The Best Latin Music Hits of 2015
A list of the best Latin music hits of 2015. These are the songs that got everyone moving and shaking their hips.
Best Overall Hits
It’s been another great year for Latin music, with a wide range of hits crossing over into the mainstream. From reggaeton to cumbia, there’s something for everyone on this list of the best Latin music hits of 2015.
“Baila Baila Baila” – Ozuna
“Baila Baila Baila” is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Ozuna. It was released on April 6, 2018, as the third single from his second studio album Aura. The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and number one on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart.
“Despacito” – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” ft. Daddy Yankee was released in January 2017 and quickly became one of the most popular songs of the year. The music video has been viewed over 4 billion times on YouTube, making it the site’s most-watched video ever. “Despacito” also won three Latin Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year.
“El Amante” – Nicky Jam
Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Nicky Jam is a singer and actor who was born on March 17, 1981. His parents were both from Cape Verde. Nicky Jam began his musical career in 1992 with the group Los Cangris. The group disbanded in 1995, and Nicky Jam began working on his solo album, which was released in 2001. He has released several albums since then, including “Vida Escante” (2004), “The Black Carpet” (2007), and “Fenix” (2017).
Nicky Jam’s biggest hit to date is “El Amante”, which was released in January 2017. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “El Amante” is a reggaeton track with elements of R&B and hip-hop. The song’s lyrics are about a man who is thinking about his mistress and wondering if she is thinking about him as well.
Best Salsa Hits
musiclistnet.com has selected what they feel to be the best Salsa hits of 2015. This list of hits is based on popularity, reviews, and listening habits.
“La Bicicleta” – Carlos Vives ft. Shakira
Released in May, “La Bicicleta” became an immediate favorite, ruling the airwaves throughout the summer. The song is a nostalgic ode to childhood memories of riding bikes around the neighborhood with friends. It’s a classic example of the type of feel-good, country-flavored pop that Vives does so well. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s joined by Colombia’s biggest pop export, Shakira.
“Shaky Shaky” – Daddy Yankee
This reggaeton banger from Daddy Yankee was inescapable in 2015, thanks to its angular beat and catchy hook. The song’s lyrics are a celebration of dance, specifically the ‘shaky shake’ move that went viral on social media. Whether you loved it or hated it, there’s no denying that “Shaky Shaky” was one of the biggest hits of the year.
“El Perdón” – Nicky Jam ft. Enrique Iglesias
“El Perdón” (English: “The Forgiveness”) is a song recorded by Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias and American singer Nicky Jam. It was released on 8 March 2015 as the lead single from Iglesias’ compilation album, Latin Hits (2015). The song peaked at number one in many countries including Spain, Mexico, Italy, France, Switzerland and Ecuador.
Best Merengue Hits
If you’re a fan of Latin music, 2015 was a great year. A lot of great hits came out, including some greatmerengue hits. Merengue is a popular style of music from the Dominican Republic. It’s known for its fast beat and catchy rhythms.
“El Taxi” – Osmani Garcia ft. Pitbull
“El Taxi” is a 2015 Latin pop song by Cuban singer and rapper Osmani Garcia. The song features American rapper Pitbull, and was released as a single on April 21, 2015. The song became a massive hit in Latin America and the United States, reaching number one in several countries.
“La Gozadera” – Gente de Zona ft. Marc Anthony
“La Gozadera” is a song recorded by Cuban composer/producer duo Gente de Zona and American singer Marc Anthony. It was released on June 16, 2015, by Sony Music Latin as the lead single from the former’s upcoming studio album Visualízate. The song topped the Billboard Latin Songs chart in August 2015 and became one of Anthony’s most successful dance hits in recent years.
“Bailame” – Nacho
“Bailame” is a song recorded by Venezuelan singer and songwriter Nacho. The reggaeton track was written by Descemer Bueno, Miguel Delgado, Gino Peguri and Itagüí Correa and produced by Peguri. It was released as a single on July 10, 2015, by Universal Music Latino.
A critical and commercial success, “Bailame” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States and at number two in Spain. The track received a Latin Grammy Award nomination for Song of the Year at the 2016 ceremony.
Best Bachata Hits
It’s no secret that Latin music is having a moment right now. From reggaeton to cumbia to bachata, there’s a Latin sound for everyone. And 2015 was a great year for Latin music, with plenty of hits that had us dancing all year long. Here are our picks for the best bachata hits of 2015.
“Amor Prohibido” – Romeo Santos
This song, along with a few others, is often credited with helping to bring Bachata mainstream. “Amor Prohibido” is a story of forbidden love and features the classic Bachata sound of original style artists like Luis Vargas.
“Hasta Que Te Conocí” – Juan Gabriel
Juan Gabriel is a Mexican singer, songwriter and actor. He is considered one of the most prolific Mexican composers of all time. His songs often tell stories of love, heartbreak and humor, making them relatable to many Latin American fans. “Hasta Que Te Conocí” is one of his most popular ballads. The song tells the story of a man who was once lonely and unhappy, but found love and happiness when he met the woman of his dreams.
“My Angel” – Prince Royce
“My Angel” is a song recorded by Dominican singer Prince Royce. It was written by Royce, SERVando Primera, Javier Solís and Jorge Luis Piloto, and produced by Erick Sánchez and Royce. The track was released on January 13, 2015 as the fourth single from his fifth studio album, Soy el Mismo.
The song peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and number eight on the Latin Rhythm Songs chart.
Best Reggaeton Hits
2015 was a big year for Latin music, and reggaeton was one of the most popular genres. So, without further ado, let’s get into the best reggaeton hits of 2015.
“Ginza” – J. Balvin
“Ginza” by J. Balvin is one of the most popular reggaeton hits of 2015. The song peaked at number one on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and was also nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Performance.
“Bobo” – J. Balvin
Bobo is a reggaeton single by Colombian singer J. Balvin, released on March 21, 2016. The song peaked at number one in Colombia and number nine in the United States, becoming Balvin’s first top ten hit in the latter country.
“El Perdón” – Nicky Jam ft. Enrique Iglesias
“El Perdón” (English: “The Forgiveness”) is a song by American singer Nicky Jam and Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias. It was released on March 10, 2015, by Cosmopolitan Records, Sony Music Latin and Republic Records as the lead single from Jam’s eighth studio album Fenix (2017) and Iglesias’s tenth studio album Sex and Love (2014). The song was written by Nick Rivera Caminero, Enrique Iglesias, Jordan Torres, Juan Vélez, Gísela Wenzelmüller Velásquez and its producer Sergio George. “El Perdón” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States for three consecutive weeks, becoming both artists’ first number one single on the chart as soloists. It also peaked at number one in Spain, number two in Venezuela and number five in Mexico. It became the longest-running number one hit of 2015 in the United States with nineteen weeks at the top of the Hot Latin Songs chart until it was surpassed by “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona.
An accompanying music video for “El Perdón” was shot in Miami and directed by Erik White. In the video, Jam and Iglesias sing while walking around different backdrops including a bridge, an alleyway and a brick wall with graffiti.
