# Help identify this song (from Once Upon a Time in Mexico)

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-song-from-once-upon-a-time-in-mexico/243516
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 4, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-song-from-once-upon-a-time-in-mexico/243516 "2004-05-04T20:15:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-song-from-once-upon-a-time-in-mexico/243516/1 "2004-05-04T20:15:08Z")

</div>

Just watched the movie and I’m on a need-to-learn-guitar trip. Anyone know the name of the song he’s playing in the very beginning, when Cheech is telling Depp the story? You know, when the general stands up and _El_ takes his guitar out and starts playing, then the rest start laughing.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-song-from-once-upon-a-time-in-mexico/243516/2 "2004-05-04T20:28:52Z")

</div>

Is it any of [30 second samples?](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=3JG3WmkuUG&vcqty=1&ean=731383603822)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-song-from-once-upon-a-time-in-mexico/243516/3 "2004-05-05T00:06:55Z")

</div>

If the song continues into the opening gunfight, it is an old Spanish acoustic guitar standard called “Malaguena,” played on the soundtrack by the great Brian Setzer (on an electric guitar). I’m pretty sure it is one one of Setzer’s more recent albums, perhaps “'68 Comeback Special.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-this-song-from-once-upon-a-time-in-mexico/243516/4 "2004-05-05T03:25:19Z")

</div>

If it’s not from that, maybe it’s on the cd that Rodriguez did after the movies.  
[Try this one](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=6F223Vyu5E&vcqty=1&ean=731383604324). I have this cd and it’s great. Not all the songs were in the movie, but it might include the one you’re looking for.