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Conga (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Conga'" is the first hit single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine, led by Gloria Estefan, on their second English-language album, 'Primitive Love'. The song was written by the band's drummer and lead songwriter Enrique Garcia. The song first appeared on August 31, 1985, as part of the album. The single was released in Australia on September 9, 1985
Background
According to Gloria Estefan in an interview in the Netherlands television show RTL Late Night,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCWL4Xp4Uow Fragment on YouTube] Conga was written after the band had performed "Dr. Beat" in a club called Cartouche in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The single was released in 1985 (see 1985 in music) and became a worldwide hit, 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 shipments of 500,000 copies.
"Conga" was re-recorded as a new remix in 2001, including samples of "Dr. Beat" and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and was released on Estefan's fourth compilation album. This new song was released as a promo single in Spain and titled "Y-Tu-Conga."
A rerecorded version of "Conga" was included in Estefan's 2020 album 'Brazil305'. Because of the new percussive arrangement it was renamed "Samba." Conga is written in the key of E minor.
A remix of "Conga" featuring Leslie Grace and Meek Mill was released in 2021 as a Bacardi sponsored and Boi-1da produced single.[https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/9517190/leslie-grace-meek-mill-gloria-estefan-conga-comparison Leslie Grace & Meek Mill Revamp Gloria Estefan's '80s Party Hit 'Conga': Here's A Comparison][https://www.marketingdive.com/news/bacardi-remixes-conga-with-meek-mill-leslie-grace-in-ugc-push/589483/ Bacardi remixes 'Conga' with Meek Mill, Leslie Grace in UGC push]
Commercial performance
"Conga" became a worldwide success and is recognized as the Miami Sound Machine and Gloria Estefan's signature song. The single reached the top 10 in various countries, including the United States and the Netherlands. The song was not a hit in the United Kingdom, failing to chart on the top 75. There the attention was based more on the single "Bad Boy". In 'Billboard' magazine's year-end chart in 1986, "Conga" finished at number 40.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027141824/http://www.geocities.com/geprimitivelove/conga.html Conga (Single 1985/1986)]
Music video
The video is set in the fictional Miami night club Copacabana, hosting a reception for an unspecified ambassador. After a boring piano recital, the Miami Sound Machine is announced as the next featured act (though Gloria insists the setting is not appropriate for the song). Despite the initial shock of his wife, the more upbeat song becomes a hit with the audience and ambassador.
Formats and track listings
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
Category:1985 singles
Category:Miami Sound Machine songs
Category:Gloria Estefan songs
Category:Songs about dancing
Category:Number-one singles in Spain
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Enrique Garcia (songwriter)
Category:1985 songs
Category:Epic Records singles
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