Ranchera

Ranchera music or canción ranchera is a popular genre from Mexico. Born in the 19th century, it takes its name from the rural fields of the states of Jalisco and Guanajuato where it was originally performed, meant to spread news through the Mexican territory by folk singers who usually just accompanied the song with a guitar. Despite its rural origins, the genre began to develop after the period of the revolution in post-1910 Mexico, finding its point of expansion in urban sectors from the 1930s onwards thanks to the popularity of the so-called “Comedias rancheras” (Ranch Comedies), intended to represent the daily life of those ranches or towns. These films changed many elements of ranchera, emphasizing emotional performances and love-focused lyrics, as well as the use of Mariachi ensembles to perform them, rather than an acoustic guitar.