Los Tigres Del Norte Positive Deviance Approach Towards Their Music and Fans

By Jorge Luis Aguilar Cruz



This past weekend I had the amazing privilege once again to be able to be on the road with famed Mexican musicians Los Tigres Del Norte, the most influential and socially important Mexican artist of all time.  All the time we spent together bring about conversations of life, values, women, Mexicans, and of course our Mexican mothers and food. Over coffee at a very quiet hotel room I spoke with Don Jorge Hernandez about my education, past classes, my proposed master’s thesis topic, and current classes, one class that really sparked a conversation was when I mentioned our PD class, and our class meeting.

            Los Tigres Del Norte are positive deviants in so many ways, some forms of which I have known for years, but even though they have gained so much success and fame, they have always remained the same. While being blessed and being on the road with prominent acts in the industry I have met so many people of fame, 85% of them are not polite and nice to their fans. That goes for both Mexican and American acts, but Los Tigres Del Norte are different, on many occasions the members have stayed up after a show until 5 in the morning signing autographs, taking pictures, and they would not leave until everyone was gone.  During their 3 to 4 hour concerts, only the first 10 songs are set then they play what the audience asks for. 

            Furthermore, the single most important fact about this band is that they are La Voz Del Pueblo, or The Voice of the Village.  Within that informal title given to them by their fans and media, Los Tigres Del Norte stray, and are positive deviants within the Regional Mexican music genre. That difference could not be more apparent than in the present.  Presently, the Mexican music genre as well as our community and youth are being flooded by narcocorridistas, Mexican acts that glorify the narco underworld through song, fashion and their own personal acts on and off stage.  Los Tigres Del Norte instead “we are the positive light, we want out people to remain positive, to work hard and take advantage of the opportunities in the United States, not only that, but to take advantage of the opportunities of life.”

In closing, Los Tigres Del Norte in there are deviant, in that they speak for those who often may not have a voice, songs about immigration, love, ranch life, the immigrant experience and life, and also singing about local issues such as “Las Mujeres De Cuidad Juarez,” a corrido which is censored in Mexico, highlighting the corruption and lack of accountability by the Mexican government to solve the issues. They sing of positive aspects in life, such as loving your family, never forgetting your roots in every aspect, but still manage to throw some fun songs in there, en fin, Los Tigres Del Norte have said even if you are not a fan, stick up for what is right, “este es reclamo del pueblo, lo que averigue la ley.”