Culled from our editors’ playlists, Billboard has put together a list of 30 personal favorite Latin love songs. The list of tracks features classics (old and new) that have soundtracked multigenerational Latin households for decades.
These romantic Spanish-language songs — such as the lovely ballad “Contigo Aprendí” (1967) by Armando Manzanero, Carla Morrison’s modern love song “Eres Tú” (2012) and Franco De Vita‘s swoon-worthy “Te Amo” (1988) — became anthems to different generations, but they all have more than one thing in common. These songs are pure poetry. They include raw lyrics about the mystery of falling in love and the roller coaster of emotions that come from that magical, yet vulnerable, moment.
“I love you from the first time I saw you,” sings De Vita in “Te Amo,” which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart in 1989. “I had been looking for you for a long time and I imagined you this way. I define what I feel with these words.”
The list also includes tracks such as Intocable‘s “Sueña,” the norteño song that spent 13 weeks atop Billboard‘s Regional Mexican Airplay chart — as well as Maná’s achingly beautiful “Eres Mi Religión, Karol G‘s emotional “Ocean” and Juanes‘ rock ballad “Es Por Ti,” which earned the Colombian singer-songwriter record of the year and song of the year at the 2003 Latin Grammys.
Below, see the 30 canciones románticas that made our list, which you should consider adding to your Valentine’s Day-themed playlist. The songs are arranged in alphabetical order.
-
Andrea Bocelli, "Por Ti Volaré"
Image Credit: Luca Rossetti* Perfect to dedicate to a loved one from afar, Andrea Bocelli’s “Por Ti Volaré” evokes the hope of a joyous reunion. “For you, I will fly/ Wait for me, I will arrive/ The end of my journey is you/ With you, I will live”, goes part of the chorus in the Spanish version of “Con te partirò” (1995), which, in the beautiful voice of the legendary Italian tenor, goes straight for the heart. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
-
Armando Manzanero, “Contigo Aprendí”
Image Credit: Gladys Vega/Getty Images Because of its greatness, this song has been recorded by an array of artists in many styles, ranging from Trío Los Panchos to Alejando Fernández and Luis Miguel. “Contigo Aprendí” will go down in history as one of Manzanero’s best songs, showcasing the Mexican songwriter’s lyricism that thrives on its simple-yet-achingly beautiful duality. “I learned that a kiss could be sweeter and deeper,” he sings. “That I could leave this world tomorrow. The good things, I already lived them with you.” — GRISELDA FLORES
-
Banda El Recodo, "Te Presumo"
Image Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images With its traditional brass instrumentation and powerful high vocals, this song is a declaration of love, as its lyrics talk about proudly showing off that person who makes you feel the most beautiful things about love. “Te Presumo” is one of Banda El Recodo’s biggest hits, peaking at No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in 2009 and topping the chart for 15 weeks. It was also No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs for six weeks. — INGRID FAJARDO
-
Banda MS, "El Color de tus Ojos"
Image Credit: Manuel Velasquez/GI for Estrella Media “The eyes are the mirror of the soul” is the overall theme behind this Banda MS anthem. It peaked at No. 3 on Latin Airplay in Dec. 2017 and topped Regional Mexican Airplay for six weeks in 2017. In the band’s true fashion, with their classic tuba-pumping beats, this slowed-down track and its romantic lyrics tell the story of someone falling in love with a woman, just from the color of her eyes. — I.F.
-
Café Tacvba, "Eres"
Image Credit: Courtesy Live Nation Mexican rock band Café Tacvba’s sublime “Eres” was the quintessential first dance song at every Latin couple’s wedding in the early 2000s. Which makes total sense, given that the aww-worthy ballad is perfect for the occasion as a declaration of love in the simplest way possible: “Eres” (you are). “You are what I love the most in this world. [You are] my salvation, my hope, and my faith,” Cafeta’s Emmanuel “Meme” del Real convincingly sings. — G.F.
-
Carla Morrison, “Eres Tu”
Image Credit: Esteban Calderon When you listen to most of Carla Morrison’s songs, you can’t help but want to cry (which is probably her intention after all). Whether she’s narrating the most idyllic love story or your worst heartbreak, her lyrics really tug at your heartstrings. It’s a combination of many things, but it’s her emotionally layered lyrics and delicate and velvety vocals that will really do it for you. “Eres Tú” is no exception: Part of her 2012 album Déjenme Llorar (Let Me Cry), the feel-good, almost soothing song is a pure declaration of love. “I love seeing you, having you, hugging you/ When I’m next to you, all the good things in me blossom/ It’s you/ That magnet of beautiful energy.” she sings. — G.F.
-
Carlos Vives, "Volví a Nacer"
Image Credit: Rich Polk/GI for The Latin Recording Academy For the kind of love that changes your life forever — like the one Carlos Vives found in his wife Claudia Elena Vásquez — the Colombian singer-songwriter created “Volví A Nacer.” The romantic vallenato, which topped Hot Latin Songs chart in 2012, has become a classic for marriage proposals. “I want to marry you/ Stay by your side/ Be blessed with your love/ That’s why I want to leave my past/ For you to come with me/ Die in your arms, sweet love,” Vives sings in his characteristic Caribbean style, in español. — S.R.A.
-
Chalino Sánchez, “Alma Enamorada”
“Yo no canto, yo ladro,” Chalino Sánchez would often say, meaning “I don’t sing, I bark.” Armed with a heart-piercing howl, the pistol-toting cowboy wasn’t so wrong. He built notoriety as the first narcocorrido superstar, penning timeless songs about cross-border crime in the ‘90s. But when his romantic side lit up, this poet from Culiacán charmed the hell out of them damas. Boosted by dizzying accordion riffs, “Alma Enamorada” is a spine-chilling confessional outcry, anchored by his high-pitched wail that’s bound to weaken knees. It’s a bold declaration of love from this fallen norteño icon. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
-
Consuelo Velázquez, "Bésame mucho"
No other Latin American song condenses in such few words the feeling of longing and despair that “Bésame Mucho” conveys. Written in 1940 by Consuelo Velázquez, this classic was daring for its time due to its direct and profound lyrics (in Spanish): “Kiss me, kiss me a lot/ As if tonight was the last time/ Kiss me, kiss me a lot/ I’m afraid of losing you later.” It’s hard to fathom that the Mexican singer-songwriter was barely a teenager when she wrote it. Since then, the song has been reinterpreted by countless artists, from the Los Panchos Trío and Plácido Domingo to The Beatles and Frank Sinatra. — S.R.A
-
Franco de Vita, "Te Amo"
Image Credit: GV Cruz/WireImage Franco de Vita recounts the beginning of a relationship with a simplicity and a feeling that we can all relate to — that magical moment when we can feel butterflies and we realize that we are in love. “I love you, from the first moment I saw you/ And for a long time I was looking for you and I already imagined you like this,” sings the Italian-Venezuelan artist in Spanish in his classic from 1988, perfect for any couple of lovebirds who are just starting out. — S.R.A.
-
Germán “Tin Tan” Valdés, “Contigo”
There’s a wistful quality about the golden age of Mexican cinema, where deep romance and high drama collided. The on-screen role of Ciudad Juárez-raised comedian Germán Valdés — who famously went by Tin Tan — played the comical pachuco with a mischievous edge, but when he turned on his goofy-slash-lothario ways, he became utterly endearing. When he delivered the gorgeous ballad “Contigo” in the 1950 film El Rey del Barrio, he appeared inebriated and lovestruck, and his performance still manages to capture our hearts over 70 years later. With swoon-worthy horns, and tender lyrics, the vintage track details how we tend to replay love’s first kiss so obsessively and sweetly. —I.R.
-
Gustavo Cerati, “Puente”
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images Whether gliding somewhere above Earth or bathing in celestial waves of shoegaze guitar, Cerati crafts an evocative trope of an otherworldly romance. Amid twinkling strings, the ex-Soda Stereo frontman deploys his seductive voice to lure a flame at the crossroads. Symbolically, a puente (or bridge) can be understood as a pathway to meet at a point that was once an obstacle, like two star-crossed lovers. Buoyed by his unmatched poetic prowess, this everlasting cinematic opus sees Cerati overcome his romantic wanderlust and set it free. — I.R.
-
Intocable, “Sueña”
Image Credit: Good I Music It’s no surprise that Intocable’s “Sueña” spent 13 weeks atop the Regional Mexican Airplay chart. The norteño song, powered by a melancholic accordion melody, finds frontman Ricky Muñoz evocatively asking, almost begging, the person he loves to never leave him. “I want you to know tonight, how much I love you and how happy I am/ Tonight, I want to take a breath of life from your lips for my heart … I wouldn’t mind dying in your arms, because I love you.” It describes that all-consuming feeling of being in love and never wanting to let go of each other. — G.F.
-
Joan Sebastian, "Eso Y Más"
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Latin Recording Academy Joan Sebastian will go down in history as an eternal hopeless romantic, as a poet (which explains why he was nicknamed “El Poeta del Pueblo”) who placed all bets on love, and who won the hearts of his fans. It was hard to choose just one Joan Sebastian song, but “Eso Y Más” is one of the most romantic Spanish-language songs in Latin music. “They told me about Romeo and Juliet and I thought, what a beautiful story/ But now, it seems that what I’m feeling for you is much greater and more beautiful than that,” he starts off. Then, he goes on to list everything he’d do “I’ll cross rivers, valleys to find you,” Sebastian sings over an equally nostalgic guitar melody. — G.F.
-
Juan Gabriel, "Con Tu Amor"
Image Credit: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images Juan Gabriel is an idol, a legend, a poet and a romantic. JuanGa’s songs are good for the soul, whether you’re going through a heartbreak or on the cusp of surrendering yourself to love. The Mexican singer-songwriter’s ability to write such relatable lyrics is showcased in “Con Tu Amor,” a pop ballad where he doesn’t belt out the lyrics, like he usually does to help get his emotions across. Instead, in whisper-like vocals, he emotionally sings: “I was alone, I was sad/ I thought I’d never find love/ Until you got here, my suffering is gone/ With your love, I started to forget about pain.” — G.F.
-
Juan Luis Guerra, "Mi Bendición"
Image Credit: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for LARAS Juan Luis Guerra has always been known for his feel-good, romantic penmanship, and “Mi Bendición” is proof of that. In the soft-paced bachata, the Dominican star compares the love of his life to a radiant sun, and how every ocean wave, every flower, and every cloud is also captivated by their beauty. He describes his emotions as a blessing, chanting in the chorus: “To have you, to kiss you, to hold your hand/ My heaven, to look at you, to say ‘I love you‘ in the ear/ I tell you, what a blessing.” — JESSICA ROIZ
-
Juanes, "Es Por Ti"
Image Credit: Mario Alzate Juanes took the Latin pop-rock world by storm when he released his sophomore album Un Día Normal in 2002 — home to 12 career-turning songs, including the ever-romantic “Es Por Ti.” The slow-rock ballad is a love letter to his partner, where he states that thanks to them, he’s been able to love again. “It’s because of you that my heart beats/ It’s because of you that I speak of love again/ It’s because of you that my eyes shine/ It’s because of you that my pain has left,” he sweetly sings. “Es Por Ti” earned the Colombian artist the Latin Grammy for song of the year and record of the year in 2003. — J.R.
-
Julieta Venegas, “Andar Conmigo”
Image Credit: Josefina Alen An intuitive songwriter with a knack for painting the various shades of love — and somehow making them all relatable — Julieta Venegas is one of Latin pop’s most gifted forces. The Tijuana native elevates matters of the heart, while maneuvering between the poppy and the visceral. “Andar Conmigo” details the playfulness of romance’s first stages, whether in your teens or seeking a new romantic adventure past your prime. Her accordion riffs and steely strings give this a norteño vibe that blends beautifully with pop. It’s a compassionate invitation to get to know a potential mate little by little, to see how destiny can unravel. — I.R.
-
Julio Jaramillo, "Nuestro Juramento"
Released in the late 1950s, “Nuestro Juramento” (Our Oath), by the late Ecuadorian Julio Jaramillo, is just that: a deep and very honest vow to the love of his life. In the heartfelt bolero, Jaramillo starts off by saying he feels sad if his partner is going through something, and then promising to love them until the end. “If you die first, I promise I’ll write the story of our love/ With all my soul, full of feeling/ I’ll write it with blood, with the blood ink from the heart,” goes a chorus that has stood the test of time. — J.R.
-
Karol G, "Ocean"
Image Credit: Scott Dudelson/GI for Coachella In 2019, Karol G released “Ocean,” a romantic ballad that’s part of her sophomore set of the same name. Dedicated to her then-boyfriend, Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA, Karol sings about loving him no matter what, backed by nothing but a soft piano melody, fused with crashing waves and her sweet vocals. “Words really fall short and I thank God that you are here/ I want you to know that I love you eternally/ That when I said ‘yes,’ I meant it forever,” Karol opens up. “Ocean,” also released in a bilingual version with Jessie Reyez, has become a love anthem for recent relationships. — J.R.
-
León Larregui, “Brillas”
In what can be described as one of the purest proclamations of love, the Mexican singer/songwriter surrenders his heart on “Brillas.” This brilliant electro-rock ballad manages to tug at our heartstrings in exceptional ways with Larregui’s idyllic songwriting that describes the one. Whether we’d like to admit it or not, we all desire to be seen, and the Zoé frontman fulfills our wishes. “We gave each other everything we had/ We gave each other that and much more/ To wake up hanging from your lips / To recognize each other, again, anew,” he croons tenderly. The song is a sensual exploration of the most desired feeling. — I.R.
-
Luis Miguel, "Amarte es un Placer"
Image Credit: Omar Cruz “Amarte Es Un Placer” (Loving You Is a Pleasure) is a musical poem. This orchestrated romantic pop ballad is seasoned with Luis Miguel’s prodigious voice, as he elegantly describes the pleasure of being with his lover. The track reached No. 6 on Hot Latin Songs, No. 6 on Hot Latin Airplay, ad No. 5 on Latin Pop Airplay in May 2000. — I.F.
-
Maná, "Eres Mi Religión"
Image Credit: Chris Costoco Describing a person who’s lost in the world, with broken wings and surrounded by fallen angels, the song turns into a hopeful love miracle. “Eres Mi Religión” is a romantic ballad powered by hard-hitting drums and electric guitar, but with honest lyrics about unconditional love. In every verse, there’s an unconditional metaphor describing how pure and unexpected love can be: “My love, you appeared in my life and cured my wounds… In a world of illusion, I was evicted, I was abandoned, I lived without meaning, but you came/ Oh my love, you are my religion,” the Mexican band sings. — J.R.
-
Pablo Alborán, "Solamente Tú"
Image Credit: Warner Music Pablo Alborán’s charming flamenco-sounding vocals pair perfectly with this acoustic pop song that thrives on elegant and delicate piano. In “Solamente Tú,” released in 2011, he narrates all the emotions a significant other can make you feel. It may seem like your typical love song, but there’s nothing clichéd about the message the Spaniard wants to get across. “I navigate between the waves of your voice,” he sings. — I.F.
-
Rauw Alejandro, “Museo”
Image Credit: John Parra/GI Rauw Alejandro finds a perfect balance between Latin trap’s gaudiness and pop’s sweetness, showcasing how he can play both naughty and nice with Trap Cake, Vol. 2. Raising lust to the level of high art, the Puerto Rican lothario paints a broad canvas of sexual expression on “Museo.” Leading with glimmering piano keys and his unmistakable coo, the slow urbano ballad could be described as a no-holds-barred mating call — where, in a way, a human body becomes synonymous with the grandeur of art in a museum. — I.R.
-
Reik & Sebastián Yatra, "Un Año"
The Mexican pop group Reik and the Colombian pop heartthrob Sebastián Yatra sing of a love so fleeting but so intense, that they’re willing to wait whatever it takes to relive it again. Ideal for lovers separated by distance, “Un Año” is a romantic pop song from 2019 with beautiful harmonies, guitar riffs and lyrics that reaffirm that “love is stronger” than any circumstance. The emotional music video goes beyond couples to include the yearning for any loved one far away. — S.R.A.
-
Reyli Barba, "Amor del Bueno"
A hopeless romantic whose destiny had other plans is who Mexican singer-songwriter Reyli Barba spotlights in “Amor del Bueno” (The Good Love). The 2004-released track, part of his album En La Luna, is a soft-rock ballad where the former Elefantes frontman sings about finally finding “the one.” “And no one looked for it/ And no one planned it this way/ It was in my destiny/ That you were made for me/ And nobody bet on it/ That I’d be so happy/ But cupid looked out for me,” he passionately chants. “Amor del Bueno” was nominated for record of the year at the 2005 Latin Grammys. — J.R.
-
Río Roma & Carin Leon, "Tú Me Gustas"
When Mexican siblings duo Río Roma, composed of José Luis and Raúl Ortega Castro, met the power of Carin Leon’s vocals, they ultimately delivered this soulful love song, powered by a fusion of pop and regional Mexican. “Tú Me Gustas” is all about the joy that consumes you when you’ve found the love of your life, the person you know you want to spend the rest of your days with. — I.F.
-
Selena Quintanilla, "Amor Prohibido"
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Inspired by the real-life love story of her own grandparents, Selena Quintanilla released “Amor Prohibido” (Forbidden Love) in 1994, detailing a couple who is going strong against all odds. “Even though I’m poor, all of this that I give you is worth more than money because it’s love/ And when we’re finally together, who cares what people or society say/ What matters here is our love, I love you,” the late Queen of Tejano belts. The danceable cumbia peaked at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs in 1994, where it spent nine weeks at the top. — J.R.
-
Shakira, “Antología”
Image Credit: LOIC VENANCE/AFP via GI Before she pivoted to disarming battle-pop on her 2023 Bizarrap sesh, Shakira built a cathedral of romantic infatuation. In a collection of love’s most magical moments, “Antología” chronicles many meaningful interactions that elevated her devotion to a romantic partner. It’s a song equipped with swoon-worthy effects like no other, doused in vulnerability. She knows how to describe a feeling so well, and this 1995 guitar ballad is pure feeling. If this won’t make any love cynic kneel down at the feet of Aphrodite, then who knows what will. — I.R