Like many children and teens of the 90s, I grew up in my Abuelita’s house listening to the Tejano masterpieces of Selena Quintanilla-Perez. But as much as her music shaped me, other flavors of Latino music also echoed throughout my grandma’s kitchen and front porch—exposing me to the diverse rhythm of Spanish culture.
Whether it was a Sunday barbeque, cleaning day, or 7 a.m. on a Thursday, there was always music playing throughout the house. Before Daddy Yankee exploded onto the scene with his masterful reggaeton beats in the 2000s and Bad Bunny smashed the music charts of the modern world, there was the magic of Celia Cruz, Grupo Límite, and Thalia—let’s not forget the Enrique Iglesias classics “Experiencia Religiosa” and “Si Tu Te Vas” to name a few. The eclectic mix of all things Español became a prominent memory of my childhood that I will never forget and felt it was time to revisit a few classics.
Let’s turn back the clock and revisit some of my Abuelita and I’s classic tunes:
Piel Morena, Thalia
Amor A La Mexicana, Thalia
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, Selena Quintanilla-Perez
Como La Flor, Selena Quintanilla-Perez
Te Aprovechas, Grupo Límite
Yo Sin Tu Amor, Grupo Límite
La Murga, Willie Colón and Hector Lavoe
El Dia De Mi Suerte, Willie Colón and Hector Lavoe
La Bomba, Ricky Martin
Experencia Religiosa, Enrique Iglesias
Si TuTe Vas, Enrique Iglesias
Enamorado Por Primera Vez, Enrique Iglesias
El Rey, Vicente Fernandez
Volver Volver, Vicente Fernandez
Quimbara, Johnny Pacheco and Celia Cruz
La Vida Es Un Carnival, Celia Cruz
Cumbia Sampuesana, Aniceto Molina
El Baile Del Gorila, Massore
Muevelo Muevelo, Massore
Recognize a few from your childhood? These songs, and many others, paved the way for Spanish and Latino artists across the world. As we continue to celebrate the chart-topping music of today, let’s never forget the roots of our culture through the trailblazing songs and spirit that helped shape us.
