Latin music experienced another incredible year, and to highlight the genre’s global appeal, Billboard compiled 25 of the best songs released this year, according to our Latin editors.
The coveted year-end list brings to the forefront how experimental some artists got in 2022, led by Bad Bunny with his eclectic dembow “Tití Me Preguntó.” Currently No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, the MAG-produced combination of dembow and reggaetón perfectly embraces Dominican culture and the teteo lifestyle. Manuel Turizo matched him, though, showcasing how the Colombian pop-urban star dipped his toes in the bachata genre with his No. 1 Tropical Airplay hit “La Bachata,” helmed by Latin hitmaker Edgar Barrera.
Karol G and Rauw Alejandro are other great examples of artists who have stepped outside their comfort zones this year, and released bangers as a result — the former with her Ovy on the Drums-produced electronic track “Provenza,” and the latter with his alternative new-wave song “Dime Quien????” Música Mexicana is also well-represented on our list, including Camilo and Grupo Firme’s clever “Alaska,” Natanael Cano’s unapologetic “Que Me Importa” with newcomer Victor Cibrian, and Carin León’s heartfelt country-tinged track “ “No es por acá,” to name a few.
And of course, we couldn’t leave behind those certified hits that, fueled by their success on TikTok, have rocketed onto the Billboard charts this year, such as Lasso’s pop rock hit “Ojos Marrones,” Grupo Frontera’s norteño cover of Morat’s 2019 “No Se Va” and Yahritza y Su Esencia’s “Soy El Unico,” which earned the then 15-year-old lead vocalist, Yahritza Martinez, the title of the youngest Latin artist to have a Hot 100 hit.
Here are our 25 favorite Latin songs from this year, in alphabetical order.
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Alex Anwandter, “Maricoteca”
Alex Anwandter re-emerges with an unapologetic disco-pop anthem for weekend reveries. “Maricoteca” is a risky NSFW statement, where spectators witness the Chilean singer/producer fortifying his identity politics with a side of mischief — an alluring-yet-provocative queer artist with an unmatched talent for glimmering dance music. The single is an excitingly pervasive cut that sinks into the sins of party culture and BDSM… and cautions in Spanish, “Don’t look for your mother, nobody will save you here.” — ISABELA RAYGOZA
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Babasonicos, “Bye Bye”
On Babasónicos’ 13th studio album, Trincheras, the Argentine band continues to evolve their electro pop-rock mastery, and with “Bye Bye,” they deliver a kind of fever dream, a gripping intersection of trippy guitar and synths. Lead singer Adrián Dárgelos toys with desire through mythical wordplay: “Labios de medusa melanco / No sé cómo soy ni quién quiero ser / Ayúdame a ser como quieras,” he croons. Although it might generate flashbacks of unrequited love, the single — which reached No. 1 in Argentina’s airplay ranking — thrills, as the group embarks on a quest for exquisite arrangements at its maximum form. — I.R.
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Bad Bunny, "Tití Mi Preguntó"
Bad Bunny’s love for Caribbean culture runs deep, as exemplified by “Tití Me Preguntó.” Leading with a slinky guitar riff sampled from “No Te Puedo Olvidar” by bachata legend Antony Santos, the Boricua singer/rapper begins pondering his aunt’s question: Do I have many girlfriends? Tití’s innocent question gets answered with an outpouring of girls’ names that date back to Benito’s kindergarten days, right up to his presence as the world’s most sought-after superstar.
With an explosive combination of dembow and reggaetón — courtesy of Puerto Rican-Dominican producer Mag — the song also embraces Dominican culture and the teteo lifestyle, as portrayed in its video, where viewers see the Bunny turnin’ up in the Bronx with fellow Dominican compatriots. “There’s no wedding,” he assures Tití. As soon as she claps back (“Let go of that bad boy life that you’ve got on the street/ Find yourself a serious woman for you”), the hard-hitting banger becomes a hypnotic hip-hop opus, where Bad Bunny is presumably pressured into settling down — making this the greatest playboy retirement anthem of our generation. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — I.R.
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Becky G & Karol G, "MAMII"
Image Credit: Emilio Sanchez It was the collaboration we had all been waiting for, and good things come to those who wait. The Gs joined forces to deliver an anthem that is blunt, empowering, and defiant. The ultimate song to belt to in unison with your best gals after getting out of a toxic relationship, “MAMIII”— which starts off with melancholy guitar chords but quickly transitions into a hypnotizing reggaetón beat — captivates both sonically and lyrically. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — GRISELDA FLORES
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Bizarrap & Quevedo, "BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 52"
Not so long ago, the Argentine DJ Bizarrap was just a rookie producer with a penchant for dropping a hot beat on a great freestyle. Meanwhile, Spanish hip-hop artist Quevedo was a locally praised lyricist and an internationally respected rap-battle player. When the Buenos Aires alchemist set the blueprint for his BZRP Music Sessions, he quickly became a force to be reckoned with. However, when he joined forces with Quevedo on “Vol. 52,” all hell broke loose. The track contains all the right elements for a monumental EDM banger: suspenseful opening synths, hard drops, and a ravenous thump. That, coupled with Quevedo’s baritone rap bars about a flirtatious rendezvous, sets the stage for “Vol. 52” to fulfill our listening and dancing urges — and propelled the song to the top of Billboard’s Global 200 chart for four nonconsecutive weeks. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — I.R.
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Caloncho, “Post Química”
Caloncho has an ability to capture beauty through simplicity, and “Post Química” is the perfect example. The song starts off with an acoustic guitar and synthesized keyboard notes, and is then accompanied by his sweet voice which narrates a special connection between two people, and is also an invitation to live in the present. Most importantly, the lyrics in “Post Química” are about disconnecting, appreciating every moment, swimming in the ocean and enjoying the sea to heal and let go. — INGRID FAJARDO
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Camilo & Carlos Vives, “Baloncito Viejo”
In their first collaboration ever, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay and Tropical Airplay charts over the summer, Colombian superstars Carlos Vives and Camilo delivered a true gem by using soccer as a metaphor for love, during the same year of the FIFA 2022 World Cup. “If you don’t commit for real, if your love is not whole, leave the same way you came in / If you’re going to throw me / like a little old football / Then I don’t play anymore,” the pair sing en Español, on a tropi-pop track that highlighted Vives’ album Cumbiana II. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
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Carin Leon, “No es por acá”
Image Credit: Mary Beth Koeth Carin León carries the full force of interpretation in each song, and “No Es Por Aca” is yet another example of how each verse, led by his signature rasp, goes directly to the heart. The country-tinged ranchera is a heartbreaking farewell letter, in which León reflects on the ending of a relationship and how he’s unwilling to give more. “She’s going to want to sleep in my bed, to wake up with those little kisses that I gave her, she will stay wanting because I no longer want,” the regional Mexican artist sings. — I.F.
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Edén Muñoz, "Chale"
Eden Muñoz’s first single as a soloist and his first No.1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, “Chale” is Mexican slang used whenever things don’t go the way we want. It’s not the typical breakup song, but more of a moving forward kind of mood and celebration of the many opportunities life can always give you. The musical production keeps his norteño essence with a fusion of classic regional Mexican sounds. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s mid-year Best Latin Songs of 2022 list) — I.F.
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Feid, "Normal"
This year, Feid blessed fans with several new singles, including “Normal,” a hard-hitting reggaetón about a man who seemingly has either been friend-zoned or dumped but can’t get over the girl. “I wanted to erase you but I dream of you/ I want you to understand what you did to me/ I gave you 100 and you gave me 50/ I sleep with you and then you go to bed with someone else,” he kicks off the track. “Normal” first went viral on social media and was released six months after the Colombian artist first teased it… with good reason. — JESSICA ROIZ
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Grupo Firme & Camilo, "Alaska"
It’s hard to tell what’s more winning about “Alaska”: its witty lyrics or its upbeat sound. Both are important in making the song so effective and catchy, but in the end, it’s the fact that it’s a huapango (Mexican music style) that just makes you want to get on your feet and dance. Plus, you add lyrics that are fun to sing along to because of their play on words (staying true to Camilo and songwriting partner Edgar Barrera’s style), and Camilo and Grupo Firme struck gold with “Alaska.” (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — G.F.
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Grupo Frontera, "No Se Va"
Image Credit: Todd Spoth Many thought this was an original song by norteño band Grupo Frontera, but it’s actually a satisfying blast from the past. Breathing fresh air into Morat’s 2019 pop ballad “No Se Va,” Frontera’s version is a nice cumbia-norteña version that exploded on TikTok and put the group from McAllen, Texas on the map. The cover became only the fifth regional Mexican song to hit the Hot 100 in the chart’s 64-year history, reaching a No. 57 high after entering the chart in November. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — G.F.
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Kany Garcia & Alejandro Sanz, "Muero"
Singer/songwriter García is a master at retelling other people’s love stories and anguish in a way that makes them our own. In “Muero,” she and Alejandro Sanz give voice to two people whose unspoken love will doom them to never experience it. Its triumph is as much in the lyrics as in the pathos-filled interpretation and beautiful harmonization of these two iconic voices. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s mid-year Best Latin Songs of 2022 list) — LEILA COBO
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Karol G, "Provenza"
Karol G became the first woman to replace herself at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart when “Provenza” traded places with “MAMIII.” Released in April, “Provenza” stands out with its liberating, anthemic lyrics (“I was with someone but now I’m free”) that are paired with an equally chill calypso, Afro-fusion beat that allows you to get lost in the moment. Nominated for record and song of the year at this year’s Latin Grammys, the track is a testament to the Colombian artist’s ability to make music that garners both critical acclaim and commercial success. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — G.F.
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Lasso, “Ojos Marrones”
Lasso earned his first-ever Billboard hit this year thanks to his soulful alternative pop track “Ojos Marrones.” Fueled by its success on social media, the Venezuelan singer-songwriter not only entered the Billboard Global 200, Billboard Global Excl. US, and Billboard Argentina Hot 100 charts, but also landed a remix with Sebastian Yatra, which came together organically. “The fact that you’re trying to forget an ex-partner by dating someone new, but there are times that you can’t forget them — I feel that there’s something very human about the lyrics,” the former Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise explained. — J.R.
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Manuel Turizo, "La Bachata"
Image Credit: La Industria INC Manuel Turizo is disappointed in love — and what better response than to turn his emotions into a bachata song? In the infectious single, Turizo delivers a captivating bachata track with a touch of urban beats and weeping string melodies a la Aventura in the 2000s. A broken-hearted Turizo sings about an ex who hurt him, and yet he still misses her. It’s a new genre for the Colombian singer, and he doesn’t fail to impress. In the music video, he’s seen listening to his song on a portable CD player while he performs it in a lonely field. “La Bachata” hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Latin Airplay and Tropical Airplay charts. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s mid-year Best Latin Songs of 2022 list) — J.R.
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Natanael Cano & Victor Cibrian, “Que Me Importa”
On “Que Me Importa,” where Natanael Cano recruits viral newcomer Victor Cibrian, Cano maintains his signature corrido tumbao sound and is as honest as ever in the lyrics, singing about life’s hardships but also achieving his goals. “El que perseverancia alcance, se los digo yo,” they chant, as Cibrian’s deep vocals perfectly lace with Cano’s higher tones. On the track — which was recorded live with charchetas, tololoche, and a tuba — Cibrian (one of Billboard’s On The Radar Latin artists) shares a motivational speech about working on your goals in silence to prevent bad juju from the haters. — J.R.
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Polimá Westcoast, Pailita, Feid, Paloma Mami, De La Ghetto, “Ultra Solo (Remix)”
Kimberly Loaiza, Mont Pantoja, and Domelipa are some of the famed TikTok stars responsible for making “Ultra Solo” a viral sensation this year. Not only does the edgy, fast-paced reggaetón put the new wave of Chilean artists (Polimá Westcoast and Pailita) on the map, but it also boasted a star-studded remix alongside Paloma Mami, Feid and De La Ghetto. Telling the story of a person who’s “ultra lonely” after a breakup, the remix has amassed over 270,000 video creations on TikTok. — J.R.
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Rauw Alejandro, “Dime Quién????"
Image Credit: Duars Entertainment Throughout Saturno, the Puerto Rican space cadet finds a sweet spot between new-wave coolness and ‘80s freestyle momentum. On “Dime Quién????,” El Fókin Zorro continues to bring his insatiable vigor and howling vocals to the spotlight, while he pleads to know who the sancho is. But the high-energy banger gets you on your feet in an instant (think Michael Sembello’s “Maniac”), accentuated by analog synth-pop and thumping bass that harkens back to 1984’s Footloose — to match with Alejandro’s footwork, as seen in its accompanying video. The chameleonic singer further proves his genre-hopping prowess while never losing his sly emo edge. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — I.R.
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Romeo Santos & Christian Nodal, “Me Extraño”
When Romeo Santos decided to dip his toes into Regional Mexican, he brought in the top mariacheño artist of the moment, Christian Nodal, to help make it happen. On “Me Extraño,” part of Santos’ Formula Vol. 3 album, the bachata crooner’s high-pitched, ultra-smooth vocals contrast Nodal’s powerful tone. The mariachi song carries melancholy throughout its entirety, as it narrates the story from the point of view of two men who have had the same woman. Santos, the one who let her go and didn’t know how to treat her, accepts his mistakes and the pangs of missing her. “I recognize the damage/before I was like you, and that’s why I’m shocked,” he sings. Nodal, on the other hand, is grateful for his mistakes: “Cheers for what you have neglected.” — I.F.
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Rosalía, "Saoko"
“Saoko” references the title of the 2004 reggaetón hit by Wisin and Daddy Yankee, “Saoco,” released back when having a flirty female vocal was an obligatory part of the song’s hook. (“Who are you?” the pair ask, and a girl answers, “tu bizcochito,” or “your little cupcake.“) Now putting her own spin on the “bizcochito” role, Rosalía’s “Saoko” starts with the signature infectious thumping reggaetón beats of the original, infused with electric guitar riffs and a dembow base and laced with her powerful vocals. It portrays the Spanish singer as the influential independent musician she is in her lyrics: “I’m very much me, I transform/A butterfly, I transform/ Drag queen makeup/I transform/ Shooting stars, I transform/Going overboard, I transform/Like Sex Siren, I transform/I contradict myself, I transform/ I’m everything, I transform.” (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — I.F.
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Sebastián Yatra & John Legend, "Tacones Rojos (Remix)"
I will readily admit I’m a sucker for a good pop song, and Yatra goes all-in in this irresistible bop inspired by ’90s Spanish pop. “Tacones Rojos” (Red Heels) is fun and sweet more than sexy and sultry (evidenced in lines like “My slice of sunshine, the apple of my eye, the one who dances reggaetón with red heels and makes me fly”), but it’s immediate ear candy with its breezy acoustic groove and catchy, easy to hum melody. The bilingual remix with John Legend just pushes its reach even further. “Tacones Rojos” won the 2022 Latin Grammy for best pop song. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s mid-year Best Latin Songs of 2022 list) — L.C.
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Shakira & Ozuna, "Monotonía"
Image Credit: Jaume de la Iguana If you take away the bachata arrangements in “Monotonía,” you get a signature Shakira ballad with pure, personal heartbreak lyrics. Shakira has always been a storyteller at heart, and every word in her songs are intentional; this Ozuna-assisted track is no exception. “Monotonia” was born out of a breakup and the healing that follows such an intimate situation: Shakira delicately sings about getting her heart blown from her chest, realizing nothing and everything had changed in her relationship, and, ultimately, deciding its best to end things. “I love you, but I love myself more,” she triumphantly sings. — G.F.
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Yahritza y Su Esencia, "Soy el Unico"
There is a yearning quality to Mexican-American trio Yahritza y Su Esencia’s “Soy El Único,” and a very unlikely one too. Whether it’s Yahritza’s arduous vocals, with the potential to make your heart sink when she hits those high notes; the sad sierreño melodies that resonate from the trio’s acoustic guitars; or the lovelorn lyrics she wrote when she was just 13 years old (now 16), the song hits a nerve that most teenage artists wouldn’t even know yet to look for. “How sad is it to love another person that doesn’t know how to value you,” she wails with a gut-wrenching delivery, capturing a unique-but-relatable feeling. (This blurb originally appeared on our staff’s Best Songs of 2022 list) — I.R.
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Yuridia & Ángela Aguilar, "Qué Agonía"
“Qué Agonía” earned Yuridia her first Global entry when the song debuted at No. 189 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart, and with beautiful orchestration and sublime harmonies from these two powerhouses, “Qué Agonía” — produced by Eden Muñoz and written by Aguilar — is a romantic Mexican ballad about being in love long after a breakup. “The truth is, I didn’t forget you… and although a lot has happened, and life changed for us, the feeling is alive,” they sing. — S.R.A.