Hola 🙂 I’m a gringa, so you know these Spanish songs are 100% authentic “gringo-friendly.” I am a full-time, professional, American DJ/MC, and I have lived in Mexico for 10 years.

DON’T PANIC

I think you should have fun with your cultural differences, rather than being nervous about them. To get you in the right frame of mind, watch the video below highlighting the differences between Mexican and American music (FYI, it is R-rated). OK, let’s have a good laugh and move on to tackling this situation.

BEFORE THE PLAY LIST, LEARN THE RECIPE!

So the good news is that I have compiled a fail-proof list of Gringo & Mexican-friendly dance songs for your intercultural event, possibly Cinco de Mayo. I have tried these songs out many, many times…and they are golden. Mexicans love them. Gringos don’t hate them. If things go well, gringos will even dance to these bad boys!

BUT…before we get to the juicy playlist, you need to know the recipe. Here’s the deal…us white people are famous for being crappy dancers who need to be buzzed to get out on the dance floor (generally speaking). Mexicans don’t suffer from this affliction (generally speaking). Likewise, us gringos like to wrap it up at 9:00 PM so we can get to bed. The Mexicans are just getting ready to rock about that time. Again…generalizing!

So here’s how you use that to your advantage: the first 15-45 minutes of your reception should be gringo music. The Mexicans will wait…it’s OK. Then have your DJ ease gently into a 3-song block of Spanish music (like “Suavemente,” “Danza Kuduro,” and “La Vida Es un Carnaval” or “Bailar” by Deorro). No “La Bamba.” No “La Isla Bonita.” Nothing by Herb Alpert. And please no “Macarena.” AT THE START of the Spanish block, quell the gringos’ fears by having your DJ announce, “Cupid Shuffle coming up in 10 minutes.” Phew! Gringos stop panicking, knowing some more English music is right around the corner.

Go into a second set of “real” Spanish music after a few English songs…start with Salsa, Cumbias, or Merengue. Save the Corridos, Banda, and Zapateados until the gringos go to bed in another 20 minutes. Now typically what happens is that there are way more people dancing to the Spanish music than the English music by now (now that you’re playing the good Spanish music, right?) So now instead of predominantly English music with Mexico-oriented Spanish music peppered in, have your DJ switch to predominantly Spanish music with English music peppered in.

 

*Make sure the DJ tells the gringos that the reason y’all are having so much fun dancing to this gringo-friendly Mexican wedding dance song is because it’s like the Spanish equivalent of “Baby Got Back” 🙂

>>NOW WE ARE GETTING INTO MEXICAN WEDDING DANCE SONGS THAT ARE HEAVIER ON THE ACCORDION BUT STILL FAIRLY TOLERABLE TO GÜEROS<<<

LISTEN TO THE GRINGO-FRIENDLY SPANISH DANCE SONGS FOR AN INTERCULTURAL MEXICAN WEDDING

OK…and one final tidbit…this is a great example of the Mickey Mouse/Oompa Loompa sound you want to avoid (i.e. TUBAS) with gringos in the midst…

I hope you enjoyed my Gringo- & Mexican-Friendly Dance Songs for an Intercultural Party playlist! I appreciate your follows & “virtual tips” more than you know 🙂 What’s your favorite song on the list? What is the list missing…please let me know in the comments below.