Top 100 Salsa Dance Songs – A Dancer’s Perspective (Part I)
When it comes to pleasing the dancers, you need to play the top 100 salsa dance songs. But, what are they and who decides what the top 100 salsa dance songs are?
That is a question that many salsa DJs have pondered, when trying to play the top 100 salsa dance songs for their audience. There’s just such a wide variety in styles, speeds, singers and songs that makes choosing a hand full (or even the one to play next) such a dilemma. A good DJ always finds a way to please the majority, though. On the other hand, a novice DJ, who doesn’t have the skill level, knowledge or has ever been a true, dance to the meaning of the song and music, salsero… well, a disaster is an understatement.
There have been times, when I have had a PARTICULARLY hard day and I’m so stressed out! I go to the salsa clubs, in hopes of hearing some of the top 100 salsa dance songs that will transform my stress to joy. Some DJs, from the first note/beat just manage to truly perform miracles, by playing songs that are not only fun to listen to, but exiting to dance. The blood starts circulating and yet there’s a chill in your spine. The feet start moving… and no matter how aware of people staring at you, that you are, you just can’t help but move your feet (and get lost in that rhythm!).
Then, there are those DJs that don’t understand the music or the words, much less the meaning or feeling , of the songs. The kind of DJs that either play the same songs over and over, in the same sequence even, every time they DJ at an event/club. OR even worse, the kind that seems like they just stopped at the local Starbucks, saw a salsa CD in between the Frank Sinatra and the Yoga Relaxation Jazz CDs and decided… « sounds good, I’ll play that all night ».
As an « Old Style » salsa dancer, whom understands what the singer is singing (and his « soneos » [improvisations]), that stuff just totally turns my salsa joy dial, almost, all the way down, as disappointment sets in, longing to hear any of the top 100 salsa dance songs instead.
What you will find, below, is a list I have compiled of the top 100 salsa dance songs that are being played by DJs all over the world. It is a compilation of the most common songs found on DJ website and articles from all over the world. I spent 2 months researching, asking questions and listening to each song to prove it’s validity (It started as a list of 500; but I’ve taken out all Cha-cha’s and some Merengues that sneaked their way in). I also broke the list down to 5 top 100 salsa dance songs lists. KEEP in mind, there are many more than these top 100 salsa dance songs out there; These are just THE ones, DJs all over the world have chosen (to post, at least), according to my research; plus a few of my own, that I play when DJing. Also, they are in alphabetical order and NOT in order of popularity or dance-ability. If you would like to submit YOUR top songs for consideration for this list, leave us a comment with your suggestions.
Here’s the top 100 salsa dance songs…
|Name| Artist| Album| Duration|
|1-800- Quiereme| Luisito Rosario| Rumba Del Barrio| 4:06|
|1-800-Quiereme ( Remix)| Luisito Rosario| Rumba Del Barrio| 5:02|
|A Bailar Pa’ Dentro| Orquesta La Solucion| Pa’ Bailar| 4:23|
|A Cali| Conjunto Clásico| Felicitaciones| 3:16|
|A Él| Oscar D’León| Éxitos De Con La Critica| 3:47|
|A Golpe De Folklore| Grupo Niche| A Golpe De Folklore| 4:59|
|A Gozar| José Alberto « El Canario »| Sueno Contigo| 3:34|
|A la hora que me Llamen Voy| Candido Fabre| 4:30|
|A La Hora Que Me Llamen Voy| José Alberto « El Canario »| On Time| 5:11|
|A La Memoria Del Muerto| Fruko y Sus Tesos| 4:22|
|A Mi Me Huele| Orquesta Mulenze| Salsa Fiesta!| 4:11|
|A Mi Suegro (Don Pedrito)| Various Artists| Coleccion Estelar De Salsa Dura| 3:55|
|Acere Bongo| Tipica 73 | 4:36|
|Avisale a mi Contrario| Grupo Mandinga| Back to the 70’s| 4:13|
|Aguzate| Louie Ramirez- Ray De La Paz| Sabor Con Clase| 6:06|
|Ajiaco Caliente| Eddie Palmieri| Mozambique| 5:38|
|El Amor| Alex leon| Salsa Caleta| 5:06|
|Amor Callejero| The Latin Brothers| Best of the Latin Brothers| 4:51|
|Arrepentios Pecadores| Willie Rosario| Back To The Future / 40 Aniversario| 4:31|
|Arrepientete| Orquesta Broadway| Salsa Fiesta!| 4:01|
|Arrepientete| Ray Barretto| At His Best| 5:14|
|Arroz Con Manteca| Oscar D’Leon| Con La Dimension Latina| 4:00|
|asi me gustas gordita| cesar nicolas| lo mejor de lo mejor| 4:00|
|Asi Soy Yo (That’s How I Am)| Larry Harlow| Asi Soy Yo| 5:42|
|Así No Se Quiere a Nadie| Tipica 73| 3:52|
|Ataca de Nuevo| Joe Cuba Sextette| Cocinando La Salsa| 3:25|
|Atízame El Fogón| Willie Rosario| Oro Salsero – 20 Éxitos| 5:07|
|Atrevida| REY RODRIGUEZ| En El Sonido De Hoy Vol 1| 4:38|
|Aunque Me Llores| Raphy Leavitt| Oro Salsero 20 Exitos Vol 2| 4:52|
|Ave Maria Lola| Sonora Carruseles| Heavy Salsa| 4:08|
|Avisale a Mi Contrario| Orquesta Tabaco y Ron| Salsa de Verdad| 7:14|
|Ay Caray| Adalberto Santiago| Popeye El Marino| 5:31|
|azucar Pa Un Amargao| Oscar D’Leon| Con La Dimension Latina| 2:54|
|Babaila| Soneros del Barrio| Siguiendo La Tradicion| 4:41|
|Babarabatiri| Tito Puente| Live At Birdland-Dancemania ’98| 8:29|
|Baila Que Baila| José « El Canario » Alberto| Serie Cristal: Greatest Hits| 4:48|
|Ban Ban| Joe Arroyo| Grandes Exitos, Vol. 2| 3:12|
|Banderita (A Little Flag)| Larry Harlow| Asi Soy Yo| 5:36|
|Bandolera| Héctor Lavoe| Comedia| 9:34|
|Bar Y Copas| Various Artists| Salsakidd’s Salsa Mix| 4:17|
|Barrio Negro| Sensual 990| Ultra Mix The Best Of Salsa Tropical Dance| 5:34|
|Barrunto| Willie Colón| The Big Break – La Gran Fuga| 5:37|
|Bembelequa| Celia Cruz| Irrepetible| 4:55|
|Beso Gitano| Colombia Te Canta Ii| Colombia Te Canta II| 5:14|
|Beunaventura Tiene Ricura| Orquesta Guayacan| Guayacan Y Del Bueno| 5:19|
|Blanco y Negro| Joe Arroyo| 20th Anniversary| 5:03|
|Boca Mentirosa| Andy Montañez| Oro Salsero| 4:44|
|Boricua Rumbero Salsero| adalberto santiago| salsa gorda| 4:05|
|Bravo Rumbero| Alfredo Naranjo y El Guajeo| A Las 6 Es La Cita| 3:28|
|Buena Ventura y Caney| Grupo Niche| Historia Music, Vol. 1| 6:19|
|Buenaventura Llego La Hora| Huber Angel| Gózame| 4:18|
|Busca El Ritmo| Willie Rosario| Oro Salsero – 20 Éxitos| 5:35|
|Buscando Un Amor| Orq. Matecana/Orq. Guayacan| Serie Batalla| 4:22|
|Busco Lo Tuyo| Fania All-Stars| Fania All-Stars « Live » June 11, 1994| 7:01|
|Busco Olvidarte| Willie Rosario| Back To The Future / 40 Aniversario| 4:35|
|Cachondea| Fruko & Sus Tesos| Fruko Y Sus Tesos – Power Salsa| 4:57|
|Cali De Rumba| Fruko & Sus Tesos| Fruko Y Sus Tesos – Power Salsa| 5:26|
|Cali Flamenca Mix| Melcochita| Mis Mejores Exitos| 6:21|
|calla buey| Hector « tempo » Alomar| lo mejor de lo mejor| 5:13|
|Campana Mayoral| Jose Mangual Jr.| 5:15|
|Cantando| Los Niches| Grandes Exitos| 4:29|
|Cantando Se Fué| Cuco Valoy| Sonero| 4:18|
|Canto Abacua| Ray Barretto| At His Best| 8:17|
|Capullito De Azucena| Oscar D’Leon| El Panquelero| 4:32|
|Carnaval| Joe Arroyo| Y la Verdad| 5:06|
|Castígala| Cesar Nicolas| Lo Mejor de Lo Mejor| 4:10|
|Celebrando| La Puertorriqueña| Orquesta Puertorriqueña : 20 Aniversario| 5:02|
|Celia| José Alberto « El Canario »| On Time| 6:00|
|Chimpun Callao| Orquesta Macondo| Ultra Mix The Best Of Salsa Tropical Dance| 3:43|
|Como Es Posible| Louie Ramírez| Louie Ramirez y Super Banda| 5:04|
|Como lo Canto Yo| Spanish Harlem Orchestra| Across 110th Street| 4:32|
|Como Olvidarte| Oscar D’León| 4:01|
|Companera De Camino| Raphy Leavitt| Oro Salsero 20 Exitos – VOL 1| 4:04|
|Corazón de Acero| Cuco Valoy| Sonero| 4:14|
|Cuando te Vea| Grupo Mandinga| Back to the 70’s| 4:08|
|Cuando Te Vea| Spanish Harlem| Across 110th Street| 4:50|
|Cuerpo De Guitarra| Various| Esto Si Es Salsa De Verdad!| 5:32|
|Culpable| GRUPO GALE| Esencia Latina| 4:17|
|Cumana| Valentin Valdez Bebe De La Salsa| 4:17|
|De Una Vez Gozando| La Sonora Carruseles| De Una Vez Gozando| 5:17|
|Descarga ’73| Tipica 73 | 4:53|
|Descarga Total| Maraca| Latin Village Salsa (Mixed By DJ Mauri)| 6:00|
|Devuelve Mi Alegria| Willie Rosario| Mas Ritmo| 4:10|
|Déjate Querer| José Alberto « El Canario »| Herido| 5:11|
|Digo Yo| Grupo Niche| Historia Music, Vol. 1| 4:58|
|Dime Que Si| Antonio Cartagena| Dime Que Si| 4:25|
|Dime Que Si| Gilberto Santa Rosa Tres Con Cache| 4:19|
|Dime Si Llegue a Tiempo| Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco| Tremendo Cache| 3:51|
|Dinamita| Fania All-Stars| Commitment| 4:50|
|Dolor Y Amor| Ismael Miranda y Orq. Harlow| Abran Paso| 3:57|
|Dolores| Cano Estremera| Opera Ecuajey| 4:26|
|Dominicano Soy| Raulín Rosendo| Dominicano Para El Mundo| 4:54|
|Don Toribio| Grupo Mandinga| Back to the 70’s| 4:26|
|Dos Amigos| Domingo Quiñones| Greatest Hits| 4:00|
|Echando Pa’Lante| Oscar D’León| El Cachumbambe| 3:57|
|El Apartamento| Willie Rosario| Back To The Future / 40 Aniversario| 4:19|
|El Artista Famoso| Roberto Blades| 5:51|
|El As de la Rumba| Jose Alberto « El Canario »| Back to the Mambo: Tribute to Machito| 4:48|
|El Bailarin de La Avenida| Sonora Carruseles| Con Todos Los Hierros| 4:11|
|El candado y la llave| Tito Allen| El Intocable| 4:34|
Don’t get me wrong, there a multiple opinions on what the « top 100 salsa dance songs » are and aren’t. But there are quite a few selections that are considered THE top 100 salsa dance songs all over the world. In LA and in NY, in Italy and South Korea, in Puerto Rico and Venezuela, in Colombia or Panama… these songs will fill the dance floors and keep salseros (and salseras) happy and dancing until they drop!
