Line Out - Comments on They Shoot Country Music Stars, Don't They?

Comment by cosby

cosby — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:19:37 -0800

if american drug lords killed american country music stars, they'd pretty much be heroes.

Comment by dc

dc — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:27:03 -0800

that's a really stupid thing to say. I see you are trying to be funny, but, you are not.

Comment by flamingbanjo

flamingbanjo — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:39:13 -0800

If I understand correctly, the musicians in question are known for writing narcocorridos, a ballad style that employs the time-honored tradition of the outlaw song (a folk staple since just about forever both North and South of the border) to lionize the exploits of drug smugglers. A lot of these songs use real names and places or popular nicknames that those in the trade would recognize to flesh out their gritty tableaux. Needless to say the combination of honesty and the necessity of taking sides -- you can't write a song about how awesome one drug gang is without pissing off the rival gangs -- makes this form of "country" or "folk" music more dangerous for its performers than gangster rap in the 90's.

Apparently video of some of the hits (meaning killings, not popular songs) are posted on YouTube as part of the one-upsmanship of the rival gangs.

I find my mind blown by several things here: One, that folk music could ever be so edgy that it would result in this kind of violence, and two, the weird adapatability of traditional forms to new circumstances. Folks songs meet viral videos meet snuff films.

Comment by laterite

laterite — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:41:33 -0800

That was the theory when these killings first started, but the latest string of murdered musicians have had nothing to do with narcocorridos.

Comment by anna

anna — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:04:10 -0800

K-Paz de la Sierra is typical of music that you would hear at a wedding or family party in Mexico. Sappy and nostalgic, no violence or drugs and their music is more similar to polka than American country music. All prominent Mexicans are facing threats from drug gangs, the current president's sister-in-law was killed shortly after he took office as a warning. Singers and musicians are just more accessible and vulnerable to the gangs as they tour the country.

Comment by cosby

cosby — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:33:09 -0800

...they are vulnerable and are high profile targets for nationwide intimidation.

why can't mexico's drug syndicates work like brazil's syndicates, where they pay musicians to sing songs about how great they are and everyone snorts coke and is happy (except all orphans, the impoverished, government officials, and most civilians).

Comment by rk

rk — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:04:12 -0800

This kind of thing is just insanity. I'm sorry, but Mexico is the most filthy, corrupt, crime-ridden, disgusting-in-every-way country I've ever visited (and I've been to more than a few). There is nothing that will ever get me to go back there again. And apparently, lots of Mexicans feels the same way, risking life and liberty to get out.