Mexicanos en Vietnam

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

The song "Mexicanos en Vietnam" (Del Centro # DC 5041) by Trio Totonacas, a Spanish language ranchera track. The song title translates as "Mexicans in Vietnam". Unknown date and location - although based on the lyrics, this was probably released in Texas, USA. This song is especially interesting in that it places much focus on cultural identity and nationality - between being a Mexican-American, from Texas, as well as retaining a Mexican cultural heritage: "I am Mexican...I was born abroad...it is my pride to be Texan and Texan-Mexican". It contains patriotic sentiment, recalling previous wars, including World War Two and the Korean War: "in the war in Germany we offered our lives" and "in Korea we tested it", a common feature of patriotic songs, which sought to connect the ongoing stuggle of the US to fight justified wars. The song concluded by praising the Mexican-Americans who fight for the US in Vietnam. Transcription by Eric Silberberg and Ignacia Morales Reyes. Translation by Eric Silberberg. (1)

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Unknown - secondary listings identify "Mexicanos En Vietnam" b/w "Tres Palabras", reportedly on Del Centro Records (per an inadmissible dealer listing, offered as a lead only); RateYourMusic lists the release but is 403, and the Discogs query rate-limited. The name references the Totonac people of Veracruz, Mexico - suggestive, but no sanctioned statement of origin was reachable, so nothing is asserted (row 545's error runs both ways). [Source: no admissible match]

Themes

Patriotic · WW2 · Korea · War Lineage · Mexican Pride

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs