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Song: Why are the lyrics, "I'm sorry for the sombrero thing on Cinco de Mayo" funny?

English Language Learners Asked on October 1, 2021

I am sorry for watching and enjoying this sketch, to keep my dementia at bay, (only available in some countries, sorry). In the sketch, a singer performs a Spanish song (you can see the English subtitles) which is called, "A Latin pop star’s Spanish-language hit delivers a pointed message to its ignorant white fans.". Now from 1:54, he sings, "I’m sorry for the sombrero thing on Cinco de Mayo". What would be funny about this line or would the line just be meaningless if the whole theme is "A Latin pop star’s Spanish-language hit delivers a pointed message to its ignorant white fans."?

*I know what sombrero is.

*Cinco de Mayo : Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Wednesday, May 5 in 2021, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

I didn’t know about Cinco de Mayo. But it looks like it is not at all offensive to the U.S people even if the sketch theme is "A Latin pop star’s Spanish-language hit delivers a pointed message to its ignorant white fans."?

Does it mean anything or is it just nonsense?

One Answer

The song is a comedy sketch. It is a satire on people who sing songs that they do not know the meaning of the words just because the melody is catchy. The artist is complaining about his dislike of singing for ignorant fans right to the ignorant fans. But, none of them know what he is saying because it sounds nice. He then gets the fans to sing along. Therefore, he is getting them to say things that they do not know what they are saying. It’s synonymous to teaching someone else’s toddler curse words. Then, sending them back home to their parents. ROTFLOL, right?

**The singer at time stamp 1:30 gets the crowd to sing “We’re white and we’re oblivious. There’s so much to apologize for! I’m sorry for cultural [mis]appropriation!”

So, although wearing a sombrero on Cinco de Mayo is not in itself offensive, the cultural misappropriation of a person not of Mexican heritage doing so might be looked upon as inappropriate by an actual Mexican or Mexican-American person. It is similar to anyone of any culture wearing an item, article of clothing, or decoration without truly recognizing its significance for the cultural from which it originated. Just because they like the look.

Case in point:

  • Don’t wear a green, tan, blue, gray, red or maroon beret on a US military installation (unless you are a child).
  • Don’t randomly wear a turban for fashion.
  • Don’t wear a Catholic priest’s collar as a joke.
  • Don’t wear red-face paint and a feathered head-dress to a sporting event.
  • Don’t get tattoos in a language foreign to you unless you know exactly what it says.
  • The list goes on.

What may not be offensive to you or me, may be highly offensive to a person from another culture.

P.S.
Lola is a dude.
The Summer of 69 has nothing to do with baseball, barbecues and pool parties.
And, Born in the USA is not at all patriotic.

Correct answer by Dean F. on October 1, 2021

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