Ranchera

Ranchera, or the canción ranchera, is a Mexican style tied to both the rise of mass media and migration of rural people to urban areas, especially Mexico City. The texts of the ranchera concern love, romance and adventure and are sung by Mexican cowboys, dashing, romantic figures in sequined costumes. Despite the huge size of Mexico City, urban Mexicans still identify strongly with their rural heritage. The ranchera is accompanied either by mariachi bands (two violins, two trumpets, vihuela and guitarrón) or conjunto ensemble (accordion and the guitar-like bajo sexto). The conjunto ensemble (as well as the ranchera) is associated with the northern regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States (which had been a part of Mexico until 1848).