"Cell Mates" is a song by the Los Angeles-based punk rock band The Bronx, released as the first single from their 2009 album Mariachi El Bronx. The album marks a divergence from the band's usual hardcore punk and hard rock sound in favor of a mariachi style. In June 2008 the band posted a video to YouTube of themselves performing "Cell Mates" in mariachi style under the name "Mariachi El Bronx",[1] an alter ego persona that the band has used to promote and perform the album.

"Cell Mates"
Cover of "Cell Mates"
Single by The Bronx
from the album Mariachi El Bronx
A-side"Cell Mates"
B-side"I Would Die 4 U"
ReleasedAugust 10, 2009
RecordedMarch 2008 at Brandos Paradise in San Gabriel, California
GenreMariachi
LabelWichita (WEBB 227S)
Songwriter(s)Matt Caughthran, Joby J. Ford, Vincent Hidalgo, Ken Horne, Brad Magers, Jorma Vik
Producer(s)John Avila
The Bronx singles chronology
"Young Bloods"
(2009)
"Cell Mates"
(2009)
Audio sample
A sample of the song's chorus. The mariachi style was in stark contrast to the band's previous hardcore punk and hard rock sound.

While the album was released by Swami Records, the singles for all of their albums have been released exclusively in the United Kingdom, through Wichita Recordings. The single was released as a translucent green 7-inch vinyl and limited to 1,500 copies. The B-side song is a cover version of Prince's "I Would Die 4 U", originally released on the tribute album Purplish Rain in June 2009.[2] The single's cover artwork was designed by guitarist Joby J. Ford.

The music video for "Cell Mates" was directed by Josh Litwhiler and premiered on August 27, 2009.[3][4] Filmed at La Cita, a bar in downtown Los Angeles, it depicts the band performing while wearing traditional mariachi-style costumes. Though most of the patrons do not acknowledge the band, a young waitress takes notice and stands attentively in front of the stage. As the band continues to play, decorative lights embedded in their costumes begin to illuminate and blink. At the end of the song, red lights in the waitress' shirt illuminate to form a heart over her left breast.[3][4]

Track listing

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Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cell Mates"Mariachi El Bronx2:36
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Would Die 4 U" (originally performed by Prince)Prince 

Personnel

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[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Bronx: "PR Rules"". Punknews.org. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  2. ^ "Riverboat Gamblers, Mariachi El Bronx, Of Montreal on Prince tribute". Punknews.org. 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  3. ^ a b "Mariachi El Bronx "Cell Mates" Video". Thebronxxx.com. The Bronx. 2009-08-27. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Videos: Mariachi el Bronx: "Cell Mates"". Punknews.org. 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  5. ^ Mariachi El Bronx (CD). The Bronx. San Diego: Swami Records. 2009. 139.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)