# What's the Mexican equivalent of that Oriental theme? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mexican-equivalent-of-that-oriental-theme/431670 "2007-12-30T03:51:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mexican-equivalent-of-that-oriental-theme/431670/1 "2007-12-30T03:51:31Z")
If you watch a lot of movies or TV, you’re probably familiar with that piece of [stereotypical Oriental music](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Asian_Riff) that typically ends with a gong being sounded, and is often played during introduction shots with captions like “Hong Kong” or “Tokyo”- In short, you hear that music and you know that the events being depicted are taking place somewhere in Asia and not Dar-Es-Salaam or Barstow. I know there’s a Mexican equivalent piece of music- often played in things like old Speedy Gonzales cartoons, or in humourous situations where someone inexplicably finds themselves at a Mexican fiesta wearing a sombrero and a poncho, with a bottle of Tequila in one hand. But I cannot for the life of me find out what it’s called- it’s not _Little Spanish Flea_, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out the song I’m looking for had been recorded by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass at some point. Anyone out there know the piece of music I’m referring to? It’s been driving me mad trying to work it out… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mexican-equivalent-of-that-oriental-theme/431670/2 "2007-12-30T03:56:26Z")
[Mexican Hat Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mru5qKHEss)? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mexican-equivalent-of-that-oriental-theme/431670/3 "2007-12-30T04:05:15Z")
[La Cucaracha](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cucaracha) comes to mind, immediatelyl ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mexican-equivalent-of-that-oriental-theme/431670/4 "2007-12-30T04:37:48Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] [Mexican Hat Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mru5qKHEss)? [/QUOTE] That’s the one! Thanks very much! I knew it had to have a name… 😃 The problem I’m now faced with is that if _I_ had no idea what it’s called, then I strongly doubt any of my intended readers will either. So I’m either faced with calling it “That stereotypical Mexican music” and hoping people don’t think I’m talking about _La Cucaracha_ or _Little Spanish Flea_, or calling the _Mexican Hat Dance_ and hoping people work it out for themselves… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mexican-equivalent-of-that-oriental-theme/431670/5 "2007-12-30T04:42:22Z")
It is quite well known as the _Mexican Hat Dance_, and easy to look up if they don’t know it. I say tell them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-mexican-equivalent-of-that-oriental-theme/431670/6 "2007-12-30T06:01:11Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] It is quite well known as the _Mexican Hat Dance_, and easy to look up if they don’t know it. I say tell them. [/QUOTE] I agree–I think it’s a fairly well-known song by name. I have two guests here, and, from my small sample, both knew exactly what song I was talking about when I asked them to hum “The Mexican Hat Dance.” I would use the title in your story–it’s common enough.