Spanish-language music as a whole is a massive library to comb through. Artists from across the world have made their mark, both in the music world and the social one, producing incredible Spanish songs for over a century. Our list will cover some of the biggest and best tracks, from hits to classics. So, without further ado, here are the 51 best Spanish songs of all time.
1. Macarena – Los del Rio
Macarena was originally recorded by Los Del Rio for their 1993 album A Mi Me Gusta, but the massive hit that would ensue would be because of the dance remix versions. Plenty of those would appear, including entries from Fangoria, The Bayside Boys, and other soundalike cover versions.
Their Bayside Boys Remix scored a huge US hit in 1996, seeing it top the Hot 100 for 14 weeks and spawning the dance craze most of those reading will be familiar with today. It’s been ranked as the number-one one-hit wonder in history as well.
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2. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens
La Bamba is a historic Mexican folk song, hailing from the state of Veracruz. It combined Spanish, indigenous, and African styles to produce a classical example of the son jarocho musical style. The oldest known recording of the track dates back to Alvaro Hernandez Ortiz in 1938.
Famous Mexican singer Ritchie Valens, as well as Los Lobos, put their own spin on the song and scored hits for themselves. Valens’ version was a top-40 hit in the US in 1958 while the Los Lobos version was used for the 1978 biopic about Valens, with their version also soaring up the charts.
3. Gasolina – Daddy Yankee
Gasolina is often brought up in conversations for the best Latin song of all time. Released by Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee as the lead single for his 2004 album Barrio Fina, it became an instant hit. It quickly reached the top 10 among worldwide charts. Its success made it the first reggaeton track to be nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and it would eventually be preserved within the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.
4. Despacito – Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee
Moving to a song much more recent, we come to Despacito. Originally recorded by Luis Fonti for his 2019 album Vida and featuring Daddy Yankee, the track quickly caught on.
A remix that featured Justin Bieber improved its chart performance and made it a song you couldn’t get away from, helping it reach the top of several international charts and renewing the popularity of Spanish-language pop music in mainstream, non-Spanish markets. By the end of it all, it had topped the music charts in 47 countries and tied the record for longest-reigning number-one track in the US at 16 weeks—at least at the time.
5. Oye Como Va – Santana
Oye Como Va was originally a 1962 cha-cha-cha by Tito Puente, but it was in 1970 that it reached worldwide popularity. Santana adapted it for their Abraxas album and released it as a single in 1971. It then rose to number 13 on the Hot 100 and borrowed a pattern from the original version. Both the Latin Grammy and Grammy Hall of Fame inducted it into their fold by 2002, and it has come to be known as a symbol of the transnationality of Latin music inside the US.
6. Bésame Mucho – Luis Miguel
Bésame Mucho is a bolero song from 1932, originally written by Consuela Velasquez. Throughout the 20th century, it remained one of the most popular tracks of the decade and one of the most important Latin songs of all time.
In 1999, it was recognized as the most recorded and covered Spanish-language track of all time, with numerous famous versions being recorded over the years. Really, everyone from Frank Sinatra to The Beatles took a turn with it, examples of the song’s influence outside of the Latin markets.
7. Bailando – Enrique Iglesias Feat. Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno, And Gente De Zona
While there were several versions of Bailando released by Enrique Iglesias, the official version from Universal Republic Studios is the one we’ll focus on first. It reigned on top of the Latin charts for 41 weeks. Spanish, English, Spanglish, and Portuguese versions of the song were produced, all capitalizing on the massive popularity of the track and turning it into a worldwide sensation. The original Spanish version was also the theme song for the soap opera Reina De Corazones.
8. Amor Prohibido – Selena
Amor Prohibido, or “Forbidden Love,” was the title track of Selena’s fourth album. Interpretations of the would compare it to Romeo and Juliet, with her original version being one of the most acclaimed Latin tracks of all time. It spent nine weeks atop the US Hot Latin Songs chart and won the Tejano Music Award for Single of the Year.
9. Bamboléo – Gipsy Kings
Bamboléo roughly translates to “sway” or “wobble.” The 1987 Spanish-language original version of the song came from Gipsy Kings’ eponymous album and was written by the members. Part of the track is an adaptation of the 1980 Venezuelan folk song Caballo Viejo by Simon Diaz. For Gipsy Kings, the track was an international hit. But it went on to be covered in numerous other languages by other artists, spawning several hit singles.
10. Guantanamera – Celia Cruz
Guantanamera originated as a poem by author Jose Marti. It’s a patriotic Cuban poem adapted as a song by Joseíto Fernández in 1929. Several versions were eventually released, with notable covers coming from the likes of Pete Seeger, Celia Cruz, and Wyclef Jean. Cruz’s version of the track appeared on 241 records and compilations of her work, with the first appearance coming in 1968. For her, the song held a special place in her heart and represented more than just a single to release.
11. De Música Ligera – Soda Stereo
Argentine rock band Soda Stereo produced De Música Ligera for their fifth album Cancion Animal in 1990. One of their most famous songs, it also became one of the most important anthems of rock en espanol. Of course, cover versions would appear en masse, including one by Coldplay that showed up at a concert during their Head Full Of Dreams Tour at a date in Argentina.
12. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom – Selena
Another huge hit from Amor Prohibido, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom was an international sensation. Selena originally wrote it about a cheerful fish swimming in the ocean, though the onomatopoeia of the track also came to be known as the heartbeat of love. It was her second-consecutive number-one single on the Hot Latin Songs chart and started a run of her dominating the Latin music world.
13. Cielito Lindo – André Rieu
Cielito Lindo is a Mexican folk song that was popularized as early as 1882 by author Quirino Mendoza y Cotes. “Cielito” is a word that means “sky” or “heaven,” but it can also be a term of endearment. The track is commonly played by mariachi bands and numerous Spanish artists have covered it over the years. Vicente Fernandez, Pedro Infante, and Placido Domingo are just a few of the huge names to touch the song. Heck, even The Wiggles covered it.
14. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira Feat. Wyclef Jean
Hips Don’t Lie may be more of a Spanglish song than a Spanish one, but there’s no denying the iconic Shakira from this list. This track in particular originated as a rework of Wyclef Jean’s song Dance Like This. It was a global success, reaching the top of the charts in 17 countries worldwide and becoming her first and only number-one single in the US to date. One of the best-selling singles of all time, it has amassed over 13 million worldwide record sales.
15. Querida – Juan Gabriel
Querida was written by Juan Gabriel in 1984, and it was the song that made his album Recuerdos II sell 15 million copies. It has since turned into an iconic love track that was likely composed for his former manager Joaquin Munoz.
16. El Rey – José Alfredo Jiménez
El Rey was originally written by José Alfredo Jiménez in 1971, and his version became an inductee in the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame. A song about a macho guy, it became incredibly popular and has been credited as reaching the top of the Mexican charts in 1974. It eventually became a staple of the ranchera style of music, with numerous artists taking a turn with it later on. That list includes the likes of Vicente Fernández and even Christina Aguilera.
17. Obsesion – Aventura
Obsesion was included on both the English and Spanish versions of Aventura’s We Broke The Rules album from 2002. It was a massive commercial success and topped several international charts. It sat atop the French music charts for seven weeks and was one of the best-selling singles of the year in that country.
18. Cancion del Mariachi – Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas isn’t exactly the first name you think of in the music world, but this song was his. He originally wrote it for the soundtrack to the Robert Rodriguez film Desperado. The soundtrack itself is a perfect snapshot of Latin music, featuring bands like Los Lobos and Tito & Tarantula, with plenty of traditional music to set the scene for the film.
19. Vivir Mi Vida – Marc Anthony
Vivir Mi Vida is actually a Spanish cover of the Khaled track C’est La Vie. Marc Anthony released the song as part of his 2013 album. The salsa version of the track won a Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year and spent 51 weeks inside the top five of the Latin Songs chart.
20. Lloraras – Oscar D’León
If you’re looking for classic salsa music, look no further than this song. Lloraras was produced by Oscar D’León and the group Dimension Latina in 1974. It stands as the perfect example of the genre and remains a popular choice for dance nights.
21. Mi Gente – J Balvin And Willy William
J Balvin’s Mi Gente is a remake of Willy Williams’ track Voodoo Song from 2016. Balvin’s version was released in 2017, but several remixes quickly were produced. One included Beyoncé in 2017, while six others would feature artists like Steve Aoki and Dillon Francis.
This Moombahton track is all about having fun while partying, and it had a great chart run. It reached number two on the Latin charts and number 19 on the Hot 100, but the Beyoncé remix peaked at number three on the Hot 100.
22. Burbujas de Amor – Juan Luis Guerra
Burbujas De Amor was released as the third single from Juan Luis Guerra’s Bachata Rosa album in 1990. It became one of his most popular tracks, turning into an overnight international hit single. At the 1991 Lo Nuestro Awards, it took home the Tropical/Salsa Song of the Year trophy, and in 1990, it was the Latin Song of the Year according to Billboard critics.
23. Conga – Gloria Estefan And Miami Sound Machine
Conga was the first hit single released by Miami Sound Machine with Gloria Estefan at the helm. It served as one of the tracks for their Primitive Love album and was their signature song. Worldwide, the single rose to within the top 10 of several country’s charts, including in the US.
24. Cali Pachanguero – Grupo Niche
Cali Pachanguero was written by Jairo Varela and first performed by Grupo Niche. The song was featured on the album No Hay Quinta Maio and was the biggest hit of their career. It was later chosen as the official track of the Cali Fair and serves as a tribute to the influence of pachanga music during the 1960s.
25. Danza Kuduro – Don Omar Feat. Lucenzo
Danza Kuduro is a Spanish and Portuguese song by Don Omar and Lucenzo. It was a major feature of the pair’s collaborative album Meet The Orphans in 2010, which became a hit across Latin America and Europe. When it reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart, it became Omar’s second hit and Lucenzo’s first hit. A remake of the track can also be heard in the soundtrack of the Fast Five film as the ending song of the movie.
26. Historia de un Amor – Leo Marini
Historia De Un Amor, or “The Story Of A Love,” is about a man’s old love. The song was written by Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almaran and was part of the soundtrack for a 1956 Mexican film of the same name. Various singers from around the world have covered it over the years, with some of the most notable versions coming from Julio Iglesias, Luis Miguel, and Leo Marini.
27. La Maza – Silvio Rodriguez
La Maza was composed by Silvio Rodriguez in 1979, but it wouldn’t be until 1982 that it was published on the album Unicornio. It essentially talks about life by referencing it as a tool. Without a purpose, it has no meaning or function. Mercedes Sosa also released a version of the song in 1983 as a pop track, which would later be reworked as a duet between them and Shakira in 2009.
28. Livin’ La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
Livin’ La Vida Loca is the song on this list that I’m sure every reader has heard of before. It was a huge hit for Ricky Martin in 1999, reaching the top of the charts in over 20 countries around the world. To date, it’s his biggest hit single and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. The influence of the track was so great that it’s often credited as the song that started the Latin pop explosion in the US at the tail end of the 1990s.
29. Mariposa Traicionera – Maná
Maná is incredibly popular and influential in the Spanish-speaking music world, but Mariposa Traicionera was their first big hit. It was released as the third single from their Revolucion De Amor album in 2003 and steadily rose up the Latin charts until it reached number one. It then spent another 26 weeks on that chart and earned an 18-times platinum certification from the RIAA.
30. Mujeres – Ricardo Arjona
Mujeres has one of the most interesting backstories on this list. It was written in the bathroom of a record company but turned out to be Ricardo Arjona’s first international hit single. A signature song for the artist, it turned into one of the most popular tracks in Latin America. The song discusses how far men will go for a woman, though it eventually came under fire for an inflated machismo.
31. Rebelion – Joe Arroyo
Rebelion is another iconic salsa song that was written and performed by Colombian singer Joe Arroyo. It tells the story of a married African couple who are slaves of a Spaniard in Columbia during the 17th century. The owner abuses the wife, which causes the husband to start a rebellion in revenge. It’s been listed as one of the greatest Colombian tracks of all time and was a big international hit single.
32. Secreto de Amor – Joan Sebastian
Secreto De Amor was the title track of Joan Sebastian’s 27th—yep, 27th—studio album in 2000 and one of his signature songs. It debuted at number 23 on the Latin Songs chart and made it to number three, marking the artist’s third entry to the top 10. It was later covered by other artists like Vicnete Fernandez Jr., Lucero, and Victor Garcia.
33. It’s Impossible – Perry Como
Somos Novios was written by Armando Manzanero in the early 1960s and was recorded by him in 1968. An anthem of Latin American music, the track is widely considered to be one of the most popular Spanish songs of all time. Sid Wayne quickly translated it to English, and Perry Como recorded it in 1970 under the title It’s Impossible. His version was a hit that was recorded by Elvis Presley, Andrea Bocelli, and Luis Miguel, among others.
34. Whenever, Wherever – Shakira
Most of us have heard the English version of the song, but the Spanish version Suerte was nearly as popular worldwide. It was Shakira’s breakthrough hit in the US, peaking at number six on the Hot 100 and topping the charts in 29 countries around the world. A signature track for her, it remains one of her most successful songs of all time.
35. Eres Tú – Juan Carlos Calderón
Eres Tú was written by Juan Carlos Calderón and published by Mocedades in 1973. It served as the representative for Spain at that year’s Eurovision Song Contest, placing second with 125 points. Across Europe, Latin America, and even the US, it achieved widespread popularity, and several versions were produced. One even peaked at number nine on the Hot 100.
36. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas – Julio Iglesias And Arielle Dombasle
Known more simply as Quizas, this song was a popular track by Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farres. He originally wrote the Spanish lyrics of the song, which became a hit for Bobby Capo in 1947. Cover versions were produced by almost everyone, from Nat King Cole to Bing Crosby and Andrea Bocellia to Doris Day.
37. La Gota Fría
La Gota Fría is a Colombian Vallento song, originally composed by Emiliano Zuleta and published in 1938. It’s been posited to be the unofficial Colombian anthem, with numerous artists taking a turn with it in the—almost—century since it was first composed.
Carlos Vives released the most notable version of the song on his album Clasicos De La Provincia, reaching number six on the Latin Chart and winning Tropical Song of the Year at Lo Nuestro.
38. Dura – Daddy Yankee
Dura is a newer track, released in 2018 for a yet-to-be-released Daddy Yankee album El Disco Duro. Based on 1990s styles and visuals, the song is an uptempo reggaeton track about good-looking women. After release, it topped the charts in 14 countries and reached number 43 on the Hot 100. It also won Daddy Yankee his first Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song.
39. No Me Acuerdo – Thalia And NATTI NATASHA
No Me Acuerdo was released in 2018 as the lead single for Thalia’s 15th studio album Valiente. The song made Thalia the first Mexican artist to reach over one billion views on YouTube and was one of the best-selling Latin singles in the US, earning a 14-times platinum certification. In 2018, it was the most-listened track of the summer in Latin America.
40. Darte un Beso – Prince Royce
Darte Un Beso was the first international hit of Prince Royce’s career and was an excellent bachata track from 2013. It earned three nominations at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2014, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Tropical Song. A Portuguese version was made in Brazil with Michel Telo as well, featuring the sertanejo style under the title Te Dar Um Beijo.
41. Dákiti – Bad Bunny And Jhay Cortez
Dákiti was released by Bad Bunny and Jhayco in 2020 as the lead single from the former’s album El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo. It debuted in the top 10 of both the Hot 100 and Latin Songs charts, becoming the first track in history to achieve this feat. It peaked at five on the Hot 100 but topped the Global 200 and Global Excl. US, making it the first Spanish song to achieve this feat. To date, it ranks within the top 100 of the most-played tracks on Spotify.
42. El Perdedor – Enrique Iglesias Feat. Marco Antonio Solís
Alongside Marco Antonio Solís, Enrique Iglesias recorded El Perdedor for his Sex And Love album. It served as the main theme of the Mexican soap opera Lo Que La Vida Me Robo from 2013 to 2014 and marked the fifth time one of his tracks was chosen for such a role. It eventually took the top spot on both the Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Songs charts.
43. Corazón Partío – Alejandro Sanz
Corazón Partío is a ballad written and recorded by Alejandro Sanz for his fourth album De El Mas. It broke several records in 1997, including its historic run of spending more than 70 weeks on various international charts. And if this version isn’t beautiful enough for you, there is an acoustic version from MTV Unplugged in 2001 floating around on the internet as well.
44. Mediterraneo – Joan Manuel Serrat
Mediterraneo served as the title track of Joan Manuel Serrat’s 1971 album of the same name. The album itself is considered one of the most important and best albums in the history of Spanish music, earning an induction into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
45. Malamente – Rosalía
Malmente was recorded by Rosalia for her second album El Mal Querer in 2018, and it served as the lead single. Mixing flamenco and pop music, it earned positive critical reviews and five Latin Grammy Award nominations. It won the awards for Best Alternative Song and Best Urban Fusion/Performance. The track served as a defining moment of the late 2010s in the Latin music world and is often thought of as a revolutionary change-up for traditional Spanish music.
46. Amor Eterno – Rocio Durcal
Amor Eterno is an elegiac lamentation, written by Juan Gabriel. The song was meant to discuss the death of his mother in 1974, which he found out about while away on tour. Rocio Durcal was the original performer of the track, becoming her best-known single and one of the most recognizable songs in Mexican music. Several other artists produced versions of the track, including Antonio Rios, Silvana Estrada, and Juan Gabriel himself.
47. Suavemente – Elvis Crespo
Suavamente title track of Elvis Crespo’s debut solo album after his departure from Grupo Mania. It quickly soared to the top of the Hot Latin Tracks chart and remained there for six weeks. After the initial success, he re-recorded the song with Spanglish lyrics, and that version appeared on the US Hot 100. It eventually won two Latin Billboard Music Awards and a Premios Lo Nuestro award en route to becoming the 10th-best-performing Latin single of 1998.
48. Pedro Navaja – Ruben Blades
Pedro Navaja was written and performed by Ruben Blades in 1978 alongside Willie Colon. It was inspired by the sign Mack The Knife, telling the tale of a pimp’s life and—presumed—death. While the story in the song takes place in New York, it depicts common scenes and stories from Latin American countries and is full of dark humor. A film of the same name was produced in Mexico in 1984 as well.
49. Bon, Bon – Pitbull
Bon, Bon was released by Pitbull on his fifth studio album Armando and served as the third single to come from the album. It samples both the track We No Speak Americano and the 1956 Italian song Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano. It turned into a big hit across Latin America and earned him a solid single in English markets. It peaked at number 61 on the Hot 100 but rose as high as number three on the Latin Songs charts.
50. Calypso – Luis Fonsi And Stefflon Don
Calypso was first released in 2018 as the third single from Luis Fonsi’s 10th album Vida. It was written alongside co-performer Stefflon Don and songwriter Dyo. A remix was quickly finished after release as well, with Columbian singer Karol G. It ended up reaching number one in Argentina and Chile and also peaked within the top 10 in Panama, Spain, and Bolivia. You can also hear it in the video game Just Dance 2019.
51. Color Esperanza – Diego Torres
Color Esperanza was the lead single of Diego Torres’ Un Mundo Diferente album in 2001. The track is all about overcoming challenging times in life and the hope of a better future. It eventually made it to number 12 on the Tropical Songs chart and just missed out on the top 10 on Spain’s composite music chart.
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As a contributing writer for Music Grotto, Dakotah writes and produces professional music/media content. He works closely with editorial staff to meet editorial standards and create
quality content for the Music Grotto website. Dakotah is passionate about music in a wide variety of genres, from hip-hop to country and lo-fi to metal, and he enjoys creating music pieces for Music Grotto.