Music & Family

Originally, I intended to interview my grandmother, but I soon realized this wouldn't have worked because she has no idea how to use any technology, let alone face time. I had a feeling this would be the case, so I already planned to interview my dad. He is from Mexico and has shown me so many genres and types of music my whole life, always encouraging me to try any instrument I was able to fiddle around with. I fixed all broken English, but all words typed are what he said word for word. 

To clarify, I am interviewing my father for this blog.

Q: What are your top 3 genres of music?

A: "Rock and roll top, and another music I really find fascinating is classical music because it represents where it all begins. There would be no rock and roll or fools with their baggy pants hanging off them without classical music. One I like from my culture is Mariachi. It's not just some cultural music. When someone plays polka, you don't hear anyone go, "I wonder what state they're from." It's very self-explanatory and fun to watch people play in mariachi bands. As soon as the band starts playing, the crowd gets loud, everyone's smiling and happy no matter where they're from. I feel it is one of the only genres that is capable of this. It's almost like a musical high. I get goosebumps when I hear them play. You see them in theme parks, concerts, anywhere. It's unmistakable happiness. It's beautiful.

Q:What's your favorite music to dance to?

A: For you guys (me and my sister) when you were small, I'd put on La Rancherita and put on Cumbia. It reminded me of music that my mom played on the radio. I'm not a big dancer, but I join in with any music really. I was young once. I remember in middle school what they call "tardeadas" (Tar-deh-ah-das). For only dancing, it was fun. Growing up after drinking age, you'd go to the club and dance to whatever was popular. You know ace to face? "I saw the sun. I opened up my eyes and saw the sun." I think they're from Australia. Also, rock and roll. Not just that rebellious type of performers and singers, but the sound of the guitar crying when the performance can make an instrument cry, it's a different feeling that I don't feel with anything else. Who needs drugs or cares about problems when you hear a guitar cry? 

Q: Is there any kind of music you don't like?

A: That I can't stand? Lemme think..I know there has to be some. I love all music from all countries really. (I showed him Yuno Miles and he still couldn't think of any.)

Q: What do you think of the music I listen to?

A: I think you could amplify your repertoire, but I also believe it comes with age. I also believe its by stages. Because of the creativity music requires, no matter what music you listen to, I know it can put you on the right track. No pun intended.

BQ: What about Tyler, The Creator or Gorillaz?

A: I think Tyler the creator is a very unique individual who combines urban poetry with personal experience and anecdotes. His repertoire is consistent in the audience that he can sell it to. He's a commercial artist; I don't hold it against him. It's not like I'd sell tacos to people with no teeth. I'd sell smoothies though. Tyler writes his songs for specific people. It's not like he locks himself up and makes music for nobody to listen to. He'd be a very sad individual. I'm not his audience. I'm so far away from it, but from what you've told me, that's what I gathered.

A: The Gorillaz can be anybodies band. You can read about it, listen to it, watch them. When you listen to their story, they'll leave you with something new. They'll leave you wanting to learn more and why. I haven't listened to the Gorillaz till you reminded me. It was 20 years between the first time I heard them and when you reminded me of them. I felt like I was scammed because there's four characters but there's only 2 producers. And both are dudes and they made me feel like they had a female lead guitarist. That's really bad. How could they do that. It works but how? You told me the story behind Gorillaz, and we ate it like crackheads trying to get a fix.

Q: You've attended a lot of concerts. Which ones were the most memorable?

A: One of the most memorable ones was watching Carlos Santana in the Bilo Center. I had floor tickets, but they weren't front row. There was this guy pulling the Mexican flag from out of his pocket, but instead of the eagle and snake, it was the Virgin Mary in the middle. I asked what he was doing; apparently, security made him put the flag away. I said, "like hell they will." I took one side, he took the other, and we rushed to the front. People moved aside and security tried to stop us, but we pushed him in his face and moved forward. Carlos Santana saw us and knelled to play in front of the flag. It was so beautiful because he did the sign of the cross on the flag. (My dad cried while retelling this.) 

List of the bigger bands he has seen: Papa Roach, Korn (twice), Pearl Jam, Def Leppard, ACDC , Marilyn Manson, Kid Rock, Ozzy Osbourne (Crazy Train), Disturbed, Metallica, Three Doors Down or Nickelback played with Metallica, Mötley Crüe.

Q: What is a popular artist or genre of music you heard a lot when you were growing up?

A: Hmm, depends. Before going on my own way as a teen, I heard El Tri a lot. Up until today, it still brings lots of memories. Those fools have been playing for like 50 years. 

Q: Did you play any instruments? Did you ever make any music?

A: I used to play recorder because of the school. I tried to learn to play guitar but I couldn't afford one. See I lived in a place where if you didn't have money, you couldn't play sports, attend music class, anything like that. I told you guys (me and my sister) that you needed to learn an instrument. It was mostly for selfish reasons because I couldn't.

Q: Is there an instrument you wish you could play?

A: The guitar. I wish I could really play the guitar.

Q: How does music in Mexico differ from that in the states? 

A: Basically, the folklore music is written and created in the country of origin. All new genres and trends are created in the US then transferred to all corners of the world. For example, Rock or the Beatles, they didn't reach outside of their country till it made it to the US. It's like a bridge for music in the world. Without the US market reaching outwards. we wouldn't hear about the blues for example. If you asked Carlos Santana, he'd say Africa. Without Africa, there would be no Latin music that we know now. Cultures are so interconnected through music it's crazy. There is no recognizable line where who owns what or who started this. There is no record that shows which country owns what. That's not how it works.

(Basically, the music in Mexico is mostly based off of music in the states rather than vice versa.)

Q: You have a large CD collection. Which one is your most prized possession?

 A: Los Lobos One Time, One Night Live Concert Vol. 1&2 CDs. It was a very historic event for those in Greenville. There was a lot of old people there. The last time Los Lobos played in SC was in '73. One of the main reasons they wouldn't come back was because of racism. Based on the Carlos Santana concert, I hid my flag in my pocket.  I had front row tickets too. I wasn't doing anything bad. In the middle of the concert, I decided to pull out the flag, walk to the front stage, and place it on the floor stage. i laid it to where it was facing the audience. The lead singer and creator of the band Cesar Rojas walked over and saw what I laid down. He swung his guitar to the side, picked up the flag, and spoke into the mic "this flag does not deserve to be on the floor." He took it and laid it on one of their speakers facing the crowd. Everyone went crazy. Except for the haters maybe but I don't care. At the end of the show, they had a line to get CDs and take photos. I got in line, got those CDs signed, and got the flag signed and returned to me.

Carlos Santana - Maria Maria

Los Lobos - La Bamba

Bonus: He heard Yuno Miles and showed me this clip. Watch it if you'd like.