| Keyword |
Description |
| Tribute |
An act that shows respect or admiration for a person or group |
| Migration |
When people move to live in a different place |
| Folklore |
A type of comedy with silly, exaggerated physical actions, like falls or crashes |
The famous Mexican band Los Tigres del Norte appeared in an episode of “The Simpsons,” joining a long list of musical stars like Paul McCartney and U2. At the end of the episode, they played an original song called “El Corrido de Pedro y Homero,” which tells the story of Homer Simpson and Bumblebee Man as friends. This was the first time that regional Mexican music was featured on the show, and the episode is now available on Disney+ after airing on Fox. The writers explained that this was a special tribute to their Latin American fans, especially Mexican and Mexican-American viewers.
Los Tigres del Norte started in 1965 in Sinaloa, Mexico, and have become one of the most important Mexican bands in the world. They are known for singing about migration and social justice, and over the years, they have sold more than 32 million albums and won seven Grammy Awards and eleven Latin Grammys. In 2025, a street in Brooklyn was named after them, adding to another street in Chicago and their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the same Simpsons episode, Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu appears during a dangerous stunt at the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, and Humberto Vélez, the original Spanish voice of Homer in Latin America, also takes part.
In the story, Homer works as a stunt double for Bumblebee Man, a character who wears a bee costume and acts in a Spanish-language comedy show inside “The Simpsons.” The Los Tigres song, sung in Spanish, follows their friendship like a classic ballad. The show has often included Mexican culture, mentioning figures like Oscar de la Hoya, Carlos Santana and Guillermo del Toro, and showing elements such as Day of the Dead, Mexican food, mariachis and folklore, although some of these scenes have been criticized for stereotypes.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Regional Mexican music |
Música regional mexicana |
| Migration |
Migración |
| Comedy |
Comedia |
Time to discuss
- How can a cartoon help more people learn about Mexican culture?
- Is it important to hear Spanish songs in an English-language show? Why?
- Do you think famous bands in cartoons can inspire young people?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Write about a time when a TV show or movie helped you understand another culture.
- Explain why Los Tigres del Norte might be important for Mexican and Mexican-American fans.
