Since this is the year of the accordion, it has suddenly occurred to me that I should be playing El Tau Tau. Why? you ask. Well, it’s one of the greats. It’s played everywhere, at every party. Like most cumbias, it’s highly repetitive, and it might be simple, but the accordion parts are played very rapidly. In other words, it’s easier to pick out the tune than it is to play it with aplomb and adornos. Adornos are what make norteño and tejano accordion distinctive. The trills and noodling are downright magical. No matter that I now know the secrets to the magic tricks; like any apprentice magician, my own sleight of hand could use a great deal more practice.
The song is by one of my longtime favorites, Grupo Control. Their songs give me a thrill of happiness. Funny thing, I caught my son singing El Tao Tao today, and he admitted he had a playlist with Grupo Control on it. Being my son, he’s grown up listening to Mexican music but always professed to dislike it. His cover is now blown. It is funny the synchronous moments life brings us. I generally play my accordion while he is at basketball practice, so he isn’t exposed to my new song obsessions. I had been playing the song like a mad woman, and then I went for my walk-jog-dance through the neighborhood (it’s been below freezing for days, but the old lady dog still needs her walk — this old lady does too). When I returned, my son was home and singing El Tau Tau as if the notes of the accordion were still hanging in the air.
Grupo Control is not just distinctive for their magical cumbias; they also happen to now have that rare breed in norteño, a female accordion player. Her name is Jennifer Degollado; she’s the daughter of the main singer and bass player for the band. Previously, they had a male accordion player, though I’m not sure what he is doing now. Miss Degollado can also sing, which does not surprise me. Musical talents tend to be clustered in families. I’ll post a couple of videos below, one of the titular song, and another with Jennifer Degollado singing and playing.
Jill Domschot 