Better than journalists or anthropologists, Los Tigres del Norte—made up of four Hernández brothers (Jorge, Hernán, Eduardo and Luis) and their cousin (Oscar Lara)—have chronicled the epic tale of the arrival of Mexicans in the United States.
Immigrants themselves who left their native Sinaloa and headed north to San Jose, Calif., some 40 years ago, Los Tigres spoke to (and often for) a Mexican audience in America through songs that recognize the labor and longings of those immigrants, often voiceless in both countries. Here’s a list of the top 10 songs about mexicanos in the United States by the legendary norteño band of brothers.
“Jaula de Oro” from the album of the same name
Fonovisa, 1984
By the time this song came out, the omnipresent character in all of Los Tigres’ songs, the immigrant, had outwitted la migra, only to find he feels out of place in the country he tried so hard to enter. The feeling of being trapped inspired this classic’s title, which translated means “Gold Cage.” El inmigrante aches to return home, but can’t leave his house for fear he’ll be deported. Even worse, his own children speak to him in a foreign language. “I don’t want to go back to Mexico—no way, Dad,” says his son, in English.
Receive Latina.com Updates Instantly!