The Krayolas’ “1070(I’m Your Dirty Mexican)” is creating quite a stir in these parts and now nationally! YES!

By ‘Rebel’ Rod Ames

The Krayolas spent their last Sunday venting their frustrations (to put it mildly) on Arizona’s latest atrociously idiotic, SB1070. How did they vent? They recorded another protest song.

The last time they did this was with “Corridor 12 Heads in a Bag” which tells of the anguish being lived by our neighbors south of the border. This latest tune is called “1070 (I’m Your Dirty Mexican)” and it is a doozy!

This song is emotionally driven by the notoriously famous SB1070 passed in Arizona where an entire nationality can be singled out and asked to prove there origins by carrying their papers with them. If they cannot produce, then they are subject to certain consequences, i.e. deportation, in some cases separating parents from their American born children. Is that not some sort of reverse abortion?

Sound familiar? It should. Not since Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union have we seen such an action taken by a government. I hear constantly from the right and reports from various talking heads on TV that we are losing our rights. I personally have not noticed the loss of any rights, until now. However, I do not believe we are losing them; we are releasing them or signing them away with ridiculous laws such as SB1070.

One argument I have personally heard is; “well, if you’ve got nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about”, or “they can pull me over anytime they want. I have nothing to hide”.

Folks, this is just the beginning. A Pandora’s Box, if you will. Today we profile Mexicans. I hear a lot of negative language about our French friends from across the pond. Maybe we should start checking their papers as well. Where does it stop? I’m a liberal. What if the extreme right were to get their clutches on the constitution and put liberals in internment camps? Or visa-versa? Sounds ridiculous, right? Well go back and read your history books (just not the text books in Texas schools-another blog for another time).

Okay, there’s my rant.

The important aspect is SB1070 and how dangerous something like SB1070 can potentially be. Not since Woody Guthrie gave his all to bring attention to injustices to American workers during the early parts of the 20th century, and Bob Dylan’s ushering in the anti-establishment movement of the 60’s, have I heard such a prolifically strong and straight from the heart, and straight through the heart piece of poetry set to music.

Hector Saldana of the San Antonio based Tejano/rock/blues/Americana band The Krayolas, penned this amazing piece of musical history. Mr. Saldana explained, “On Sunday, The Krayolas recorded a new song called “1070 (I’m Your Dirty Mexican)” protesting Arizona S.B. 1070 and mashing it up, lyrically, with the idiotic ‘dirty Mexican’ tweet by the Dallas radio sportscaster” (in response to the Dallas Maverick’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs).

Even though this remarkable tune was actually written and recorded as a protest to an anti-family based Arizona law, the trigger or catalyst for the birth of the song was when radio sportscaster Mike Bacsik of KTCK “The Ticket” radio in Dallas tweeted, “congratulations to all the dirty mexicans in San Antonio”.

You may also remember Bacsik as the pitcher who notoriously gave up Barry Bond’s record-breaking, alleged steroid induced 756th home-run. The statement was about the most stupid thing a broadcaster could do. He has since been fired for his incredibly insensitive and offensive remark. Good riddance! I’m sure Fox News will pick up his show somewhere. I hear Sean Hannity needs a new sidekick, and I’m quite sure Glen Beck is shedding some crocodile tears over him losing his job.

Enough said about the moron from Dallas though.

Mr. Saldana went on to say, “We recorded it fast in the spirit of The Who when they went into the studio and cut a single in solidarity for The Stones when they were busted in the ’60s. My mom helped me get the poetry of the Spanish lyrics just right.”

“1070 (I’m Your Dirty Mexican)” is a song that needed writing and Mr. Saldana accepted the challenge. It has garnered him and The Krayolas some well-deserved attention from around the state and to some degree, nationally.

Mr. Saldana said, “Less than 12 hours after we recorded it, KEDA Radio in San Antonio gave it multiple spins as did KSYM also of San Antonio, and KUT in Austin. On Thursday, it’ll be on iTunes. It has been streaming for free at www.thekrayolas.com since Monday. We’re manufacturing a CD single for radio.”

Mr.Saldana added, “I put a sentence about the session up on Facebook on Monday and immediately was contacted by West Coast music writer Oscar Garza. He wrote about it and other music writers have contacted me and have now written about it.”

I hope this song can bring to light what is going on in this country. To help people see just how insensitive we have become. This isn’t about political correctness. Hell, in my opinion, that phrase wore out its welcome years ago. This is about doing the right thing.

As an acquaintance of mine, recording artist Tom Russell said in his song, “Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall”, which incidentally was inspired by a white developer in San Diego who kept getting busted for hiring illegal workers to build the wall to keep them out –

I’ve got 800 miles of open border – right outside my door. There’s minute men in little pick up trucks who’ve decleared their own damn war. Now the government wants to build a barrier like old Berlin 8 feet tall – But if Uncle Sam sends the illegals home who’s gonna build the wall?

Who’s gonna build your wall boys? Who’s gonna mow your lawn? Who’s gonna cook your mexican food when your mexican maid is gone? Who’s gonna wax the floors tonight down at the local mall?
Who’s gonna wash your baby’s face? Who’s gonna build your wall?

Think about it!