# The 8 Best Mariachi Tracks of All Time

Western Mexico's string band tradition, from the Jalisco countryside to the plazas of Mexico City, formalised in the twentieth century around violins, trumpets, vihuela and the great bellied guitarrón.

- **Origin:** Jalisco, Mexico, 1900
- **Tempo:** 90–160 BPM
- **Also known as:** son jalisciense, ranchera, mariachi music
- **Tracks:** 8
- **Updated:** 2026-08-30
- **Canonical page:** https://waxonia.com/genre/mariachi/

## The list

### 1. [Quirino Mendoza y Cortés](https://waxonia.com/artist/quirino-mendoza-y-cortes/) — [Cielito Lindo](https://waxonia.com/track/quirino-mendoza-y-cortes--cielito-lindo/)

*1882*

A son written before mariachi had trumpets, and now the thing a stadium full of Mexicans sings without being asked. Dated to its composition; it predates the ensemble that owns it.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Quirino%20Mendoza%20y%20Cort%C3%A9s%20Cielito%20Lindo) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=KoVY2_oepXg)

### 2. [José Alfredo Jiménez](https://waxonia.com/artist/jose-alfredo-jimenez/) — [El Rey](https://waxonia.com/track/jose-alfredo-jimenez--el-rey/)

*1971*

A man with nothing insisting he is still the king. Jiménez could not read music and wrote a thousand songs; this is the one carved on his tomb.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Jos%C3%A9%20Alfredo%20Jim%C3%A9nez%20El%20Rey) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=0eSzutqhWBA)

### 3. [Rubén Fuentes](https://waxonia.com/artist/ruben-fuentes/) — [La Bikina](https://waxonia.com/track/ruben-fuentes--la-bikina/)

*1964*

Fuentes was the arranger who standardised the modern mariachi sound, and this is his best tune — a woman walking past, and a whole town watching.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Rub%C3%A9n%20Fuentes%20La%20Bikina) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=NCvJwzDQTBM)

### 4. [Vicente Fernández](https://waxonia.com/artist/vicente-fernandez/) — [Volver, Volver](https://waxonia.com/track/vicente-fernandez--volver-volver/)

*1972 · CBS*

The definitive ranchera performance. Fernández holds the last note past the point of comfort, which is the entire art form compressed into four seconds.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Vicente%20Fern%C3%A1ndez%20Volver%2C%20Volver) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=BW2xNLIPxdE)

### 5. [Chavela Vargas](https://waxonia.com/artist/chavela-vargas/) — [La Llorona](https://waxonia.com/track/chavela-vargas--la-llorona/)

*1993*

Vargas sang rancheras in trousers, without a mariachi, and slower than anyone thought possible. She proved the songs survive being stripped of everything.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Chavela%20Vargas%20La%20Llorona) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=DCtMfkYyKjM)

### 6. [Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán](https://waxonia.com/artist/mariachi-vargas-de-tecalitlan/) — [Son de la Negra](https://waxonia.com/track/mariachi-vargas-de-tecalitlan--son-de-la-negra/)

*1940*

The unofficial anthem of the form, by the ensemble that effectively defined it. The trumpet figure at the top is what most of the world hears in its head when it hears the word.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Mariachi%20Vargas%20de%20Tecalitl%C3%A1n%20Son%20de%20la%20Negra) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=XTwmQ-R7Joc)

### 7. [Lola Beltrán](https://waxonia.com/artist/lola-beltran/) — [Paloma Negra](https://waxonia.com/track/lola-beltran--paloma-negra/)

*1960*

Beltrán at full power, jealous and furious and entirely in control. The counterweight to every claim that this is a men's tradition.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Lola%20Beltr%C3%A1n%20Paloma%20Negra) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=pvtS_Wm9hxc)

### 8. [José Alfredo Jiménez](https://waxonia.com/artist/jose-alfredo-jimenez/) — [Ella](https://waxonia.com/track/jose-alfredo-jimenez--ella/)

*1950*

Drinking, dignity and a woman who left. Jiménez wrote the same song repeatedly for two decades and it was a very good song.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Jos%C3%A9%20Alfredo%20Jim%C3%A9nez%20Ella) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ae7PdKveUjY)

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Hand-curated by Waxonia. We host no audio; all links point to streaming platforms.