As not seen on TV

Hector Saldaña , San Antonio Express-News on what was not shown on the “Today” show:

Campanas de America has sung it for presidents, but the mariachis won’t be singing “El Son de La Negra” on “Today.”

That popular folk song, whose title translates to “The Song of the Black Woman,” was the renowned mariachis’ first choice for their performance Wednesday on the “Today” show. But the show’s producers asked Campanas de America not to sing it when “Today” broadcasts from the Arneson River Theater next week.

“It’s the mariachi national anthem,” said Belle Ortiz, manager of Campanas de America. “We always play ‘El Son de La Negra.’ Everybody plays it.”

The reason for rejecting it? “Because they didn’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings because of the name of the song,” Ortiz said.

“… I guess people are not going to be able to play ‘Black Magic Woman’ by Santana, and I could just go on and on. There’s no good reason not to play this song. It’s like ‘Yellow Rose of Texas.’ It’s an endearment.”

Ok, it’s not San Antonio’s Campanas de America, and it’s not the Today Show. But here’s Son de Negra with Mariachi Vargas from a Japanese television program.