El Mentado Lyrics in English by Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes Del Rancho
Mentado literally translates to "mentioned" or "talked about," but in Mexican Spanish, especially in the context of corridos, it often means "well-known" or "famous," frequently with a hint of notoriety or being infamous.
In "El Mentado," the singer embraces this identity, stating, "Ahora que soy muy mentado" (Now that I'm very well-known). It's a key word that captures the song's theme of rising from humble beginnings to a position of respect and recognition, despite the envy and new-found attention from fair-weather friends.
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes Del Rancho's "El Mentado" is a really interesting look at what happens when someone becomes famous. The singer talks about how, now that he's "muy mentado" [very well-known], everyone who was uninterested before is suddenly looking for him. He reflects on how life changes, saying "Mientras la moneda gira, El de abajo va pa arriba" [While the coin spins, the one on the bottom goes to the top].
He's pretty blunt about how people treat him differently now that he has money, noting, "Hoy con respeto es el trato" [Today the treatment is with respect]. It's clear he remembers when things were tough, mentioning "Cuando miraban el piojo, Nunca voltearon sus ojos" [When they saw the louse, they never turned their eyes] and how he had to scratch his own itch. But even with all the new attention, he insists he's still "el sencillo" [the simple one] and that those who come for the shine will humble themselves. He values loyalty and sincerity above all, stating, "Pocas sillas en mi mesa, Y una palabra que pesa, Vale más que todo el oro" [Few chairs at my table, And a word that weighs, is worth more than all the gold]. He ends by thanking God for his life and for protecting him from envy.
