The Top 10 Latin Songs of All Time
Contents
From Marc Anthony to Gloria Estefan, these are the Latin songs that have stood the test of time.
Introduction
As we all know, Latin music is very popular all over the world. It is a genre that has many different sub-genres, which makes it very versatile and enjoyed by many.
In this article, we will be countdown the top 10 Latin songs of all time. This list is based on popularity, musicality, and overall greatness. This list is sure to get you excited and maybe even dancing!
Without further ado, here are the top 10 Latin songs of all time:
“Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” by Selena
“Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” is a song recorded by American Tejano singer Selena. It was released as the second single from her fifth studio album, Selena Live! (1993). The song was produced by A.B. Quintanilla and written by Pete Astudillo and David Lee Garza. It became one of Selena’s most successful singles, peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for eight weeks and winning a Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance in 1994.
“I Like It Like That” by Tito Puente
“I Like It Like That” is a classic salsa song written by Tito Puente and Chris Kenner. The song was first recorded by Puente in 1964, and was later popularized by the Latin hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas in their 1998 cover version.
The original version of “I Like It Like That” was released as a single by Puente in 1964, and was later included on his album Chili Peppers (1967). The song became a minor hit on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart, peaking at number 32.
The Black Eyed Peas’ cover version of “I Like It Like That” was released as a single in 1998, and was included on their album Behind the Front (1998). The song peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
“I Like It Like That” has been covered by several other artists, including Madonna, Ricky Martin, and Gipsy Kings.
“La Bamba” by Richie Valens
“La Bamba” is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, that became a hit in the United States and around the world. The song was first recorded by Mexican-American rock and roll star Richie Valens in 1958. Valens’ version of “La Bamba” became a hugehit, reaching #1 on the Billboard charts. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Los Lobos, who had a hit with their version of the song in 1987.
“Oye Como Va” by Santana
“Oye Como Va” is a song written by Mexican Latin rock and jazz musician Tito Puente in 1963. The song’s original title was “Cuando Sali de Cuba”, but it was later popularized by Puerto Rican-born salsa singer and bandleader Celia Cruz, who recorded it in 1970. American rock band Santana made it a hit in 1971, when their recording of the song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song has been covered numerous times by artists such as Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, and Café Tacvba. In 2018, “Oye Como Va” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
“Smooth” by Santana
“Smooth” is a song by Santana featuring Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty on vocals. It was released in 1999 as the lead single from Santana’s album, Supernatural. “Smooth” became one of the most successful singles of all time, spending twelve weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2000, “Smooth” won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The song’s popularity has been credited to its “catchy hook”, which combines Latin and African rhythms with pop sensibilities. Santana has stated that he was inspired by Argentine tango music when he wrote the song. “Smooth” has been described as a “perfect pop song”, and Rob Thomas’ vocals have been praised as “soulful” and “emotional”.
“Conga” by Gloria Estefan
“Conga” is a song written by American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan and produced by Emilio Estefan for her 1986 debut album, Cuts Both Ways. Conga became Estefan’s signature song, peaking at number-one in several countries including the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. In the US, “Conga” reached number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and spent two weeks atop the magazine’s Adult Contemporary chart. The music video for the song was directed by Wayne Isham and features Estefan dancing with many different people from various ethnic backgrounds.
“Macarena” by Los Del Rio
Originally released in 1992, this catchy tune about a woman who was unfaithful to her boyfriend became an overnight sensation, propelled by its signature dance moves. The song spent a record-breaking 56 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
“The Cup of Life” by Ricky Martin
“The Cup of Life” is a song recorded by Ricky Martin. It was released on March 31, 1998, as a single from his album Vuelve. The song was written by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and produced by K. C. Porter. The song topped the charts in more than 15 countries, including Australia, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks and became Martin’s first number-one single on that chart.
The song received positive reviews from music critics and won several awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards and the Billboard Latin Music Award for Song of the Year at the 2nd Annual Latin Billboard Music Awards.
“Livin’ la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin
“Livin’ la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin
Released in 1999, “Livin’ la Vida Loca” is a song that became an international hit and helped to revive Ricky Martin’s career. The song is a perfect example of the Latin pop sound that was popular in the 1990s, and its success helped to increase interest in Latin music in the United States.
