8 Famous Mexican Songs Of All Time

Do you want to know what are the most famous Mexican songs of all time?

Over the decades, Mexico’s music has traveled across the globe with international artists performing their own renditions of famous Mexican songs. These songs are so popular that you may have heard them without realizing they are originally Mexican, especially when they have been translated to the singers’ own languages.

There are those songs that you may have already listened to and are aware they are Mexican, but for certain there are others that you are clueless about the origins.

In the following list of the best Mexican songs, you will find out whether or not you have already heard them – and realize they are songs from Mexico. Let’s jump in.

8 Best Mexican Songs Of All Time

Best Mexican Love Songs

1. Besame Mucho

Written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velazquez when she was 15 years old, “Besame Mucho” is a romantic bolero that is widely recognized as one of the most romantic songs ever made not only in Mexico but in all of Latin America.

“Besame Mucho” is one of the most recorded songs ever, having been sung and performed by legendary singers from all corners of the world, including Michael Bublé, Andrea Bocelli, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Dave Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, The Beatles, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

This classic Mexican love song has also been interpreted by superstars of Latin music the likes of Luis Miguel, Damaso Perez Prado, Julio Iglesias, Placido Domingo, and Caetano Veloso.

The song’s Spanish title translates to English simply as “Kiss Me A Lot.” It is regarded as the Spanish-speaking world’s most sung and recorded song.

Check out the video here.

2. Somos Novios

The Mexican song “Somos Novios,” written and originally recorded in 1968 by Mexican songwriter Armando Manzanero, is considered one of Latin music’s most romantic ballads of all time, despite the lyrics being so simple.

The song’s title means “We Are Lovers” in English. Various versions in different languages of “Somos Novios” have been written and recorded with lyrics that are not related to the original.

“Somos Novios” has been a huge hit for Mexican superstar Luis Miguel in its original Spanish version. It was also a massive hit for Perry Como, who sang the song in English with the title “It’s Impossible,” which made it to the top 10 in both the US and the UK as soon as it was released and stayed at the Billboard Top 100 for an unbelievable time span.

In 2006, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and American pop singer Christina Aguilera recorded “Sonos Novios.” This duet was included in Bocelli’s Amore album. In March the same year, the two singers performed this duet at the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.

Check out the video here.

Best Mexican Folk Songs

3. La Bamba

One of the most famous Mexican songs is “La Bamba.” It’s a traditional folk song that originated in the Mexican state of Veracruz. La Bamba is the name of a particular Mexican dance. The lyrics of the song only talks about simply dancing and having a good time.

Alvaro Hernandez Ortiz sang the earliest recording of this song that is currently available. It was recorded in 1939, with Hernandez Ortiz being credited as El Jarocho.

“La Bamba” received international fame in 1958, becoming famous outside Mexico when singer Ritchie Valens produced and perfomed its version which automatically made it to the Top 40. Later, Los Lobos covered “La Bamba,” which was also to great success.

Even today, the song remains popular. “La Bamba” is the only non-English song that has made it to the Rolling Stones Top 500 Songs list.

Check out the video here.

4. Las Cuatro Milpas

There have been various recordings of “Las Cuatro Milpas,” including the version of Earle the Mexican in 1939 and the earlier rendition by Cuban Son ensemble Sexteto Habaneros in 1927.

Translated to English as “The Four Cornfields,” “Las Cuatro Milpas” appears to be a revolutionary song that talks about longing for simpler but more abundant times.

Check out the video here.

Best Mexican Rock Songs

5. Kumbala

“La maldita Vecindad y Los Hijos del Quinto Patio,” or more popularly known simply as “Maldita Vecindad,” is one of Mexico’s most famous rock bands. They have recorded one of the best Mexican songs in the rock genre  entitled “Kumbala.”

The band came up with their own rhythmic songs by combining hard rock with ska, traditional Mexican music, and Arab sounds. This has resulted in original, classic Mexican rock.

Their best-known song “Kumbala” tells about Baile Kumbala Bar, or Kumbala Dance Bar, where people visit in order to mend their broken hearts – a place where “everything is music and passion.” It was part of their 1991 album El Circo, released under the BMG Entertainment Mexico label.

The song’s passionate rhythm is saddled with melancholy brought about by a lost love. Its lyrics narrate the scene in the Baile Kumbala Bar, with all the slow dancing of couples with bleeding hearts to the music of a sad trumpet.

Check out the video here.

7. Guaca Rock de la Malinche

Recorded by one of Mexico’s most popular rock bands Botellita de Jerez, also known as Botellos or simply Botellita, “Guaca Rock de la Malinche” is one of the best Mexican rock songs of all time.

Released in 1992 as part of the album entitled Superespecial de Botellita de Jerez, the “Guaca Rock de la Malinche” song is where the band coined the Spanish phrase “Todo lo naco es chido,”  which conveys that everything that is tacky (“uncool”) is cool. This is an attempt to re-vindicate the popularity of the culture of those in the lower classes.

This is just one of the many trends in Mexico’s contemporary art that the band has pioneered since its formation in the Mexican capital in 1982.

Like many of the Botellita de Jerez songs, “Guaca Rock de la Malinche” is rock combined with cumbia and the country’s traditional music, which has created a new genre they call guacarrock, which is a fusion of guacamole and rock.

Check out the video here.

Best Mexican Pop Songs

7. Si Te Vas

“Si Te Vas,” which means “If You Go” in English, is a song that Mexican singer-songwriter Pedro Fernandez wrote and recorded as a part of his 1994 album Mi Forma De Sentir. In 1997, it was recognized as one of the winners at the BMI Latin Awards.

“Si Te Vas” is not quite a love song, with lines stating that “nobody died for love” and talks about “believing in love, but not in what it feels.”

American singer Marc Anthony recorded his own version of the Spanish-language song, included in his 1997 album entitled Contra la Corriente. “Si Te Vas” was his ninth song that made it to the top spot on the Latin Tropical Airplay chart.

In 1999, composer Fernandez received another BMI Latin Award, thanks to Marc Anthony’s cover of the song.

Check out the video here.

8. La Incondicional

“La Incondicional” – or “The Unconditional” in English – is a Mexican pop song recorded and made popular by Luis Miguel.

“La Incondicional” was released as part of Luis Miguel’s 1988 album entitled Busca una Mujer. Released the following year, the song hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.

“La Incondicional” was the 1990 Premios Lo Nuestro’s Pop Song of the Year. It was named the number one Spanish song of the 1980s as per VH1 Latin America.

Similar to “Si Te Vas,” “La Incondicional” is not quite a love song. It tells about a hidden affair that is no doubt passionate but with no bond or love between the people involved.

Check out the video here.