The vocal style emphasizes operatic qualities and instrumental performance demonstrates a level of virtuosity that conveys advanced musical training. Historically, mariachi groups have been made up of men but there is growing acceptance of female mariachis. As mariachi bands are expected to play requests, they may need to know hundreds of different songs. Most songs are about machismo (strong masculine pride), love, betrayal, death, revolutionary heroes and even animals and country life from the genre origins as rural son music. One particularly famous song is “La Cucaracha” (The Cockroach).

Most songs are about machismo (strong masculine pride), love, betrayal, death, revolutionary heroes and even animals and country life from the genre origins as rural son music. One particularly famous song is “La Cucaracha” (The Cockroach)