20 Best Latin Summer Songs of 2020: Editors Picks

To provide a soundtrack to your summer (still) in quarantine, Billboard Latin editors have compiled a list of songs to listen to that will turn up the heat to your social distancing picnic with friends or the dance floor to your Club Quarantine indoors.

From Bad Bunny’s “Yo Perreo Sola” to J Balvin’s “Agua” and Rosalía and Travis Scott’s “TKN,”  listen to the top 17 Latin songs of summer 2020, in no particular order.

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Tainy, J Balvin – “Agua”

Tainy and Balvin’s feel-good party under the water treads a fine line between what’s kiddie music and what’s uptempo reggaetón for adults. But it somehow manages. The initial hook is of course the Spongebob Squarepants chant we’ve all heard in our lifetime, with its flute as the unifying theme when the new, reggaeton beats and Spanish lyrics come in. While not a banger, it lends good vibes to the summer months. — LEILA COBO

Bad Bunny – “Yo Perreo Sola” 

Proving to be a timeless smash hit, Bad Bunny’s feminist anthem “Yo Perreo Sola” is a must on this list. Part of his record-breaking album YHLQMDLG, the Nesi-assisted perreo track is simple, yet effective thanks to an infectious hook and empowering lyrics. With many of us still quarantining, this seems to be our year-round anthem, “I Twerk Alone.” — GRISELDA FLORES

Anuel AA – “Reggaetonera”

One of the tracks that stood out on Anuel AA’s Emmanuel album was “Reggaetonera.” One minute and 20 seconds into the song, the beat switches to an old-school reggae en Español and dancehall melody, making this a new summer anthem for the girl who loves to party, bad boys and reggaeton. In the colorful music video, directed by Mike Ho, Anuel pays homage to N.O.R.E’s colorful Latino pride video “Oye Mi Canto.” — JESSICA ROIZ

Static & Ben El with Pitbull – “Súbelo (Further Up)”

The Israeli pop duo comprised of Static & Ben earned its first No. 1 on any Billboard chart with “Súbelo,” its collaboration with Pitbull, which interpolates Ini Kamoze’s 1994 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Here Comes The Hotstepper.” The revamped version which hit the top of the Latin Airplay survey dated March 28,  is the Spanish version of Saban Music Group’s first release as a record label “Further Up (Na Na Na Na Na).”  “We are thrilled to be part of such a fantastic achievement,” the duo stated. “ We welcome the success and look forward to many more like this in the future, especially during these challenging times.” — PAMELA BUSTIOS

Rauw Alejandro, Camilo – “Tattoo Remix”

In a sea of lyrics so raunchy and graphic wouldn’t dare speak out loud to your best friend –much less your girlfriend—“Tattoo” is like a breath of fresh air. “You’re good enough to eat, that’s you; you look so good with that tattoo,” whisper Camilo and Rauw Alejandro in this remix that kicks off with a now-recognizable hand-clap beat and evolves into that feel-good summer song that everybody would be dancing outside to, if only there was an outside. No matter. Inside, the “Tattoo” remix is currently (July 30) topping streaming charts around the world. — L.C.

Banda MS, Snoop Dogg – “Que Maldición”

The collaboration between Banda MS and Snoop Dogg celebrates the union of two cultures. A must-add to your summer playlist, the melancholic song organically fuses banda with hip-hop, an unorthodox combination that works for the pair. “Qué Maldición” dropped early May and debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart (dated May 16), earning both acts their first top 10 on the survey. — G.F.

Ozuna – “Caramelo”

With catchy hip-shaking and head-bobbing reggaeton beats, Ozuna returns to his essence in “Caramelo.” The song, which tells the story of two people who have undeniable chemistry, counts with a summer-ready music video by Nuno Gomes, shows the Puerto Rican artist in a Candyland-inspired setting as models enjoy sweet treats. — J.R.

Bad Bunny – “Si Veo a Tu Mamá”

Bad Bunny earned his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart when the bossa nova-trap tinted “Si Veo a Tu Mamá” arrived atop the chart (dated March 14). The song was convoyed by 17 other debuts off his sophomore LP YHLQMDLG, his Top Latin Albums 18-week No. 1 album. In total, Bad Bunny placed 20 simultaneous songs on the tally (18 debuts and two holdovers: “Vete,” and “Ignorantes,” with Sech) which brought his career entries to a record 83, thus, breaking the record for the most career entries on Hot Latin Songs. The song, which samples Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Girl From Ipanema” and is undergirded by elevator-sounding samples and chord progressions, finds some levity on a gloomy setting as the tune’s music clip opens with a young man looking to hang himself. — P.B.

Karol G – “Ay DiOs Mío!”

Love has turned out to be an endless source of inspiration for Karol G. The Colombian’s star “Ay DiOs Mío,” which she co-wrote with Venezuelan Danny Ocean, morphed into a tale of how she met her fiancée, rapper Anuel. Reminiscent of “Tusa” in the use of a slow intro that then breaks into a slow, sensual reggaetón it’s another girl anthem; a declaration of love delivered with a wink and a smile. —-L.C.

Rosalía, Travis Scott, “TKN” 

Fusing reggaetón, dembow and trap, the Travis Scott-assisted “TKN” scored Rosalía her debut on Billboard’s Hot 100. Spitting fire and swearing off new friends, Scott and Rosalía exchange no-nonsense verses about family business and omertà (Sicilian law of silence). “TKN,” the pair’s second collaboration, dropped in May and bowed at No. 2 on the Hot 100 (chart dated June 13). — G.F.

Ir Sais, Rauw Alejandro – “Dream Girl (Remix)”

Originally released in December of 2019, Ir Sais’s “Dream Girl (Remix)” with Rauw Alejandro began to escalate Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2020. Fusing the best Caribbean rhythms found in Bonaire and Puerto Rico, there’s no doubt that this sultry dancehall-meets-reggaeton is a summer favorite. With over one billion views, the song is also a hit on TikTok. — J.R.

Calibre 50 – “Barquillero”

Calibre 50’s “Barquillero” centers around the life of a belittled Mexican horse which became a subject of fascination based on his spiffy appearance as it reached adulthood. The corrido, the first single off the group’s forthcoming album and the follow up to its Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart No. 2 peak Simplemente Gracias, arrives with a music video filmed in Ejutla, Jalisco, and was written by Calibre 50’s frontman and accordionist Eden Muñoz. The song earned the Sinaloans its 16th No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart, putting them in a three-way tie with Conjunto Primavera and Intocable for the most No. 1s on the chart which began in 1994, all with 16. — P.B. 

Black Eyed Peas – “Mamacita” ft. Ozuna and J. Rey Soul

With a beat hard to resist and its catchy hook “Mamacita, que bonita,” Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna and J.Rey Soul’s released what could easily be the song of the summer. Sampling Madonna’s 1987 hit single “La Isla bonita,” the irresistible, infectious beat and Ozuna’s suave, slick lyrics helped “Mamacita” become a chart-topping smash hit the top 10 on Hot Latin Songs (chart dated June 6). — G.F. 

Eslabon Armado – “Con Tus Besos” 

A fun fact about this song is that it was not going to be released in the first place! In fact, Eslabon’s vocalist Pedro Tovar fessed to Billboard that his mom convinced him to include it in their album Tu Veneno Mortal. “I never expected this song would do so well,” Tovar said of the captivating traditional sierreña song, which secured spots on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Latin Streaming Songs chart. — J.R.

Residente – “Rene”

René Pérez Joglar, better known as Residente, journeyed back to his hometown neighborhood in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico for his autobiographical single “Rene,” a song designed like the storyline of his life which serves as a dialogue with himself. The eight-minute verse-sang tune opens a chasm in Residente’s pent-up emotions separating reality from falsehood, with candid and intimate lyrics which reflect on relationships among family members, his son, mental health, addictions, politics and the music industry. The song earned Residente his third entry on Hot Latin Songs, arriving at No. 34. — P.B.

Shakira, Anuel AA – “Me Gusta”  

Although Shakira and Anuel’s team-up was released in January, this winter collab promises to heat up our summers with its irresistible best. Sampling Inner Circle’s 1993 reggae hit “Sweet (A La La La La Song), this dreamy track perfectly balances pop and reggaetón for an effective delivery with superstars Shakira and Anuel trading verses about a couple trying to rekindle their love after a cold spell. — G.F. 

Sech – “Relacion” 

Similar to his chart-topping “Otro Trago,” Sech’s “Relacion” is about a woman who has moved on from a toxic relationship and is living her best single life. The infectious melody fuses raw reggaeton with dancehall, adding another infectious summer banger to the books. “Relacion” has also become a viral bop on TikTok, generating over three million videos. — J.R.

Anuel – “Fútbol y Rumba” ft. Enrique Iglesias

Teaming up for the first time, the Anuel and Enrique Iglesias deliver a catchy and feel-good track about living it up. “We only have one life and we’re not leaving so keep the party going,” sings the Spanish crooner. This slowed down reggaetón/pop song includes lyrics that tread on raunchy but ultimately become an escape from the quarantine life. — G.F.

Natti Natasha – “Que Mal Te Fue”

This one is for all the single ladies in quarantine. With a catchy reggaeton beat and Natti’s flirtatious vocals, “Que Mal Te Fue” is about a woman who’s questioning her ex for wanting to come back into her life. “What happened, what happened? / You tried being with another girl but it didn’t work out / What happened? / Your plans didn’t work out,” the Dominican urbana sings. In the homemade video, Natti is making the best of her quarantine summer at the pool. — J.R.

Prince Royce – “Carita de Inocente” ft. Myke Towers

It’s not summer if there’s no bachata in the mix! Myke Towers really surprised fans when he jumped on a bachata track, adding his deep, crisp vocals to Prince Royce’s “Carita de Inocente (Remix).” Singing about a woman who has an angelic and innocent face but whose looks are deceiving, this remix led by Royce and Towers is the collaboration we never knew we needed. — J.R.