#1506664 in eBooks 2009-05-28 2009-05-28File Name: B0026P4R38
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. politics. identity and popular cultureBy noguriIf you cant tell the difference between Tejano music and Nortena. you will know the difference by the end of this book. The author really spells out the difference and explains it in terms clear enough for non-musicians like me. The high point of the book is when the author walks us through a comparison of the same corrido as performed and recorded by Ramon Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte (Nortenos!) and by Los Dos Gilbertos (Tejanos!).Overall. the theme of Tejano versus Norteno structures the book. The author gives a solid social history of how the two music styles developed side-by-side. as parallel styles but representing distinct social allegiances. This analytic framework makes for a very coherent study of popular culture as a reflection of identity and political position. This seems like a Gramsci-inspired study of "style wars" in popular culture. waged between the followers of Tejano music and the followers of Nortena. However. the author never mentions Gramsci nor Stuart Hall for that matter.The upshot of the book is that Nortena wins--the biggest fan base. the most bands. and the widest network of listeners on both sides of the border. The authors data is mostly limited to interviews with musicians. fans. composers. music promoters. record company execs. and other music insiders. but she nevertheless does deliver solid analysis of the cultural and social dimensions of international migration that enabled nortena to oust tejano.On the downside. the author could have (should have?) discussed some of the other aspects of the style wars. such as dance styles (quebradita vs duranguense?) and clothing styles (cholo vs vaquero?) which would have made her social analysis pack more punch. Although shes an ethnomusicologist. her knowledge of nortena culture seems extensive enough that she could enlighten us on some aspects of the culture that are not strictly musical.Also. she gives the reader the impression that the whole story ends with Los Tigres del Norte as the pinnacle of Nortena. However. a cursory look at the world wide web shows that many people now classify los Tigres as "cursi" and they have moved on to a new trend called "duranguense." The author could have brought us up to date a bit more than she did.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Required reading for anyone who loves Nortena music--or wants to ...By Harriet RafterRequired reading for anyone who loves Nortena music--or wants to know more about our US/Mexican border than you get in sound bites on the news. Well written--no academic jargon. though an academic book--and could it be more timely?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent bookBy John DonovanThe previous reviewer is far better informed than I. but as a nordamericano lover of Nortena music I found it hard to put the book down. The author weaves historical social. political. and economic threads into a compelling and very readable narrative;theyre ones you certainly didnt learn in school. Having read the book I have a far better understanding and appreciation of cross-border culture and music. Highly recommended.
