In today’s Houston Chronicle is an article by Alejandra Matos about Beto O’Rourke building his Latino support in the Rio Grande Valley by sponsoring a free concert by the famous and fabulous Norteño band Los Tigres del Norte and the equally famous Texas Tejano band Little Joe y La Familia in an arena in the Hidalgo county town of Edinburg. This is indeed a BFD to energize Latinos in the Valley and shows that Beto is serious about building Latino support and importantly votes.
As an old white Anglo male (but who is married to a Colombiana) I know enough Spanish and watched enough Spanish-language television to have seen, and greatly enjoy, Los Tigres del Norte who are the big-time real-deal award-winning powerhouse in Norteño music as well as being enormously entertaining. My own Spanish-language musical tastes run more in tune with Tejano-style Little Joe y La Familia, Selena (RIP), Sisters Morales, and Tish Hinojosa. But Los Tigres really “brings it” as an old white guy might say (I don’t know how to translate the flavor of “brings it” into Spanish). So following is an excerpt from that Houston Chronicle article to show that Beto O’Rourke is leaving it all on the field and is working hard (and spending his money wisely) to energize his Latino support here in Texas. Go Beto. GOTV. Now time to listen to some Los Tigres.
O’Rourke taps Latino superstars for rally — Norteño band joins Dem at event days before early voting
EDINBURG — Luis Gonzalez initially regarded U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke as a typical politician, the kind who looks to secure votes by speaking a few sentences in Spanish and saying he cares about Latino issues.
But then O’Rourke threw a rally Thursday in Hidalgo County with a free performance by Los Tigres del Norte, the powerhouse Mexican norteño band that is Gonzalez’s favorite group, and the 41-year-old from Pharr was sold.
“That’s when I knew he was legit,” Gonzalez said. “I have never heard of any senator doing this, to do something like this for the people.”
The rally, which also included Tejano stars Little Joe y La Familia and more, packed a crowd of several thousand into the Bert Ogden Arena in this Rio Grande Valley town. It was aimed at sparking enthusiasm and turning out Latino voters for O’Rourke in a part of the state where O’Rourke underperformed during the primary election. The campaign and volunteers have spent weeks hosting smaller rallies with local bands, local politicians and even U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts .
O’Rourke, an El Paso Democrat, brought the A-team with Los Tigres del Norte — widely popular among Mexican immigrants, their music evokes nostalgia among young Latino voters who grew up hearing it in Mom and Dad’s car. Between songs, Los Tigres urged attendees to load their siblings, cousins and friends into cars and vote on Monday, the first day of early voting.
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I love love love that last sentence of Alejandra’s where Los Tigres urge everyone to load their entire extended voting age families into their cars and vote on Monday. Turn early voting into a fiesta! I love that message.
Update: For those not familiar with Los Tigres del Norte or their style here is a YouTube video of a live performance of their “Jefe de Jefes” (“The Boss of the Bosses”). Enjoy: