Café Tacuba: Forging a New Mexican Identity

Abstract

After Mexican revolution, a group of intellectuals including Leopoldo Zea, Sergio Ramos and Octavio Paz, began to study Mexico's national character. The question of: who is Mexico?, and then: who are Mexicans?, is still being asked, and is today being answered by a group of young urban musicians, Tacuba. Of three Mexican rock groups trying to respond to these questions of identity, Tacuba has had most commercial success. Even though two others, Maldita Vecindad and Caifanes, sing about Mexican themes and/or use Mexican instruments, Caf6 Tacuba has dedicated itself to showing what it is to be a Mexican in this age. Through a study of development of their music and personal style, it is evident that Caf6 Tacuba mirrors historical transformation of Mexican national character. As a group, they are a microcosm of Mexico's search for a national identity. Tacuba redefines (Mexicanness) in '90s for urban youth who listen to their music. As a group, they teach modern philosophy of lo mexicano to their listeners. Through process of searching for identity of group, Caf6 Tacuba essentially produces a new standard of what is considered lo mexicano. Mexican music has a long and diverse history, and rock is not new nor underrepresented. But for too long, Mexican rock has been considered an oxymoron or a bad imitation of American style. Today difference rests in search and final encounter of an authentic Mexican rock music style. While Mexico began its search for a national identity in forming a new country after Mexican revolution, catalyst for rockers was after they began to sing in Spanish. Quique Rangel, one member of Tacuba, explains history concisely: In '60s, Mexican bands played American rock 'n' roll, translating lyrics. In '70s, people tried to compose their own songs, but in English. In '80s, people began singing original Spanish lyrics with their own music. But '90s, is first time people are searching for their own Mexican sound with original compositions and Mexican themes. Oumano, F14 Athough many groups have begun to put Mexican in Mexican rock, no group has joined two styles or genres so well as Tacuba. Tacuba not only uses more Mexican rhythms, but also native instruments and their lyrics reflect Mexican life. This typically translates into a representation of urban Mexican life since group is from Mexico City. The scene in Mexico City is very good now. They are trying to find an identity in their music. Juan, Tacuba (Oumano, F14) By searching for an identity you must demonstrate your singularity to separate Yourself from rest of crowd. This is done by comparing and contrasting yourself with the other. By comparing, you show similarities. By contrasting, you do opposite-now differences are important. By using characteristics that are already considered well established, value is given to object you are defining. Tacuba has often said, and in different ways, that Mexicans must value their own traditions and roots. They say: en ingles, pero la globalizacion de la cultura no funciona, hay que retomar nuestras raices. [We try to create in accordance with our own roots, before it was thought that internationalization was gained by recording music in English, but globalization of culture doesn't work that way, we have to take back our roots.] Cafe Tacuba recibe... The language is not only influence from United States, there are other parts of U.S. culture that influence Mexicans as well. This influence is often suffocating. The ethnologist Nestor Garcia Canclini makes it clear: In an age of globalization in which city is constituted not only by what happens within its territory but also by way in which it is traversed by migrants, tourists, messages, and goods from other countries, we are more intense in our construction of what is ours in relation to what we imagine about others. …