosperity." 
   
CORNUCOPIA

"To make good business, win the lottery, and prosperity."

It's common knowledge that Mexico is a Catholic nation that takes their religion very seriously. Which is why you may think that the buying of "magical" products is contradictory to a conservative, Catholic society. On the contrary, Mexican culture is a hodgepodge of indigenous, African, and European ancestry, so many of the old beliefs and practices still remain but have been melted together and changed. This is common in many countries that were formerly under Spanish rule. Santeria and other religions in Latin America are a testament to this.

Most of the articles presented above are about 2USD. If anyone is interested in one of these fine products be the first to comment and we' ll send you one.

See you next time queridos lechones.
                                                                                Don Zorrillo

WAITING IN LINE IN MEXICO

By Don Fantástico

   Hi foxies! This is Don Fantástico. Don Lechón´s best friend reporting from an important mission. What I´m going to tell you about is something quite essential to know. 
    Everything takes forever here: waiting in line for the ATM machine, for the bank, for the supermarket, for your work visa, for people to move out of the way on the sidewalk, or pretty much anything; it takes a long time. Put yourself in foxie's shoes: they are repairing the road by your work and you have to take a detour that takes about ten minutes longer. It's already been going on for six months with no end in sight.

   You graduated from university and you're waiting for your degree. In the United States, this takes a couple months. In Mexico, this could take two years. So you better quit complaining or get the fox out because this is how it is here (These are all true stories by the way).  

This is just how Mexico is; a bad combination between slow systems, slow people, slow government or sometimes not enough budget to cover client´s demands. Call it a cultural dysfunction.

Picture taken by Vero de Araya

WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT IT?

   Alright foxies, if you can avoid queuing by using your web banking account, good for you. But for the rest us prole who are not as fortunate, it would require for us to go to the bank in person. As with many other procedures, you must physically be there because Mexico still isn't up to par on all things hip and internet. So here are some good tips from a sly fox like me in case you have a mission.

   1. Be brave and smile. A good attitude always makes time pass faster and all the people around you become empathetic.     

Coy giving her best smile.

         

   2. If you know you´re going to be on a mission, then wear comfortable shoes and clothes.

3. For any required documentation make sure you don’t forget anything. Get extra copies and bring not only the required information but everything you think they should ask for. Often times they'll also need something they conveniently forgot to mention. Better safe than sorry.

4. Be sure to have something to kill the time. Bring music, a book to read, make friends with the people around you, do homework or read Don Lechón.

5. If you ´re on an extra important mission like getting a visa, not only check the webpage, and call them but also ask help from a  friend who has already done the process. It may sound unbelievable but sometimes official web pages are not reliable.

Feel free to share more ideas in the comments!

Thanks for foxin' around town with Don Fantástico.

EL FUSILADO, GUANAJUATO

21 APRIL 2014

 

By Don Lechón

 Somewhere off the well-beaten paths of Guanajuato Capital, is a cozy little bar where one can relax and have a cold beer or craft mezcal for a reasonable price. El Fusilado which translates to "the shot one" is located in La Valenciana where the streets San José and Boca meet.

Death by firing squad.

Most visitors come to see the silver mines in the neighborhood for which Guanajuato became famous but others, like us, go specifically to have some savory mezcales on comfy leather seats.

Opening in 2008, the bar features antique furniture that was bought from an old company store. The actual bar is the counter from the store where seeds were displayed to be sold.
 

Carlo del Angel doing work, making some tasty drinks for everyone.

The tables are made of old wood and have that old-fashioned look. Some are made from recycled doors from what appear to be the early 1900's.

The room in which the bar is located has a bamboo ceiling, busts of Zapata and other famous Mexicans, carpets hanging on the walls and the before mentioned, comfortable cow-hide seats.

 

The mezcal comes in a variety of flavors or for those who consider themselves connoisseurs of the agave based spirits, there are also the originals without fruity additions. Other alcoholic beverages are also sold, as well as soft-drinks and water. It's a very friendly environment and the owner is a pretty cool dude. 

Enjoy downing some shots. Don Lechón and the crew certainly did. Oink Oink!

Facebook page, fools: https://www.facebook.com/elfusiladobar 

HOW SHOULD I OINK THE WHOLE ENCHILADA?

By Don Lechón

April 21, 2014

A foreign friend once asked me, "why do you guys call burritos, enchiladas, and  tacos by different names if they´re all the same thing? They're all just rolled tortillas stuffed with meat."  Oink my god! I replied that he needs an intensive lesson in Mexican cuisine because they´re similar but not the same at all.

The idea for putting food in tortillas started in pre-hispanic Mexico where it was common for men  to work in the fields the whole day. So for easy transportation and consumption (with hands), some clever ladies rolled all of the food in tortillas.

Though many dishes may have the trademark tortilla, there are major differences that this list will help to clarify.

Taco: It consists of a corn tortilla stuffed with meat, chicken or pork, chopped onion, coriander (cilantro), lettuce and, of course green or red sauce. 

I know that some of you may be saying to yourselves, "but Don Lechon, Taco Bell doesn't have these tacos. So they can't be real!" Don´t let yourself be fooled. It´s the fake, wannabe brother of the Mexican taco.

Burrito. It is made of sautéed shredded beef, chicken, or chicharrón (deep fried pork fat with red or green sauce) that is wrapped in a flour tortilla. The tortilla is what most separates a burrito from a taco.

 

Quesadilla- It may be prepared with a corn or flour tortilla but it´s stuffed only with cheese. Hence the name quesadilla which derives from the word queso as in cheese. There are other variations with many other ingredients but they are not called quesadillas. Sincronizadas is an example of one.
 

Flauta- It´s similar to the taco but is fried and it can also be stuffed with mashed potatoes, mashed beans or even cheese.

Enchilada- My favorite on the list. I could oink them all day! Basically it´s a sautéed corn tortilla stuffed with chicken or cheese bathed in red or green sauce topped with cheese, cream and sometimes chopped potatoes and carrots.

You can eat them all with your hands with the exception of enchiladas. But beware my dear lechones, it´s important to drink a cold glass of milk in case you are not used to eating chile.

¨For all that glitters isn't gold. And not all that rolls is a rock …or a taco.¨
-Don Lechón