Top 10 Songs for Cinco De Mayo: The Mix Tape

May 5, 1862, is a very important date in Mexican history. It is marked as the victory of the Mexican army over the French on May 5, 1862. This celebration is observed by Mexican's symbolizing their independence. Cinco De Mayo is a Mexican holiday that has been adopted by Americans to celebrate the vas Mexican heritage and culture.

Cinco de Mayo is thought of as a drinking holiday, not unlike St Patrick's Day. Mexican's celebrate their pride as they blend their culture into American roots. I have collected a mix tape of the top 10 songs to celebrate this auspicious day of Cinco de Mayo. So, download these songs on your MP3 player and enjoy at your Cinco de Mayo party.
1.
SMOOTH- Santana+ Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas= Genius. The album "Supernatural" released in June 29, 1999. This single from the album is as smooth as its title. The lyrics tell the tale of a young man serenading his "Little Harlem Mona Lisa," The beauty of Harlem who he loves. Rob Thomas sings to her with his warm, velvet, voice as he tries to woo her as Santana plays high string jazz on his electric guitar. The narrative is vivid you can feel the hot burning summer sun and feel the spray of sweat on Rob Thomas skin. Very Cool!
2.
HOT, HOT, HOT- Original release July 7,1987. The Anthem of Cinco de Mayo! As stadiums. Buster Point Dexter (AKA David Roger Johansen) He was the lead singer of the legendary New York Dolls back in the 80's. This song is contagious. I dare anyone to not jump out of their seats and start dancing on their stools holding a Sex and the City candy-colored drink in your hand.
3.
OYE COMO VA- Santana's classic song remake. It is the most recognizable remake of a Tito Puente song. It has the tempo of the Cha-Cha-Cha. Santana makes this song his own by giving the original a cranked up driving beat creating a new style of music called "Latin Rock" in his 1970's album "Abraxas." It is sung mostly in Spanish. Oye Como Va translates "Listen to how it goes" or "Hey how does it go?" Mi Ritmo translates "My rhythm" and lastly "Bueno Pa' Gozar translates to "It's good for partying. "Don't worry about not understanding. Just dance.

4.
I GET KNOCKED DOWN (Tub-thumping)- Original release date September 23, 1997. Sung by the English band Chumbawamba. It screams party song! The song is about spending the night barhopping and Tub-Thumping in after. (This means throwing up in the toilet). In the chorus, the singer lists all the drinks he has drunk through the night. "He drinks a whisky drink, he drinks a vodka drink, he drinks a lager drink, he drinks a cider drink, he sings the songs that remind him of the good times, and he sings the songs that remind him of the better times." Pissing the night away, Pissing the night away." How great is that! I love this song. Have this great song pumping out, loud and hard from your stereo speakers on Cinco de Mayo for your party. I recommend you play this song LOUD! (Just listen out for the neighbors).
5.
EL PASO- Sung by the late great Marty Robbins. It was written in September 1959 and was released as a single in 1960, reaching number one on the charts. This beautiful western ballad about a gunslinger and his one and only lady "Wicked Feleena" is a true classic. It is a long narrative ballad told in third-person narrative. The gunslinger tells the story about when he comes to town to a Texan Cantina and falls in love with a Mexican dancer Feleena. He sees another man make advances on Feleena and shoots him. He runs away to hide out in the Badlands of New Mexico. The cowboy becomes lonesome for Feleena and returns to town to see her again only to be met by a posse. The posse chases him out of town and shoots him off his horse. Feleena finds him and stays with him until he dies. The narration is vivid. You can feel the grit of the dirt, the oil on the saddle and the smell of the horses. It is a sad story that will leave you crying in your tequila. Give a listen.

6.
TEQUILA- 1958 Rock so called "Surf" instrumental by the band "The Champs." The title of the song is said only three times in the duration of the song. "Tequila" went to the top 100 on the billboard charts in 1958. It has a sexy sax and is played at every party at Cinco de Mayo. There have been many versions of this song by many groups. In 1985, Peewee Herman reintroduced this classic song to a new generation in his film Peewee Herman's big adventure. That is where I first heard it and loved it ever since.
7.
LA CUCHARACHA- (The Cockroach) The origin of this song is strangely obscure. It is a traditional Spanish folksong becoming popular in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. The song relates the events taking place during the end of the Grenada War in 1492. It is a most appropriate song for the fact that it was written during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th Century. The lyrics have been improvised to fit any political or social commentary of the time. Similar to the American ballad "On Top of Old Smoky" it can be changed to fit any agenda of the hour. This is a great song to sing with your friends in a bar.
8.
COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER- 1964 hit by Jay & the Americans. It reached number #3 on the billboard chart. In my opinion this song is a great party song to sing with your friends. The song is another western story song. It is an upbeat fast song which you can certainly dance too. It is the story of a young man in a little cafe on the other side of the border. He sees a beautiful woman and asks her to dance after the bartender has warned him that she belongs to that man Jose. The woman pulls the guy into a very sexy, very close dance and a kiss. Suddenly, the guitar player warns the man that Jose is on his way. However, instead of leaving he decides to stay dancing with the woman. The music stops. (Hard hit on the drum) The man turns finds the cafe; empty except for Jose, who is standing right next them. The man runs away and leaves Jose and his woman alone. The last thing he hears is the woman asking Jose to come a bit closer to her. The song is a lot of fun to sing. You might want to Google it and download the lyrics to distribute if you want to sing at a party. I don't think a lot of people know it. It is a classic.
9.
DOWN IN MEXICO- (GRINDHOUSE-DEATH PROOF) 1956 R&B hit by the Coasters and re-released in the 1970's. This re-recording is what you hear on the soundtrack of this Quentin Tarantino film. A western song story, this time included in a major motion picture. I am sure everyone is familiar with GRINDHOUSE, DEATH PROOF. Several sources here at Associatedcontent.com have written many articles about it. So, you all are also familiar with the songs the soundtrack. If not you can get it online. This song plays from the jukebox as Butterfly gives Stuntman Mike a lap dance. The song plays slow and sexy at first as Butterfly keeps rhythm while rubbing slowly against Stuntman Mike sitting on a chair. Then becomes faster as Butterfly gyrates against him. The lead singer's voice is clear as a bell and loud. You understand every word so you can lip-synch along with Butterfly.
10.
THE GRINDHOUSE BLUES- (GRINDHOUSE-PLANET TERROR) 2007. Last however, not least is THE GRINDHOUSE BLUES. Written by Robert Rodriquez. Great to play when your guests are arriving to your Cinco de Mayo celebration or when they are leaving. (Or maybe you can use it as a sign to leave, if it is very late and you have to go to work the next morning) All instrumental; it is a cool saxophone wailing sadly in the middle of the night. It is heard at the beginning of the movie when we are introduced to Cherry Darling dancing on stage. You can also here it in the background when our heroes are kept inside in an underground prison by the military. You see a lone man with white hair playing the sad music in the background.

I hope you enjoy my choices to enhance your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Please feel free to add your own choices below for songs to play on your MP3 player on Cinco de Mayo.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Cite References:
www.amazon.com/matchbox-twenty/e/8000a.Q1BRU
www.lyricss007.com/matchbox-twenty
www.google.com/archive.search/matchbox-twenty
www.gugalyrics.com/CHAMABAWMBAmba---I-get-knocked-down-lyrics/16198/
www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/robbins-marty-el-paso11889html
www.allthelyrics.com/song/1002376
www.althelyrics.com/lyrics/grindhouseplanet-terror-soundtrack
www.google.com/archivessearch/cincodemayo+history&rls=com
www.parents.com/fun/parties/special-occasions/fun-facts-about-cinco-de-mayo.com