--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up singing Mexican music, and…" description: "\"I grew up singing Mexican music, and that's based on indigenous Mexican rhythms. Mexican music also has an overlay of West African music, based on huap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/linda-ronstadt-2836_african-music_i-grew-up-singing-mexican-music-and-that_62657.png" --- # I grew up singing Mexican music, and that's based on… ![“I grew up singing Mexican music, and that's based on indigenous Mexican rhythms. Mexican music also has an overlay of West African music, based on huapango drums, and it's kind of like a 6/8 time signature, but it really is a very syncopated 6/8. And that's how I attack vocals.” quote by Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/linda-ronstadt-2836_african-music_i-grew-up-singing-mexican-music-and-that_62657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/linda-ronstadt-2836_african-music_i-grew-up-singing-mexican-music-and-that_62657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/linda-ronstadt-2836_african-music_i-grew-up-singing-mexican-music-and-that_62657.png) > “I grew up singing Mexican music, and that's based on indigenous Mexican rhythms. Mexican music also has an overlay of West African music, based on huapango drums, and it's kind of like a 6/8 time signature, but it really is a very syncopated 6/8. And that's how I attack vocals.” [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She explains how her vocal style is shaped by Mexican music's indigenous rhythms and African‑influenced syncopated 6/8 patterns. **In simple terms:** Cultural rhythm shapes vocal delivery. Key Takeaway Rhythmic heritage informs singing technique. Themes Cultural fusion Rhythmic complexity Vocal technique Heritage influence Music anthropology Mood Inspirational Reflective Curious Type Educational Descriptive When to use this quote - Learning vocal styles - Music education - Cross‑cultural collaborations - Songwriting workshops Key Concepts Syncopation 6/8 meter Indigenous Mexican rhythms African diaspora Practical Applications - Designing vocal warm‑ups - Creating rhythm‑based vocal exercises Questions to Reflect On - How does rhythmic background affect vocal phrasing? - What other musical traditions use syncopated 6/8? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-music/) [Indigenous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous/) [Mexican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexican/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) ## Related quotes > [I made a living out of singing Mexican music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-rivera/i-made-a-living-out-of-singing-mexican-music/) [Jenni Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-rivera/) > [Mexican music runs through my veins. I loved it. Growing up, my father didn't allow us to listen to English music at home. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-rivera/mexican-music-runs-through-my-veins-i-loved-it-growing-up-my-father/) [Jenni Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-rivera/) > [It was something very beautiful because we all had that interest. We were very close to all of the different groups of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-isaac-albarran-ortega/it-was-something-very-beautiful-because-we-all-had-that-interest-we/) [Ruben Isaac Albarran Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-isaac-albarran-ortega/) > [My wife is Mexican, and she's really influenced me: She's got an impressive collection of Mexican music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brown/my-wife-is-mexican-and-she-s-really-influenced-me-she-s-got-an/) [Ian Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-brown/) > [I think the United States is extremely important for Mexican music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fernandez/i-think-the-united-states-is-extremely-important-for-mexican-music/) [Vicente Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fernandez/) > [The biggest inspiration I had was to take norteno soul music and fuse it with Mexican music. It was my great big idea to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/the-biggest-inspiration-i-had-was-to-take-norteno-soul-music-and-fuse/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [California is full of Mexican culture and Mexican music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/california-is-full-of-mexican-culture-and-mexican-music/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [When people think of Mexican music, they most often think of mariachi, and that, of course, is one part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-unkrich/when-people-think-of-mexican-music-they-most-often-think-of-mariachi/) [Lee Unkrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-unkrich/) > [I grew up across the street from, you know, the Villarias, which was a great Mexican family there. In fact, there was three houses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/i-grew-up-across-the-street-from-you-know-the-villarias-which-was-a/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [American music has infiltrated the entire world enough as it is. Mexican music must be defended with vigilance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/american-music-has-infiltrated-the-entire-world-enough-as-it-is/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [Growing up, my grandmother did not want worldly music in the house. Then when I went out to California, I started listening to Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/growing-up-my-grandmother-did-not-want-worldly-music-in-the-house/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [My family is still in Los Angeles. We listened to all sorts of music: Mexican music, oldies, soul, disco and rock & roll. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-sandoval/my-family-is-still-in-los-angeles-we-listened-to-all-sorts-of-music/) [Hope Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-sandoval/) > [I just wanted to sing, and I didn't want my music to be unique to the US. I wanted Africans to hear it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letta-mbulu/i-just-wanted-to-sing-and-i-didn-t-want-my-music-to-be-unique-to-the/) Letta Mbulu > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I like African music, and I'm a huge Ravi Shankar fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-like-african-music-and-i-m-a-huge-ravi-shankar-fan/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) ## More by Linda Ronstadt > [Rampant eclecticism is my middle name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/rampant-eclecticism-is-my-middle-name/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I wish I had as much in bed as I get in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-wish-i-had-as-much-in-bed-as-i-get-in-the-newspapers/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the singing I did was private singing - it was in the shower, at the dishwasher, driving my car, singing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-singing-i-did-was-private-singing-it-was/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I always thought competition was for horse races and it never belonged in art. I never felt that competitive with other girl singers, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-always-thought-competition-was-for-horse-races-and-it-never/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I grew up in a big sky country. Then I lived in Manhattan, where you can only see the sky between buildings, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-grew-up-in-a-big-sky-country-then-i-lived-in-manhattan-where-you/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Art is for healing ourselves, and everybody needs their own personal art to heal up their problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/art-is-for-healing-ourselves-and-everybody-needs-their-own-personal/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [the relentless touring and endless repetition of the same songs over and over again promoted a creeping awareness that my music had begun to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/the-relentless-touring-and-endless-repetition-of-the-same-songs-over/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [“We wanted to sing about the passions of mature women: love and concern for our children, love between trusted and treasured friends, the precariousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/we-wanted-to-sing-about-the-passions-of-mature-women-love-and-concern/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I never thought of myself as a rock singer. I was interested in songs like 'Heart Like a Wheel,' and I liked the others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-rock-singer-i-was-interested-in-songs/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [If you don't have story to tell the public at large - you have to be able to sort of go listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/if-you-don-t-have-story-to-tell-the-public-at-large-you-have-to-be/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I am a believer in discipline; it takes a lot to do well. You need discipline for those little excursions into the chaotic that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-am-a-believer-in-discipline-it-takes-a-lot-to-do-well-you-need/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [“Since there are always talented players in these emerging categories, no matter how grating they may be to the ear of the more traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/since-there-are-always-talented-players-in-these-emerging-categories/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I'd go over to my grandmother's house, and she'd be playing opera. They loved opera. Not only did they play it on the radio,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-d-go-over-to-my-grandmother-s-house-and-she-d-be-playing-opera-they/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Marijuana has a lot of very good medical uses, and I truly believe it should be legal, but for just recreational use it wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/marijuana-has-a-lot-of-very-good-medical-uses-and-i-truly-believe-it/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [The smell of the carpet in a hotel room is the same everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/the-smell-of-the-carpet-in-a-hotel-room-is-the-same-everywhere/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) [Explore all 148 Linda Ronstadt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) ## More African music quotes > [I like African music, and I'm a huge Ravi Shankar fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-like-african-music-and-i-m-a-huge-ravi-shankar-fan/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I just wanted to sing, and I didn't want my music to be unique to the US. I wanted Africans to hear it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letta-mbulu/i-just-wanted-to-sing-and-i-didn-t-want-my-music-to-be-unique-to-the/) Letta Mbulu > [I like African music but also R&B, rap, alternative rock, and classic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mousa-dembele/i-like-african-music-but-also-r-b-rap-alternative-rock-and-classic/) [Mousa Dembele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mousa-dembele/) > [As players of instruments, it is our duty to reach out and give light to those in the dark in whatever way that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sizzla/as-players-of-instruments-it-is-our-duty-to-reach-out-and-give-light/) [Sizzla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sizzla/) > [The African people and tribal chiefs are hospitable, and African music and dances are invigorating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-keqiang/the-african-people-and-tribal-chiefs-are-hospitable-and-african-music/) [Li Keqiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-keqiang/) > [“Most people write me off when they see me. They do not know my story. They say I am just an African. They judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idowu-koyenikan/most-people-write-me-off-when-they-see-me-they-do-not-know-my-story/) [idowu koyenikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idowu-koyenikan/) > [The curious beauty of African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad tale. You may be poor, you may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-curious-beauty-of-african-music-is-that-it-uplifts-even-as-it/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I was raised on African music, Harry Belafonte, and the Boston Pops. Then I got a dose of soul and hip-hop. I related to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantastic-negrito/i-was-raised-on-african-music-harry-belafonte-and-the-boston-pops/) [Fantastic Negrito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantastic-negrito/) > [Classical music gives musicians a kick. But African music gives everyone a kick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-kuti/classical-music-gives-musicians-a-kick-but-african-music-gives/) [Fela Kuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-kuti/) > [I will never again play anything that does not have social significance. We American jazz musicians of African descent have proved beyond all doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-roach/i-will-never-again-play-anything-that-does-not-have-social/) [Max Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-roach/) > [My first introduction to African music was by my mother, who bought the 'Pata Pata' album by the great Miriam Makeba when it came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/my-first-introduction-to-african-music-was-by-my-mother-who-bought/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I was drawn to West Africa. I did listen to a bunch of different styles of African music, and there was something about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-goransson/i-was-drawn-to-west-africa-i-did-listen-to-a-bunch-of-different/) [Ludwig Goransson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-goransson/) > [I'm playing deep African music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-kuti/i-m-playing-deep-african-music/) [Fela Kuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-kuti/) > [There's this kind of dialogue between African music and dance music, especially Moroccan stuff, because it's kind of ceremonial and has built-in repetition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/there-s-this-kind-of-dialogue-between-african-music-and-dance-music/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) [Browse all 49 African music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I grew up singing Mexican music, and that's based on indigenous Mexican rhythms. 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