The Top 100 Latin Songs of All Time

A comprehensive list of the top 100 Latin songs of all time, including classics and newer hits.

Introduction

Music is one of the most important aspects of Latin American culture. It is a way for people to express their emotions, tell their stories, and share their experiences. It is also a way to connect with other people and cultures. There are many different genres of Latin music, each with its own history and influences.

Some of the most popular genres of Latin music include:
-Reggaeton
-Salsa
-Bachata
-Merengue
-Cumbia
-Latin Pop

Each genre has its own unique sound and style. Reggaeton is a hip hop and reggae fusion that originated in Puerto Rico in the 1990s. Salsa is a popular genre of Cuban music that originated in the 1970s. Bachata is a genre of music from the Dominican Republic that has become popular all over Latin America and the world. Merengue is a fast-paced style of Dominican music that is often danced to at weddings and parties. Cumbia is a Colombian music genre that has African, indigenous, and Spanish influences. Latin pop is a genre of popular music that includes any number of styles, including salsa, reggaeton, bachata, cumbia, and merengue.

The following list includes some of the most popular Latin songs of all time. These songs come from all over Latin America and represent many different genres and styles. Whether you are looking for something to dance to or just want to hear some great music, these are the 100 top Latin songs of all time.

The 100 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time

Latin music has become one of the most popular genres in the world. From reggaeton to bachata, there are so many amazing Latin songs out there. But which ones are the greatest of all time? Here are the 100 greatest Latin songs of all time, according to experts.

100. “Bésame Mucho” – Consuelo Velázquez

“Bésame Mucho” (“Kiss Me a Lot”) is a song written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. A classic of popular music, it was popularized by Mexican singer and actress Katy Jurado in the film “No Te Enganes Corazón” in 1945. Since then, it has been recorded by many artists throughout the world.

“Bésame Mucho” is recognized as one of the most popular songs of all time, and has been covered by over 1,500 artists in myriad languages. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #78 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

99. “Mambo No. 5” – Pérez Prado

“Mambo No. 5” is a mambo and jive dance song originally recorded and composed by Cuban musician Pérez Prado in 1949. The song’s original title was “Mambo Jambo”, which is Spanish for “Hi, Hi”. It became a worldwide hit in 1950 and has been recorded by many artists. The most popular version of the song was recorded by Lou Bega in 1999.

The song consists of four verses, with each verse be populated by a different woman’s name announced in comical fashion over a distinctive horn riff:

“María, María / She reminds me of a west side story / Growing up in Spanish Harlem / Her father worked two jobs / So she could have the proper schooling / Now she’s working on her Ph.D.”

98. “La Bamba” – Ritchie Valens

“La Bamba” is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll’s best-known songs. The song ranked at number 98 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time”.

97. “El Rey” – José Alfredo Jiménez

José Alfredo Jiménez’s “El Rey” is a ranchera classic. The Mexican singer-songwriter penned the tune in the 1950s, and it has been covered by everyone from Vicente Fernández to Luis Miguel. In Jiménez’s hands, “El Rey” is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man reflecting on his life and regrets. But it’s also a celebration of machismo, as the protagonist defiantly declares that he’s still the king despite his mistakes.

96. “Amor” – Ricky Martin

“Amor” is a song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on October 10, 1995, as the second single from his self-titled debut studio album. The song peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and number one on the Latin Pop Songs chart. “Amor” also peaked at number 15 on the dance charts.

The song was written by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and produced by Rosa. The song is a ballad with influences of salsa, pop and merengue. The lyrics talk about how love can sometimes be painful, but it is worth going through the pain for the sake of love.

Critical reception of the song was positive, with many critics praising Martin’s vocal performance and calling it one of the highlights of the album. “Amor” won several awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance, an American Music Award for Favorite Latin Artist and a BMI award for Songwriter of the Year.

95. “Suavecito” – Malo

“Suavecito” is a song recorded by the Mexican-American rock band Malo. It was released in 1972 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album. The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Latin Songs chart.

94. “Oye Como Va” – Tito Puente

“Oye Como Va” is a song written by Cuban composer Tito Puente in 1963. The song was first popularized by Puente’s own recording, which was released as a single on the Rican label in 1963. It is now considered a standard of Latin music and has been recorded by many artists, including Santana, who had a hit with their version of the song in 1970.

93. “Volare” – Domenico Modugno

This light, airy pop song from 1958 is one of the most recognizable Italian tunes of all time. It tells the story of a man who is dreaming of flying, and the lyrics are written in both English and Italian. “Volare” was a huge hit in Europe and helps to solidify Modugno as one of the most popular Italian singers of his generation.

92. “Guantanamera” – Celia Cruz

“Guantanamera” is a Cuban music classic originally composed by José Martí. The song tells the story of a young woman from Guantánamo, Cuba.

The lyrics were adapted by Miguel Matamoros, and the song was popularized by Cruz in the 1960s. “Guantanamera” has been covered by many artists, includingsublime, Ednita Nazario, Gloria Estefan, and the Gipsy Kings.

91. “Baila Morena” – Zucchero

“Baila Morena” is a song co-written and performed by Italian rock singer Zucchero Fornaciari. The song was released in 2001 as the third single from his album Blue’s.

The song peaked at number one in Italy, Spain and Switzerland. It also reached the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.