HOT HALF DOZEN 9.15.26
Justified, single by Danna. Although she is popular on both sides of the border, this is not one of her more popular songs (under 8 million streams, small for her), but I like how she has woven English and Spanish together in a pop breakup song in which she is not devastated but is in control. A songwriter would say that it uses a familiar pop escalation: verse, pre-chorus, chorus; a second verse that sharpens the emotional stakes; then a bridge that delivers the release of the song’s grievance before the final chorus repeats the central verdict. That is ok -it works. It plays to the part of our musical brain that loves the familiar and slips into it happily. Stream on major platforms.
No Voy A Llorar, single by Majo Aguilar. I love the music video version of this song (the horses in the video are pretty too) and understand why it is popular on both sides of the border. It introduced Aguilar’s ranchera/mariachi era and established the musical direction of her debut album, Mi Herencia, Mi Sangre. It is a ranchera/mariachi reinterpretation of a Colombian vallenato (Columban story telling/dance music from the Caribbean)composition by Wilfran Castillo. She really takes control of her vocals so they are perfect for ranchera, connecting her delivery to the Aguilar family heritage without merely copying it. The result is just plain fun. Spanish, streaming on all major platforms.
Yo También, single by Sofía Reyes. Sofía Reyes is another Mexican artista with a following on both sides of the border, and “Yo Gambien” is one of the reasons why. I like its short, tight lyrics and gentle acoustic and synth music arrangement that does not reach for hooks or dramatics. It is a close-your-eyes-and-listen song, an intimate conversation with her. It is spare, heartfelt, emotive, lovely. Spanish, everywhere.
Ahi, singe by Drake and Karol G, Judeline, Rusowsky. A bilingual duet hit on both sides of the border. I love the conversational element and Drake’s Spanish-language performance. I am not crazy about the mild sexism in Drake’s lyrics, but the strength of Karol G’s performance mutes the awkwardness of his English lyrics. It would have been better without Drake’s “I want a Latina….” lines, but overall it is a pleasure to listen to. Spanish/English. Stream everywhere.
Brisa del Mar (Montoya Remix), single by Eljuri and Montoya. I have been a fan Eljuri’s for at least a decade, drawn by her incredible guitar work and powerful voice. This is not that. This is a transformation of the original into a more electronic, hypnotic track, but without Eljuri’s screaming guitar solos. The title means sea breeze, and this is what it evokes: the remix’ shifts the song away from the original’s light-but-tense rock/Latin world-music setting and toward a more immersive, rhythm-led electronic space – almost trance. An earphone song to catch all the nuances and the feel. It is a sea breeze, and it will refresh you. Spanish. Stream on major platforms.
Voce Ja Sabe, single by Anitta. The Brazilian global superstar really wakes you up with Voce Ja Sabe, a Portuguese-language, Brazilian-funk-driven jungle pop song powered by drums, bass, and Afro-Brazilian spiritual traditions. An unusual aspect of the song is the rhythmic interplay: it puts sacred Candomblé-associated drums into dialogue with funk’s tamborzão beat. The result is a blend of funk, samba, and ritual. The Portuguese lyrics are definitely spiritual and ceremonial, referring to the gods. Portuguese, Stream on al major platforms.
Patrick O’Heffernan
