They made us dance they usually made us sing, they usually nonetheless accomplish that right now.
When it involves music, there is no goal proper or incorrect, good or unhealthy – however that by no means stops passionate music followers from sharing and defending their favorites. From pop hooks to album covers to beats, we’re rounding up among the biggest of all time in music on Billboard. We spent months discussing, researching and reflecting on music from artists previous and new, contemplating every little thing from gross sales to influence to innovation to longevity. The outcomes will not please everybody – and that is accurately. Everyone has their very own takes on the best in music – that is ours.
See the All-Time Charts: Billboard 200 Albums | Billboard 200 Artists | Hot 100 Songs | Hot 100 Artists
Our journey to decide on the 50 biggest Latin songs of all time took us throughout house and time, from Argentina to Spain and from the 1920s to 2018. We wished to characterize the complete spectrum of Latin music (together with music from Spain), from Mexican ballads to Cuban son to Colombian salsa to right now’s bachata. Our normal of choice wasn’t merely hits, however as an alternative, songs that made a distinction, that marked a second, that influenced many and that had been merely nice compositions. Most importantly, although 50 just isn’t almost a large enough quantity to embody the massive universe of the Latin songbook, each one in all these songs continues to be related right now. We invite you to hear and rejoice with us as we rely down from No. 50 to our No. 1 finest Latin track of all time.
50. “Macarena” – Los del Rio, Bayside Boys
Writers: Rafael Ruiz Perdigones and Antonio Romero Monge (Los del Rio)
Did anybody not dance the Macarena? The novelty observe by Spanish duo Los del Río grew to become a large hit in 1995 and in 1996 it ranked No. 7 on Billboard‘s All Time Top 100 songs after spending 14 weeks on the prime of the chart.
49. “Guantanamera” – Celia Cruz, Pete Seeger & extra
Writer: Jose Fernandez Diaz primarily based on poetry by José Martí
The easy early 20th century track primarily based on poetry by Cuban patriot Jose Marti is taken into account the unofficial Cuban nationwide anthem. It was American folks singer Pete Seeger who took the standard acoustic tune to new heights, when he tailored it and recorded it stay at Carnegie Hall in 1963. The Sandpipers’ 1966 model reached the highest 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Artists from Celia Cruz to Wyclef Jean have since claimed the track as their very own.
48. “Matador” – Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Writer: Gabriel Julio Fernandez Capello (aka Vicentico)
Argentine ska band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs created an instantaneous occasion basic with “Matador,” from the 1994 album Vasos Vacios. The track went to the highest of the charts in Latin America, and gained widespread reputation as a soccer anthem, as a part of the Grosse Pointe Blank film soundtrack, and as a theme track for tennis participant Rafael Nadal.
47. “Eres tu” – Mocedades
Writer: Juan Carlos Calderon
In the 1970s, every little thing Spanish male/feminine group Mocedades sang, turned to gold. But it began with “Eres tu,” a observe penned by grasp songwriter Juan Carlos Calderon that was a runner up within the 1973 Eurovision Song contest. “Eres tu” was an excellent pop track. But its complicated harmonies and gospel tinges had been frankly revolutionary. The track was finally translated to English (as “Touch the Wind”), and recorded by many acts, together with The Shirelles and Johnny Mathis. But the Spanish unique reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, the one track in Spanish to ever make it to the highest 10 of the chart.
46. “La Maza” – Silvio Rodríguez, Luis Eduardo Aute, Mercedes Sosa, Shakira
Writer: Silvio Rodriguez
Rodriguez was the chief of Cuba’s new trova (nueva trova) motion, and wrote his songs inside the confines of communist Cuba. They had been so good that they not solely transcended the island however politics as nicely, connecting with Latin youth up and down the continent drawn to his poetic, symbolic lyrics. “La Maza,” a robust reflection on humanity, is much more eloquent in its association, set merely to acoustic guitar and percussion.
45. “No me doy por vencido” – Luis Fonsi
Writers: Luis Fonsi and Claudia Brant
Fonsi bought along with buddy and longtime collaborator Claudia Brant to pen a observe that might have turn into a ingesting track, however as an alternative grew to become an anthem of perseverance. With its lilting 6/Eight beat, “No me doy por vencido” spent 30 weeks on the highest of Latin Pop Airplay in 2009 and propelled Fonsi to superstardom.
44. “La Bamba” – Ritchie Valens
Writer: Folk track tailored by Ritchie Valens
Valens’ rock ‘n’ roll tackle a beloved Mexican folks track was an instantaneous prime 40 hit in 1958. Covered numerous occasions, most notably by Los Lobos for Valens’ biopic of the identical identify, it’s nonetheless that common ditty that anybody can sing, even with out talking a lick of Spanish.
43. “El Manisero” – Multiple artists
Writer: Moisés Simons
Cuban Moisés Simons wrote his tackle a Havana road vendor’s cry and noticed it go down in historical past as the primary main Latin hit within the United States. “El Manisero” was first recorded by Rita Montaner for Columbia Records however exploded within the model by Don Azpiazú and his Havana Casino Orchestra. After Stan Kenton recorded his model as “The Peanut Vendor,” the track grew to become a regular of the American huge band repertoire.
42. “Danza Kuduro” – Don Omar feat. Lucenzo
Writers: Don Omar, Lucenzo, Faouze Barkati, Fabrice Toigo
There was reggaetón, and there was “Danza Kuduro.” A mixture of reggaeton and African beats, it spent 15 weeks on prime of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and was the top-selling Latin observe of 2011 and 2012 within the U.S. While the unique model was Lucenzo’s, it was Don Omar’s remix (feat. Lucenzo) that grew to become a world hit, together with a that includes within the movie Fast Five.
41. “Amor Prohibido” – Selena
Writers: AB Quintanilla and Pete Astudillo
At first hear, this gentle, ethereal, Texan cumbia about love between totally different social lessons appears like a fairy story. But it struck a common chord. Penned by Selena’s brother, AB Quintanilla, and Pete Astudillo, it topped Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart for 9 weeks, and was one of many first main Tejano music crossovers. It has since been coated by Thalia and Moderatto, amongst others.
40. “Manteca” – Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo
Writers: Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo, Gil Fuller
Dizzy Gillespie and Afro-Cuban conga participant Chano Pozo got here collectively in 1947. The outcome was spontaneous combustion within the type of their collaboration “Manteca,” a cornerstone of Latin jazz.
39. “Mujeres” – Ricardo Arjona
Writer: Ricardo Arjona
Who would have thought that the definitive pop feminist anthem of the ‘90s could be written by a person? And not simply any man, however the ever-poetic Ricardo Arjona, who exalts ladies in each single verse. “What would have Neruda written or Picasso painted, if muses like you didn’t exist?” He’s bought some extent. From Arjona’s 1992 Animal Nocturno, “Mujeres’ was the Guatemalan singer/songwriter’s first main hit.
38. “Historia de un Amor” – Various Artists
Writer: Carlos Eleta Almarán
One of Latin music’s most timeless boleros was penned by a Panamanian composer, initially popularized by a Cuban singer Leo Marini after which taken even additional by Argentine Libertad Lamarque, who additionally starred within the Mexican movie of the identical identify. Truly a pan-regional hit, it was initially written in 1955 as an homage to Almarán’s brother’s useless spouse. “Historia” has since been coated by dozens of artists.
37. “Si no te hubieras ido” – Marco Antonio Solís
Writer: Marco Antonio Solis
After exiting Los Bukis, Mexico’s top-selling romantic group, Marco Antonio Solís’ solo profession took off with the identical impetus. But “Si no te hubieras ido” solidified him as a crooner of epic worldwide proportions. From his 1999 album Trozos de mi alma (licensed platinum within the U.S. for shipments of 1 million), “Si no te hubieras ido” is a poignant anthem of misplaced love. The track was used within the three-way scene of Y tu mama tambien, assuring its place in popular culture.
36. “La Gota Fria” – Carlos Vives
Writer: Emiliano Zuleta
This 1938 vallenato basic by Emiliano Zuleta grew to become a world hit in 1993 in Vives’ voice and distinct association. A observe from Clasicos de la Provincia, “La Gota Fría” opened the door to tropi-pop, the tropical pop fusion that outlined Vives’ music and a complete technology of Colombian music.
35. “A puro dolor” – Son by Four
Writer: Omar Alfanno
The purest of ache — that’s what this lovely break-up anthem from Puerto Rican salsa romántica quartet Son by Four evokes. Released in 2000, the track was such a success, it spawned an English model and a ballad model, and ended up topping Billboard‘s decade-end Hot Latin Songs of the 2000s chart. Penned by Omar Alfanno, “A puro dolor” spent a file 20 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, a file it could maintain till Shakira’s “La Tortura” topped it in 2005.
34. “La Rebelion” – Joe Arroyo
Writer: Joe Arroyo
Call it the salsa king’s magnum opus. Painting a vivid image of 17th-century slavery in Colombia, Arroyo gave a dignified voice to black tradition in Latin America. It’s a testomony to Arroyo’s genius that he might make music with a message with out sacrificing rhythm. Released in 1986, on the apex of Colombia’s emergence as a salsa tremendous energy, it was revolutionary for the time, and continues to be so right now.
33. “Corazon Partió” – Alejandro Sanz
Writer: Alejandro Sanz
Flamenco-infused pop had all the time been round, however Alejandro Sanz took it to a brand new degree in 1997 with “Corazon Partío,” a gently swaying, bittersweet story of a damaged coronary heart. Sung with Sanz’s poetic lisp, it proved the Spanish singer/songwriter’s flamenco-infused sound had pop attraction.
32. “Mediterráneo” – Joan Manuel Serrat
Writer: Joan Manuel Serrat
Serrat’s natural, laid again but vibrant have a look at his “Mediterraneo” nonetheless takes listeners again to their very own childhood, no matter the place it happened. The 1971 observe of the album by the identical identify has been voted the very best pop track in Spain in two totally different polls.
31. “Ahora Quien” – Marc Anthony
Writers: Estéfano, Julio Reyes
“Ahora quien,” from Anthony’s 2004 Valió la pena, is without doubt one of the most exquisitely painful breakup songs (“Who now, if not me? I look at myself in the mirror and I feel stupid. Illogical.”) Penned by Estefano, it spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart. A up to date basic.
30. “Piel Canela” – Various artists
Writer: Bobby Capó
Written and recorded by Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Bobby Capó, this lilting cha-cha-cha was recorded by a plethora of artists, together with Eydie Gorme, Linda Ronstandt, Andres Cepeda and Josephine Baker (who recorded it in French). Here is Nat King Cole‘s rendition, in Spanish!
29. “La nave del olvido” – José José
Writer: Dino Ramos
With a unprecedented voice that might go from croon to energy ballad in a single phrase, Mexican singer José José impressed generations of balladeers who sought to emulate his emotional, but technically pristine vocals. 1970’s “La nave del olvido,” penned by Dino Ramos, was his first worldwide hit.
28. “Conga” – Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
Writer: Enrique “Kike” Garcia
An English-language tackle carnival music, “Conga,”written by Sound Machine drummer Enrique Garcia, was the Cuban revolution that American radio wanted within the ‘80s, and the spark that ignited the Latin explosion at the turn of the century. What’s extra, it was proof that the unique Latin crossover queen and Miami Sound Machine didn’t have to alter who they had been to go mainstream.
27. “Cali Pachanguero” – Grupo Niche
Writer: Jairo Varela
With its hard-hitting sound and quick tempos suited to Cali’s brazen dancers, Grupo Niche redefined the sound of salsa, lending it a distinctly Colombian imprint. No track higher exemplified this than 1984’s in-your-face anthem to Cali — the “capital of salsa” — penned by Niche’s chief and songwriter, Jairo Varela. This love track to the hometown grew to become a world anthem. The motion was so homegrown on the time, Niche by no means filmed an official music video. But this stay efficiency affords a glimpse of Varela, now useless, taking part in the guiro together with his band.
26. “Mariposa Traicionera” – Maná
Writers: Fher Olvera
Although Maná had many hits earlier than 2003, “Mariposa Traicionera,” from Revolución de amor, grew to become the primary to hit No. 1 on Hot Latin songs. With its mixture of acoustic guitars and Caribbean lilt, it ushered a brand new period of hits for Latin music’s greatest rock band with pop attraction.
25. “Ciega, sordomuda” – Shakira
Writers: Shakira, Estéfano
Shakira’s 1998 Donde están los ladrones took the Colombian singer/songwriter to a broader worldwide viewers and solidified her place as a younger act a whole Latin technology might determine with. “Ciega, sordomuda,” catchy, poppy and witty continues to be a type of songs ladies and women will sing for generations to return.
24. “El Buen Perdedor” – Franco De Vita
Writer: Franco de Vita
Latin music within the 1970s and 1980s was dominated by heartthrob balladeers who sang the songs of nice composers. Then alongside got here Franco de Vita, a Venezuelan with Italian roots who wrote and sang love songs, sure, however intensely private ones advised in a colloquial language that linked with a brand new technology. “El buen perdedor” (The good loser), from his 1984 solo debut, opened a brand new technology’s eyes to romance.
23. “El gran varón” – Willie Colón
Writer: Omar Alfanno
El gran varón” wasn’t even meant to be a single for Colón. But he insisted. Included in 1989’s Top Secrets, his final album for Fania, “El Gran Varón” tells the story of Simon, who’s destined to be a “big man,” however as an alternative, goes to the U.S., discovers he’s homosexual and dies of AIDS. The track went the place no track in Spanish had gone earlier than or since, and, with Colon’s cutting-edge association additionally grew to become a continental hit.
22. “El Cantante” – Héctor Lavoe
Writer: Rubén Blades
Ruben Blades was one of many secret weapons in Fania’s arsenal, so when he wrote this 1978 track for Hector Lavoe, singer of singers, you knew it could find yourself a basic. Set to a easy, salsa piano line and adorned with lush orchestral strings and horns, it tells the story of an entertainer with an existential disaster and a way of accountability to uplift others, whereas battling the delicate nature of his ego. “If you don’t love me when I’m alive, don’t cry for me when I’m gone,” sings Lavoe. The track is much more poignant contemplating the salsa legend’s eventual downfall.
21. “Y Cómo es el” – José Luis Perales
Writer: José Luis Perales
Spanish singer/songwriter José Luis Perales penned most of the ballads that outlined the glory days of Latin romantic music of the 1970s and 1980s. But 1982’s “Y como es el” (How is he?), the place a person pleads with an ex lover to inform him about her new love, is very poignant. Originally written for Julio Iglesias, Perales determined to file it, and delivered one in all his greatest hits. Marc Anthony famously reprised it in his album Iconos.
20. “Querida”- Juan Gabriel
Writer: Juan Gabriel
With “Querida,” Mexican singer/songwriter Juan Gabriel was capable of fuse his love for all issues histrionic together with his love of all issues melodic and at last, his love for improvisation. Originally recorded in 1984, “Querida” was an exceptional hit reprised by many singers, together with Juan Gabriel, who this 12 months recorded it as a duet with Juanes.
19. “Secreto de amor” – Joan Sebastían
Writer: Joan Sebastian
“I’ll change your name, but I won’t change the story,” sang Joan Sebastian on this 2004 story of forbidden romance that he wrote about one in all his many paramours. With its gradual intro and hovering refrain, it’s the right marriage of widespread and poignant.
18. “Burbujas de amor” – Juan Luis Guerra
Writer: Juan Luis Guerra
Bachata was a reasonably area of interest and native Dominican style till singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra gave a classy contact and intriguing lyrics, with out in any approach diminishing its invitation to the dance ground. Sexy and romantic, Guerra’s 1990 hit about being hopelessly in love (“Poor heart, he undresses impatiently at the sound of your voice”), launched the world to up to date bachata.
17. “Oye Como Va” – Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, others
Writer: Tito Puente
One measure of a track’s greatness is the way it endures via time in several variations. “Oye Como Va,” penned by grasp timbalero Tito Puente, was all concerning the beat when he recorded it in 1963 (“Oye como va, mi ritmo, bueno pa’ bailar, mulata” — Listen to my rhythm, nice to bop to, mulatta). It was a pulsating cha-cha-cha that bought new life in Santana’s epic 1970 cowl, which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and continues to be a Latin normal right now.
16. “El Rey” – José Alfredo Jiménez, Vicente Fernández
Writer: José Alfredo Jiménrez
Penned by Jiménez, one of many nice mariachi singers of all time, the observe got here to epitomize the image of the macho mariachi singer: King, lover, hero, man of the hour. Later recorded by Pedro Vargas and Vicente Fernández (plus Luis Miguel and others), it might be probably the most emblematic ranchera observe written.
15. “A Dios le Pido” – Juanes
Writer: Juanes
In 2002, impressed by the guasca sounds of his native Medellin, the Colombian rocker with a coronary heart of gold infused folks into Spanish pop/rock, and immediately gave us a brand new, feel-good sound to groove to. “A Dios le Pido” (To God I Pray) by no means hit No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs, however it established Juanes as Colombia’s favourite rocker.
14. “Música Ligera” Soda Stereo
Writer: Gustavo Ceratti
The now-legendary Argentine rock trio, fronted by the late Gustavo Cerati, created many songs that are actually classics all through Latin America. “Música Ligera,” immediately recognizable from the primary notes, is Soda’s most enduring anthem, a stadium track that instantly pulls individuals to their ft.
13. “El Perdon” – Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias
Writer: Nicky Jam
NIcky Jam’s profession was sidelined for over a decade till he launched this wistful break-up anthem with Enrique Iglesias that additionally marked a turning level for reggaeton: Who knew reggaeton acts may very well be so delicate? “El Perdon,” in each English and Spanglish variations, struck a collective nerve and confirmed reggaeton was greater than music to occasion to.
12. “Amigo” – Roberto Carlos
Writer: Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos penned a string of romantic hits that, translated into Spanish, grew to become anthems. Ironically, “Amigo,” the track he penned for his buddy and longtime writing collaborator, Erasmo Carlos, often is the most enduring, embraced by women and men alike.
11. Obsesion (Aventura) – Romeo Santos
Writer: Romeo Santos
Bachata would by no means be the identical after this 2002 basic, penned by Romeo Santos. In one easy transfer, the Dominican American boys from the Bronx took their mother and father’ conventional, guitar-laced (and they might argue, corny) music and made it cool for a technology caught between two cultures and languages.
10. “Gasolina” – Daddy Yankee
Writers: Various
With its unforgettable hook and, revolutionary (for the time) beat, “Gasolina” is the observe that internationalized reggaeton, taking it from a localized pattern to a world phenomenon that’s nonetheless going sturdy, 15 years later. With the catchiest of hooks, Yankee had everybody dancing to the dembow beat.
9. “Somos Novios” – Armando Manzanero
Writer: Armando Manzanero
A Manzanero-penned ballad is like that bespoke tux you possibly can take out of the closet and put on ten, 15, 20 years from now and it’ll nonetheless look timeless and elegant. This 1968 basic raised the bar on chivalry and was famously revived in 1991 when Luis Miguel coated it, education a brand new technology of lovers on Manzanero’s greatness. It can also be the best-known Manzanero observe for the mainstream, due to its prime 10 Perry Como model, “It’s Impossible.”
8. “Pedro Navaja” – Rubén Blades
Writer: Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades’ salsa model of Kurt Weill’s “Mack the Knife,” produced and organized by Willie Colon, transcended even the recognition of Blades and Colon’s best-selling Siembra album for which it was first recorded. While the sooner, English model of “Mack the Knife” grew to become an American normal recorded by Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra, Blades’ Spanish-language “Navaja” launched a technology of non Spanish-speakers to what on the time was New York’s new Latin beat.
7. “Bailando” – Enrique Iglesias that includes Gente de Zona and Descemer Bueno
Writers: Enrique Iglesias, Descemer Bueno, Gente de Zona
This 2014 assembly between Spain, Cuba and Miami, and between flamenco and Latin city rhythms was an intoxicating combine. How might you not dance and get misplaced in “una noche loca,” when Enrique and mates are compelling you to take action ever so sweetly? No surprise it grew to become the primary Spanish track to surpass one billion views on YouTube.
6. “El dia que me quieras” – Various artists
Writer: Carlos Gardel, Alfredo Le Pera
One of the various songwriting collaborations between the immortal tango king Carlos Gardel and Alfredo Le Pera, it was initially featured within the 1935 movie of the identical identify, carried out by Gardel. The haunting track of not possible love would turn into first a tango normal, then a romantic normal, completed and redone by dozens of artists, maybe most memorably by Mexico’s Luis Miguel. The track was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. Gloria Estefan recorded the one English translation in 2013.
5. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber
Writers: Luis Fonsi, Erica Ender, Daddy Yankee
The mix of pop and reggaeton, blended in with folks touches just like the introductory Puerto Rican cuatro, and naturally, that impossible to resist refrain –“Des-pa-ci-to”– made this the largest track of 2017. More than Three BILLION video views later, it’s, certainly, one of many greatest hits in Latin music historical past, interval.
4. “Livin la Vida Loca” – Ricky Martin
Writers: Robi Rosa, Desmond Child
The huge horns, the seductive bass, the debauchery within the lyrics, and Ricky Martin shaking his bon-bon: how might anybody resist this late ‘90s anthem penned by Robi Draco Rosa and Desmond Child? They didn’t, and that’s why when millennials search for “Latin pop explosion,” as an alternative of counting on Wikipedia, they need to simply dance to the track that began all of it.
3. “Besame Mucho” – Various Artists
Writer: Consuelo Velazquez
Velazquez was a teen in Mexico when she wrote “Bésame Mucho” (Kiss me rather a lot) in 1940. With its simple to say entreaty, it grew to become, by some accounts, probably the most recorded and coated Spanish language track of all time. Even The Beatles coated it, a part of an extended listing of artists who recorded the track in lots of languages, together with Luis Miguel, Diana Krall, Andrea Bocelli, Harry Connick Jr., Michale Bublé, Korean pop singer Ailee and, most just lately, Il Divo on their 2015 album.
2. “Mambo No. 5” – Dámaso Perez Prado and others
Writer: Dámaso Pérez Prado
No single determine was extra consultant of the mambo fever that flooded the United States within the 1950s than Dámaso Pérez Prado. The unique mambo king’s signature track continues to be probably the most acknowledged mambo of all of them; in 1999 it grew to become a success with new generations when it was recorded by Lou Bega.
1. “Esta tarde vi llover” – Various Artists
Writer: Armando Manzanero
There are many excellent songs by the Mexican singer/songwriter that beg to be included on this listing. “Esta tarde vi llover” is breathtaking in its simplicity and effectiveness. There are numerous covers of the observe — just about each huge identify in Latin music has recorded the track — plus an English-language model titled “Yesterday I heard the rain” and recorded by Tony Bennett with Alejandro Sanz for his Duets II album. Manzanero, nonetheless very energetic as a touring artist, composer and producer, has recorded a number of variations of the track alongside a plethora of acts. But his solo model continues to be the unique. Here is Manzanero’s extra up to date tackle his basic from the 1960s.
