Christian Nodal officially made his debut with his heartfelt “Adios Amor” in early 2017, which single-handedly landed him on the international radar. Since then, his music has topped the Billboard charts and nabbed coveted awards, including three Latin Grammys, making him one of Regional Mexican music’s biggest stars of today.
Although many newcomers — such as Eslabon Armado and Natanael Cano — are making waves in their own lanes and creating interesting fusions between corridos and urbano, Nodal does not stay far behind either.
In fact, the “AyAyAy!” singer, who on Monday (Jan. 11) celebrates his 22nd birthday, has given his own twist to traditional Regional Mexican music many times. In his own words: “I’m taking advantage because I’m young and because I love music in general. I want to take Regional Mexican to the next level,” he previously told Billboard.
Check out some examples below.
His Norteño-Tropical Hybrids
Just months after making his debut with “Adios Amor,” Nodal dropped his own version of Luis Enrique’s “Yo No Se Mañana,” giving it a ranchera and salsa twist. The fusion sounded so fresh and clever that Nodal included two infectious tropical-Norteño hybrids on his 2020 album AyAyAy!: “No Es Justo X El” and “Venganza Cumplida.” “Everybody on my team was against those songs,” he told Billboard. “When someone says no to me, I do it with more heart.”
Where Mariachi and Country Music Meet
In “Se Me Olvido,” penned by Nodal, Edgar Barrera, and Geovani Cabrera just weeks before the pandemic lockdown, Christian Nodal did not shy away from marrying Mariachi with Country music. In the feel-good song, Nodal sings about feeling better and happier after a breakup.
Collaborating With Different Genres
Although Christian Nodal is yet to test the trap corridos waters, he has already fused his signature sound with urban music in the Piso 21-assisted “Pa’ Olvidarme de Ella.” In “Esta Noche” with Sebastian Yatra, “La Mitad” with Camilo, and the recently released “Poco” with Reik, Nodal has proven that Regional and Pop music make sense together. And because experimenting and changing the game does not end there for Nodal, “Tequila,” in which he teamed up with Juanes, is a captivating rock-cumbia with hints of ranchera.
