“Are you a taxi driver?” -asked the security lady after taking my details.

“No, why?”- I ask, genuinely befuddled.

“Every time you drive by this gate you’re listening to ‘taxi driver music’.” She remarks.

I teach English at a company in a remote industrial park in what used to be the outskirts of Mexico City, gobbled and now just another part of the neverending suburbs. I start at 7 AM then leave at 9 AM, when the rest of the company arrives. I don’t need to leave my ID at the gate, but we get registered, including name and licence plate. Guards start to recognise you but still have a job to do.

The woman I had this conversation with has seen me twice. The first time I was listening to Kings of Leon. This time I was listening to Modern Lovers’ Pablo Picasso. Neither are super popular musicians with taxi drivers in Mexico City, but still felt an amusing retort. I think The Beatles, the Doors, or The Rolling Stones would be a common find, but more often than not, Mexican taxis will have salsa, Juan Gabriel, Rocío Dúrcal or any this or that balladeers from old times. Or just tune to ballad/regional stations.

I can’t claim to love Modern Lovers, I like a few songs but that’s all. Pablo Picasso I found due to being it featured on the classic Repo Man soundtrack. That version by Burning Sensations changes the dank bar atmosphere of Modern Lovers’ version (itself a cover) into a a slacking gem. Modern Lovers’ version is detached of itself vocally but still full of emotion. Dunno if that makes sense, but I had a weird day…

What constitutes “taxi music” to you?

-Sam J. Valdés López