Gentle cabrones:

Every week since I started doing these cantos, I’ve offered a Song of the Week because — to quote the O’Jays — I love music. Sometimes, in fact, I’ve done cantos that were only about songs I liked, which maybe I should do more of because — to quote Rozalla — I love music.

This is one of those cantos — not just because I’m happy I was finally able to catalogue every single song I’ve ever recommended (if 2024 was my Theater Year, 2025 is my Year of Cataloguing — more to come…), but also because it’s Memorial Day and most of ustedes aren’t paying attention because it’s a three-day weekend.

It happens.

So this one’s dedicated to the Real Gs, especially those in Chino (IYKYK). Behold…

Gustavo Arellano’s Weekly Radiola of Randomness 

355 songs. Bossa nova, classical, classic rock, Motown, Beatles, straight-edge punk. Death metal…Groucho Marx?

This is me ALWAYS.

A window of sorts into what makes me do what I do. More importantly, all great songs that you can put in the background for whenever

Because it’s Memorial Day and most of ustedes aren’t paying attention because it’s a three-day weekend, I’m going to offer a few bullet points to elucidate the playlist and note some things I noted.

General Methodology

One week English, one week Spanish. Instrumentals, classical music, and songs in other language get included into this routine. Pulled from YouTube, because I don’t have a Spotify account and Spotify doesn’t have everything. Neither does YouTube, but it’s pretty damn close. Every once in a while, I’ll recommend something not on YouTube, so those pieces aren’t part of my Radiola of Randomness.

What Did You Recommend That’s Not on the Radiola of Randomness?

On YouTube: “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” (the one I included is a slightly different version from the one that appeared in the original Lilo and Stitch — for some reason, Disney doesn’t allow it to be saved onto a playlist) and "Bonita y de Rancho" by Dueto Las Azucenas for the same reason — something about the two songs being in kid’s settings? Not on YouTube: “Just an Orange County Mijx, Vol II: Baile Sorpresa,” by DJ Yellow Black Bird — she put it on Soundcloud, I believe. And a Beto Duran thing — but his shit ain’t on YouTube because #sehace

What Makes You Pick a Song?

I try to not pick something that aligns with the subject of the canto, because I want every piece of the canto to be unique. I rarely peg it to something in my life, but there are some songs that I’ll always remember I chose as a commentary on something personal — maybe I’ll make a note of that in the printed folio. I really just want to be as random as possible with my choices because that’s how I like my music. So I go with favorites, yes, but also stuff I just discovered or things I need to log for myself.

The Number of Songs Don’t Correspond with the Number of Cantos

Partly because we’re officially 30 cantos ahead (Canto CCCXC), partly because there are extra songs from the times my cantos have been about songs (Canto Canto XXVI), and also because I’ve accidentally repeated songs.

Repeated Songs?

“Modesta Ayala” by son calentano legends Bertín y Lalo. “El Rito” by Soda Stereo in what was supposed to be their last performance, and by Cerati and an orchestra in his magisterial Once Episódios Sinfónicos. “The Town I Live In,” by Thee Midniters and Mckinley Mitchell (the original — and better — one). “Granada” by Javier Solís on his way-underrated Fantasía Española album of Agustín Lara compositions. “Yuma Joe,” by Sandro, because I’m a sucker for rawhide rock. “Despedida con Mariachi” by Las Jilguerrillas because funerals of loved ones. “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains,” by the Kinks because that’s the theme song of the Infernal Rag. “Y Por Esa Calle Vive,” by Antonio Aguilar and Los Barón de Apodaca because how can you go wrong with tamborazo AND grupero? “Lino Rodarte” thrice: by Tamborazo Jerez 75, Montez de Durango and someone who I thought was Chalino Sanchez until the compa Adrian corrected me, because mi Papa Plácido wrote it.

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Repeated Artists

30 times, everyone from El Tri ("El Muro" and "Piedras Rodantes")  to Alberto Pedraza as Dinastía Pedraza and Grupo Kual to Tom Jobim playing the piano for Frank Sinatra on "Once I Loved" and singing alongside Elis Regina for "Aguas do Março" (The Chairman of the Board had his own solo appearance on "Night and Day" with Tommy Dorsey). Didn’t mean to, but they all tend to either be favorite acts of mine or are acts that have some badass songs, like El Tri (although I do need to include more rock urbano, a genre that fascinates me). But only a few have gotten more than twice:

Javier Solís: The aforementioned double helping of "Granada" but also "Perfume de Gardenia." He's nowhere near underrated -- and yet he is!

Grupo Ámerica: "La Delgadina," "El Venadito," "Caballo Canelo." I've always loved the perfect, humble melodies of the brother-and-sister duo along with their expert guitar plucking — but surprising I didn't pick their most famous song, "El Corrido de los Pérez."

Lucha Villa: "Que Bonito es Chihuahua," "El Tren," "Maria de los Guardias." I like her but wouldn't consider myself a mega fan — but all these tunes are exemplars of their genres. "Que Bonito es Chihuahua" is probably the best song with lyrics about a Mexican state (yeas, I know “La Marcha de Zacatecas” has words to it, but who ever remembers those?), and Lucha sings the definitive version. The second song is a wonderful Mexican Revolution song; the galloping “Maria de los Guardias” is a Sandinista love song, of all things.

Jose Alfredo Jimenez: "Ella," "Tu Enamorada," "Corrido de Maztlán." No explanation needed.

But the Real Champion Is…

Banda El Recodo: “Seis Pies Abajo, “El Son de los Aguacates,” “Corazón de Tejas” “Abre tu Corazón” with Angélica María and finally “El Abandonado,” the latter which I like but only included because Carl Sandburg included it in his The American Songbag, a fact I still think is awesome. What can I say? I love banda.

Random Insights on My Musical Tastes

*I like old music: The last time I was current was probably 1995 with West Coats hip-hop — never got into East Coast or listened to KROQ. 2006 with rock en español, when the genre basically died. But random modernity sneaks into this playlist, like The Weeknd and Jessie Reyez, whenever I happen to hear great music, because great music is great music.

*Fiddle! I’ve previously talked about my love for organs and banjos, but whether it’s son huasteco, bluegrass, Cajun music ala Dewey Balfa, or “Will You Come to the Bower?” something about the fiddle always calls to my paisa soul.

*I like the rhythm more than the lyrics: There are songs that I’ve liked for decades whose lyrics I don’t even bother to learn until way later. Like, “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” by Led Zeppelin (a group that hasn’t made it onto the playlist, even though I’m a big fan)? Did you know the song is about a dog? I didn’t even though, the lyrics say so!

Do You Play Parties?

Sure! But I ain’t know Psyduck B-Side on the wheels of steel!

**

Enough rambling. This was the semana that was:

IMAGE OF THE WEEK: Bad shot of an AWESOME presentation of DELICIOUS carne en su jugo at El Mariachi Grill in Encino. Pro tip: ask for a shot of red wine and pour into the broth — you’re welcome!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I knew they were going to hit it. I just didn’t think they were going to hit it that hard.” — Tom Gordon

LISTENING: “The Love I Lost (Dimitri From Paris Super Disco Blend),” Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. The original is among the lushest love songs you’ll ever hear, as any great Gamble & Huff production is. This remix somehow makes it even lusher. I want to know, though: where did Dimitri find Teddy Pendergrass’ delirious intro and asides? And more of that heartbroken electric piano? The driving cymbals? The defiant horns? Proof to a codger like me that sometimes, modernity can improve on the old.

READING: “Nat Turner’s Insurrection”: A dispatch in the wake of the matter at hand from The Atlantic. Old-time journalism is sometimes hard to follow because of the floral language — not in this case.

BUY MY NEW CO-BOOK! People’s Guide to Orange County tells an alternative history of OC through the scholarship and reporting of myself, Elaine Lewinnek, and Thuy Vo Dang. There’ll be signings all year — in meanwhile, buy your copy TODAY. And, yes: I’ll autograph it!

Gustavo Events  

May 28, 12:30 p.m.: I’ll be in conversation with Rancho Gordo owner and founder Steve Sando as part of Alta Live!, the awesome weekly Zoom salons hosted by Alta Journal. It’s FREE, but you have to register here.

Gustavo in the News

“McDonald’s opened in San Bernardino 85 years ago — as BBQ spot”: My columnista compa David Allen shouts me out in his columna.

“The Guild Eagle: How you can help as Times journalists face more layoffs”: The official newsletter of the L.A. Times Guild kindly congratulates me on my Pulitzer finalist nod.

“Here’s some unsolicited life advice for recent college graduates”: A Los Angeles Times newsletter you should subscribe to plugs a columna of mine.

“Finally the LA Times is Asking What We Have Since February”: A new L.A. politics Substack you should subscribe to shouts me out.

Gustavo Stories 

“Grítale a Guti”: Latest edition of my Tuesday night IG Live free-for-all.

“A contest to crown L.A.’s best community college culinary program”: My latest L.A. Times Essential California newsletter hits up a cool food competition between L.A.’s Mission College, Trade-Tech College, and Harbor College. KEY QUOTE: “I figured I’d taste a couple of dishes, say some inspirational words, and that would be that. Oh, how wonderfully wrong I was.”

“Ramon Barragan, founder of Barragan’s chain of Mexican restaurants, dies”: My latest L.A. Times obituary talks about an L.A. Mexican food icon. KEY QUOTE: “In his later years, Ramon liked to stop by to chat with workers, many who had worked with his family for decades, and enjoy his birthdays with the meals that earned the Barragans their American dream.”

“Back in the news, Albert ‘Little Al’ Robles still has a lot of bones to pick”: My latest L.A. Times columna talks about a South Bay politico. KEY QUOTE: “Little Al is the one who has tried to be a political somebody in L.A. County for over 30 years, only to almost always fall short, his career careening from one controversy to another.”

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