songs about travel in spanish

25 Songs in Spanish to Inspire Your Next Trip to Latin America

True Nature Travels Blog

• Mark Moffitt

The First Time I Heard Spanish

Her happy voice caught my ear as I passed by the house. She was laughing and sweetly teasing her children from her chair on the porch. I had no idea what she was saying, but in her natural speaking voice, she practically sang the most vibrant, expressive string of words I’d ever heard. In that moment, I realized I should have studied Spanish in high school, not French.

After that first trip to Honduras, I knew speaking Spanish would somehow become part of my life path.

Learning the Music of Spanish

Over the years, I studied Spanish in fits and spurts, but in the last 7 years, or so, I’ve really picked it up. It helped to move to Colombia for a year and half, and it helps that my partner is Mexican. It also helps that I dance salsa… because the salsa tradition delivers Spanish with high-quality music I love to hear.

Once you develop an ear for it, you may notice how beautifully Spanish lends itself to music. Spanish words are full of vowels, so they sing exquisitely, with airy, mantra-like ohs, ees, ehs, and ahs.

Listening to the Music

When I first started listening to music in Spanish, I could barely understand anything. Then one day, something clicked. Now, if I have my headphones in, I can understand almost every lyric I hear… just like in English! Point being: If you’re learning Spanish, keep listening to the music! It will come!

For those of you still training your ear, I know it’s easy to fall for songs with great melodies and rhythms only to discover later that they’re full of crude lyrics. That’s why I’ve compiled a playlist of popular latin songs, with lyrics in Spanish, that are not only safe for mixed company*, but also inspire the spirit and heal the soul .

Latin Music Culture

In the “Levanta el Espíritu” playlist you’ll find some of the great classic artists like Celia Cruz and Oscar de León, as well as modern stars Marc Anthony and Daddy Yankee. I’ve included latin dance styles like salsa, merengue, bolero, cumbia, pacifico, tropical, and bachata, as well as folk, rock, rap, hip hop, and pop.

All of the music has something uplifting going on in the lyrics, and some of it is downright profound. Jorge Drexler sings poetically about interconnectedness and non-duality. Celia Cruz reveals her deep bodhisattva nature. Residente rocks out on the power in the shadow side of life. All that mixes in with great latin music anthems that call us to dance to overcome our suffering, celebrate the beauty of life, and pay homage to our roots.

Get Ready for Your Next Trip

Hearing music in Spanish will help you learn vocabulary and turns of phrase. Singing along will teach your mouth the awkward acrobatics of inflection and pronunciation. Grooving to the beat feels like taking a mini-vacation to Latin America!

I hope you hear some of these songs on your next trip (or remember them from the last one). I hope you find a new artist you love. (psst… Orishas! Herencia de Timbiquí! Maná! ChocQuibTown!) Most of all, I hope the world of latin music, culture, and Spanish language opens a little wider for you. Happy listening!

Also find the playlist here .

La Vida (Respira el Momento) by Calle 13 is about opening to the vastness of life. The words “sexo, orgasmo” appear briefly in that context.

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10 Songs about Travel in different Languages

Posted by MrWorldling | Jan 30, 2019 | Music , Travel Blog | 26 |

Everybody loves “Travel” playlists. What I love even more are “Songs about Travel” playlists as every culture has a different way of expressing the desire of travel through language. As I’ve always been fascinated with travel, languages and different ways we express ourselves, I’ve compiled a selection of 10 songs about travel in 10 different languages that I probably took 10 years to find. Hope you enjoy. 🙂

1. Gomez – See the world (English)

2. Calle 13 – La Vuelta al Mundo – Around the World (Spanish)

For full song lyrics and English translation go here .

3. Zdob și Zdub – Sunt Hoinar sunt Lăutar – I’m a Wandering Fiddler (Romanian)

4. Quruli – ハイウェイ – Highway (Japanese)

5. skank – nômade – nomad (portuguese).

6. Negrita – Rotolando Verso Sud – Rolling over to the South (Italian)

7. Locomondo – Οδύσσεια – Odyssey (Greek)

8. Jali – Española (French)

9. Curly Strings – Kauges Külas – In a distant village (Estonian) 

10. The Local Train – Dil Mere (Hindi)  

So these are my top 10 songs about travel in different languages. Have you got a favourite song out of these 10? Or have you got any other suggestions in your language? Please let me know! Sharing is caring 🙂

Also, if you’re on Spotify, check out my travel playlist here . I update it regularly.

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MrWorldling

Yet another wanderer

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The Ultimate Spain Playlist

by Taylor On A Trip | Sep 22, 2017 | Europe , Granada , Music , Spain , Uncategorized | 4 comments

What would Spain be like without music? Without the sounds of gorgeous flamenco wafting out of every open window, without sad folk songs to guide people through the complicated history of the country, or without sitting around a carmen every night in Granada with a group of travellers jamming out La Bamba?

Erm, maybe that last example is only specific to my experience in Spain, but honestly… I doubt it.

Heartfelt music is intrinsic to Spanish culture, and if one should go to Spain and somehow avoid being emotionally carried away by a Spanish song would be to not understand, at a very primal level, what makes Spaniards tick.

So whether it is a song directly about Spain, by a Spanish musician, or simply influenced by Spanish culture..

Here are my 15 song picks in my ultimate Spain Playlist:

1. the clash – spanish bombs.

The cover photo of this post may have tipped you off (it was taken at Plaza Joe Strummer in Granada), but Joe Strummer of the band The Clash was greatly influenced by his childhood trips to Granada, Spain, as mentioned in this track.

2. George Ezra – Barcelona

The more I listen to UK singer George Ezra (of Budapest fame), the more I dig what he’s all about. This is his ode to the coastal Spanish city of Barcelona.

3. Counting Crows “Holiday In Spain”

Love or hate Counting Crows, they know how to write a song about Spain that is partially performed in… Dutch. Yes, you heard that right, as this song is actually a duet with Dutch pop group Blof and was a #1 hit on the Dutch Top 40 chart in the Netherlands.

4. The Business – Spanish Jails

The Business, an English band formed in London in 1979, spat out this angry little number in 1985.

5. Manu Chao – Rumba de Barcelona

Manu Chao is a France-born singer of Spanish origin who has achieved a considerable amount of success in Europe. His musical stylings were heavily influenced by bands such as The Clash and The Jam.

6. Toundra – Cielo Negro (Black Sky)

Toundra is riffy, full-bodied instrumental rock that will give you the feeling something is looming just out of sight. Born out of Madrid, Toundra has achieved considerable success in Spain.

7. Amparanoia – La vida te da.

Amparanoia (Amparo Sanchez) is a Spanish singer & guitarist who, although born in Granada, found her musical footholds in 1990’s Madrid.

8. La Kinky Beat – Pirata Capitan

La Kinky Beat is a Catalan supergroup of sorts comprised of members from notable bands of the area: Trimelón , Royal Jaleo , Radio Bemba , Afrodisian Band and Radar Bcn. Their music stylings tend to span genres, but Rock & Reggae are two of their main themes.

9. Mike Posner – I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Could I create this list without slipping a little Mike Posner in here? I can just hear the snobs grumble from the stands as I type this, “ That is SO 2016. ” If you’re still unsure about Ibiza, however, it’s a Spanish island out in the Mediterranean known for it’s partying.

10. Tom Waits – Black Market Baby

It’s no secret that I’ll look for pretty much any reason to put a Tom Waits track in a playlist, because he’s one of the best songwriters ever in my humble opinion, and this track is no exception. The song mentions that his “black market baby” booked a ticket back to Spain, and… that’s pretty much it for the Spain references.

Whatever, I make the rules here. “She’s a diamond that wants to stay coal.”

11. The Refrescos – Aqui No Hay Playa

Aqi No Hay Playa (There’s No Beach Here) is a catchy pop/ska track that puts all of Madrid’s great attributes against the fact that Madrid is, well, landlocked. Just try not to dance to this.

12. Los Lobos & Gipsy Kings – La Bamba

If my sangria fuelled memory serves me correct, every night during my stay in Granada “La Bamba” would eventually be jammed out on the guitar in the carmen of my hostel.

Although the Gipsy Kings were born in the south of France, they perform in the Spanish language with an Andalusian accent.

13. Juan Martin – Evocation

Juan Martin is one of the key modern-day Spanish guitarists, born in Andalusia. However, not only does he slay at the Flamenco, he has written many books on nailing the technique.

14. Frank Sinatra – Granada

Okay, so this is technically a cover of a song written in 1932 by Mexican composer Agustin Lara. Written about the Spanish city, it has become a many-times-covered Spanish classic.

15. Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe – Barcelona

Released in 1987, “Barcelona” became one of the biggest hits of the late Queen vocalist’s solo career. Fusing Mercury’s legendary vocal stylings with Montserrat Caballe’s operatic soprano, this track hits all the right notes in all the right places.

Actually, the whole album. Listen to the whole album.

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What are some of your favorite Spain-related tracks you’d add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

Please note this post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

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Definitely Spanish Caravan by the Doors! Words and melody are spot on! Once you get to know a little about Spanish history it really draws you in! I’m having a blast visiting Andalusia!

Ah good call on that one! Jim Morrison fan over here to the core. Glad to hear you’re loving Andalusia!

You missed quite possibly the most famous one in the sense it’s been covered by more artists than the others ( although it’s about a dancehall called the Spanish Castle in America:

Spanish Castle Magic by Jimi Hendrix

Ahhh good addition! I’m going to throw this album on tonight.

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The Ultimate "Sing at the Top of Your Lungs in the Car" Playlist

You know how there are songs that everyone knows (or pretends to know) the lyrics to? This is a list of just those. Tunes that will have you singing along from the first beat to the last , screaming every catchy chorus and hook at the top of your lungs. And what are those songs perfect for? A road trip, of course — when the confinement of a car makes it totally acceptable to display your karaoke skills.

So whether you're alone or driving with friends and family, get ready to seat dance your way through a couple of hours on the road with the following 46 songs (and handy Spotify playlist).

"Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee

"Me Enamoré" by Shakira

"Súbeme la Radio" by Enrique Iglesias

"Hey Ma" by Pitbull, J Balvin, and Camila Cabello

"Get Right" by Jennifer Lopez

"La Mordidita" by Ricky Martin

"Visa Para Un Sueño" by Juan Luis Guerra

"Me Voy" by Jesse & Joy

"Salsa & Choke" by ChocQuibTown

"Break a Sweat" by Becky G

"En La Obscuridad" by Belinda

"La Gozadera" by Gente de Zona and Marc Anthony

"Mi Tierra" by Gloria Estefan

"Ginza" by J Balvin

"Lepo Lepo" by Psirico

"El Tiburón" by Proyecto Uno

"Vivir Mi Vida" by Marc Anthony

"La Tortura" by Shakira and Alejandro Sanz

"Don't Stop the Party" by Pitbull

"Sledgehammer" by Fifth Harmony

"Estés en Donde Estés" by HA-ASH

"Stuck on a Feeling" by Prince Royce

"Adrenalina" by Wisin, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin

"El Meneito" by Natusha

"Bailando" by Enrique Iglesias

"Bajito" by Jencarlos Canela

"El Taxi" by Pitbull

"La Camisa Negra" by Juanes

"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" by Selena

"Mujer Latina" by Thalia

"Suavemente" by Elvis Crespo

"The Ketchup Song (Asereje)" by Las Ketchup

"María" by Ricky Martin

"Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira

"Tonight (I'm Loving You)" by Enrique Iglesias

"No Te Pido Flores" by Fanny Lu

"Muévelo" by Sofia Reyes and Wisin

"La Tierra del Olvido" by Carlos Vives

"Picky" by Joey Montana

"La Negra Tiene Tumbao" by Celia Cruz

"Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin

"Desde Esa Noche" by Thalia and Maluma

"Atrévete Te Te" by Calle 13

"Me Gustas Tanto" by Paulina Rubio

"Macarena" by Los Del Rio

"La La La" by Shakira

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Best Romantic Spanish Songs You Can´t Miss

Posted by Anna | Feb 12, 2021 | Spain Inspiration , Life in Spain , Romantic Travel | 3

For the upcoming 14th of February, I’ve curated for you a list of my favorite Romantic Spanish songs. Songs are the best insiders to a cultural identity of any nation. Whether you plan to improve your language skills or simply want to have Valentine´s day with a Spanish twist – look no further, you’re in the right place.

• This post contains affiliate links from which I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you). For more info, please read  my disclosure . As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Best Romantic Spanish Songs

In the moments when we can’t grab our partner’s hand and visit together one of the most romantic places in Spain , the next best thing we can do is try to travel virtually and bring a piece of Spain to our homes.

With Valentine’s day around the corner, there’s no better moment to talk about romantic Spanish songs. If you´re looking for some new additions to your romance playlist – this post is for you.

Songs, Language, and Culture

Language geeks can also make great use of this list of romantic Spanish songs. Listening to local music is one of the best ways to learn Spanish – you can put on headphones and go on with your daily routine, while those catchy phrases are being imprinted in your memory.

You know from my story that I have a very special relationship with Spain, which started with traveling and learning a language and evolved into meeting my Spanish husband and being an expat in Spain for 10 years. So, you can imagine there have been quite a few local tunes I came across over the last decade. Don’t miss my lists of Vintage Spanish Records and Popular Christmas songs in Spain .

More about Romantic Spanish Songs

I’ve picked the Spanish hits of 70s, 80s, and 90s . You can’t go wrong with the classics. Some of them were performed by iconic Spanish singers, others were trendy creations of influential music bands. This is not a list of the best Spanish songs, neither do I include the big names only. My main criteria here are romance, diversity, and personal preferences. No matter how emblematic any singer might be, I wouldn´t enjoy recommending a song I personally don´t like.

Moreover, you won´t find modern romantic Spanish tunes here, as this would be a separate topic for another blog post .

Additionally, all the ballads are performed and written by singers and bands from Spain only . While there are quite a few Latin American hits constantly ranking in the Spanish music charts, I prefer focusing on the Iberian Peninsula for this time. Mainly because some phrases and words might slightly differ between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the one we might experience in the Americas.

This way those of you planning a trip to Spain or learning Spanish could have something more local to blast on one of your Spanish road trips .

Classical Romantic Spanish Songs

1. mecano – hijo de la luna (1986).

It would be hypocritical of me not to start the list of classical romantic Spanish songs with the most popular Spanish pop band of all time – Mecano . While they were active until 1992, Mecano´s records are still absolute bestsellers.

While Hijo de la lun a is one of their global hits, another romantic pick here would be Tu , or 7 de Septiembre , Mujer contra mujer , La Fuerza del Destino . Also, their video clip for La Fuerza del Destino song features teen Penelope Cruz, who was in a 6-year-long relationship with Mecano´s singer and composer Nacho Cano.

2. Secretos – Pero a tu Lado (1995)

Pero a tu Lado is one of my favorite heart-touching Spanish songs. The band´s leading singer and composer, Enrique Urquijo, dedicated it to his daughter.

While this song was written back in 1995, you can still eventually hear it on the radio. Despite the author´s tragic death in 1999, Pero a tu Lado still remains one of the most beautiful Spanish love songs ever written.

3. Joaquin Sabina – Y nos Dieron las Diez (1992)

Joaquin Sabina is considered one of the greatest and finest Spanish-speaking songwriters around the world. He comes from the sun-kissed Andalusia in Sothern Spain and this fact definitely adds some magic to his poetry style.

Some of Sabina´s best hits include 19 días y 500 noches, Calle melancolía, Cerrado por derribo, Así estoy yo sin ti, Contigo.

4. Julio Iglesias – Por El Amor de Una Mujer (1974)

Julio Iglesias is a singer and songwriter who needs no introduction. As the top bestselling Spanish singer in history and top foreign record seller in many countries, Julio Iglesias has quite a ballad portfolio.

You can find some romantic Spanish songs from of 70s, 80s, 90s, and so on, as his last album has seen the world in 2017. I´ve chosen to go with his song Por El Amor de Una Mujer .

Other hits of Julio Iglesias you might enjoy: Ni te tengo, ni te olvido; De niña a mujer; Por un poco de tu amor; Lo mejor de tu vida; Manuela.

5. Jose Luis Perales – Me llamas (1979)

Jose Luis Perales is one of the top Spanish singers and songwriters. His first big breakthrough happened when he composed Porque te vas (performed by Jeanette ), which was sold in 4 million copies worldwide. Later on, Jose Luis Perales pursued his singing career with hits like Celos de mi Guitarra , Quisiera decir tu nombre , Como es el, Que pasara manana .

6. Ana Belen – No sé por que te quiero (1997)

Ana Belen is an award-winning Spanish singer and actress. Honestly, I was having a hard time choosing between her songs No sé por que te quiero (1997) and Derroche (1993). But in terms of international interest, No sé por que te quiero definitely wins, as it is Ana Belen´s famous duet song with Antonio Banderas .

Other beautiful songs by Ana Belen you’ll love: Entre dos amores, Contamíname, La puerta de Alcalá, El hombre del piano, Peces de ciudad .

If you’re looking for more Spanish female singers you can check romantic Spanish songs of Rocio Jurado, Isabel Pantoja, Paloma San Basilio, Luz Casal, Rosana. From the modern ones – Rosalia, Monica Naranjo, Chenoa, Aitana, Malu.

7. Sergio Dalma – Como me gusta (1991)

One of the most renowned Spanish voices definitely belongs to Sergio Dalma. Most of his songs could be easily featured on this list of romantic Spanish songs.

I mostly like Como me gusta, Esa Chica es mia, Bailar Pegados, Yo No Te Pido La Luna, Galilea .

Moreover, Sergio Dalma is quite popular in Italy , while he also sings the Spanish versions of the timeless Italian hits Ti Amo ( Te amo in Spanish) and Il Mondo ( El Mundo in Spanish)

8. Alejandro Sanz – Corazon Partido (1997)

While Alejandro Sanz has won 22 Latin Grammy Awards and 4 Grammy Awards, plus his modern songs still rank in global music charts, the Spanish triumph of the singer preceded his international fame. Corazon Partido is one of his first romantic ballads and also one of Alejandro Sanz’s signature songs.

9. La Guardia – Mil calles llevan hacia ti (1988)

A Spanish rock-pop band La Guardia was founded in Granada by 3 friends. They initially named themselves “ La Guardia de Cardenal Richelieu ” because they loved watching a local cartoon The Dogtanian Three Muskehounds on the Spanish TV.

Mil calles llevan hacia ti was reportedly composed by the leading singer Manuel España while he was walking from his grandmother’s home in Albaicín, Granada.

10. Navajita Platea – Noches de Bohemia (1998)

If you were waiting for some flamenco vibes on this list of Romantic Spanish Songs – Noches de Bohemia by Navajita Platea was simply made for you. Navajita Platea is a southern-Spanish band with gypsy origins from Barrio de Santiago  en Jerez.

11. Revolver – El Roce de tu piel (1993)

Revolver is a Spanish musical band founded in Valencia, with Carlos Goñi as a leading musician and composer. While El Roce de tu piel is my favorite piece of romance from their hits, you should also check Dentro de ti and Si es tan solo amor .

12. Cafe Quijano – Poesia de Amor (1998)

There’s no list of romantic Spanish songs without a touch of the Spanish guitar. If I would plan a romantic dinner with a Spanish twist – I´d probably turned on a playlist of ballads by Cafe Quijano .

Cafe Quijano is a Spanish band from Leon. Although their signature song is La Lola , I mostly love their latest songs with Latin rhythms – like Robarle tiempo al tiempo , Sera , Como siempre . But of course, Poesia de Amor is one of the most gorgeous examples of the band´s early work.

If you have any other suggestions for this list of Romantic Spanish songs, let me know in the comments below!

For more Spanish inspiration check my Pinterest boards Living in Spain and Spain Travel Inspiration.

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Traveling in Spain non-stop is my biggest obsession. Looking for Spanish hidden gems and local travel tips? - You are in the right place! Let me be your insider guide to Spain!

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Thanks for sharing!!

Jennifer Curated By Jennifer

I haven’t listened to Spanish songs before, but these songs are wonderful! Thanks for sharing! xoxo Lovely http://www.mynameislovely.com

If you’re in the mood for some heartfelt and passionate music, then you can’t miss out on the best romantic Spanish songs. Spanish music has a way of capturing emotions and delivering them with a captivating melody.

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51 Best Spanish Songs Of All Time (Top Picks)

Spanish-language music as a whole is a massive library to comb through. Artists from across the world have made their mark, both in the music world and the social one, producing incredible Spanish songs for over a century. Our list will cover some of the biggest and best tracks, from hits to classics. So, without further ado, here are the 51 best Spanish songs of all time. 

1. Macarena – Los del Rio

Macarena was originally recorded by Los Del Rio for their 1993 album A Mi Me Gusta , but the massive hit that would ensue would be because of the dance remix versions. Plenty of those would appear, including entries from Fangoria, The Bayside Boys, and other soundalike cover versions.

Their Bayside Boys Remix scored a huge US hit in 1996, seeing it top the Hot 100 for 14 weeks and spawning the dance craze most of those reading will be familiar with today. It’s been ranked as the number-one one-hit wonder in history as well.

Recommended: Best one hit wonders of all time  

2. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens

La Bamba is a historic Mexican folk song, hailing from the state of Veracruz. It combined Spanish, indigenous, and African styles to produce a classical example of the son jarocho musical style. The oldest known recording of the track dates back to Alvaro Hernandez Ortiz in 1938.

Famous Mexican singer Ritchie Valens, as well as Los Lobos, put their own spin on the song and scored hits for themselves. Valens’ version was a top-40 hit in the US in 1958 while the Los Lobos version was used for the 1978 biopic about Valens, with their version also soaring up the charts. 

3. Gasolina – Daddy Yankee

Gasolina is often brought up in conversations for the best Latin song of all time. Released by Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee as the lead single for his 2004 album Barrio Fina , it became an instant hit. It quickly reached the top 10 among worldwide charts. Its success made it the first reggaeton track to be nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and it would eventually be preserved within the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.

4. Despacito – Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee

Moving to a song much more recent, we come to Despacito . Originally recorded by Luis Fonti for his 2019 album Vida and featuring Daddy Yankee, the track quickly caught on.

A remix that featured Justin Bieber improved its chart performance and made it a song you couldn’t get away from, helping it reach the top of several international charts and renewing the popularity of Spanish-language pop music in mainstream, non-Spanish markets. By the end of it all, it had topped the music charts in 47 countries and tied the record for longest-reigning number-one track in the US at 16 weeks—at least at the time.

5. Oye Como Va – Santana

Oye Como Va was originally a 1962 cha-cha-cha by Tito Puente, but it was in 1970 that it reached worldwide popularity. Santana adapted it for their Abraxas album and released it as a single in 1971. It then rose to number 13 on the Hot 100 and borrowed a pattern from the original version. Both the Latin Grammy and Grammy Hall of Fame inducted it into their fold by 2002, and it has come to be known as a symbol of the transnationality of Latin music inside the US. 

6. Bésame Mucho – Luis Miguel

Bésame Mucho is a bolero song from 1932, originally written by Consuela Velasquez. Throughout the 20th century, it remained one of the most popular tracks of the decade and one of the most important Latin songs of all time.

In 1999, it was recognized as the most recorded and covered Spanish-language track of all time, with numerous famous versions being recorded over the years. Really, everyone from Frank Sinatra to The Beatles took a turn with it, examples of the song’s influence outside of the Latin markets. 

7. Bailando – Enrique Iglesias Feat. Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno, And Gente De Zona

While there were several versions of Bailando released by Enrique Iglesias, the official version from Universal Republic Studios is the one we’ll focus on first. It reigned on top of the Latin charts for 41 weeks. Spanish, English, Spanglish, and Portuguese versions of the song were produced, all capitalizing on the massive popularity of the track and turning it into a worldwide sensation. The original Spanish version was also the theme song for the soap opera Reina De Corazones . 

8. Amor Prohibido – Selena

Amor Prohibido , or “Forbidden Love,” was the title track of Selena’s fourth album. Interpretations of the would compare it to Romeo and Juliet , with her original version being one of the most acclaimed Latin tracks of all time. It spent nine weeks atop the US Hot Latin Songs chart and won the Tejano Music Award for Single of the Year. 

9. Bamboléo – Gipsy Kings

Bamboléo roughly translates to “sway” or “wobble.” The 1987 Spanish-language original version of the song came from Gipsy Kings’ eponymous album and was written by the members. Part of the track is an adaptation of the 1980 Venezuelan folk song Caballo Viejo by Simon Diaz. For Gipsy Kings, the track was an international hit. But it went on to be covered in numerous other languages by other artists, spawning several hit singles. 

10. Guantanamera – Celia Cruz

Guantanamera originated as a poem by author Jose Marti. It’s a patriotic Cuban poem adapted as a song by Joseíto Fernández in 1929. Several versions were eventually released, with notable covers coming from the likes of Pete Seeger, Celia Cruz, and Wyclef Jean. Cruz’s version of the track appeared on 241 records and compilations of her work, with the first appearance coming in 1968. For her, the song held a special place in her heart and represented more than just a single to release. 

11. De Música Ligera – Soda Stereo

Argentine rock band Soda Stereo produced De Música Ligera for their fifth album Cancion Animal in 1990. One of their most famous songs, it also became one of the most important anthems of rock en espanol. Of course, cover versions would appear en masse, including one by Coldplay that showed up at a concert during their Head Full Of Dreams Tour at a date in Argentina. 

12. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom – Selena

Another huge hit from Amor Prohibido, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom was an international sensation. Selena originally wrote it about a cheerful fish swimming in the ocean, though the onomatopoeia of the track also came to be known as the heartbeat of love. It was her second-consecutive number-one single on the Hot Latin Songs chart and started a run of her dominating the Latin music world. 

13. Cielito Lindo – André Rieu

Cielito Lindo is a Mexican folk song that was popularized as early as 1882 by author Quirino Mendoza y Cotes . “Cielito” is a word that means “sky” or “heaven,” but it can also be a term of endearment. The track is commonly played by mariachi bands and numerous Spanish artists have covered it over the years. Vicente Fernandez, Pedro Infante, and Placido Domingo are just a few of the huge names to touch the song. Heck, even The Wiggles covered it. 

14. Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira Feat. Wyclef Jean

Hips Don’t Lie may be more of a Spanglish song than a Spanish one, but there’s no denying the iconic Shakira from this list. This track in particular originated as a rework of Wyclef Jean’s song Dance Like This . It was a global success, reaching the top of the charts in 17 countries worldwide and becoming her first and only number-one single in the US to date. One of the best-selling singles of all time, it has amassed over 13 million worldwide record sales. 

15. Querida – Juan Gabriel

Querida was written by Juan Gabriel in 1984, and it was the song that made his album Recuerdos II sell 15 million copies. It has since turned into an iconic love track that was likely composed for his former manager Joaquin Munoz. 

16. El Rey – José Alfredo Jiménez

El Rey was originally written by José Alfredo Jiménez in 1971, and his version became an inductee in the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame. A song about a macho guy, it became incredibly popular and has been credited as reaching the top of the Mexican charts in 1974. It eventually became a staple of the ranchera style of music, with numerous artists taking a turn with it later on. That list includes the likes of Vicente Fernández and even Christina Aguilera. 

17. Obsesion – Aventura

Obsesion was included on both the English and Spanish versions of Aventura’s We Broke The Rules album from 2002. It was a massive commercial success and topped several international charts. It sat atop the French music charts for seven weeks and was one of the best-selling singles of the year in that country. 

18. Cancion del Mariachi – Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas isn’t exactly the first name you think of in the music world, but this song was his. He originally wrote it for the soundtrack to the Robert Rodriguez film Desperado . The soundtrack itself is a perfect snapshot of Latin music, featuring bands like Los Lobos and Tito & Tarantula, with plenty of traditional music to set the scene for the film. 

19. Vivir Mi Vida – Marc Anthony

Vivir Mi Vida is actually a Spanish cover of the Khaled track C’est La Vie . Marc Anthony released the song as part of his 2013 album. The salsa version of the track won a Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year and spent 51 weeks inside the top five of the Latin Songs chart. 

20. Lloraras – Oscar D’León

If you’re looking for classic salsa music, look no further than this song. Lloraras was produced by Oscar D’León and the group Dimension Latina in 1974. It stands as the perfect example of the genre and remains a popular choice for dance nights. 

21. Mi Gente – J Balvin And Willy William

J Balvin’s Mi Gente is a remake of Willy Williams’ track Voodoo Song from 2016. Balvin’s version was released in 2017, but several remixes quickly were produced. One included Beyoncé in 2017, while six others would feature artists like Steve Aoki and Dillon Francis.

This Moombahton track is all about having fun while partying, and it had a great chart run. It reached number two on the Latin charts and number 19 on the Hot 100, but the Beyoncé remix peaked at number three on the Hot 100. 

22. Burbujas de Amor – Juan Luis Guerra

Burbujas De Amor was released as the third single from Juan Luis Guerra’s Bachata Rosa album in 1990. It became one of his most popular tracks, turning into an overnight international hit single. At the 1991 Lo Nuestro Awards, it took home the Tropical/Salsa Song of the Year trophy, and in 1990, it was the Latin Song of the Year according to Billboard critics. 

23. Conga – Gloria Estefan And Miami Sound Machine

Conga was the first hit single released by Miami Sound Machine with Gloria Estefan at the helm. It served as one of the tracks for their Primitive Love album and was their signature song. Worldwide, the single rose to within the top 10 of several country’s charts, including in the US. 

24. Cali Pachanguero – Grupo Niche

Cali Pachanguero was written by Jairo Varela and first performed by Grupo Niche. The song was featured on the album No Hay Quinta Maio and was the biggest hit of their career. It was later chosen as the official track of the Cali Fair and serves as a tribute to the influence of pachanga music during the 1960s. 

25. Danza Kuduro – Don Omar Feat. Lucenzo

Danza Kuduro is a Spanish and Portuguese song by Don Omar and Lucenzo. It was a major feature of the pair’s collaborative album Meet The Orphans in 2010, which became a hit across Latin America and Europe. When it reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart, it became Omar’s second hit and Lucenzo’s first hit. A remake of the track can also be heard in the soundtrack of the Fast Five film as the ending song of the movie. 

26. Historia de un Amor – Leo Marini

Historia De Un Amor , or “The Story Of A Love,” is about a man’s old love. The song was written by Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almaran and was part of the soundtrack for a 1956 Mexican film of the same name. Various singers from around the world have covered it over the years, with some of the most notable versions coming from Julio Iglesias, Luis Miguel, and Leo Marini. 

27. La Maza – Silvio Rodriguez

La Maza was composed by Silvio Rodriguez in 1979, but it wouldn’t be until 1982 that it was published on the album Unicornio . It essentially talks about life by referencing it as a tool. Without a purpose, it has no meaning or function. Mercedes Sosa also released a version of the song in 1983 as a pop track, which would later be reworked as a duet between them and Shakira in 2009. 

28. Livin’ La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin

Livin’ La Vida Loca is the song on this list that I’m sure every reader has heard of before. It was a huge hit for Ricky Martin in 1999, reaching the top of the charts in over 20 countries around the world. To date, it’s his biggest hit single and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. The influence of the track was so great that it’s often credited as the song that started the Latin pop explosion in the US at the tail end of the 1990s. 

29. Mariposa Traicionera – Maná

Maná is incredibly popular and influential in the Spanish-speaking music world, but Mariposa Traicionera was their first big hit. It was released as the third single from their Revolucion De Amor album in 2003 and steadily rose up the Latin charts until it reached number one. It then spent another 26 weeks on that chart and earned an 18-times platinum certification from the RIAA. 

30. Mujeres – Ricardo Arjona

Mujeres has one of the most interesting backstories on this list. It was written in the bathroom of a record company but turned out to be Ricardo Arjona’s first international hit single. A signature song for the artist, it turned into one of the most popular tracks in Latin America. The song discusses how far men will go for a woman, though it eventually came under fire for an inflated machismo. 

31. Rebelion – Joe Arroyo

Rebelion is another iconic salsa song that was written and performed by Colombian singer Joe Arroyo. It tells the story of a married African couple who are slaves of a Spaniard in Columbia during the 17th century. The owner abuses the wife, which causes the husband to start a rebellion in revenge. It’s been listed as one of the greatest Colombian tracks of all time and was a big international hit single. 

32. Secreto de Amor – Joan Sebastian

Secreto De Amor was the title track of Joan Sebastian’s 27th—yep, 27th—studio album in 2000 and one of his signature songs. It debuted at number 23 on the Latin Songs chart and made it to number three, marking the artist’s third entry to the top 10. It was later covered by other artists like Vicnete Fernandez Jr., Lucero, and Victor Garcia. 

33. It’s Impossible – Perry Como

Somos Novios was written by Armando Manzanero in the early 1960s and was recorded by him in 1968. An anthem of Latin American music, the track is widely considered to be one of the most popular Spanish songs of all time. Sid Wayne quickly translated it to English, and Perry Como recorded it in 1970 under the title It’s Impossible . His version was a hit that was recorded by Elvis Presley, Andrea Bocelli, and Luis Miguel, among others. 

34. Whenever, Wherever – Shakira

Most of us have heard the English version of the song, but the Spanish version Suerte was nearly as popular worldwide. It was Shakira’s breakthrough hit in the US, peaking at number six on the Hot 100 and topping the charts in 29 countries around the world. A signature track for her, it remains one of her most successful songs of all time. 

35. Eres Tú – Juan Carlos Calderón

Eres Tú was written by Juan Carlos Calderón and published by Mocedades in 1973. It served as the representative for Spain at that year’s Eurovision Song Contest, placing second with 125 points. Across Europe, Latin America, and even the US, it achieved widespread popularity, and several versions were produced. One even peaked at number nine on the Hot 100. 

36. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas – Julio Iglesias And Arielle Dombasle

Known more simply as Quizas , this song was a popular track by Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farres. He originally wrote the Spanish lyrics of the song, which became a hit for Bobby Capo in 1947. Cover versions were produced by almost everyone, from Nat King Cole to Bing Crosby and Andrea Bocellia to Doris Day. 

37. La Gota Fría

La Gota Fría is a Colombian Vallento song, originally composed by Emiliano Zuleta and published in 1938. It’s been posited to be the unofficial Colombian anthem, with numerous artists taking a turn with it in the—almost—century since it was first composed.

Carlos Vives released the most notable version of the song on his album Clasicos De La Provincia , reaching number six on the Latin Chart and winning Tropical Song of the Year at Lo Nuestro. 

38. Dura – Daddy Yankee

Dura is a newer track, released in 2018 for a yet-to-be-released Daddy Yankee album El Disco Duro . Based on 1990s styles and visuals, the song is an uptempo reggaeton track about good-looking women. After release, it topped the charts in 14 countries and reached number 43 on the Hot 100 . It also won Daddy Yankee his first Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Song. 

39. No Me Acuerdo – Thalia And NATTI NATASHA

No Me Acuerdo was released in 2018 as the lead single for Thalia’s 15th studio album Valiente . The song made Thalia the first Mexican artist to reach over one billion views on YouTube and was one of the best-selling Latin singles in the US, earning a 14-times platinum certification. In 2018, it was the most-listened track of the summer in Latin America. 

40. Darte un Beso – Prince Royce

Darte Un Beso was the first international hit of Prince Royce’s career and was an excellent bachata track from 2013. It earned three nominations at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2014, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Tropical Song. A Portuguese version was made in Brazil with Michel Telo as well, featuring the sertanejo style under the title Te Dar Um Beijo .

41. Dákiti – Bad Bunny And Jhay Cortez

Dákiti was released by Bad Bunny and Jhayco in 2020 as the lead single from the former’s album El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo . It debuted in the top 10 of both the Hot 100 and Latin Songs charts, becoming the first track in history to achieve this feat. It peaked at five on the Hot 100 but topped the Global 200 and Global Excl. US, making it the first Spanish song to achieve this feat. To date, it ranks within the top 100 of the most-played tracks on Spotify. 

42. El Perdedor – Enrique Iglesias Feat. Marco Antonio Solís

Alongside Marco Antonio Solís, Enrique Iglesias recorded El Perdedor for his Sex And Love album. It served as the main theme of the Mexican soap opera Lo Que La Vida Me Robo from 2013 to 2014 and marked the fifth time one of his tracks was chosen for such a role. It eventually took the top spot on both the Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Songs charts. 

43. Corazón Partío – Alejandro Sanz

Corazón Partío is a ballad written and recorded by Alejandro Sanz for his fourth album De El Mas . It broke several records in 1997, including its historic run of spending more than 70 weeks on various international charts. And if this version isn’t beautiful enough for you, there is an acoustic version from MTV Unplugged in 2001 floating around on the internet as well. 

44. Mediterraneo – Joan Manuel Serrat

Mediterraneo served as the title track of Joan Manuel Serrat’s 1971 album of the same name. The album itself is considered one of the most important and best albums in the history of Spanish music, earning an induction into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. 

45. Malamente – Rosalía

Malmente was recorded by Rosalia for her second album El Mal Querer in 2018, and it served as the lead single. Mixing flamenco and pop music, it earned positive critical reviews and five Latin Grammy Award nominations. It won the awards for Best Alternative Song and Best Urban Fusion/Performance. The track served as a defining moment of the late 2010s in the Latin music world and is often thought of as a revolutionary change-up for traditional Spanish music.  

46. Amor Eterno – Rocio Durcal

Amor Eterno is an elegiac lamentation, written by Juan Gabriel. The song was meant to discuss the death of his mother in 1974, which he found out about while away on tour. Rocio Durcal was the original performer of the track, becoming her best-known single and one of the most recognizable songs in Mexican music. Several other artists produced versions of the track, including Antonio Rios, Silvana Estrada, and Juan Gabriel himself. 

47. Suavemente – Elvis Crespo

Suavamente title track of Elvis Crespo’s debut solo album after his departure from Grupo Mania. It quickly soared to the top of the Hot Latin Tracks chart and remained there for six weeks. After the initial success, he re-recorded the song with Spanglish lyrics, and that version appeared on the US Hot 100. It eventually won two Latin Billboard Music Awards and a Premios Lo Nuestro award en route to becoming the 10th-best-performing Latin single of 1998. 

48. Pedro Navaja – Ruben Blades

Pedro Navaja was written and performed by Ruben Blades in 1978 alongside Willie Colon. It was inspired by the sign Mack The Knife , telling the tale of a pimp’s life and—presumed—death. While the story in the song takes place in New York, it depicts common scenes and stories from Latin American countries and is full of dark humor. A film of the same name was produced in Mexico in 1984 as well. 

49. Bon, Bon – Pitbull

Bon, Bon was released by Pitbull on his fifth studio album Armando and served as the third single to come from the album. It samples both the track We No Speak Americano and the 1956 Italian song Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano . It turned into a big hit across Latin America and earned him a solid single in English markets. It peaked at number 61 on the Hot 100 but rose as high as number three on the Latin Songs charts. 

50. Calypso – Luis Fonsi And Stefflon Don

Calypso was first released in 2018 as the third single from Luis Fonsi’s 10th album Vida . It was written alongside co-performer Stefflon Don and songwriter Dyo. A remix was quickly finished after release as well, with Columbian singer Karol G. It ended up reaching number one in Argentina and Chile and also peaked within the top 10 in Panama, Spain, and Bolivia. You can also hear it in the video game Just Dance 2019 .

51. Color Esperanza – Diego Torres

Color Esperanza was the lead single of Diego Torres’ Un Mundo Diferente album in 2001. The track is all about overcoming challenging times in life and the hope of a better future. It eventually made it to number 12 on the Tropical Songs chart and just missed out on the top 10 on Spain’s composite music chart.

Recommended Next:

Top sad Spanish songs of all time

Top Spanish love songs of all time

Greatest Spanish singers of all time

As a contributing writer for Music Grotto, Dakotah writes and produces professional music/media content. He works closely with editorial staff to meet editorial standards and create quality content for the Music Grotto website. Dakotah is passionate about music in a wide variety of genres, from hip-hop to country and lo-fi to metal, and he enjoys creating music pieces for Music Grotto.

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20 Popular Songs in Spanish for Learning Spanish

A List of Spanish Songs for Learning Spanish

What is your favorite song in Spanish? (¿Cuál es tu canción favorita?)

For those of you who love music, here is a list of some of the most popular Spanish songs (and many are my personal favorites) that are perfect for learning Spanish. Listen to this playlist of a variety of Spanish songs, including Pop, Salsa, Bachata, Reggaeton, and Merengue; and see which ones you like most. You’ll learn Spanish while having fun watching and listening to these Spanish music videos and maybe dancing! Hope they become your favorite Spanish songs as well!

In Mexico, many people go to concerts dressed to the nines, even in their long evening gowns. So, if you ever have a chance to go to a concert in Mexico, don’t forget to dress up a little. While usually there’s no dress code, we would recommend wearing at least Sunday clothes.

This year, we got to go to three Latin music concerts: Marc Anthony, Romeo Santos, and Marco Antonio Solís! Since we just went to Marco Antonio Solis’s show last night, let’s start out with “El Perdedor” by Marco Antonio Solís and Enrique Iglesias. You’ll love this song and video. Enjoy!

As an Amazon affiliate, if you make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at absolutely no cost to you. See our disclosure here .

A Playlist of Popular Spanish Songs – Latin Music

1. El Perdedor by Enrique Iglesias and Marco Antonio Solís (Bachata)

2. Despacito by Luis Fonsi – ft. Daddy Yankee (Reggaeton)

3. Vivir La Vida by Marc Anthony (Salsa)

4. Propuesta Indecente by Romeo Santos (Bachata)

5. Perdóname by Pablo Alborán and Carminho (Pop)

6. Darte un Beso by Prince Royce (Bachata)

7. Todo Cambio by Camila (Pop)

8. Bailando by Enrique Iglesias – ft. Descemer Bueno, Gente De Zona (Pop)

9. Un Beso by Aventura (Bachata)

10. Jueves by La Oreja de Van Gogh (Pop)

11. Colgando en Tus Manos by Carlos Bautes and Marta Sanchez (Pop)

12. Quiero ser by Amaia Montero (Pop)

13. Vale La Pena by Marc Anthony (Salsa)

14. Cuando Me Enamoro by Enrique Iglesias and Juan Luis Guerra

15. No Me Doy Vencido by Luis Fonsi (Pop)

16. Solamente Tú by Pablo Alborán (Pop)

17. Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti by Alejandro Fernandez (Pop)

18. La Diabla/Mi Santa by Romeo Santos ft. Tomatito (Bachata)

19. Suavemente – Elvis Crespo (Merengue)

20. Pijama by Becky G, Natti Natasha (Reggaeton)

We hope you have enjoyed our list of Spanish songs and they made you want to dance! As you might know, listening to music in Spanish is a fun and easy way to get your ears used to the sounds of Spanish. You can find more Latin music on Billboard.com .

If You Are a Spanish Learner, You May Be Interested in These Posts.

• 15 Fun and Easy Spanish Learning Hacks that Work!
• Daily Routine and Activities in Spanish: Reflective Verbs and More!
• 101 Survival Spanish Travel Phrases You Should know
• 30 Easy Spanish Conversation Starters Every Spanish Learner Need to Know
• Spain vs Mexico: What Are the Differences between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish?
• 64 Super Useful Words for Hobbies and Activities in Spanish
• How to Greet in Spanish: Easy Spanish Greetings

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65 Songs About Travel & Adventure For The Ultimate Wanderlust Playlist

Add these songs to your travel playlist to fuel your wanderlust..

Last updated on Jun 28, 2023

There's nothing better than having music in your life that encompasses what you are doing or how you are feeling. And what better time to have music explain your feelings than on vacation?

Whether you're looking for the perfect songs to accompany your travel videos or are putting together a playlist for your vacation, these songs about traveling will fuel your wanderlust and set the tone for adventure.

65 Best Songs About Wanderlust, Travel & Adventure

1. "go your own way" by fleetwood mac.

If you haven't heard this song before, it will likely become your favorite travel song. It's one of those travel songs that's infused with the best travel tips: go your own way.

RELATED: 7 Reasons People Who Travel A Lot Are More Likely To Be Successful

2. "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul, and Mary

You can listen to music while traveling by downloading songs to your phone. If you're traveling by plane, this song will definitely set the mood for you. John Denver also has a popular recording of it.

3. "On The Road Again" by Willie Nelson

This song is absolutely perfect for road trips . Pump up the music and sing along with your friends.

4. "Come Sail Away" by Styx

You don't have to be literally sailing away for this song to resonate. Sailing away, metaphorically speaking, can represent leaving home to jump into the unknown.

5. "Road To Nowhere" by Talking Heads

This is a great song to rock out to when you're traveling to a new destination for the foreseeable future. When moving, you might have to wrestle with a lot of bittersweet, complex emotions. This song is perfect for coping with those changes.

6. "Midnight Train To Georgia" by Gladys Knight & The Pips

This Grammy Award-winning song is about traveling from L.A. to Georgia on a train that departs at midnight.

7. "Travelin’ Man" by Ricky Nelson

Or a traveling woman, or traveling person, of course. This song is quite literally about traveling, so it will be perfect for any travel-themed playlist.

8. "Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkel

Ever wanted to travel so you could avoid home? This song is about leaving home and constantly being reminded of it.

9. "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root

This is a song about moving forward in life — but being happy and hopeful about it.

10. "Life Is A Highway" by Rascal Flatts

"Life Is A Highway" is a metaphor for living life to the fullest and taking big risks.

RELATED: The Best Road Trip Songs To Sing (& Rock Out To) While Driving

11. "Space Oddity" by David Bowie

"Space Oddity" came out the same year that astronauts landed on the moon: 1969.

12. "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman

If you're driving down the road in a fast car — or even a slow one — this song will be perfect for your travel playlist.

13. "Orinoco Flow" by Enya

In this song, the narrator fantasizes about sailing away and traveling the world.

14. "See The World" by the Kooks

Want to see the world? Turn this song up to the full blast.

15. "Road Trippin'" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

This song is perfect for your road trip playlist, as it is all about going on a road trip.

16. "Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly & The Family Stone

Nothing screams summer vacation like hot fun summertime.

17. "Malibu" by Kim Petras

"Malibu" is such a good vacation song. It's perfect for relaxing and chilling by the beach.

18. "Island in the Sun" by Weezer

"Island in the Sun" is all about sailing away to a fantasy beach. If only escaping your problems could be so easy.

19. "Surfin’ USA" by The Beach Boys

The music was based on “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Chuck Berry. This song covers all of the best surfing locations in the United States.

20. "California Gurls" by Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg

California Girls — they're undeniable! If you've ever been — or lived — in California, it might not ring true. But it definitely covers all of the California stereotypes that potential tourists might assume are accurate.

21. "School’s Out" by Alice Cooper

Nothing better than the end of the school year! What's more fun than celebrating the beginning of summer with a little Alice Cooper?

22. "Don’t Worry, Be Happy" by Bob Marley

This carefree song will perfectly put your work-life woes on pause. Close your eyes, take a breath, listen to this song, and enjoy yourself.

RELATED: What Traveling The World For 450 Days Taught Me About Relationships

23. "Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crow

Traveling to a sunny place? This song is perfect for listening to by the pool or beach.

24. "Vacation" by The Go-Go's

What better way to celebrate your vacation than with a song that's literally called "Vacation"?

25. "It's Nice To Go Trav'ling" by Frank Sinatra

It's nice to go traveling, don't you think? Rocking out to this song is the best way to enjoy your travels.

26. "Meet the Parents" by Kim Petras

In this song, Kim Petras sings about taking someone to the beach, Paris, Miami, and New York.

27. "Galway Girl" by Ed Sheeran

The song is about a narrator that falls in love with a girl from Galway, Ireland.

28. "New York, I Love You" by LCD Soundsystem

What better way to embrace the Big Apple than with this song? Though it's about contradictions and a love/hate relationship with New York City, it's a reminder for anyone traveling that this city has a lot of heart.

29. "Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and this song is great for traveling, as it describes what a literal night in Bangkok looks like.

30. "Free Man In Paris" by Joni Mitchell

Ever been to Paris? Ever been to Paris listening to this song? It's perfect for the first or next time your plane lands there.

31. "Paris, Tokyo" by Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco said he wrote this song because he loves Paris and Tokyo!

32. "American Boy" by Estelle ft. Kanye West

In this song, one of the narrators asks the other to take her to New York and L.A. And if either of those locations is your destination, you can rock out to this jam on the way there.

33. "Destination Calabria" by Alex Gaudino ft. Crystal Waters

This song is about leaving home without a plan set in stone.

RELATED: 5 Liberating Reasons Why You Should Consider Traveling By Yourself

34. "Havana" by Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello is from Havana, so who better to sing a song about this beautiful city than a native?

35. "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Whether you're visiting Alabama or just love the tune, it's a great song about never forgetting your roots.

36. "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton

"A Thousand Miles" is a fun travel song, especially if you're traveling a thousand miles (or more!) away from home.

37. "I’ve Been Everywhere" by Johnny Cash

This song is great if you've been traveling all over the place and is known to inspire wanderlust in anyone who listens.

38. "Everywhere" by Fleetwood Mac

Though "Everywhere" may not be about travel specifically, it conveys the lovely feeling of being anywhere in the world with your love by your side.

39. "Roam" by the B52s

This song invites you to explore the world, wherever you want, whenever.

40. "My Traveling Star" by James Taylor

"My Traveling Star" explores the tension between home and the road.

41. "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones

This song is all about asking someone to leave with you.

42. "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna

Definitely consider adding this to your road trip playlist, especially if the driver talks too much.

43. "The Long Way Around" by The Chicks

Any song by The Chicks will suffice for your road trip blues.

RELATED: 75 Happy Songs To Make You Smile & Feel Good

44. "Route 66" by Nat King Cole

Route 66 is one of the most famous routes in the United States. So if you're planning to drive the entire 2,000-mile stretch, consider adding this one to your wanderlust playlist.

45. "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" by Tony Bennett

This is the perfect song when moving feels more bittersweet than sweet.

46. "Montego Bay" by Amazulu

Montego Bay is Jamaica's third most populous city, and this song is all about relaxing.

47. "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner

Originally performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival, this song is about a steamboat traveling up and down the river. But its deeper meaning has an encouraging message to appreciate the simple things in life outside of bills and work.

48. "On Top of The World" by Imagine Dragons

This song is all about moving forward and letting go of the past . It's an anthem that radiates positivity, and its upbeat energy and empowering message of triumph make it a perfect choice for a road trip or adventure.

49. "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers

This song is perfect for road trips. It's one of those songs that everyone loves to sing along to in a car.

50. "Runaway" by Kanye West

This song is perfect for any trip, especially if you're traveling to get away from your problems.

51. Bruno Mars TikTok Song

This Bruno Mars remix is a staple for travel TikTokers.

52. TikTok Snapping Song

Transition your travel videos with a snap with this song in the background for a cool effect.

53. "Sunny Day" by Ted Fresco

This upbeat song adds a fun, lighthearted mood to your travel videos or wanderlust playlist.

54. "Vacation" by The Dirty Heads

This has quickly become the ultimate vacation video song thanks to TikTok.

55. "Paradise" by Bazzi

Show everyone a piece of your own paradise with this wanderlust song.

56. "Knee Deep" by The Zac Brown Band ft. Jimmy Buffet

An ultimate vacation goal is what this song represents. The Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffet paint a picture of a peaceful oceanfront property and not worrying about anything.

RELATED: Why I Travel To Cure My Broken Heart

57. "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys

Anyone going to New York City will be inspired by the glamorous and freeing descriptions of the concrete jungle.

58. "Traveling Alone" by Passenger

The song discusses wanting to travel all over, even if you're alone. So, if you have wanderlust this song is right up your alley.

59. "Down Under" by Men at Work

This classic 80s hit is all about how amazing Australia is. Once you hear it, you'll definitely want to visit the land down under.

60. "Guaranteed" by Eddie Vedder

This song was written for the film "Into The Wild" and won a Golden Globe. Why not add an award-winning hit to your playlist?

61. "Vienna" by Billy Joel

"Vienna" by Billy Joel discusses the importance of slowing down in life and enjoying the moment. It reminds us to take a break and smell the flowers.

62. "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf

If you love riding along the open road, this song is for you. Originally recorded in 1968, it was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

63. "Graceland" by Paul Simon

This recording is a timeless masterpiece that has a vibrant and uplifting musical journey. Its introspective lyrics capture the essence of growth and exploration.

64. "Come Fly With Me" by Frank Sinatra

"Come Fly With Me" was written specifically for Frank Sinatra, and is a romantic song where Sinatra invites listeners to visit exotic places with him, like Peru and Bombay.

65. "Travelin Band" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

This is a high-energy rock and roll classic that captivates listeners with its infectious rhythm and spirited guitar riffs. You have to tap your feet when you hear it!

RELATED: 35 Best Songs About Life To Keep You Motivated On Your Journey

Izzy Casey is a freelance writer, former YourTango writer and associate editor, and copy editor who received her MFA in Poetry from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her work has been published in Corriere della Sera, The Iowa Review, Bennington Review, Gulf Coast, Black Warrior Review, BOATT, NY Tyrant, and elsewhere.

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34 Songs to Learn Spanish (Including Pop, Reggaetón and Hip-hop)

Who doesn’t love great music?

And if you do, why not learn Spanish through songs?

These catchy and educational Spanish songs will help improve your pronunciation , broaden your vocabulary and even deepen your grammar knowledge .

Read on for 34 songs to learn Spanish with, tips for how to learn Spanish with songs, resources for finding Spanish songs and more!

Pop Songs and Ballads

1. “sale el sol” (the sun comes out) by shakira, 2. “no” (no) by shakira, 3. “me voy” (i’m leaving) by julieta venegas, 4. “recuerdo” (i remember) by tini, mau and ricky, 5. “vivir mi vida” (live my life) by marc anthony, 6. “historia de taxi” (story of the taxi driver) by ricardo arjona, 7. “nada valgo sin tu amor” (i’m worth nothing without your love) by juanes, 8. “todos me miran” (everyone looks at me) by gloria trevi, 9. “¿con quién se queda el perro” (with whom does the dog stay) by jesse & joy, 10. “deseos de cosas imposibles” (wishes of impossible things) by la oreja de van gogh, 11. “pasos de gigante” (giant steps) by bacilos, 12. “felices los 4” (the four of us, happy) by maluma, reggaetón songs, 13. “despacito” (slowly) by luis fonsi and daddy yankee.

• 14. “Mía” (Mine) by Bad Bunny and Drake

15. “Con Altura” (With Height) by Rosalía

16. “keii” by anuel aa, 17. “súbele el volumen” (turn up the volume) by daddy yankee, myke towers, jhay cortez, 18. “amor en coma” (love in a coma) by mtz manuel turizo x maluma, rap and hip-hop, 19. “con calma” (with calm) by daddy yankee, 20. “loco contigo” (crazy with you) by dj snake, j. balvin and tyga, 21. “mis ojos lloran por ti” (my eyes cry for you) by big boy, 22. “lástima” (pity) by neutro shorty, rock and alternative, 23. “eres” (you are) by café tacuba, 24. “bonito” (beautiful) by jarabe de palo, 25. “nunca estoy” (i never am) by c. tangana, children’s songs, 26. “la cucaracha” (the cockroach), 27. “qué hay más allá” (what more is out there) by maría parrado, 28. “libre soy” (i’m free) by carmen sarahí, 29. “la rana rosita” (rosita the frog) by canticuénticos, 30. “el cumple de pocoyó” (pocoyó’s birthday) by conecta kids, 31. “susanita” by miliki, 32. “el baile de la fruta” (the fruit dance) by pica-pica, 33. “hakuna matata”, 34. “sueña” (dream) by luis miguel, tips for learning spanish with songs, what to look for in songs to learn spanish, why learning spanish with songs works, resources for finding songs to learn spanish, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

You can never go wrong with learning Spanish from the Shakira . This Colombian singer is an international sensation!

“Sale El Sol” is a good song for any level of Spanish learner . It’s slow, so it shouldn’t be too overwhelming for beginners.

Also, the song primarily uses present tense verbs and general vocabulary, so there’s no need to tie yourself into knots figuring out the various verb conjugations.

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And even without the Spanish lessons, the song is a simple yet heartbreaking tune about being separated from the one you love—whether by choice or circumstance.

And because Shakira is that great, she deserves a second entry on our list!

In all seriousness, though, this song is a banger for more reasons than one.

“No” is slow and steady, and heartbreakingly expresses her reasons for refusing to be with someone who is constantly causing her pain. She says that no one can live with the venom of this relationship and that she resents the fact that her lover can still hurt her even when he is long gone.

The words are simple and powerful, and make strong use of the Spanish informal command form .

You’ll also find a few interesting expressions and phrases, so make sure to read those lyrics closely!

This song tells the story of a woman who leaves her lover and must say goodbye, even though she doesn’t want to.

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The lyrics use common Spanish words along with a slow, easy beat —which is perfect for Spanish learners.

Most of the song is in the present tense, though there are a few more complicated forms, like the subjunctive . Keep your ears open for common expressions, like “que lástima,” which roughly means “what a shame.”

A tale of one romantic evening comes to life through vivid images and concise storytelling. This slow and dramatic song tells the story of dancing, kissing and what happens afterward. There are flashing lights and jail photos, so this is not a happily-ever-after!

Much of the song’s story takes place in the past tense , so this is a great chance to practice the simple past.

Listen out for pronunciation in this one, as well. For example, notice how the s sounds in “lo s dos,” “e s cucho” and “di s te” are silent. Where else do you notice dropped letters? This song is a good way to start looking at full sentences together, rather than individual words one at a time.

This song poses the question, “Why cry?” Life is full of ups and downs, but excitement is all around and the only thing we can do is live our lives. Marc Anthony provides a very upbeat song that you won’t be able to resist dancing to.

Laugh, dance, shout, enjoy and live in the moment! This song is a reminder that the moment is all we have, so take advantage of it.

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You might notice a colloquialism in this song, “¿Pa’ qué?” (“For what?”), which is a shortening of para qué and a great intro phrase to Spanish slang .

This song tells the story of a taxi driver who picks up a crying woman on the side of the road and the chance encounter turns into something more. The two begin sharing their life stories and, despite the gap between their social classes, something clicks.

Listening to the song is practically like hearing an entire story—and it even comes with its own twist ending.

The lyrics have dialogue, descriptive language and very little repetition, making this the perfect song for more advanced intermediate learners.

Another love song, this smooth and easy jazz-inspired tune tells the story of a man who feels that he is nothing without his lover. It’s a beautiful confession of a man who is in love and knows what he would lose without it: the wonderful feelings of companionship that comes with a relationship, and the desire to feel that again when love has gone away.

The lyrics read like a love letter and are a bit more complex than other songs. I recommend taking it one step at a time and making sure that you understand each individual line before moving on to the next.

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Look no further for the perfect Spanish woman power anthem!

From throwing off the chains of her inattentive partner to becoming the queen of the city in an evening, Gloria Trevi’s passion is palatable through the music she has created.

This song is a fantastic way to study the past tense. The lyrics repeat often, so you won’t be lost!

A sad and realistic breakup song, Jesse and Joy pose the question: “Who gets the dog if we break up?”

What starts off as a shiny, new and exciting relationship filled with shared joys soon turns ugly. The song leaves us packing bags and splitting material items until the final question of who gets the dog remains.

There’s plenty of repetition but also plenty to learn in this song, so you may need to take some time unpacking the language. You’ll find many words related to the home and furniture , as the couple distribute their belongings among themselves and draw the curtains on their home (literally) and relationship (metaphorically).

Let’s take a break from dancing and listen to one of La Oreja’s best songs.

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A declaration of true, raw love after a breakup, the speaker uses a myriad of similes and metaphors to show how much they still love the other person, even now that they’re not together anymore.

This song doesn’t use complicated vocabulary, but it employs the use of metaphorical language for a ton of hidden meanings, which is perfect for advanced learners to analyze and decipher.

Here is an example:

Igual que el mosquito más tonto de la manada  (Just like the silliest mosquito of the swarm) Yo sigo tu luz aunque me lleve a morir (I follow your light even if it leads me to die)

Try to find more in the lyrics!

“Pasos de Gigante” is a smooth tune by Miami-based band Bacilos.

This video, made by the Visual Spanish YouTube channel, helps you go through the lyrics with helpful grammar information and color coding for the different types of words.

You’ll see infinitive verbs , present tense and preterite tense , so it’s a great way to cover the basics.

As a bonus, it’s a song about the complicated feelings you have when you break up with someone, so be forewarned if this is your current situation!

The Colombian singer Maluma’s “Felices los 4” features a nice mixture of beginning-to-intermediate verb tenses and general vocabulary . The song is set at a moderate pace, so it challenges listeners without being totally overwhelming.

The lyrics talk about an extremely complicated and unconventional relationship. Let’s just say that the title (as well as the lyrics) imply that there are more than a couple of people involved in this messy affair.

Who hasn’t heard of this song by now?

This song hit the world hard when it came out, topping the charts in 47 countries ! Whether you missed out on the craze or already have the song playing in your head after reading its title, this is a catchy way to learn Spanish.

The hit tune might be all about going “slowly,” but Daddy Yankee’s rap section zooms by pretty quickly. If you have trouble keeping up, try reading the lyrics out loud a few times, taking it faster each time. Then, you can try singing along with that section. Repeat a few times and soon you’ll be rapping along confidently!

Need a bit more help? This post about the lyrics of “ Despacito” will give you a hand with the song’s pronunciation.

14. “M í a” (Mine) by Bad Bunny and Drake

This ode to love is told from the male point of view and implores the lover’s object of affection to declare that she belongs to him. It’s clear-cut and to the point: he loves her, she should acknowledge that and tell the world how it is.

A tortured love song is always good listening, isn’t it? And the lyrics are as uncomplicated as their message, so this is a good choice to practice your speaking confidence and conversational vocabulary .

The video offers cultural glimpses as well, which are beneficial for language learners. A Puerto Rican flag, Latin dance moves, a domino game and a backyard party will ring true to many who live in Spanish-speaking countries or in Latin neighborhoods. I know I recognized a lot from my own life!

Check this post out if you need to grab some Spanish terms of endearment for your vocabulary, too:

Spanish term of endearment are a great way to demonstrate your affection. Check our 35 common terms of endearment in Spanish and you’ll have plenty of little nicknames to…

This catchy tune is all about living the fun life, getting everything you can out of every moment and maybe even enjoying a few wild nights.

The cultural significance of the reggaeton sound and flamenco dance moves is worth noting. They provide insights into Spanish culture that learners often only experience through travel or immersion . Here, though, the music brings both to life.

This one is easy to sing along to and really fun. Who could ask for more?

This song by Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA is almost like vocal theater: it’s just so beautiful. The story is complete with love, longing, character development and a rhythm that charmingly cradles the lyrics.

A repeated shout-out to other singers and songs provides repetition, which is a great way for Spanish learners to practice pronunciation. Sing along to get in an extra session of speaking practice!

The lyrics to this gothic love story read like poetry. The entertainer portrays Dracula so well that listeners may be looking over their shoulders as they sing this one!

This song describes the transformation of a woman who used to be a “good girl.” But after getting her heart broken, she decides to take desquite (revenge) by drinking all night and doing other adult stuff.

Even native Spanish speakers can find some of the lines of this song hard to understand, so advanced learners will have to read the lyrics very closely to get the whole story.

A long story is exactly what this steamy song tells, but the chorus gets repeated enough times for any advanced learner to learn it in a couple of minutes. 

Are you ready to  subirle el volumen?

Maluma continues to sell us his bad guy vibes in a song where he wonders how to break up with his girl without hurting her. 

He has stopped loving her and has even betrayed her with another woman, and he wants to end the relationship before he breaks her heart.

Broken hearts aside, this song is challenging enough to be used by advanced learners, but slow enough to still be possible to learn with.

The first part of the song is great for learning the Spanish subjunctive. Analyze it and you’ll find a lot of words and constructions that trigger this challenging Spanish mood.

The rap section is normally the hardest one in any song, but Manuel Turizo has very clear pronunciation. The abundance of rhymes helps to make his part easy to memorize.

This reggaeton dance song is all about a gorgeous woman who dances like a dream. The tune is so catchy that it honestly becomes an earworm in a really good way. You might find yourself singing the song without even realizing it. (True story—it happened to me!)

The refrain is super simple, making this a good choice for those just entering the advanced level of Spanish.

When it comes to the video itself, the pure entertainment value is off the charts. The dance moves are slick, the presentation has comical elements (check out that big singing head) and the lyrics are shown with English subtitles.

If you like your music hot and saucy, this is the perfect song!

The video is all fast action, wild sets and crazy costumes. The guys sing about how crazy they are for a woman—with all the sincerity one can muster while riding in a vintage pink convertible past giant snails crossing the desert!

Spanish learners will enjoy the simple lyrics and basic vocabulary, but it’ll be a bit of a challenge to pick up all the words at full speed. This is a fun way to grab some conversational Spanish—and maybe learn a few steamier bits, as well!

“Mis ojos lloran por ti” is a good song for advanced Spanish students.

While the beginning is slow and heartfelt, the middle section includes some pretty fast rapping. It also contains more future tense , past tense and conditional tense verbs than most other songs .

Trying to get your tongue around this one is a great way to practice both your pronunciation and memorization skills.

Let’s close this section of the list with what I consider to be a masterpiece, even though I’m not a fan of the genre.

“Lástima” is a song that describes the hardships many people go through in Latin America.

From the lack of money to the dangerous streets of the most unsafe  barrios (neighborhoods) across the continent, Neutro Shorty really knows how to depict the society he’s a part of.

Described as Latin urban by some and Caribbean gangsta by others, Neutro Shorty is definitely an artist you should follow if you want to get to know more about the reality many South and Central Americans live nowadays.

The song might look difficult to master because it has few repetitions and a fast pace, but Shorty’s pronunciation is good enough to allow you to follow it by reading the lyrics (at least at the beginning).

It can also be used to learn some slang words such as  joseo  (theft to buy drugs)   and  blones  (blunts).

For more Spanish rap recommendations, check out this post:

Spanish rap songs are one of the many ways that learning the language is easier and more fun in the 21st than every before. Click here to discover 10 awesome rap songs in…

“Eres”  has a steady, slow rhythm with simple, clearly articulated words that are easy to follow.

This is a love song demonstrating the incredible joy of being in love, waking up next to someone and not having to miss their presence anymore.

Pair this song with a lesson about when to use ser and estar , the two forms of “to be” in Spanish. Figure out why the singer uses ser for “eres” (you are) but estar for “estoy” (I am)?

You’ll tap your feet and bob your head to this song! It has a very catchy beat and a repeating chorus line that you’ll be able to learn easily. Plus, the lyrics are beautiful—much like the title!

This song talks about the beauty that can be found everywhere in life and how the bad things that inevitably happen can’t take away from the overall glory of life. It’s a great song for a rainy day when you might feel down.

Keep an eye on that last letter in the titular word bonito: it changes depending on the gender of the noun it is modifying. Learn more about how adjectives work in Spanish to confidently use adjective gender rules when you sing along.

“Música triste en español” (Sad music in Spanish)—with these four words, C. Tangana described one of the most gut-wrenching songs I’ve heard recently.

Sung in first person from the perspective of a woman (you can see that in sentences like “soy una imbécil”— I am a [female] idiot, for example), Tangana portrays what seems to be fragments of audio messages from a woman to her boyfriend, telling him that he doesn’t take care of her, he’s never there for her and he’s neglecting her.

The sad lyrics seem to clash with the lively Brazilian beat, which could be a metaphor for the fight between the two lovers.

The song is interesting not only because of the story, but also because of some linguistic features such as the use of the ending -ao  instead of -ado  for the past participle and because of the reference to the super famous song “Corazón Partío”   (Broken Heart), a clear wink to co-author Alejandro Sanz.

This classic Spanish song is one most heritage learners learn at a really early age. I learned it almost as soon as I could speak!

There are plenty of variations of the song, so you might have noticed the lyric link and the video don’t match. The video is a much more kid-friendly version than the linked lyrics, in which the roach is missing his hind legs.

Whichever version you listen to, this song is perfect for beginners, with simple words and phrases. Plus, the poor penniless cockroach in the video above is just too charming!

In any language, “How Far I’ll Go” is a fantastic song! If you’re a Disney fan, you’re already familiar with this one. And, really, who doesn’t love “Moana” ? If you’re not familiar with it yet, this song is about knowing that you have a place in your community, but yearning to see what more can be found beyond the horizon.

There’s a lot of repetition in this sweet, uplifting song. The lyrics are intended for a young audience, so they’re concise and clear.

Plus, the song mostly uses the present and future tenses, which are beginner-friendly tenses in Spanish!

The Disney film “Frozen” is a timeless story. A kingdom is threatened, so an unlikely pair sets off to break a spell. Along the way, they have adventures, encounter trolls and, ultimately, save the day.

And, as a bonus for viewers, there’s the hit song “Let It Go,” which has a more explicitly empowering message in its Spanish title “Libre Soy” (literally “I’m Free”).

The movie’s music is just as enchanting in Spanish as it is in English. And for anyone who’s seen the film, the lyrics to this song will be wonderfully familiar.

It’s always interesting to see how famous songs are translated to keep the rhythm, rhyme and meaning intact. A fun exercise you can do with this song is to take a look at the Spanish lyrics and the English lyrics side-by-side to see what’s different.

Like in the previous song, there’s a strong use of the future tense here—perfect for practice!

If I had to choose the most common struggle that Spanish learners have to deal with when starting their language journey, I would pick pronouncing the letter r as the winner.

I’ve seen many Spanish students get frustrated because they can’t roll their r ’s. This Spanish sound doesn’t exist in many languages, of course, so it’s not commonly known among foreigners.

Luckily for you (and possibly your kids), this cute song includes a ton of words containing the wicked Spanish r sound. In fact, almost every word in the song has it!

You can use this song to practice the challenging sound while you learn some easy vocabulary related to animals . 

Most Spanish learners know the song  “Cumpleaños Feliz.” But why stop there when you can celebrate Pocoyó’s birthday with Conecta Kids’ song?

Perfect for learning birthday vocabulary , “El cumple de Pocoyó” will have everyone dancing from beginning to end, especially the children! This song is full of birthday traditions like ear pulling, balloons and piñatas. How many can you spot?

And hey—did you notice the word cumple? It’s the apocopation (shortening) of the word cumpleaños . Spanish-speaking kids love using shortened forms of words. Do you know any others ?

“Susanita” is one of the first songs every kid used to learn in the ’80s and ’90s when they went to the circus.

Miliki and his friends used to be the most famous clowns in the world, and their TV shows for kids were everything we needed to be happy.

This song is catchy and easy to memorize. It will teach you the names of some hobbies like ajedrez  (chess),  fútbol  (football) and teatro  (theater). It can even be the perfect introduction to Spanish diminutives ( Susanita is “little Susana” and chiquitín is “tiny,” literally “little tiny”).

I have to confess: this song has been in my head for three days already and I can’t stop singing it.

With this repetitive song and its memorization game, learners will know the names of fruits in Spanish while having fun dancing along.

If you’re interested in some cultural references, there’s a fun one at the beginning of the video: the cookie’s name is María, which is not only a very typical Spanish name, but also a type of cookie that is very well-known in the Spanish-speaking world.

Who doesn’t know “The Lion King”? Who hasn’t sung “Hakuna Matata” at least once in their life?

“El Rey León” is a movie everybody enjoys, and “Hakuna Matata” is a song with a positive message we should all put into practice in our lives.

You can even use the song as a basis for a grammar lesson: “Hakuna Matata” is the perfect example of Spanish tú  commands in action.

Luis Miguel is one of the best voices in the Spanish-speaking music world, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Disney chose him to sing this beautiful song.

Included in the movie “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Sueña” tells us to never stop dreaming and always believe that love will conquer all.

The song is slow enough for children and beginners to follow and sing along, and it can also be used to teach Spanish tú  commands, both regular and irregular.

You’re almost set to start learning Spanish through songs! 

Our suggestions covered a variety of Spanish genres, styles, beats and topics, so hopefully you found something you like.

To get the most out of these songs, here are a couple of tips for when you listen.

• The first time through, just listen to the song and the beat. Try to pick out familiar words you already know. The second time, pay attention to repeated words and phrases. Do you understand them all? If not, look them up. On the third listen, you should be able to understand enough of the words to start listening to what they’re saying. What is the message of the song?
• Keep a dictionary nearby. A dictionary would be incredibly helpful, especially if you have the written lyrics to look at while listening to the song. You could find lyric videos which display the words as the song plays, or look up the lyrics to pretty much any Spanish song on the lyric site Letras . Familiarize yourself with these songs, and soon you’ll find yourself singing along!

Choosing the right song to learn with is also crucial to your success. Here are some things you should look for when picking a song for learning Spanish:

• Clear pronunciation: You don’t want to use a song where the lyrics blend into one another or are hard to understand because the singer is mumbling. This is especially true if you’re a beginner—songs with clear pronunciation will provide a better learning experience.
• A catchy beat: If the beat and rhythm of a song don’t catch your fancy when you listen to it, you probably won’t want it stuck in your head. Songs that make you tap your foot and bob your head are the best!
• Repeating chorus/verses: The best songs to learn Spanish have repeating phrases in the chorus or verses that contain the same lyrics. If you can recognize and remember the lyrics, you’ll be able to sing the song in your head with more accuracy.
• A familiar song dubbed in Spanish: Learning completely new songs in another language can be difficult, so it might be easier to take a familiar song and find a Spanish version of it. You can try this with TV theme songs, Disney songs, your favorite songs or familiar artists who also sing in Spanish like Shakira or Enrique Iglesias.
• Regional Spanish music: Pick songs sung by artists from the Spanish region of the world whose dialect you’re learning. Dialects across the Spanish-speaking world differ and use different slang, so make it easy on yourself—at least in the beginning!

You take advantage of your fond childhood memories of songs.

Quick, finish these lyrics:

• “Upside inside out, she’s…” (“… livin’ la vida loca ”)
• “Des-pa-…” (“…cito”)
• “Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena, heeeey…” (“… Macarena !”)

Even if you’re an absolute beginner to Spanish, there’s a good chance you know all three of those, even if you haven’t heard them in years. Without you realizing it, you memorized some Spanish and, years later, you could recall it without hesitation. That’s the power of music !

Learning Spanish through songs is an extremely powerful way to get words and expressions to stay in your mind long-term. We all get songs stuck in our heads, so you can use that as a learning tool to improve your language skills.

Songs tend to get stuck in your head.

Going off of the first point, songs get stuck in our heads because of the way our brains work. Music activates the auditory cortex part of our brains , and when we don’t know the entire song, our brains fill in the missing gaps in the rhythm and repeat them over and over.

Scientists call this phenomenon a cognitive itch or a brain itch , and by repeating a tune in your head, you’re scratching the itch.

Scientists and researchers all around the world have different names for songs getting stuck in our heads and different theories for why this happens. That said, you can see this in action with marketing agencies and commercials. They’re constantly coming up with new jingles and tunes to make their product memorable to you by creating a sound or piece of music that will get stuck in your head, and this often works very well!

We can use these same ideas to help learn a new language. If your brain can remember the music from a commercial or the theme song from a popular show on television, it can also remember a song or chorus that you heard—even if it’s in a different language.

Songs give context to the language you’re learning.

Learning a new language is hard. Often, sitting in a classroom is boring, learning from a textbook feels like work and there’s not much interaction with authentic Spanish language and culture.

By learning Spanish with songs, your brain makes connections between the music you’re listening to and the words and language concepts you’re trying to learn.

Songs give you a glimpse into Spanish culture.

Music gives you an insight into Spanish culture that can’t be learned from a Spanish textbook.

People often sing about things they care about, so you get to learn more about the way Spanish-speaking cultures view certain universally important themes like love.

Songs help you learn the local lingo

Singing along to Spanish music not only increases your vocabulary and knowledge of popular Spanish culture, but it also allows you to become acquainted with regional accents and slang .

This is especially true for songs in the rap or hip-hop genre. Be forewarned, though: learning slang this way might be especially challenging, since rap artists tend to throw words at you like bullets from a machine gun!

Songs are fun, period.

Learning Spanish with music is just plain fun! Who doesn’t love a good tune? Even if you flub all the lyrics or your voice can’t quite hit those high notes, you can still move your body to the beat and have a great time!

Here are a few more resources to help you learn Spanish through songs:

• LingoClip : This one is great site to learn Spanish (and other languages) through music videos. You can use it to learn the lyrics to songs through fill-in-the-blank questions that increase in difficulty according to the level you’re playing.
• Barcelona Blonde : This one is a blog post that offers a playlist full of music to help you learn Spanish.
• Rockalingua : This site is a gold mine of original songs designed to help children who are learning Spanish—meaning it’s great for adult beginner learners, too! The songs include color-in worksheets with lyrics.

You can even use Spotify , YouTube or your music player of choice to find and listen to Spanish music.

You could also check out music videos with a lyric-by-lyric breakdown of the Spanish words and grammar, like this one courtesy of the language learning platform FluentU :

Now you have a good place to start learning Spanish with songs, the tools to find new Spanish artists you like and examples of different genres of Spanish music.

Find songs you enjoy listening to, find others like them and remember to keep a dictionary with you while you listen so you can look up any new words.

Soon, you’ll find these Spanish learning songs playing in your head and, eventually, you’ll be singing along!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Spanish Mama

Teaching Spanish & Spanglish Living

15 Powerful Spanish Songs About Immigration

Inside : Spanish songs about immigration: a playlist. 

While researching for a post on immigration, I decided to look into songs. And wow– I came across some amazing music. These shouldn’t be missed, so I’m devoting a whole post to them. 

I think it’s  hard  to teach a unit on immigration. If you have a large population of immigrant families, the topic obviously hits close to home. For other classrooms, the temptation to apply stereotypes and generalize is huge. If our resources are lopsided, just one story gets told: it’s easy for students to walk away assuming every undocumented immigrant has a similar back story, or that most immigrants are undocumented.

In reality, people move countries for varied reasons, and under many circumstances. With these songs, I hope to offer more than “one story,” so your students can connect to varied artistic voices and perspectives.

(If you’re looking for more lists, see my  Songs in Spanish  page.)

SPANISH SONGS ABOUT IMMIGRATION

I attempted to attach a level to each song– hopefully it’s accurate. By saying a song is novice-high, I don’t mean that a NH student will immediately understand every word. I mean that with some teacher support, the song will be useful and largely comprehensible. The students could read it over it and get the gist. 

(PLEASE be mindful that several songs here will be difficult to watch, especially for families that have been affected by deportation experiences.)

1. POBRE JUAN

Maná wrote this song in 2002, around the time that border crossings were at an all-time high. It’s written in story-form, and heavy. Maná says this: 

“ Pobre Juan” … es una triste realidad que sucede todos los días, una historia de Juan y miles de inmigrantes mexicanos y Latinoamericanos que fallecen en la lucha de cruzar la frontera (y) fallecen o desaparecen.

( Level:  Intermediate-Low and up, narrated in past tense.)

2. FRONTERAS – GABY MORENO 

While not officially an immigration song, the themes (“ fronteras ,” “ esperanza, ” and “ yo pertenezco aquí “) lend themselves well to the topic. The song shows scenes and stories from Guatemala, which is where was Gaby Moreno was born before relocating to the U.S.

I like using this one because it offers hopeful language and music, while showing beautiful scenes and strong characters from Guatemala. 

( Level:  Novice-High and up, mostly present tense.)

3. UN BESITO MÁS – JESSE Y JOY 

This one is powerful.  Un Besito Más  shows the story of a couple attempting to make a new life in the U.S. after crossing the border, and the terrible complications of children who have citizenship being separated from undocumented parents. It’s written from the perspective of a child who stayed in the U.S. after her parents were deported.

( Level:  Novice-High and up. Lots of imperfect tense and present tense.)

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSt8c5VA18mRErjSGbdPRM9SVFU3jKNAXgNnD6ofC7znSWrv1apvuJHpob_IgCLaNDWSndSWOR0OnP_/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=15000&slide=id.g3586637d13_0_47

While working with this song, I made some slides with screenshots from the video that narrate the story, using mostly past tenses. Feel free to use! (The editable version is available as part of my  Voces de los inmigrantes  Song Pack.) 

4. ICE EL HIELO – LA SANTA CECILIA

Ice El Hielo  gets a bit more political, and was produced as part of the #Not1More series. The video shows vignettes of Latino immigrants living the U.S., who later get taken by ICE and deported. Hard to watch, for sure, but reflects the reality and uncertainty of living and working without documents here. 

( Level:  Novice-High and up, with support. Mix of tenses.)

I also made some slides for this one, using simple language for novices, in the present tense. Feel free to use! (The editable version is also available as part of my  Voces de los inmigrantes  Song Pack.) 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vR4JKPOCHGMZw51CCeakiW2llTEgcbYg-6sn6mF1f5pfAAbAKrjlB4VGP_61d97OFGHe2ECE_oCLAdR/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=60000

5. AVE QUE EMIGRA

Another Gaby Moreno favorite, this song describes her personal experience of emigrating to the U.S. 

“Recuerdos desde mi infancia Que a veces parten el alma Mi Guate nunca la olvido La llevo siempre conmigo…”

( Level:  Intermediate-Low and up, due to some low-frequency phrases. The video works well for discussing present life vs. past experiences.)

6. A LAS TRES – ENANITOS VERDES 

A Las Tres  is written from the perspective of an immigrant working far away from his family, and sending money home to support them. This is a powerful perspective on the conflict of wanting (or needing) the opportunities found in the U.S., while yearning for home. 

( Level:  Novice-Mid and up. Mainly present tense and comprehensible phrasing.)

7. MIS DOS PATRIAS – LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE

Los Tigres del Norte  have several immigration-themed songs ( Mojados Tres Veces, Jaula de Oro ), but I included this one because it explores a lightly different theme: actually living in the this, as a new citizen, and feeling split between two identities.

( Level:  Novice-High and up, I think. With some support upfront, the song is pretty accessible.)

Songs 1-7 are available part of my  Voces de los inmigrantes  Song Pack. Check it out if you’d like some ready-to-go printables and activities, or keep scrolling!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSt8c5VA18mRErjSGbdPRM9SVFU3jKNAXgNnD6ofC7znSWrv1apvuJHpob_IgCLaNDWSndSWOR0OnP_/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=15000

8. PAPELES MOJADOS – CHAMBAO

If you want something outside the typical Latino-US box, here’s your immigration song in Spanish. 

( Level:  Intermediate- Mid and up.)

9. PA’L NORTE – CALLE 13 

Use this one with caution in class– preview for sure. It’s one of the most provoking songs out there, both in the video and lyrics. 

Hoy me voy Pa’l norte sin pasaporte Sin transporte A pie, con las patas Pero no importa este hombre se hidrata Con lo que retratan mis pupilas Cargo con un par de paisajes en mi mochila Cargo con vitamina de clorofila Cargo con un rosario que me vigila Sueño con cruzar el meridiano

( Level:  Intermediate-Low or Mid and up, with lots of metaphorical language.)

10. EL INMIGRANTE – CALIBRE 50

Piensan que por que brinque la linea Soy un narcotraficante Ya basta de mil humillaciones Nomas por ser “inmigrante” Estoy cantando por toda mi gente

( Level:  Intermediate-Low and up.)

11. EL MOJADO – RICARDO ARJONA

El Mojado  takes on the term “ wetback,”  though it’s worth noting that the word in Spanish doesn’t carry quite the same connotations. He describes the experience and anxiety of living without papers in the U.S.

12. “SHOCK” IN ARIZONA – ANA TIJOUX

A song of protest to abuses of power and discrimination in the American southwest. 

( Level:  Intermediate-High and up.)

13. LÁGRIMAS DEL CORAZÓN – GRUPO MONTÉZ DE DURANGO

A tribute to the fathers who leave their children behind to work and send money home, the lyrics switch between a son and a father who are apart. 

14. BANDERA – ATERCIOPELADOS

A gripping commentary on immigration, privilege and power. 

( Level:  Novice-High and up.)

15. CLANDESTINO – MANU CHAO

Reggae-style, this song tells the story about being termed “ cladestino ” for not having papers. Contains the word  marihuana . 

What immigration songs in Spanish did I miss? Leave your suggestions in the comments below. 

Like it? Pin it!

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Great compilation! I have some free resources here: http://www.ceauthres.com/2018/03/ice-el-hielo-again.html for ICE El Hielo and here: http://www.ceauthres.com/2017/07/un-besito-mas.html for Un Besito Más if you want to link those in your post.

thank you for the article

Cuando pienses en volver- Pedro Suarez Vertiz

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45 Best Songs About Traveling and Experiencing the World

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Looking for songs about traveling that make you excited to see the world?

Traveling makes people happy . It’s one way of understanding yourself , life, and the world.

Embark on a trip with us today where we share a collection of songs that capture the essence of travel .

The songs in this collection highlight the exciting prospect of experiencing something new , the thrill of adventure , and the anticipation that anything is possible .

You may also find that some of the songs featured today allow you to travel back in time. They envelope you in a sense of nostalgia, bringing up memories of travels you’ve enjoyed before.

If you’re ready, pack up your things and let’s check out the songs we’ve found for you.

Table of Contents

1. Roads Go Ever On , Clamavi De Profundis

“ The Road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can. ”

Let’s begin with a song inspired by poems written by J. R. R. Tolkien for his Middle Earth stories.

According to Clamavi De Profundis, “ This is a compilation of poems that J.R.R. Tolkein wrote throughout his books: the first stanza coming from The Fellowship of the Ring, the middle two stanzas from The Hobbit, and the last from the Return of the King. We took a creative approach to this, sort of weaving in the tale of Bilbo, since it is he around whom most of this text is centered. ”

2. Anywhere , Rita Ora

“ Over the hills and far away, a million miles from L.A. Just anywhere away with you. I know we've got to get away someplace where no one knows our name. We'll find the start of something new. ”

First released in 2018, this upbeat song is an awesome addition to your travel playlist.

The narrator is tired of seeing the same old city and wishes to get away with her beloved. The destination isn’t important, she just wants them to be together, wherever they end up going.

3. The City of New Orleans , Arlo Guthrie

“ Nighttime on the City of New Orleans. Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee. Halfway home, we'll be there by morning. Through the Mississippi darkness, rolling down to the sea. ”

Here’s a song that evokes feelings nostalgia for the old times, when people weren’t always in a hurry and everything seemed simpler.

The song is an ode to train travel, which began to disappear from America toward the end of the 20 th century.

There was an actual train called City of New Orleans that made trips between Chicago and Louisiana. Steve Goodman, who composed the song, was a passenger on the train on its last journey before it was decommissioned.

4. Roam , The B-52’s

“ Roam if you want to. Roam around the world. Roam if you want to. Without anything but the love we feel. ”

Need a happy song to keep the vibe cheerful during your travels? Here’s a song that urges you to get out there and check out what the world has to offer.

5. Traveling On , Kongos

“ So long, my flame, my warmth, my fear, my fight. The road's calling again tonight. Maybe I'll catch a train to Rome. See the world until I can't go on. Or maybe I'll come traveling home. ”

Here’s a song about being unable to resist wanderlust. One must answer the call to travel and leave everything else behind.

6. Wanderlust , Frank Turner

“ Darling, I'm leaving. The distance keeps calling me on. Darling, come morning, I'll be gone. ”

Here’s another song that pays tribute to wanderlust. This song from Frank Turner is about a man who can’t resist the call of the road, saying goodbye in advance to his lover, telling her it’s most likely he’ll be gone by morning.

7. Good Life , OneRepublic

“ To my friends in New York, I say hello. My friends in L.A., they don't know where I've been for the past few years or so. Paris to China to Colorado. ”

This song is about meeting friends in different parts of the world. It’s a celebration of the freedom to constantly travel in order to grow and learn.

8. On the Road Again , Willie Nelson

“ On the road again. Goin' places that I've never been. Seein' things that I may never see again. And I can't wait to get on the road again. ”

Here’s a song about a touring musician who loves what he does. Performing and traveling to do it make him feel alive.

Play this song for good vibes on your own travels.

9. I’ve Been Everywhere , Johnny Cash

“ …I've been everywhere, man. Crossed the deserts bare, man. I've breathed the mountain air, man. Of travel I've had my share, man. I've been everywhere. ”

What places have you already visited? Which ones are your favorites?

Here’s a song about an intrepid traveler. A large portion of the song recounts all the places he’s been to.

10. Leaving on a Jet Plane , Chantal Kreviazuk

“ All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go. I'm standing here outside your door. I hate to wake you up to say goodbye. But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn. The taxi's waiting, he's blowin' his horn. Already I'm so lonesome I could die. ”

This song is a cover of John Denver’s iconic goodbye song, and it is part of the soundtrack for the movie Armageddon . In it, a lover bids farewell to their beloved, not sure when they’ll see each other again.

11. Anywhere , Passenger

“ If you get up in a jet plane or down in a submarine. If you get onto the next train to somewhere you never been. If you wanna ride in a fast car and feel the wind in your hair. Darling, just look beside you. Oh, I'll go with you anywhere. ”

Traveling is more fun when we’re with people we love. Here’s a song that serves as an invitation for you to travel with the person you love the most.

12. Road Trippin’ , Red Hot Chili Peppers

“ Road trippin' with my two favorite allies. Fully loaded, we got snacks and supplies. It's time to leave this town. It's time to steal away. Let's go get lost anywhere in the USA. Let's go get lost. Let's go get lost. ”

Looking for a mellow road trip song? This song from RHCP fits the bill. It is about the band’s own road trip.

13. Explore the World , Brainheart ft. Sis

“ Explore the world in your way. Create memories that you won't forget. You only live once, so don't waste your time. Please don't waste your time. ”

Life is short, and this song understands that.

It appeals to the principle that you only live once (YOLO) and encourages you to experience everything the world has to offer, and explore as much as you can.

14. The Open Road , Hollow Coves

“ It's been years since I've been gone. I miss the way it feels to roam. This urge that's grown inside my heart to pack my bags and hit the road. ”

Sometimes, the urge to travel hits just when you’ve decided it’s time to settle down.

You may have established a good reputation for yourself in your community. Perhaps, you’re raising a family or flying high in a fulfilling career.

But suddenly, it’s as if the road calls you to go on new adventures.

This is the case for the narrator in this song. If you were in his shoes, what would you do?

15. Traveler , Chris Stapleton

“ And I'm just a traveler on this earth. Sure as my heart's behind the pocket of my shirt, I'll just keep rollin' 'til I'm in the dirt. ‘Cause I'm a traveler. Oh, I'm a traveler. ”

This song won a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance.

Chris Stapleton was inspired to write this song after his father passed away in 2013. According to him, this song is about the cycle of life we all go through.

16. Little Wanderer , Death Cab For Cutie

“ You sent a photo out your window of Tokyo. Told me you were doing fine. You said the cherry blossoms were blooming. And that I was on your mind. ”

This song depicts a situation where one of the partners has wanderlust. The other one insists on being the lighthouse to his wanderer.

17. Barcelona , Ed Sheeran

“ And you and I we're flying on an airplane tonight. We're going somewhere where the sun is shining bright. Just close your eyes and let's pretend we're dancing in the street in Barcelona… ”

Travel to foreign countries can elevate the feeling of romance. In this song, a couple dancing together imagines they’re in Barcelona.

The references to cultural landmarks in that city give the couple’s time together an exotic appeal. It also sets the mood for a very romantic evening for the two of them.

18. Sleep on the Floor , The Lumineers

“ Pack yourself a toothbrush, dear. Pack yourself a favorite blouse. Take a withdrawal slip. Take all of your savings out. ‘Cause if we don't leave this town, we might never make it out. ”

This song encourages listeners to embrace impulsivity. It tells you that adventure awaits those who are brave of heart .

19. Hard Travelin’ , Woody Guthrie

“ I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed. I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road. ”

Traveling is often associated with going to exotic places and experiencing local cultures. But this is typically only possible for those who can afford it.

This song is not about vacations or holidays overseas. It’s about workers who travel for their livelihood.

Although most people focus on the romantic side of the traveling life, this song highlights the struggles of the workers traveling to make a living.

20. Malibu , Hole

“ Hey, hey, you know what to do. Oh, baby, drive away to Malibu. ”

Travel can be a form of healing . This song is about going to a healing place, away from negativity. It makes you think of sunrise and being reborn.

21. (Motor) Way of Life , Lower Than Atlantis

“ And we are miles away from the place where we're playing. We won't abide by the law. We are lads on tour. ”

A lot of musicians are inspired to write songs about their life while touring. In this song, Lower Than Atlantis describes the gritty reality of the life of a touring band.

22. California Bound , Carolina Liar

“ There's a southern bound train tomorrow. Takes us out of this dirty town. Chase the sun back to the west coast. In eight hours we're California bound. We're California bound. ”

Sometimes, being stuck in a place where you feel limited can inspire you to travel. This song is about escaping a dead-end place to go to sun-drenched California.

23. Carolina in My Mind , James Taylor

“ In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina. Can't you see the sunshine? Now can't you just feel the moonshine? And ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind? Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind. ”

Homesickness can sometimes encourage a person to travel and go back home. In this song, the narrator dreams of going back to his home state and experiencing the things that he misses the most while he’s away.

24. I Have Been Around the World , Dar Williams

“ I have been around the world. There's so much there to see. And the story never ends. You're all the world to me. ”

There are people who travel from place to place because they’re searching for something. Perhaps it’s a place they can call home, or a person who they think will complete their life.

In this song, a person with wanderlust travels all over the world and experiences many wonders. However, she’s not satisfied. Only after meeting someone does she realize where home truly is.

25. Travel the World Song , Spookiz

“ Let's go to Rio, Paris, Tokyo. Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, New York and Mexico. We see Ibiza, Seoul, Beijing and Rome. Travel 'round the world, come on, let's go. ”

Here’s an upbeat song about travel that will give you good vibes during your trip. Its joyful melody encourages you to travel to the places you want to see.

If you need a cheerful song that leads you out of your comfort zone into exciting experiences, this song’s for you!

26. Happy Trails , Roy Rogers

“ Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you. Keep smiling until then. ”

This is a blessing for those on the road. With so many things that could go wrong during your travels, it’s nice to know that there are those who wish you well.

27. White Line Fever , Merle Haggard

“ I wonder just what makes a man keep pushing on. What makes me keep on hummin' this old highway song. I've been from coast to coast a hundred times or more. And I ain't found one single place where I ain't been before. ”

Do you ever wonder what it feels like to live your entire life on the road, answering the call of wanderlust and never settling anywhere?

“White line fever” is a term for the state of mind many car drivers have after traveling for an extended period of time. While in the grip of white line fever, a driver may manage to drive safely without remembering that they’ve done so.

28. Africa , Toto

“ I bless the rains down in Africa. Gonna take some time to do the things we never had. ”

Here’s a classic song to remind you that when you travel, it’s more than just seeing exotic places and learning about new cultures. It helps you develop a deep love and appreciation for the diversity around you.

29. Every Day Is a Winding Road , Sheryl Crow

“ Every day is a winding road. I get a little bit closer. Every day is a faded sign. I get a little bit closer to feeling fine. ”

This song teaches us to cherish every second of our lives— to live mindfully . In it, a hitchhiker’s trip aboard a guy’s truck is a metaphor for life—full of twists and turns. Sometimes, it has unexpected stops and detours.

30. Marrakesh Express , Crosby, Stills, and Nash

“ Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes. Travelling the train through clear Moroccan skies. ”

If you’re stuck in a rut, traveling can help you gain a fresh perspective. A trip, especially to a foreign place, encourages you to get out of your comfort zone

This song is about what happens when you step out of your comfort zone. You start noticing interesting things that add richness to your travel experience.

31. Paris, Texas , Lana Del Rey

“ I went to Paris (Texas) with a suitcase in my hand. I had to leave. Knew they wouldn't understand. ”

Sometimes, we take a trip to get away from painful memories or experiences. Here’s a song that describes this type of healing journey.

The song also plays on the names of the American cities mentioned in the lyrics. When you hear the names, you might think of their European namesakes. At first, it seems like the narrator is traveling overseas. But as it turns out, the narrator didn’t have to travel that far.

32. Mountain Trip to Japan, 1959 , The Trachtenburg Family Sideshow Players

“ Mountain trip to Japan. Going to see the mountains on a mountain trip. He's a very fine man. He is so well rounded and he'd like to see the world before it ever started. ”

Here’s a cheery, quirky, catchy song you can play on a road trip. I can almost guarantee that you’ll find this song stuck in your head for days!

33. Paris Nights/New York Mornings , Corinne Bailey Rae

“ Ooh, we crash into love-filled nights (Paris nights and New York mornings). ”

This song describes the exhilaration of traveling to new places. It also highlights the romance and excitement of experiencing what these new places have to offer.

34. No Roots , Alice Merton

“ I build a home and wait for someone to tear it down. Then pack it up in boxes, head for the next town running. ‘Cause I've got memories and travel like gypsies in the night. And a thousand times I've seen this road… ”

This catchy, upbeat song actually belies the sad origin of the lyrics. This song is about someone who does not feel they have a place to call home, as she’s constantly moving from place to place.

Alice Merton drew inspiration for her hit single from her personal experience of having a nomadic lifestyle. By the time she was 24, she had moved 12 times .

35. The Longest Road , Morgan Page

“ Giddy up and gold mine. Different place, different time. All the stars are in their prime. Pastel trailer park, stars so bright to hide the dark. All is quiet in the yard. ”

The primary concept of this song is the desert. It evokes images of long trips and being surrounded by a desolate landscape.

36. Vienna , Billy Joel

“ When will you realize Vienna waits for you? ”

In this song, Vienna serves as a metaphor for the rest of your life. The song asks listeners, “When are you going to start living your life?”

37. Midnight Memories , One Direction

“ Straight off the plane to a new hotel. Just touched down, you could never tell. ”

This song describes a group of young jetsetters ready to party wherever they land. It highlights making memories and living life to the fullest.

38. On the Road to Find Out , Yusuf/Cat Stevens

“ Well, I hit the rowdy road and many kinds I met there. Many stories told me of the way to get there. So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out. There’s so much left to know, and I’m on the road to find out. ”

This song is about traveling “in search of freedom and purity.” The narrator is spurred forward by his hunger for spiritual balance.

39. New Horizons (Ultima Thule Mix) , Brian May

“ New horizons to explore. New horizons no one's ever seen before. Limitless wonders in a never ending sky. We may never, never reach them. That's why we have to try. ”

So far, the songs in this collection have been about traveling in different places within the planet. But here’s a song about traveling beyond our world.

It is about traveling to and exploring new places in outer space. It might not be long before commercial space travel is available to humans!

40. Highway Song , Blackfoot

“ It's a highway song. You sing it on and on. On and on. Highway song is as lonely as the road I'm on. ”

This song is about a musician on tour. He feels lonely and homesick.

However, the exhilaration of performing and being on the road prevents him from going home.

41. Hotel California , Eagles

“ On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair. Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light. My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim. I had to stop for the night. ”

Many travelers report having at least one strange experience during their travels. Have you had one?

In this iconic song, a wayward traveler discovers dark secrets in a hotel set in the desert.

42. Trains, Boats, and Planes , Dionne Warwick

“ Trains and boats and planes are passing by. They mean a trip to Paris or Rome for someone else, but not for me. The trains and the boats and planes took you away, away from me. ”

What’s your favorite mode of transportation when going on long trips?

In this song, almost all modes of transportation are seen in a negative light by a woman who was left by a man eager to see the world.

43. The Love Boat Theme , Jack Jones

“ The Love Boat soon will be making another run. The Love Boat promises something for everyone. Set a course for adventure. Your mind on a new romance. ”

The Love Boat is a TV show that aired from 1977 to 1986. It is about the hilarious romantic experiences of the crew and passengers of the cruise ship MS Pacific Princess .

The show has a theme song that highlights the possibilities of romance and adventure while on board the love boat.

44. Lost in Japan , Shawn Mendes

“ Do you got plans tonight? I'm a couple hundred miles from Japan, and I, I was thinking I could fly to your hotel tonight 'cause I-I-I can't get you off my mind. ”

This song is about traveling for the sake of love. In it, Mendes shows his commitment to his beloved by offering to fly to Japan so that they can be together.

45. Hitch Hike , Marvin Gaye

“ I've got to find that girl if I have to hitchhike 'round the world. ”

In the same vein as the previous song, a guy hitchhikes all across the country, determined to find his girlfriend, even though the girl’s been unfaithful to him.

Final Thoughts on Songs About Traveling

Each time you pack your bags and head to new places, you become a new person.

Traveling is one of the best ways for you to grow in wisdom and experience. It helps you develop a deeper understanding of yourself , the world, and life in general.

Hopefully, you’ve found a favorite or two among the songs about traveling featured in this collection.

If you enjoyed this article, you might want to check out the following articles of song collections for specific topics:

• 57 Best Songs About Home: Leaving, Missing, and Coming Home
• 43 Best Songs About Happiness and Good Times
• 33 Best Songs About Family & Being with Loved Ones

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A mí me gusta viajar (Medios de transporte)

Teach types of transportation in Spanish with this catchy song!  Student will learn vocabulary and important verbs by singing along.  Make sure to pause the video at certain parts and ask students questions like ¿Va en coche o en avión? ¿Va en bicicleta o en tren? Take the time to ask personalized questions like ¿Te gusta viajar en tren? ¿Cómo vas a la escuela caminando o en coche? ¿Qué te gusta más el autobús o el tren? etc...

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12 Spanish Songs About Family to Use in Your Lessons

Do you love listening to Spanish songs about family? Practicing your Spanish skills is a fun and enriching activity for the family! 

Whether you’re a parent or a Spanish educator, listening to music in Spanish is a brilliant way to quickly and efficiently improve the Spanish skills of your child or student.  

Listening to songs in Spanish improves your vocabulary and grammar in more ways than you might think. You’ll learn lots of new words from the lyrics, and it’s a fast way to remember vocabulary in a melodic way! 

According to Rooted Childhood , “Children love to hear the rise and fall of our voices, the rhythm, and the melodic notes of songs. Singing is a natural way to communicate with children, and also a natural way for them to learn through exposure in a light, informal way.” 

Through Spanish songs about family, learners are able to pick up new vocabulary, grammar, and cultural context simultaneously. Music has also been proven to help with memorization and word recognition. 

Want to help your kids or students become bilingual? Keep reading for 12 of the best Spanish songs about family that are easy and enjoyable to remember and teach. 

As you listen to these songs, follow along with the lyrics to learn the new vocabulary words. For an extra challenge, have the children find the words from the brief vocabulary lists included with each song. 

To review the vocabulary for family members in Spanish, check out this blog post .

1. Pica-Pica – Mi Mamá

Kids love to sing along to Pica-Pica. It also teaches kids key family-related vocabulary in Spanish, and the song is catchy and fun. The video includes a brief intro to the song that is handy for teaching. 

2. Members of the Family in Spanish

This is a great review of the family members. This song and video teaches the vocabulary in both Spanish and English. If you’re starting to introduce questions, this is a great video because they first teach the different family members and then they ask who it is. 

3. Bebé Tiburón

This super catchy South Korean song is beloved by billions. This is one of the most watched videos on YouTube ever! Even if you don’t have kids, I’m sure you’ve heard “Baby Shark.” 

The Spanish version is also super catchy as it teaches about relatives, and the video shows different members of the shark family. When it comes to Spanish songs for family members, this is a favorite! Dance along as you practice Spanish.

4. The World is Mi Familia

Coco is one of my favorite movies of all time. It celebrates Día de los Muertos which is in honor of the departed in the most beautiful way. It teaches kids about family, it’s colorful and embraces music as a way to connect to your ancestors. 

This is a Spanglish song that helps everyone remember the key words in both Spanish and English. This is for family members of all ages. 

5. Spanish Greetings, Friends & Family Vocabulary Compilation

In this song, Basho & Friends teaches how to greet your family and friends in Spanish. It includes different vocabulary related to food, times of day, activities, and parts of the body.  

6. Pollito Chicken

This short and sweet bilingual song is well-known in Latin American countries like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. It dates back to the 1930s, and its author was the Puerto Rican teacher Pepita Ramírez. 

This catchy tune teaches kids the words mom and baby, as well as additional vocabulary for common items around the house. 

7. ¿ Cómo es tu familia?

This inquisitive song is not only about the different members of your family but also about describing what they look like, which is a great way to practice adjectives. 

8. Family in Spanish

Johanna is a great singer and this song includes basic vocabulary about family in Spanish. She prompts the children to sing along and congratulates them for getting it right. This song is ideal for young learners and their parents. 

9. Mix La Familia Song

Rockalingua has a great variety when it comes to Spanish songs about family and many different topics. There are also Spanish interactive games on the Rockalingua site that work well with the songs. 

10. Mi casa: las habitaciones y cuartos de la casa

This is a great video to teach the rooms of the house and what the different members of the family are doing in the house. It comes with a free worksheet, interactive games, flashcards, and more. 

11. Sing-Along Children Song – Learn Family Members in Spanish

Sing along and learn the basic family members in Spanish. This is a rap with dinosaurs, so kids love it! It explains how kids and the whole family are related to each other. It also teaches possessives so that you can say who is your uncle and aunt.

12. The Finger Family

This song uses the fingers to learn about the family in Spanish. The teacher is joyful, so kids love it! It’s great for children to use their bodies to remember the different family members. Play this song at home or in the car! 

Learn Spanish through Music and Immersion

When it comes to language learning, sharing is extremely helpful. I hope these videos and activities help you out when it comes to reaching your Spanish-speaking goals. Don’t forget there’s nothing better than immersing your child in Spanish for them to become fluent. Sign up your child for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy to try it out for yourself with no obligation!

Want more free Spanish resources for kids? Check these out!

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