Son Jarocho is a Mexican genre of music that developed in the Veracruz region. If you have never heard a Son Jarocho song, you actually probably have. "La Bamba" is one of the most popular Son Jarocho songs out there and was made famous by its rock arrangement that Ritchie Valens released in the '50s. However, as opposed to that version, most Son Jarocho songs have minimalist arrangements that involve little more than jaranas, requintos, leonas (all three a variety of guitar-like instruments), quijada (donkey/horsel jaw bone), feet stamping, a singer, and an occasional harp. It's a very lively genre with often-humorous verses, but does cover a variety of topics ranging from women to sailors, each a reflection of everyday life in colonial Mexico.

Got any favorite Mexican songs?