National Hispanic Heritage Month, starting Sept. 15 and ending Oct. 15, celebrates what it means to be Hispanic American. This month is dedicated to celebrating the beautiful and rich culture all Hispanic countries hold while also honoring our ancestors and their work throughout time. Through these songs, the Latin Student Association hopes you gain access to a little bit of Hispanic culture while celebrating these amazing artists.
“Vivir Mi Vida” – Marc Anthony
Released in 2013, Marc Anthony blew it out of the water with this song. As part of his album titled “3.0,” “Vivir Mi Vida” was an automatic No. 1 hit in many Latin American countries and won Record of the Year at the 2013 Latin Grammy Awards. The song is about being yourself to the fullest, feeling happy, dancing and celebrating life, and it’s a great way to cheer people up in times of sorrow and unhappiness. The catchy lyrics, nice rhythm and melody all make this song what it is today: legendary.
“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” – Karol G
Colombian artist Karol G has taken the world by storm over the last five years. The lyrics of “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” are about reflecting on a missed opportunity and what could’ve been if you met someone earlier. The catchy and upbeat tempo can make anyone want to get up and start dancing. With the launch of her most recent album “Mañana Será Bonito,” Karol G has reached an audience she never previously touched and won her first Grammy or Best Música Urbana Album at the 66th Grammy Awards.
“Danza Kuduro” – Don Omar (feat. Lucenzo)
Released 14 years ago, this iconic song is one of the party anthems of the Latin community and became the soundtrack to a viral TikTok dance. Many celebrities, news broadcasters and public figures were doing the dance, which helped the song reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart for 15 weeks. The mix of reggaeton and Afrobeat makes it stand out in the best way possible, making it an iconic, global hit.
“Hips Don’t Lie” – Shakira (feat. Wyclef Jean)
Although this song is in English, Colombian singer Shakira and Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean capture the essence of Caribbean sound in this single. The reggae beat and drums never fail to make us stand up and shake our hips like Shakira. This song broke through the Latin countries and made it to No. 1 in the charts across 56 different nations, including the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
