UN ENFRENTAMIENTO! Spanish Covers vs. #1 Hits:

Who Wins This Cross-Language Showdown?

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.

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.

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.

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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.

I know I scandalized some of you, going against Stevie, but it’s 80s Stevie, not 70s Stevie, so maybe more forgivable. Maybe?

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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?

But Spanish did not go down without a fight.

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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?

Gipsy Kings’ version is not to be trifled with however, and scores extra points for being featured in The Big Lebowski.

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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.

Not even close.

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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.

By a hair.

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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.

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.

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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 original is a powerhouse ballad for the ages, no doubt, but Los del Fuego’s cover touches the heart in its moving simplicity.

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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.

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.

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A lively, sweet, more down-to-earth take on the gigantic U2 anthem, done in an acoustic Cuban folk style.

But don’t sleep on the Spanish version.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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A classic ballad with signature tighter-than-tight harmonies gets kicked up a notch and transformed into a blazing hot salsa track.

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.

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A norteño take that replaces disco with what sounds like a laid-back polka.

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.

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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.

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.

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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?

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.

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Lots more Spanish covers to come!
The full playlist can be heard here:

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