El Patron's Playlist-Cam

The Alan Parson’s Project-Games People Play

The Alan Parson’s project was popular during the 1970’s and early 80’s. This song speaks of all of the people that you love leaving you alone and moving on with their lives. El Patron experienced this seeing that he outlived all of his friends and enemies. El Patron has no one to turn to. His closest friend is a clone, of himself. How would you feel during his time? This song takes the concept of being left by all of the people in your life, friend or foe and adds an upbeat melody. The song also speaks of the games people play. It doesn’t specify just what games but this could easily be translated to the large drug trade that El Patron manages as well as the game of staying in power and alive. The entire Alacran family is ruthless and is lusting to be in charge of the estate, the very life of El Patron has become a game. The amount of money and power he has as well as the constant threat of death and being overthrown could have come from the scenes of a Grand Theft Auto game. This song from the Alan Parson’s Project could easily find its way onto the iPod of the ruthless drug lord, El Patron.

Bad Company-Bad Company

This classic rock song by Bad company talks about one’s bad company, or bad record following them through their life, “till the day they die”. El Patron grew up in a small town that was violent and poor (Farmer ch14). In the earlier chapters, many if not all of the characters were mortified of the great El Patron. El Patron has the ability to instill many with a sense of fear, he enjoys that. He enjoys the influence he has over all in the Alacran estate. The song gives the listener a “powerful bad boy” mood and as we’ve seen throughout the novel El Patron has this down to an art and loves that exact feeling. El Patron manages the large country of Opium which we’ve covered before, is a large Opium producing country. El Patron takes any people who he finds crossing his lands (Farmer 14) and employs them as Eejits. Essentially robots who work until dead. He is known by people outside of Opium as one of the “most vicious and self serving men”. El Patron is so frightening that even his clone can instill fear into people. Matt was able to change the attitude of the Farm Patrol just by stating he was the clone of El Patron (17). El Patron can instill many with fear and he loves to be able to do that. Seeing that this song gives a feeling of control and nastiness to the listener, this truly could be an anthem to El Patron. 

Ain’t that a Kick in the Head-Dean Martin

This classic song by Dean Martin speaks of being young and being a gentlemen as well as in love. El Patron, without a doubt has class. As he came out in his grand fashion during the party he would have been dressed incredibly well. El Patron can be ruthless but he also can be a more classic gentlemen. The entire home is styled as though it was built in the 1800’s, to the point where there is no air conditioning and no computers. Seeing that he is 148 years of age (Farmer 20) he has an older taste and enjoys being a wealthy gentlemen, as displayed in chapter 11 when he made his grand entrance to his birthday party. El Patron’s lust to be healthy and young is displayed  in the fact that he has created a copy of himself so he can watch himself be young again. We know this due to the fact that El Patron chose not to blunt the intelligence of his clone (1) so he could watch his life again. The song keeps the listener joyful and feeling youthfull through its melody and lyrics which speak of being young and gentlemen like. As El Patron grows older, he is becoming bored of his possessions (18) and has truly seen it all, this song could be used to keep him cheerful and remind him of his younger days, which he talks about endlessly to Matt and to the many others who attended his birthday party.

When I'm 64- The Beatles

This classic be-bop song could relate to El Patron, obviously through the concepts of the song at hand, El Patron is of old age and this song speaks of old age. Now, El Patrons tries to maintain his youthfulness as much as possible to the point where he has created another version of himself (Matt) to watch him go through life just as he did. Not only does El Patron enjoy being as youthful as possible but he also likes to laugh or be entertained. In chapter 11, he found Matt's sudden demand for a kiss from Maria amusing and sat with his mouth in a wide grin as the situation played out before him. Also in chapter 11, he and MacGregor sat beside each other and made small talk over their surgeries and what else they could fix in their old, worn bodies. Essentially, El Patron could laugh about the music lyrics of the song and how he may experience some of the things said in the song such as wanting his family to still call and stay in contact, remember his birthday and never forget him. As humans, we like to be able to relate to something and El Patron is no different. Now that MacGregor has passed, there are no others on the Alacran estate who are as old as he is. This song by the Beatles could be something to laugh at or something to relate to, both of which El Patron enjoys being able to do.