By Alonso
Celso Piña may be gone, but his songs will forever remain with us—and it’s up to us to keep them alive. No matter where you’re from, you probably won’t resist the master’s tunes: as soon as his music reaches your ears, your body will start moving to the rhythm of his accordion and the cumbia style he helped define. Celso Piña is an icon of Mexican culture, one which slowly grew to become nothing short of historical.
Born in Monterrey, Piña forged a unique sound that would become a cornerstone of Mexican music in the 20th century. Here are some of his best songs.
“Cumbia sobre el río”
The collaboration project that would change his life. Part of “Barrio Bravo,” the rebel collaborated with Control Machete to create this unique track that will not soon be forgotten.
“Aunque no sea conmigo”
This song is a cover of Chago Diaz, but Piña’s version has the added Latinx flavor that makes it stand on its own nonetheless. His touch might render it more painful, but even then we can’t stop ourselves from dancing to it.
“Cumbia Poder”
One of the songs that would define his legacy, “Cumbia Poder” has a fresh & urban rhythm that manages to retain its tropical flavor at all times—an impressive feat indeed.
“Cumbia Sampuesana”
Another great song that the accordion genius acquired. With features that remind us of Mexican rock, the melody provides a timeless opportunity to dance forever, bearing the marks of his influences with El Gran Silencio and the ska movement that originated in Monterrey.
“Macondo”
Óscar Chavez classic is turned into a genius work thanks to the accordion, the taste, and honesty with which Celso Piña approaches the song. This is a bolero-turned-cumbia, and there’s nothing more Mexican than that.
“Cumbia Arenosa”
Celso had a perfect sense of humor, which he certainly made use of in his songs to make us forget just about anything. This song is probably the best example of that, and no doubt it will be played over and over in Latinx households around the world during the next few days.
“Viviendo en sueños”
This song is special in that it shows a different side to Celso Piña. Though he’s most associated with cumbia, Piña actually delved into several genres over the years, integrating his own sound and style. This is a sweet tune that’ll give you a taste of the rest of his work.
No doubt we lost a great musician with Piña’s passing. His spirit, his music, and his legacy is in our hands now. It’s up to us not to forget.
Translated by Oliver G. Alvar
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