This week marks 100 years since the birth of José Alfredo Jiménez, the late ranchera icon whose musical legacy has stood the test of time, passed down from generation to generation.
Born on Jan. 19, 1926, in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Jiménez is considered one of the most important singers and songwriters of the genre, with transcendental hits like “El Rey” and “Caminos de Guanajuato” that captured the soul of Mexico. His music has been performed and reimagined by superstars including Pedro Infante, Vicente Fernández, Luis Miguel, Maná, and more.
As part of the centennial celebrations, a tribute was held in Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City, a well-known spot where mariachi groups perform year-round. The event featured performances by María Elena Leal (daughter of the late icon, Lola Beltrán) and Gabriel Solís (grandson of the unforgettable Javier Solís), accompanied by El Mariachi Los Gavilanes de José Alfredo Jiménez.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, the exhibition “Pero Sigo Siendo El Rey” was inaugurated — organized by the Government of Guanajuato, the Mexican Cultural Institute in Spain, and the José Alfredo Jiménez Museum House. Open until Feb. 8 in the Spanish capital, the exhibit features photographs, discography, and personal items of the artist presented through three thematic sections: El Hijo del Pueblo, El Rey and Camino de Guanajuato.
Passing away on Nov. 23, 1973, at the age of 47, the actor and singer, who appeared in two dozen films, amassed an impressive catalog as the author of more than 400 songs that today are an integral part of Mexican culture and musically represent an entire nation.
On the Billboard charts, Jiménez had 12 entries on Top Latin Albums, reaching his highest position with La Historia del Rey, which peaked at No. 11 in 2006. The album also earned him his first and only No. 1 on Regional Mexican Albums, topping the chart for one week in March 2006. However, many of his compositions appeared on the charts through the voices of other artists: Luis Miguel’s versions of “Si Nos Dejan” and “La Media Vuelta,” for example, spent seven and three weeks at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs, respectively, in the mid-90s.
The work of the “King of Ranchera Music” remains alive. As proof, here are 10 of his most-streamed songs on platforms today, accompanied by their release year, other artists who have performed them, and the meaning behind their lyrics. (The songs are presented in chronological order; those from the same year are listed alphabetically.)
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“Ella”
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}A plea from the depths of the heart asking not to be abandoned by the person who has confessed to no longer loving.
Year of release: 1950
Key phrase: “Me cansé de rogarle, me cansé de decirle que yo sin ella de pena muero/ Ya no quiso escucharme, si sus labios se abrieron fue pa’ decirme, ya no te quiero” (“I got tired of begging her, I got tired of telling her that without her I die of sorrow/ She no longer wanted to listen to me, if her lips parted, it was to tell me, I don’t love you anymore”
Other artists who recorded it: Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, Lola Beltrán, Lucha Villa, Chavela Vargas, Vicente Fernández, Javier Solís
Listen to it here
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“Cuando Sale la Luna”
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}A declaration of love full of romance and promises.
Year of release: 1952
Key phrase: “Cuando estoy en tus brazos, siempre me pregunto yo/ Cuánto me debía el destino que contigo me pagó” (“When I’m in your arms, I always wonder/ How much destiny owed me that it repaid me with you”)
Other artists who recorded it: Natalia Jiménez, Leonel García and Natalia Lafourcade, Luis Miguel
Listen to it here
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“Camino de Guanajuato”
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}A heartfelt tribute to the state where he was born, reflecting its places and experiences.
Year of release: 1953
Key phrase: “No vale nada la vida, la vida no vale nada/ Comienza siempre llorando y así llorando se acaba” (“Life is worth nothing, life is worth nothing/ It always begins crying and ends crying as well”)
Other artists who recorded it: Vicente Fernández, Antonio Aguilar, Flor Silvestre, Chavela Vargas, Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete,
Listen to it here
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“La Media Vuelta”
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}A song about letting someone go so they can meet other people, live other experiences and compare them.
Year of release: 1963
Key phrase: “Si encuentras un amor que te comprenda/ Y sientes que te quiere más que nadie/ Entonces yo daré la media vuelta/ Y me iré con el sol cuando muera la tarde” (“If you find a love that understands you/ And you feel that they love you more than anyone else/ Then I will turn halfway around/ And I will leave with the sun when the afternoon dies”)
Other artists who recorded it: Javier Solís, Luis Miguel, Lola Beltrán, Juan Gabriel.
Listen to it here
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“Pa’ Todo el Año”
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}An anthem to pain and the intention of forgetting the love that has withered.
Year of release: 1968
Key phrase: “Por tu amor que tanto quiero y tanto extraño/ Que me sirvan otra copa y muchas más/ Que me sirvan de una vez pa’ todo el año/ Que me pienso seriamente emborrachar” (“For your love that I so deeply want and deeply miss/ Let them serve me another drink and many more/ Let them serve me all at once for the whole year/ Because I’m seriously planning to get drunk”)
Other artists who recorded the song: Vicente Fernández, Luis Miguel, Pedro Fernández, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Javier Solís
Listen to it here
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“Si Nos Dejan”
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}A song to love in all its splendor and to an unbreakable relationship.
Year of release: 1968
Key phrase: “Si nos dejan, nos vamos a querer toda la vida/ Si nos dejan nos vamos a vivir a un mundo nuevo” (“If they let us, we will love each other for a lifetime/ If they let us, we will live in a new world”)
Other artists who recorded it: Luis Miguel, Vicente Fernández, Rocío Dúrcal, Pedro Fernández, Jorge Negrete, Javier Solís, Natalia Jiménez
Listen to it here
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“El Rey”
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}An iconic track about the freedom to break away from restraints on expressions or thoughts, the freedom to live life without material wealth.
Year of release: 1971
Key Phrase: “Con dinero y sin dinero, hago siempre lo que quiero, y mi palabra es la ley/ No tengo trono ni reina, ni nadie que me comprenda, pero sigo siendo el rey” (“With money or without money, I always do what I want, and my word is the law/ I have no throne or queen, nor anyone who understands me, but I’m still the king”)
Other artists who recorded it: Vicente Fernández, Luis Miguel, Maná, Enrique Bunbury, Andrés Calamaro, Plácido Domingo, Antonio Aguilar, Banda El Recodo
Listen to it here
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“Te Solté la Rienda”
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}A warning that they will regret the love that has gone away.
Year of release: 1971
Key phrase: “Y cuando al fin comprendas que el amor bonito lo tenías conmigo/ Vas a extrañar mis besos en los propios brazos del que esté contigo” (“And when you finally understand that the beautiful love you had was with me/ You will miss my kisses in the arms of the one who is with you”)
Other artists who recorded it: Maná, Vicente Fernández, Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, Javier Solís, Pedro Infante, Chavela Vargas
Listen to it here
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“El Último Trago”
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}A vow to forget a failed relationship, the attempt to close a romantic chapter.
Year of release: 1972
Key phrase: “Esta noche no voy a rogarte, esta noche te vas de a de veras” (“Tonight I won’t beg you, tonight you’re truly leaving”)
Other artists who recorded it: Chavela Vargas, Buika, Natalia Jiménez, Alex Lora
Listen to it here
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“Que Te Vaya Bonito”
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}The message of good luck for the person who has decided to move away and take another path.
Year of release: 1972
Key phrase: “Ojalá que te vaya bonito, ojalá que se acaben tus penas/ Que te digan que yo ya no existo y conozcas personas más buenas/ Que te den lo que no pude darte, aunque yo te haya dado de todo” (“I hope things go well for you, I hope your sorrows come to an end/ That they tell you I no longer exist and you meet better people/ That they give you what I couldn’t give you, even though I gave you everything”)
Other artists who recorded it: Natalia Jiménez, Pedro Fernández, Tania Libertad, Lupillo Rivera
Listen to it here
