Macarena (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Released August 15, 1995 (U.S.)
Format
CD 7″ 12″ cassette
Recorded 1992
Genre
Dance-pop flamenco
Length 3:51 (Bayside Boys mix)
Label RCA
Songwriter(s)
Rafael Ruiz Perdigones Antonio Romero Monge SWK
Producer(s) Los del Río
“Macarena” is a Spanish dance song by Los del Río about a woman of the same name. Appearing on the 1993 album A mí me gusta, it was an international hit in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and continues to be a popular dance at weddings, parties, and sporting events. One of the most iconic examples of 1990s dance music, it was ranked the “#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of All Time” by VH1 in 2002. The song uses a type of clave rhythm. The song ranks at No. 7 on Billboard’s All Time Top 100. It also ranks at No. 1 on Billboard’s All Time Latin Songs. It is also Billboard’s No. 1 dance song and one of six foreign language songs to hit No. 1 since 1955’s rock era began.
Macarena’s composition features a variant on the clave rhythm. The song is written in the key of Ab Mixolydian, and it follows a repetitious chord progression of Ab–Gb throughout.
The song was originally recorded in 1992, and released in 1993 as a rumba. This was the first of six versions of the song that can be associated with Los Del Rio. Another version, a new flamenco rumba pop fusion theme with fully Spanish lyrics, attained significant success in Spain, Colombia and Mexico. It also became popular in Puerto Rico because of its use as an unofficial campaign theme song for then-governor Pedro Rosselló, who was seeking reelection under the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico’s ticket. Being the base for many cruise ships, visitors to the island were constantly exposed to the song during their stay in Puerto Rico. This may explain how the song spread to—and became a hit in—cities with sizable Latino communities in the United States, particularly Miami and New York City.
By 1997, the song had sold 11 million copies. While having only a 25% take in royalties from the song, Romero and Ruiz became immensely wealthy. According to the BBC News Service, during the year 2003 alone—a full decade after the song’s initial release—Romero and Ruiz made USD$250,000 in royalties. Julio Iglesias is quoted as congratulating the duo personally: “My success singing in English from Miami is nothing compared to yours; coming out of Dos Hermanas with little international exposure elsewhere and selling these many records in Spanish takes two huge sets of cojones.”
In the United States, the song, and its corresponding Macarena dance, became popular during the same week as the 1996 Democratic National Convention in August that year. C-SPAN filmed Delegates dancing to the song in an afternoon session, still a popular view on YouTube. [14] Vice President Al Gore, having a reputation for stiffness, made a joke about doing the Macarena dance during his speech. He said, “I would like to demonstrate for you the Al Gore version of the Macarena,” then remained motionless for a few seconds, and eventually asked, “Would you like to see it again?”