I recently had the privilege of talking about this topic with the AARP, who asked me to curate a list of the 10 most essential Latin Songs and provide a little musical background for those wanting to start listening to the genre. This was part of their “Music and Brain Health” section for AARP’s Staying Sharp: https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/themes/music-and-brain-health/latin/
But what if you’re a music fan, and you want to dive into latin music yourself? Well, If You Want to Get Into Latin Music, Here is my list of 11 Latin Songs You Must Know.
This list will give you a good start into Latin Music, and a super fun collection to boot! I also made it easy on you by making a YouTube playlist for this! So press play and jam out while reading the rest of this!
Latin Music is quite eclectic. When most people think of Latin Music, they think of Latin American music. However, there are some pretty big hits and stars that come out of Spain and other areas as well.
Most of the top latin songs are Hispanic. But not all Latin Music is Hispanic. For example, a lot of key genres come from Brazil, or Angola, and depending on who you ask – French and Italian music count as Latin as well. Hispanic refers to anything cultural whose heritage is from Spain. Kizomba which is a very popular latin genre originated from Angola. Those songs are in Portuguese usually, Not Spanish.
What is unique about Latin Music are the rhythms and the subject matter. Poly-rhythms are key, even in straightforward pop songs. The beat patterns are fusions of classic African and even East Indian patterns. There is also a lot of cultural crossover. A regional Mexican artist (who may have a polka-esque sound inherently) will have no problem fitting in on a reggaeton song. You can actually use bachata dance moves in a kizomba and it will feel just fine. Latin Music for the most part is emotional. We sing about love, sex, fun, and staying strong.
THE LIST:
“Aguanile” by Hector Lavoe and Willie Colon (1972): Hector Lavoe IS the person that brought Salsa music to the masses. He is The Original. So influential that Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez did a movie about him called El Cantante and remade his best hits. Aguanile is a West African word that made its way to Cuba. It means Spiritual Cleansing. This song will get you hooked on the classic call&response style of tropical latin music and latin pop that continues to this day. Seriously, we can’t get enough of it.
“Mi Tierra” by Gloria Estefan (1993): I know I wouldn’t have a career if it weren’t for Gloria Estefan, I bet most artists that sing in spanish say that. Mi Tierra marks a pivotal moment in latin music history. It marks the shift when latin stars who felt the need to sing in English to get hits really owned their roots, and everyone loved it. Prior to Mi Tierra, Gloria’s hits with Miami Sound Machine were primarily in english, she was an english pop star that happened to be latin. Then she was injured in a major bus crash and emerged with an initiative to musically move towards her cuban roots. This song has it all, if you are to start with a Gloria Estefan it should be this song as and follow it up with the song “Hoy.”
“No Me Ames” by Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez (1999): I would normally suggest Marc Anthony’s “Vivir Mi Vida,” however “No Me Ames” is an instant tear jerker that offers 3 birds with one listening stone. 1) It provides an introduction to March Anthony’s voice. Which is jaw dropping on almost every song. Any Marc Anthony song, really, will make you quickly realize why he stands out above the rest and most all of us dub him the King of Latin Music. and then 2) The still considered respective Queen, even though they’re no longer together – A J-Lo/Marc Anthony duet is classic Latin Pop Hit (in fact he is the one that lost some status after the split, not her), and 3) It is a remake of an Italian song.
“La Tortura” – Shakira ft. Alejandro Sans (2005): When I first met Shakira on the red carpet I was shocked how “magical” in real life she is. It is not an act. She is like the little ballerina in a music box – For Real. This is the ideal song to get a feel for that “magic” and also gives you a little Alejandro Sans too. Shakira is the Queen of crossover. This song has that reggaeton-meets-east indian beat that is the signature of this subgenre. It also has the most Shakira-sounding vocals of hers out of all them. The video features the wide range visually of her sexy magic too.
“Suavemente” by Evlis Crespo (1999): There is a point in time where you couldn’t attend a party without hearing this song. Technically the style of this song counts as a Merengue. Elvis Crespo is the artist that popularized merengue as a genre to the masses.
“Volveras” – Paulina Rubio (2004): Is Paulina a Cumbia artist? A Rock Star? Nobody knows. But she has hit after hit after hit, and we love it. Volveras is a quintessential latin ballad (or Romantica). It rocks out at the chorus, yet has latin pop chord changes that are substantially more complex than they sound and a variety of instruments behind it.
“Damaso” – Gerardo Ortiz (2012): Banda music is the style of music you hear blasting out of people’s cars, the kind that resembles a polka on first listen. And Gerardo Ortiz is the Metallica of Banda Music. Damaso is one of the most rockin’ banda songs ever made, if you don’t like this song then you don’t like banda music – period. It is a good litmus test. I can’t listen to “Damaso” without shooting an imaginary pistol in the air at the end. If you’ve never heard banda music before, this will sound like the most complex metal polka you’ve ever heard.
“Camisa Negra” – Juanes (2004): Latin Music isn’t all tropical, there is a lot of rock too. This is a great song because even though it is a rock song, it is still very latin stylistically. Inclusive of the involved melody and chord changes that you wouldn’t expect but still fit perfectly within where the song is going -which is very Latin Rock to do. It is also extremely catchy, a danceable hook is still key in latin rock as much as it is in something more tropical.
“Disparo al Corazon” – Ricky Martin (2015): If Marc Anthony is the King of our genre, Ricky is the Prince. Mainly because he has been a major fixture since he was a kid in Menudo. Most people think of “Living la Vida Loca” when they think Ricky Martin, but that’s not really latin music. It is an american pop song that happens to be sung by a latin artist. “Disparo al Corazon” is a great example of the smokey Ricky-voice and graceful aging as to why he is such a long time staple in latin music. The song itself is a good example of a typical romantic latin pop song.
“La Diabla” – Romeo Santos (2011): Now, Romeo Santos isn’t the original Bachata artist, but he is the self proclaimed King. His style of Bachata is definitely more produced than how it used to be in the clubs in the Dominican Republic. Romeo Santos was the lead singer of the band Aventura who essentially made the global population aware of the Bachata genre. Any modern bachata songs are heavily influenced by the Romeo Santos style. The “she hurt me, she is dangerous” theme is a classic in bachata music along with the heavily reverbed high pitched guitars, staccato rhythms, and over the top bongo fills. “La Diabla” has all of it. Good luck not singing this song all day long once you hear it.
“Despacito” – Luis Fonsi (2017): And not the Justin Bieber version. The original with Daddy Yankee. This song might be the reason you’ve even heard of latin music. It is basically the modern day La Bamba. Musically, though, it is an ideal example of pop-Reggeaton. This is currently the most popular latin pop genre, inclusive of how the chord progression and melody are used.
Ready4theRedCarpet
Host of the TV Show Rock Star Recipes and the 1st Indian-American to walk the Latin Grammy Red Carpet, Anand Bhatt brings us the inside scoop & behind-the-scenes on Everything from Kitchen and Fitness Hacks, who's wearing what, the latest fashion and beauty trends, Inspiration on how celebs keep it together under stress, and more! Read on and live your best life!
