Throughout her illustrious career, Thalia has proudly upheld Mexican culture through her captivating music, iconic fashion choices, and memorable performances. As música Mexicana gains global recognition, the Mexican pop icon delves deeper into the sounds of her roots with her latest album, "A Mucha Honra," where she pays homage to her country's rich musical heritage while embracing the new wave of corridos.
"This album is called 'A Mucha Honra' because, as a Mexican, it fills me with excitement to sing this music," she tells PS. "It's ingrained in my DNA. With our music reaching a global audience now, it has made us incredibly proud. This is a celebration of our music and Mexican culture."
Thalia's illustrious career spans five decades, beginning in the '80s as a member of the Mexican children's group Timbiriche. In the '90s, she embarked on a solo career that catapulted her to global fame, transforming her into a household name. Among the diverse genres she has explored as a top Latina pop star, Mexican rhythms like mariachi and ranchera have always been a constant in her biggest hits, such as the empowering "Piel Morena" and the sultry "Amor a la Mexicana." Thalia attributes her longevity to her ability to adapt and evolve with the times.
"Follow your pulse," she advises. "Trust your intuition, which will soon guide you in discovering new things about yourself. Sing in different styles of music. Embrace elements that will refresh your style and help you grow, change, and evolve. You must dare to take risks. I believe that has always been a guiding principle in my career."
"A Mucha Honra" is not Thalia's first foray into the realm of música Mexicana. In addition to her aforementioned hits, she also released a banda music album in 2001. "Thalia Con Banda: Grandes Éxitos" featured her classics like "Arrasando," "Entre el Mar y una Estrella," and "María la del Barrio," the theme song to one of her popular telenovelas, which was rerecorded in the banda style. Thalia brushes aside criticisms from those who overlook her past contributions to the música Mexicana genre.
"Throughout my music, I've always incorporated Mexican arrangements in various albums throughout my career," she declares. "It's always been a constant element in my discography. I have a wonderful fan base. My Thali-familia are incredible for remembering our shared moments. That's beautiful because they have a deep connection with me. This isn't something new for me. I've always done it."
What sets Thalia's latest exploration of música Mexicana apart is her embrace of contemporary sounds. The genre's global appeal has been fueled by the rise of corridos tumbados, a trap-infused reinterpretation of the traditional Mexican corrido and sierreño. Corridos tumbados first gained popularity in 2019 thanks to Mexican singer Natanael Cano and his LA-based label Rancho Humilde. A new generation of artists like his labelmates Junior H and Fuerza Regida, as well as Mexican superstar Peso Pluma, have propelled corridos tumbados to the top of the charts. Sierreño has also gained significant momentum thanks to the success of the Mexican American group Eslabon Armado.
For "A Mucha Honra," Thalia collaborated with Rancho Humilde founder Jimmy Humilde and producer Edgar Rodríguez, who has helmed hits for this new crop of artists. She seamlessly blends sierreño with pop in the heartfelt ballad "Bebé, Perdón," creating a musical tapestry that showcases her versatility and deep respect for her cultural roots.
Men have traditionally dominated the vibrant world of Música Mexicana, yet the scene is slowly witnessing a shift. In the past, we've seen formidable patronas like the late Selena Quintanilla and Jenni Rivera pave the way. Nowadays, young women are eagerly stepping up to the challenge, striving to carve out their own niches in this thriving movement. Thalia, a standout artist, leverages her platform to shine a spotlight on these emerging talents, championing women like Dania Valenzuela of Estilo Sin Limite and Ángela Aguilar, the daughter of the iconic Pepe Aguilar.
In their defiant corrido "Choro," Thalia and Valenzuela tell their exes to take a hike, while Aguilar joins her later on for the tequila-fueled love song "Troca." Thalia expresses her enthusiasm for bringing "girl power" to Música Mexicana, saying, "It's beautiful to plant this seed and open that door so that more women can exist in this genre."
Unfortunately, Música Mexicana has also had a history of excluding the LGBTQ+ community, a demographic that forms a significant part of Thalia's fan base. When informed that queer fans are eager to embrace this album with their cowboy boots and sombreros, she responds with a laugh, "I love that!" She further elaborates, "The message in my music has always been about love. It's about unity. That's what I've always wanted to share. It's a celebration of life. If I can unite hearts through my music, that is the most beautiful gift to me as a singer and artist."
Over the years, Thalia's versatility and willingness to explore different genres have been key to her enduring success. She's blended reggaeton and pop in global hits like "No Me Acuerdo" with Natti Natasha and "Desde Esa Noche" featuring Maluma, both of which have garnered over a billion views on YouTube. She also finds inspiration in the past, as evident in her last album, "Thalia's Mixtape," where she revisited rock en español with legendary figures of that era. Now, Thalia is adding corridos and sierreño to her rich Música Mexicana palette.
A delightful surprise for all Thalia fans on "A Mucha Honra" is her refreshed version of the 1997 hit "Amor a la Mexicana." She's reimagined the song with a fiery corrido arrangement, showcasing a deeper, more soulful side to her voice throughout most of the album. Nearly 30 years later, Thalia still knows how to fiercely serve up love — Mexican style. She explains, "What more could I do to complete this full-circle moment? Sing a song that's a part of my musical legacy. It's what I've always sung for — Mexico. It's only natural. When I finished recording that new version, I thought, 'Wow! That's really me now.'"
