While following Tom Breihan’s The Number Ones column over at Stereogum.com, where he reviews every song that topped the Billboard Hot 100, at some point, I became interested in finding Spanish-language covers of #1 songs.
I began to compile a playlist. Any artist was welcome, from the well-known to the more obscure.
They could be any style, but I preferred them not to sound too much like a replica of the original.
As I shared some of my finds in the comment section along the way, other commenters, such as Edith G and Ozcorp would chime in with suggestions. I ended up with a substantial playlist that extends from the 60s through the 90s – and I still listen to it.
Some of the Spanish versions just flowed so perfectly, that it was as if they were written to sound that way.
I recently began to wonder what would happen if the two faced off against each other?
Who would win?
Here are some prime matchups of Spanish language covers vs. the English #1s they reinterpret.
The full playlist is at the end, and you are welcome to judge as well. And being that I love all the Spanish covers here, whether or not they triumph today, they’re still great in my eyes.
“Part Time Lover”
by Stevie Wonder, vs:
“Amor a Media Tiempo”
by Bobby Valentin
Not one of Stevie’s more memorable #1s, although it has an impressive amount of plays on Spotify.
I must confess that I didn’t recall hearing it before Tom Breihan reviewed it. Sometime in the early 90s, I was introduced to the Bobby Valentin salsa cover and was smitten. It is absolutely smoking hot from start to finish and just gets me charged every time I hear it.
The winner:
Spanish
I know I scandalized some of you, going against Stevie, but it’s 80s Stevie, not 70s Stevie, so maybe more forgivable. Maybe?
“Careless Whisper”
by Wham! featuring George Michael,
vs:
“Susurro Indescrito”
by Luchito Muñoz
This salsa-jazz cover is fantastic with a complex arrangement, smooth vocals, lights out percussion – the works.
But can it overtake the monster hit from Wham! with its all-timer of a sax line?
The winner:
English
But Spanish did not go down without a fight.
“Hotel California”
by Eagles,
vs:
“Hotel California (Spanish Mix)”
by Gipsy Kings
I was directing a Spanish language folk group at a church that introduced this sizzling cover when it came out.
This song was made to be done in the flamenco style and the guitar work is incredible. Does it top the ubiquitous original?
The winner:
English
Gipsy Kings’ version is not to be trifled with however, and scores extra points for being featured in The Big Lebowski.
“The Night Chicago Died”
by Paper Lace,
vs:
“La Noche Que Murio Chicago”
by Banda Toro
The Banda cover sounds like a Mexican polka and charmed its way into my heart instantly.
A song about my hometown burning to the ground that lifts my spirits and makes me feel happy is an unlikely feat.
The winner:
Spanish
Not even close.
“MacArthur Park”
by Donna Summer,
vs:
“MacArthur Park (Spanish Version)”
by Lucy Grau
The Donna Summer version is itself a cover, of course, but Lucy Grau’s electrifying salsa version is obviously based on it, not the original.
The winner:
Spanish
By a hair.
“I Will Survive”
by Gloria Gaynor,
vs:
“Yo Viviré”
by Celia Cruz
Legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz is forever an icon in the world of Latin music and was known as the Queen of Salsa.
Her version of this disco classic, recorded near the end of her long, illustrious career, is not to be missed.
The winner:
English
A fight to the finish. Celia goes hard, but in the end, it was never going to be easy knocking off Gloria on this one.
“I Want to Know What Love Is”
by Foreigner,
vs:
“Quiero Saber Que Es el Amor”
by Los del Fuego
A study in contrasts between Foreigner’s emotionally charged, heavy-handed production complete with Gospel choir and this stripped-down Argentinian cover, rearranged as a cumbia.
The winner:
Spanish
The original is a powerhouse ballad for the ages, no doubt, but Los del Fuego’s cover touches the heart in its moving simplicity.
“Right Here Waiting”
by Richard Marx
vs.
“Aqui Esperándote”
by Klase Aparte
The difference between the adult contemporary hushed ballad that is the original and this scorcher of a merengue cover is stunning. There is no middle ground. It demands that sides be taken, alliances be formed.
The winner:
Spanish
Armed with his gooey keyboards, dreamy vocals, and inimitable hair, Richard Marx simply showed up at the wrong arena here and just cannot keep up with the blistering pace of the merengue.
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
by U2
vs:
Spanish version
by Cuba Vista
A lively, sweet, more down-to-earth take on the gigantic U2 anthem, done in an acoustic Cuban folk style.
The winner:
English
But don’t sleep on the Spanish version.
“Unbreak My Heart”
by Toni Braxton
vs:
“Regresa a Mí” by La Rondalla de Saltilla
The original was begging for a dramatic Spanish language treatment and this Mexican guitar ballad has the goods.
When 10 men are busting out those harmonies on the chorus, you can feel your own heart unbreaking right then and there.
The winner:
Spanish
It’s a close one. The Braxton original is one of the most beautiful ballads of its era, but the Spanish cover just makes me want to cry.
“Eye of the Tiger”
by Survivor
vs:
“El Ojo del Tigre”
by Francis y Su Marimba Orquesta
This Guatemalan group completely reinvents Survivor’s classic inspirational rocker as a sizzling tropical dance number, adding marimbas to the mix to really spice it up.
The winner:
English
But the Spanish version could accompany a work-out montage quite well in its own right. If I had to fight Clubber Lang, this would get me fired up, right before I was about to die a quick and very painful death.
“On Bended Knee”
by Boyz II Men
vs:
“Me Rindo Ante Ti”
by Luisito Ayala Y La Puerto Rican Power
A classic ballad with signature tighter-than-tight harmonies gets kicked up a notch and transformed into a blazing hot salsa track.
The winner:
Spanish
The Boyz’ biggest hits are always spot on, but this cover has it all — amazing horns, stellar vocals and an irresistible tropical beat that makes me want to get up and dance. And I can’t even salsa.
“Heart of Glass”
by Blondie
vs:
“Corazón De Cristal”
by Priscila y Sus Balas De Plata
A norteño take that replaces disco with what sounds like a laid-back polka.
The winner:
English
Priscila is really working that accordion and it’s a fun interpretation, but the Blondie original is pure fire and all challengers, no matter how earnest, must succumb.
“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”
by Bryan Adams
vs:
“La Mujer Que Amas”
by Pedro Fernandez
Another one that was basically written to be covered in Spanish.
This version really nails it and is exactly how it was meant to sound.
The winner:
Spanish
Turns out the solution to getting this song to reach its full potential was to give it a great Spanish vocal and eighty-six Bryan Adams.
“Yesterday”
by The Beatles
vs:
“El Ayer”
by Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea
A lush ballad cover by an all-female mariachi outfit.
The lead vocal is sung with a muted sadness that is achingly beautiful. Will it be able to beat Sir Paul at his own game of melancholy and regret?
The winner:
English
By the slimmest of margins. Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea nearly pull off a stunning upset and topple the Beatles, but in the end the lads pull off the victory as it is just too hard to go against the iconic original. However, do not count these ladies out, and give their version a listen.
Lots more Spanish covers to come!
The full playlist can be heard here:
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This sounds like a fun way to spend a summer Thursday. Thanks, RB! I suspect several of these songs will be improvements on originals that I don’t much care for (Bryan Adams, Toni Braxton et al.). The real challenge will be the ones I find classic (“MacArthur Park” for one). I look forward to listening.
Knowing your tastes, I imagine no one is going to topple Donna, but that Lucy Grau Spanish version is smoking hot and you might enjoy it.
As promised, I listened to a good chunk of your playlist yesterday. I liked the Lucy Grau “MacArthur Park” a lot (though, of course, Donna still reigns supreme). Others I enjoyed included “Careless Whisper” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Fun stuff!
I’m so disappointed that you didn’t find a “Señor Custer”
By the same Spanish language band who covered “Broken Wings!” They were great.
Boy, I sure miss Señor Señor.
{ducks the incoming vegetable barrage}
Interestingly, “Tequila” by Los campeones is exactly the same song.
How about a Dutch version of “Broken Wings” mt?
https://youtu.be/ViFRg4lxPy8
I looked into many #1s, but that was definitely not one of them. However, your comment inspired me to find this. Very shocked that it exists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL2w8P746rY
Ok, I caved. Since you asked, here is Señor Apache
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUhqe2rXpu0
Fun list, rollerboogie! Given my background, I’m now curious about French versions…..
Oh, they are out there. A good source is secondhandsongs.com. They list the original, all the cover versions in English, and then covers by language, if they exist. They don’t always have version that’s ever been recorded, but it’s a good resource nevertheless.
I am attempting to learn French, and this might be a great way to get some practice listening. Covers would be good because I at least know the gist of what is being said.
Yes, I would thnk so. There are also songs by English speaking artists that incorporate French into them. Just to name a few-
C’était toi (You Were the One)- Billy Joel
Hungry for You- The Police
Foux du Fafa- Flight of the Conchords (I love this so much)
Hold on Tight (to Your Dream)- ELO
Denis- Blondie
Thanks! I know of a few, but I didn’t know any of these. My favorite is below.
https://youtu.be/te7KW4K-00E?si=pIEJRfdd6AmMdX2z
Have not heard this.
OK rollerboogie, have you ever compared the Spanish version of “Love Will Keep Us Together” versus the English one, since both are by the Captain and Tennille? And if not, why not? (Extra bonus points if you’ve also compared the Carpenters’ take on “Canta” against their English original of “Sing” too!)
I have not. I tried to choose arrangements that didn’t sound stylistically like the original, with a few exceptions. For that reason, I stayed away from artists singing their own songs in Spanish, as the arrangement tends to be exactly the same, by design. Listening to the Spanish “Love Will Keep Us Together”. I am not an expert on how Spanish is supposed to be pronounced, but this sounds more authentic than I was expecting.
Swedish national Ebba Forsberg was Madonna’s first signee to her Maverick label. “Lost Count” is an unsung classic. It’s the opening track of her debut album Been There. Forsberg didn’t find an audience. Back home, she recorded a cycle of Leonard Cohen songs in Swedish.
My favorite Spanish language cover is Colombian national artist Juanes’ “Dancing in the Dark”, partly because I never heard Springsteen covered in Spanish or any language. I was familiar with “Vogelvrij”. That’s what Spotify is for.
I’m listening now to the Juanes cover of Dancing in the Dark. It’s really nice.
Don’t tell anyone, but I would rather listen to this than the original.
Recording a cycle of Cohen songs in your native language seems to be the exact thing one should do when your debut doesn’t land.
Oh, how did I miss this? Great piece @rollerboogie, I’ve heard this playlist many times and I almost could guess which versions were going to win in this showdown.
Not to long ago I gave you some suggestions for more songs (some of them were Spanglish covers, though), and I really would like to know your opinion about a merengue cover of “Don’t Worry Be Happy”.
Thank you, Edith. I was hoping you would check in on this. Is the merengue version of Don’t Worry Be Happy by Toño Rosario? If so, I listened to it and it’s a good cover, but I dislike the original so much, it’s not something I could listen to repeatedly.
It’s the Miguel Ángel Tzul y su Marimba Orquesta version (also can be found as “Merengue Mix 2: Don’t Worry Be Happy”), through it’s a little bit similar.
Ahh. Listening to it now. It’s better than the version I found.