Music is an essential part of the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, a Mexican tradition that blends Indigenous roots with Christian customs from the Spanish colonial era and, according to historians, has evolved over time. It is one of the most beloved commemorations both within and beyond Mexico.
Decorations like tissue paper with cut-out shapes, marigold flowers, sugar skulls, pan de muerto (Day of the Dead bread), water, candles and the favorite food and drinks of departed loved ones fill altars in homes and public spaces to honor and “welcome” them back for a few hours to the world of the living. According to this tradition, every Nov. 1st and 2nd — dedicated to children and adults, respectively —the living and the dead reunite as the latter return from Mictlán, the name given by ancient Mexicans to the underworld.
In this celebration, death does not represent an absence but a living presence: a symbol of life that materializes in the altar, offered to those who are no longer with us. It is a colorful occasion with significant popular resonance, encompassing a wide range of meanings, from philosophical to material.
From cumbia to rock, rancheras, huapango and pop, artists like Chavela Vargas, Natalia Lafourcade, Carlos Rivera, Vicente Fernández, Luis Ángel “El Flaco,” Roco Pachukote, Silvana Estrada, Son Rompepera, Pehuenche and Renee Mooi have recorded songs exploring themes like absence, memories, love and hope, all of which deeply resonate with this popular celebration.
Here are 10 of the best songs, both old and new, to celebrate this Día de Muertos with.
