by Olly RichardsMexican songs really have a lot to offer: regional styles, amazing backstories, centuries-old melodies or songs covered by the most unlikely artists.
There’s no way that a 15-item selection of popular Mexican songs could do justice to what I just described. But this list will open lots of new doors for your music taste and your future playlists.
From rancheras to boleros, from the 17th century to 2023, and from ballads with the tenderest lines to tunes with the hardest put-downs, these Mexican songs will give you a diverse sample of the sounds of this amazing country.
You can listen to each of them individually from this list, or watch the YouTube playlist that goes with this article. Enjoy rocking out as you read, ¡y viva México!
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Table of Contents
Mexican Songs: Mexican Dance Songs
1. La Bamba (Ritchie Valens’ version)
This is probably one of the best Mexican dance songs there is.
Where did this song and its extremely catchy melody come from? You’d need to head back to the late 17th century in the state of Veracruz, home of the son jarocho folk style, but you won’t get any confirmed version about its original author.
What we did get for many decades were dozens of great versions recorded. And two of them stood out the most: the first was the one American musician Ritchie Valens made in 1958, which cemented his status as the forefather of Chicano rock.
The other one was performed by Los Lobos in 1987 for the soundtrack of La Bamba (the Ritchie Valens biopic), and put them at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
2. Gloria Trevi – Todos me miran
This is also one of the best Mexican dance songs you can find.
A powerhouse of Mexican pop since the 80s with a career filled with controversy, Trevi achieved an outstanding comeback with this 2006 single that was part of the live album La trayectoria.
The album topped charts throughout the Spanish-speaking world and demonstrating she could set up her career and success on her own terms after the dark years she went through.
Mexican Songs: Mexican Folk Songs
3. Cielito lindo (Pedro Infante’s version)
Mexican musician Quirino Mendoza y Cortés composed this song in 1882, probably with some influence from a Spanish seguidilla (hence the Sierra Morena mentioned in the lyrics, which should refer to the one that stretches across the south of the Iberian Peninsula).
Other details of its origin have been discussed widely. But the undeniable fact is that it has become a sort of unofficial symbol of representation for Mexico and Mexicans everywhere (as well as a household number for mariachi bands), from pop culture depictions to massive football chants.
4. La llorona (Chavela Vargas’ version)
This is one of the most popular songs in Mexico.
This folk song comes from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, probably in relation to the legend of the same name (The weeping woman) and with many versions that can include different lyrics.
The one Chavela Vargas made for her appearance in the 2002 film Frida was the symbol of her enormous popularity and significance for Mexican music, mostly for her iconic takes on ranchera, which defied its male-dominated forms.
Mexican Songs: Bolero
5. Agustín Lara – Solamente una vez (Luis Miguel’s version)
The bolero genre made its way from Cuba to Mexico in the early 20s, where it rapidly became a radio sensation.
And after it was crucial to the success of Mexican cinema from the 30s to the 50s because of its presence in soundtracks.
Agustín Lara was one of its most relevant figures, and this 1941 song was one of his biggest hits, composed in Argentina and in the midst of his international success.
It was covered by many artists, including Nat King Cole, Andrea Bocelli, and even briefly by Elvis Presley.
6. Juan Gabriel – Querida
Combine an irresistible, bolero-shaped melody with a wildly popular artist who defined every conceived notion of how a Mexican music star should look, act, and sound like, and you'll get a hit like “Querida”.
This Mexican song helped 1984’s Recuerdos II become the biggest selling Mexican album in the country’s history.
A wonderful live version from the 1990 album Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes stretches to the 14 minute mark with an insane medley that briefly includes The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout”.
Mexican Songs: Ranchera
7. José Alfredo Jiménez – El rey (Vicente Fernández’s version)
A staple of the ranchera genre, “El Rey” was originally released in 1971 by Jiménez, its original author
The most famous version of this Mexican song came two years later (when Jiménez died) by Vicente Fernández, who then consolidated his international stardom and went on to become the biggest ranchera icon in Mexico.
“No tengo trono ni reina/Ni nadie que me comprenda/Pero sigo siendo el rey” (I don’t have a throne or a queen/Or anyone who understands me/But I’m still the king), Fernández sung, and the royalty status stuck with him forever.
A strong condenter to become the best Mexican song of all time!
8. Paquita la del Barrio – Rata de dos patas
“Filthy rat,” “Scum of life,” “Subhuman,” “Hyena from hell.” How’s this for a diss track?
Songwriter Manuel Eduardo Toscano was thinking of Mexico’s former president Carlos Salinas de Gortari when he composed this song.
And public opinion is that Paquita la del Barrio dedicated those harsh lines to her ex-husband, Alfonso Martínez.
But since this song came out in 2004, the world has gained a perfect tune for former lovers searching for the nastiest goodbye.
Mexican Songs: Mexican Love Songs
9. Selena – Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
Selena was actually American, but she also became the biggest figure of Tejano music during the late 80s and the 90s, catapulting Mexican influences as well as the Spanish language to the top positions in the charts.
This 1994 song combined Mexican cumbia with reggae to give us a sweetly contagious, heart-thumping love anthem for eternity.
The live version at the Houston Astrodome in 1995 (just a month before her death) is the perfect demonstration of her towering presence on stage, and of her stature as a pop star.
10. Thalía – Piel morena
Here’s another strong contender to be cataloged as one of the best Mexican love songs ever.
This smash hit completed Thalía’s rise from teen pop sensation to accomplished actress (and telenovela queen) to, eventually, an international, more complex, and even provocative pop star.
One of her first collaborations with producer Emilio Estefan, Piel morena shows Thalía confidently showcasing her vocal skills over a cumbia rhythm.
Meanwhile the music video presented the world with the very particular (and scandalous, it turned out) bras she wore, which turned her into a style icon.
11. Cristian Castro – Amor
Cristian Castro was already on the map of Latin pop by 1995, but he was determined to showcase the variety of his artistic abilities.
While living in New York (where he was taking a filmmaking course), he wrote Amor, which ended up being the lead single for his 1996 album El deseo de oír tu voz.
The chords’ progression, which makes you feel like you’re listening to three different and amazing songs, is only matched by the excellent vocal performance on each section.
An excellent and underrated tune that would preview future explorations in his career.
12. Julieta Venegas – Andar conmigo
This is probably one of the best Mexican love songs there is.
After two critically acclaimed albums, this is the single that finally established Julieta Venegas as an international star with her original fusion of indie rock, folk, and pop infused with more traditional Mexican sounds.
Its lyrics also anticipated the basis of her future hits like “Limón y sal” or “Eres para mí”, with her creative and playful approach for describing love stories and romantic pleads.
Mexican Songs: Alternative Music
11. Café Tacvba – Eres
By 2004, when Café Tacvba released their fifth album, Cuatro caminos, they were already alternative rock icons and critic’s darlings.
When “Eres” came out as the third single from that album, they also proved they could deliver a timeless hit with a superb guitar line, a perfect vocal performance (also by Emmanuel del Real, the band’s guitarist and writer of the song), and a fabulous declaration of love in the lyrics.
14. Natalia Lafourcade – Hasta la raíz
With its elements of the huapango family of musical styles and powerful lyrics, this single gave Lafourcade the Latin Grammy awards for Record and Song of the Year and Best Alternative Song in 2015.
This award only confirmed the accolades she has been receiving for her unique style and combination of diverse influences, from Mexican folklore to international artists like Fiona Apple and Björk.
Mexican Songs: Regional Mexican
15. Eslabón armado & Peso pluma – Ella baila sola
Corridos tumbados (trap corridos) are climbing charts, stacking up plays, and blasting from speakers in Latin America and in the U.S.
And it’s all thanks to artists like Peso pluma and groups like Eslabón armado, who are taking Mexican regional sounds to the world without having to compromise their essence, or follow other pop trends.
Ella baila sola’s crossover power was so strong that it was crowned the best songs of 2023 by Rolling Stone.
FAQs About Mexican Songs
What is the most recognizable Mexican song?
The most recognisable Mexican song is Ritchie Valens’ 1958 version of La Bamba. This Mexican song has an extremely catchy melody, but no-one knows its exact origins.
What is the Mexican song that everyone knows?
La Bamba is a Mexican song that everyone knows. It was popularised by the 1958 version by Richie Valens, an American musician considered as the forefather of Chicano rock.
What is the most common Mexican music?
Some common forms of Mexican music are mariachi, bolero, ranchera and Mexican cumbia.
Mexican Songs & More Of Mexico
You've made it to the end of this list of the 15 best Mexican songs. I hope you've found some tunes to add to your playlist.
If you'd like to find out even more about Mexican culture, then you'll enjoy my posts about Mexican food, Mexican dance styles and Mexican slang.
I hope you'll enjoy everything that Mexican culture has to offer.
