Mariachi Monarcas de Milwaukee performs 'El Son de la Negra'

[gentle guitar music] – “El Son de la Negra” is the most traditional mariachi piece and basically defines whether you pass the “Are you a mariachi or not?”

test.

If we, you know…

It’s the one song that you don’t modify.

You play it the same in all mariachis.

And it’s something that if you get mariachis together, you should be able to play it without practicing.

– Yeah, “El Son de la Negra” is pretty universal.

It’s always in the same key pretty much.

You can change up the bowings on the violins, but not that much really ’cause it changes the way things sound.

But yeah, if you’re a mariachi, you know “La Negra.”

– It’s about this person that’s in love with a woman and he wants to make sure that she doesn’t get taken by another person.

She wants to keep the possibility of conquering her heart open.

[lively mariachi music] [lively mariachi music continues] Negrita de mis pesares Ojos de papel volando Negrita de mis pensares Ojos de papel volando A todos diles que s Pero no les digas cuando As me dijiste a m Por eso vivo penando [lively mariachi music continues] [lively mariachi music continues] Cuando me traes a mi Negra Que la quiero ver aqu Con su rebozo de ceda Que la traje de Tepic Cuando me traes a mi Negra Que la quiero ver aqu Con su rebozo de ceda Que la traje de Tepic [lively mariachi music continues] [lively mariachi music continues] [ending note]