As we continue to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, Ricky Martin and Chayanne remember their hits.
Ricky Martin
With 11 No. hits on the Hot Latin Songs since 1992, Martin’s chart trajectory has traced the rise not only of his solo career but also Latin music in the United States. From his crossover hit “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” which ignited the late-’90s Latin explosion, to “Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tu,” which celebrates the personal milestones he has publicly embraced, Martin has had 11 No.1s on Hot Latin Songs. That makes him the fourth artist with more No. 1s on the chart, behind only Enrique Iglesias, Luis Miguel and Gloria Estefan.
“I still remember how I felt when I saw my name at No. 1 on the chart for the firs time. It was an amazing sense of accomplishment, tangible proof that my music was connecting with many people and all the hard work was paying off. the songs that have reached No. 1 are all milestones in my life, and when ‘Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tu’ also reached the top of the charts I just felt so happy, because that meant many people were sharing the same joy I’ve found in my children, but also taking time to think about issues of equality.”
— As told to Judy Cantor-Navas
Chyanne
In a career that has spanned the chart’s 30-year history, pop heartthrob Chayanne has had nine No. 1s on the chart, including his 1987 breakout hit, “Fiesta en America”, and 1998’s “Dejaria Todo,” which spent five weeks at No. 1.
“My first record was ‘Fiesta en America’ in 1987. It became my signature record in shows and on tours. It’s an uptempo song, which was different, because at the time ballads always got promoted first. And because it was a rhythmic track, it helped me move onstage. ‘Fiesta en America’ was the song that took me through Latin America, to Brazil, Portugal, everywhere. It’s the song that made me international. And later, in 1999, it was ‘Salome’, which took me to other places at a different time in my career. I had gold records in Sweden, in Turkey. It sold 1 million copies in Spain in a single year. One of my favorites? ‘Dejaria Todo’ was a marvelous record. I already had experience, I’d done several kinds of tours, I was established, I had mass recognition, enthusiasm, and it all came together with “Dejaria Todo.”
— As told to Leila Cobo
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