Conga (song)
Encyclopedia
"Conga" is the first single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan
on their second English language
album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love
.
) and became a smash success around the world, providing the band worldwide mainstream popularity, reaching #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
and winning the Grand Prize at the 15th annual "Tokyo Music Festival
" in Japan.
The single was certified Gold by the RIAA in the U.S. for sales of 500,000 copies.
"Conga" was re-recorded and mashed-up
with "Dr. Beat
" in a new re-mix in 2001, which was released on Estefan's third compilation album. This new song was released as a promo single in Spain
and titled "Y-Tu-Conga
".
U.S. Vinyl 12" Single (49 05253)
Europe Vinyl 12" Single (A12.6361)
Holland Vinyl 7" Single (650060 7)
of the band and Gloria Estefan
. The song reached the Top Ten in various countries, including the United States
and the Netherlands
. The song was a minor hit in the United Kingdom
, while the attention was based more on the single "Bad Boy
". In Billboard magazine's year-end chart
in 1986, "Conga" finished at #40.
Remixes
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
on their second English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love
Primitive Love
Primitive Love is the 9th studio album released by the Miami Sound Machine, and their second English language studio album. It was released in 1985 .-Album history:...
.
Song history
The single was released worldwide in 1985 (see 1985 in music1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
) and became a smash success around the world, providing the band worldwide mainstream popularity, reaching #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and winning the Grand Prize at the 15th annual "Tokyo Music Festival
Tokyo Music Festival
The Tokyo Music Festival was an international music contest that ran from 1972 to 1991. It was organised by the Tokyo Music Festival Association...
" in Japan.
The single was certified Gold by the RIAA in the U.S. for sales of 500,000 copies.
"Conga" was re-recorded and mashed-up
Mashup (music)
A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
with "Dr. Beat
Dr. Beat
"Dr. Beat" is the first international single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their first English language but eighth studio album overall Eyes Of Innocence. The single was released worldwide in 1984 becoming a top success across Europe where the album...
" in a new re-mix in 2001, which was released on Estefan's third compilation album. This new song was released as a promo single in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and titled "Y-Tu-Conga
Y-Tu-Conga
"Y-Tu-Conga" is a song by Gloria Estefan, which was released as a promotional single by Gloria Estefan from her third compilation album Greatest Hits Vol. II.-Song information:...
".
Music video
The video features the band performing the tune at a fancy restaurant, with the customers as the audience.Formats and track listings
U.S. Vinyl 7" Single (34 05457)- "Conga" (Album Version)
- "Mucho Money" (Album Version)
U.S. Vinyl 12" Single (49 05253)
- "Conga" (Dance Mix)
- "Conga" (Instrumental Version)
Europe Vinyl 12" Single (A12.6361)
- "Conga" (Dance Mix)
- "Conga" (Instrumental Version)
- "Mucho Money" (Album Version)
Holland Vinyl 7" Single (650060 7)
- "Conga" (European Remix/The Stronga-Conga Remix)
- "Mucho Money" (Album Version)
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| Europe | |
| United States | |
| United Kingdom |
Chart performance
"Conga" became a worldwide success and is recognized as the signature songSignature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
of the band and Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
. The song reached the Top Ten in various countries, including the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The song was a minor hit in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, while the attention was based more on the single "Bad Boy
Bad Boy (Miami Sound Machine song)
"Bad Boy" was the second single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love. The song enjoyed much success following up on the band's mainstream breakthrough single, "Conga".-Song history:The radio...
". In Billboard magazine's year-end chart
Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November...
in 1986, "Conga" finished at #40.
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top Singles Chart | 3 |
| Sweden Singles Chart | 18 |
| Switzerland Singles Chart | 16 |
| UK Top Singles Chart | 79 |
| U.S. Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
60 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes... |
1 |
Cover versions
- CharoCharoMaría del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten , better known as Charo, is a Spanish-American actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist, best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase...
, in her 1988 concert at Bally'sGrand Sierra ResortThe Grand Sierra Resort & Casino is a resort hotel located approximately three miles east of Downtown Reno, Nevada. The hotel has 2,001 guest rooms and suites, 10 restaurants, including two by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, and a casino with of space...
in RenoRenoReno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
. - La Toya JacksonLa Toya JacksonLa Toya Yvonne Jackson is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, television personality, actress, businesswoman, philanthropist, activist and former model. She is the fifth child of the Jackson family...
, in her 1989 concert at Bally'sGrand Sierra ResortThe Grand Sierra Resort & Casino is a resort hotel located approximately three miles east of Downtown Reno, Nevada. The hotel has 2,001 guest rooms and suites, 10 restaurants, including two by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, and a casino with of space...
in RenoRenoReno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
. - Sammi ChengSammi ChengSammi Cheng Sau-Man is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Having enjoyed much success in the Hong Kong music industry, Sammi has been known as a diva and has been one of the most successful female singer in Hong Kong since the 1990s. Her albums have sold more than 25 million copies through...
, a Hong Kong female singer, in her 2009-2010 tour Love Mi. - George LamGeorge LamGeorge Lam Chi Cheung, also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer and actor of Xinhui area origin. Lam studied at the Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong...
, a Hong Kong male singer, into single 阿Lam日記, in his 1986 album 最愛. - Japanese Guitarists Issei NoroIssei Norois a Japanese jazz fusion guitarist who is one of the founding members and the main composer of the band Casiopea. He has released 6 solo albums and a compilation. He also works as an instructor of a guitar clinic, and as a producer...
of CasiopeaCasiopea, named as a misspelling of the constellation Cassiopeia, was a Japanese jazz fusion band that was formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro, bassist Tetsuo Sakurai and keyboardist Hidehiko Koike. In 1977, keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki joined the group, leaving Hidehiko out of...
, Masahiro AndohMasahiro Andohis a Japanese composer, guitarist and T-Square's leader from Aichi, Japan. He was also One-Third of "Ottottrio", a Superband led by 3 Japanese Guitarists, Himself, Hirokuni Korekata of KORENOS and Issei Noro of Casiopea....
of T-SquareT-squareA T-square is a technical drawing instrument used by draftsmen primarily as a guide for drawing horizontal lines on a drafting table. It may also guide a triangle to draw vertical or diagonal lines. Its name comes from the general shape of the instrument where the horizontal member of the T slides...
, and Hirokuni Korekata of KORENOS, As a band called Ottottrio, covered "Conga" on their Live Album, "Super Guitar Session Red Live", released in 1989. - The ChipettesThe ChipettesThe Chipettes are a fictional group of anthropomorphic chipmunk singers first appearing on the cartoon series Alvin and the Chipmunks in 1983. In this and related materials, the Chipettes served as female featured characters in their own right, starring in numerous episodes...
covered this song for the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Music from the Motion PictureAlvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Music from the Motion PictureAlvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Music from the Motion Picture is the licensed soundtrack based on the 2011 film Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked...
album and for the upcoming "Alvin and the Chipmunks: ChipwreckedAlvin and the Chipmunks: ChipwreckedAlvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is an upcoming 2011 American comedy film. The film stars Jason Lee. It is to be distributed by 20th Century Fox, and produced by Regency Enterprises and Bagdasarian Productions...
" film. This version is mashed with Yolanda Be CoolYolanda Be CoolYolanda Be Cool is an Australian band made up of Sylvester Martinez and Johnson "Durango Slim" Peterson. They collaborated with Australian producer DCUP to release an international single "We No Speak Americano" on the indie Australian label Sweat It Out they founded, sampling on a 1956...
featuring DCUPDCUPDuncan MacLennan, better known by his stage name DCUP, is an Australian music producer, DJ and remixer. He is best known for his co-operation with fellow Australian duo Yolanda Be Cool on their international hit single "We No Speak Americano", which samples Renato Carosone and Nicola Salerno's 1956...
's "We Speak No Americano".
Official versions
Original versions- Album Version (4:14)
- Dance Mix (6:06)
- Instrumental Version (4:14)
Remixes
- European Remix/The Stronga-Conga Remix (4:24)