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"Macarena"
1995 European release (Bayside Boys mix)
Single by Los del Río
from the album A mí me gusta and Fiesta Macarena
Released
  • 1993 (original)
  • 15 August 1995 (Bayside Boys mix)
Recorded1992 (original)
StudioOVO
Genre
Length
  • 4:10 (1993 original)
  • 4:12 (Bayside Boys mix)
LabelRCA
Songwriters
  • Rafael Ruiz Perdigones
  • Antonio Romero Monge
ProducerLos del Río
Los del Río singles chronology
"Macarena"
(1993) 		"Macarena Christmas"
(1996)
Alternative cover
Artwork for Maquina retail release
Artwork for Maquina retail release
Audio
"Macarena" (original version) on YouTube
Music video
"Macarena" (Bayside Boys remix) on YouTube

"Macarena" is a song by Spanish pop duo Los del Río, originally recorded for their 1993 album A mí me gusta. A dance remix by the electropop group Fangoria was a success in Spain, and a soundalike cover version by Los del Mar became popular in Canada.[2] Another remix by Miami-based producers the Bayside Boys, who added a section with English lyrics, expanded its popularity, initially peaking at No. 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in late 1995.[2]

The Bayside Boys mix enjoyed a significant revival the following year when it re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 for 14 weeks between August and November 1996. Its resurgence was aided by a dance craze that became a cultural phenomenon throughout the latter half of 1996 and early 1997. The song got the group ranked the "No. 1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of All Time" by VH1 in 2002. In 2012, it was ranked No. 7 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. It also ranked at No. 7 on Billboard's All Time Latin Songs list.[3][4] In 2023, Billboard ranked "Macarena" number 500 in their list of Best Pop Songs of All Time.[1]

Composition

[edit]

The composition of "Macarena" features a variant on the clave rhythm.[5][6] The song is written in the key of A♭ major, moves at a tempo of 103 beats per minute, and follows the repeated chord progression A♭–G♭ throughout.[7]

Origin and history

[edit]

As a result of their lounge act, Los del Río were invited to tour South America in 1992[8] and, while visiting Venezuela, they were invited to a private party held by the Venezuelan impresario Gustavo Cisneros.[9] During the celebration, a local flamenco teacher, Diana Patricia Cubillán Herrera, performed a dance for the guests, and Los del Río were pleasantly surprised by Cubillán's dance skills. Spontaneously, Antonio Romero Monge, one half of the Los del Río duo, recited the song's chorus-to-be on the spot, as an accolade to Cubillán: "¡Diana, dale a tu cuerpo alegría y cosas buenas!'" ("Give your body some joy, Diana").[8] When Monge wrote the song, he changed the name to Macarena, in honor of his daughter Esperanza Macarena.[9]

Spanish-language remix

[edit]

In 1993, RCA Records released "Macarena" as a single in Spain along with two house remixes by Spanish group Fangoria,[10] intended to popularize the song in nightclubs and discotheques.[11] These remixes changed the flamenco rhythm of the song to an electronic beat. According to Alaska, member of Fangoria, the Bayside Boys remix that followed in 1996 took their version labelled "Macarena (River Remix)" as its base. The band denounced it as plagiarism on the Court of Justice of the European Union but the case did not go through.[11]

English-language remix

[edit]
"Macarena" (Bayside Boys Mix)
Los del Río's "Macarena" from A mí me gusta and Fiesta Macarena
Problems playing this file? See media help.

In mid-1996, the song became a worldwide hit roughly one year after the Bayside Boys (composed of Mike Triay and Carlos de Yarza) produced a remix of the song that added English lyrics.[12] Jammin Johnny Caride, a radio personality at Power 96 in Miami, first learned of the original "Macarena" when clubgoers at a club where he worked as a DJ requested the song.[12] Caride brought the "Macarena" to his supervisors at Power 96 who asked him to create an English-language version of the song.[12]

Caride recruited his two partners at Bayside Records, Mike "In the Night" Triay and Carlos de Yarza, to remix the original song.[12] The new, English-language lyrics were written by Carlos de Yarza. The Bayside Boys, Triay and de Yarza, added a new dance beat with English-language lyrics sung originally by the studio singer Patty Alfaro,[13] then later during a concert tour by Carla Vanessa.[12] Vanessa accepted a fixed-fee contract for her participation and live performances, and so does not receive any residual performer royalties.[14] The finished version was called "Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)".[12] The Bayside Boys remix hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1996 and remained at the top of the chart for fourteen weeks.[15] It also topped the US Cash Box Top 100. Remarkably, even this version of the song was completely ignored by the US Hot Dance Club Play chart which represented DJ club playlists.

The Bayside Boys mix of "Macarena" was featured in Sonic Team's Samba de Amigo for the Sega NAOMI arcade system and the Sega Dreamcast.[16]

Critical reception

[edit]

David Browne from Entertainment Weekly wrote, "It says something about our culture—something delightfully devious, probably—that a wink-wink club song has become an all-ages-approved dance step and novelty hit. Like the story it tells, 'Macarena' is a one-night stand, but you won't forget her name in the morning."[17] Dan Glaister from The Guardian said that the track was "imitating the successes of previous summer pop sensations such as 'Y Viva Espana', 'Agadoo' and 'Saturday Night'."[18] Melody Maker commented, "Admit it. You loved it. The sarky girlie lyric, the middle-aged Spanish geezers crooning away, the placidly agreeable beat. Eyyyyyy, macarena!"[19] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described the song as an "infectious cheerful girls giggled and guys chanted 'Me No Pop I'-ish original hit version of a jaunty hip wiggling dance craze huge for ages around Europe and now (breaking out of Florida) the US, in frisky flamenco clapped jiggling 103.2bpm Bayside Boys Mix".[20] Peter Castro from People Magazine wrote, "The 'Achy Breaky Heart' flatlined years ago and the 'Electric Slide' is short-circuiting, so what's a dance-crazed world to do? The 'Macarena', obviously."[21] Dave Fawbert from ShortList stated that "Macarena" is "a song that exists independently of cool, time, criticism – it's just there."[22] Jordan Paramor from Smash Hits gave it one out of five, saying, "'Macarena' is 1996's answer to Whigfield's 'Saturday Night', overflowing with nauseating Latino-style beats and repetitive lyrics, sung by two suited middle-aged blokes who should know better. And, quelle surprise, there's even a quirky little dance routine to go with it."[23]

Popularity

[edit]

The reworked "Macarena (Bayside Boys remix)" spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, becoming one of the longest runs atop the Hot 100 chart in history.[15] The single spent its final week at No. 1 on its 46th week on the chart, recorded as the latest No. 1 single in Hot 100 history. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song for 1996.[24] In the United Kingdom the song was released on 10 June 1996 and peaked at No. 2 on 17 August 1996,[25] kept off the No. 1 spot by the huge popularity of the Spice Girls song "Wannabe".[26] In Australia, it was the most successful song of 1996.

"Macarena" remained popular through 1996, but by the beginning of 1997, its popularity had begun to diminish. The song stayed in the Hot 100 chart for 60 weeks, the longest reign among No. 1 songs, only surpassed fifteen years later by Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". The Bayside Boys remix includes a sample from the Yazoo (also known in the United States as Yaz) track "Situation"—the laughter of Yazoo vocalist Alison Moyet. The chorus uses female vocal samples previously used by the Farm in their song "Higher and Higher (Remix)" from their album, Spartacus. The Bayside Boys toured the U.S. and the world and featured singer Carla Vanessa.

In the United States, the song, and its corresponding Macarena dance, became popular around the time of the 1996 Democratic National Convention in August of that year. C-SPAN filmed attendees dancing to the song in an afternoon session, a clip of which became popular on YouTube years later.[27] Vice President Al Gore, having a reputation for stiffness, made a joke about doing the Macarena dance during his speech. He said, "I would like to demonstrate for you the Al Gore version of the Macarena," then remained motionless for a few seconds, and eventually asked, "Would you like to see it again?"[28][29]

By 1997, the song had sold 11 million copies. While having only a 25% take in royalties from the song, Romero and Ruiz became immensely wealthy. According to BBC News, during the year 2003 alone—a full decade after the song's initial release—Romero and Ruiz made US$250,000 in royalties.[a] Julio Iglesias is quoted as congratulating the duo personally: "My success singing in English from Miami is nothing compared to yours; coming out of Dos Hermanas with little international exposure elsewhere and selling these many records in Spanish takes two huge sets of cojones."[30]

In VH1's 2002 documentary 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders, "Macarena" was ranked as No. 1. "Macarena" was also ranked No. 1 on a different VH1 documentary, 40 Awesomely Bad No. 1 Songs. On America's Best Dance Crew, it was danced to on the Whack Track Challenge, given to the Ringmasters. In July 2020, digital publication The Pudding carried out a study on the most iconic songs from the 1990s and songs that are most known by Millennials and the people of Generation Z. "Macarena" was the eighth song with the highest recognisability rate.[31] In a December 1, 1996, Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy is about to join Woodstock and an unnamed identical bird at a frozen-over birdbath for a hockey game, but they start off by doing the Macarena dance first before playing, much to his embarrassment.[32]

Music video

[edit]

The music video for the reworked Bayside Boys-remix of "Macarena" was directed by Vincent Calvet.[33] It starred Mia Frye, who was also the choreographer, and features ten different women singing and dancing with Los del Río against a white background. In contrast to the scantily-clad women, Los del Río are dressed in suits. When the music video for the Bayside Boys Remix was filmed, Mia Frye choreographed a greatly simplified version of the Macarena dance that already existed at the time. Frye and director Calvet drew inspiration from video footage from clubs in Mexico that showed large crowds of people dancing the original, more complex, Macarena.[34]

According to Los del Rio, the dance originated from the interaction between the band and the audience at concerts. It started with some improvised arm movements from the singers during an instrumental part of the song. Some people in the audience then began to imitate similar dance moves. In the interplay between the band and the audience, an early form of Macarena dance gradually emerged over the course of several concerts because stories about the Macarena dance spread among the band's fans by word of mouth.[35]

Accolades

[edit]
Accolades for "Macarena"
Year Publisher Accolade Rank
1996 Melody Maker "Singles of the Year"[19] 46
2000 VH1 "100 Greatest Dance Songs"[36] 84
2005 Blender "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born"[37] 198
2014 Rolling Stone "20 Biggest Songs of the Summer: The 1990s"[38] 3
2017 Billboard "The 100 Biggest Summer Songs of All Time"[39] 27
2017 BuzzFeed "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s"[40] 49
2017 Paste "The 60 Best Dancefloor Classics"[41] 60
2018 ThoughtCo "The Best 100 Songs from the 1990s"[42] 2
2019 Billboard "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s"[43] 3
2019 Insider "100 of the Best Songs from the '90s"[44] *
2019 Insider "The 57 Best One-Hit Wonders of All Time"[45] *
2019 Stacker "Best 90s Pop Songs"[46] 2
2020 Cleveland.com "Best Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Song of the 1990s"[47] 134
2023 Billboard "Best Pop Songs of All Time"[1] 500

(*) indicates the list is unordered.

Charts

[edit]

"Macarena"

[edit]

"Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)"

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[89] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[110] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[111] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Canada — 45,000[112]
Colombia — 500,000[113]
France (SNEP)[115] Diamond 1,000,000[114]
Germany (BVMI)[116] 3× Gold 750,000^
Mexico
Maxi single - 4 versions 		— 130,000[117]
Netherlands (NVPI)[119] Platinum 95,000[118]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[120] Platinum 30,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[121]
Digital sales 		Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[122] Gold 25,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[123] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[124]
Digital sales 		Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[126] 4× Platinum 4,000,000[125]
Summaries
Worldwide — 11,000,000[127]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

"Macarena Christmas"

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Just when you thought this was just a version of their worldwide smash with a couple of jingle bells added, this seasonal single erupts into a cheerful medley of Joy to the World, Jingle Bells and Silent Night. For all those who are looking for an uncomplicated Christmas."[128]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[141] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Los del Mar cover version

[edit]
"Macarena"
Cover art of original Wil Veloz version
Single by Los del Mar
from the album Viva Evita/Macarena: The Hit Album
Released
  • 1995
  • 1996 (international)
Recorded1995
Genre
Length3:49
LabelLime Inc.
Songwriters
  • Rafael Ruiz Perdigones
  • Antonio Romero Monge
  • SWK
ProducerLos del Mar
Alternative cover
Artwork for French and Australian releases
Artwork for French and Australian releases

The song was covered by Canadian musical duo Los del Mar with vocals by Wil Veloz. It was first released in 1995.[142] In their native Canada, this version was popular on MuchMusic and top 40 radio in 1995. It was reissued in 1996 in a new version with vocals from Pedro Castaño, which was also featured on their album Viva Evita (retitled Macarena: The Hit Album overseas). In Australia, this new version reached No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart, below the Bayside Boys' reworking of the original.

Critical reception

[edit]

British magazine Music Week rated the song three out of five, writing, "Hot on the heels of RCA's release of the original version by Los Del Rio comes a second, lower-key version of the Spanish dance tune. Whoever wins the battle, the song is destined to become 1996's 'Lambada', loved and loathed in equal measure."[143]

Music video

[edit]

A music video was produced for the Los del Mar version. It shows Pedro Castano and his pet cat in an apartment getting ideas for the song's dance while watching people on television. By the next verse, more people dance outside to the song wherein Castano joins in and sings. Later on, a mob boss and his sidekicks pull up in a car and ask if they can join the dance. Excluding the outro segment, the video cuts around 40 seconds from the regular song.

Track listings

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[89] Platinum 70,000^
France (SNEP)[159] Gold 250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Tyga cover version

[edit]
"Ayy Macarena"
Single by Tyga
Released13 November 2019
Recorded2019
Length2:11
Label
Songwriters
ProducerPliznaya
Tyga singles chronology
"Juicy"
(2019) 		"Ayy Macarena"
(2019) 		"Freak"
(2020)
Music video
"Ayy Macarena" on YouTube

On 13 November 2019, American rapper Tyga released a remix, rap version of the song, called "Ayy Macarena".[160] J Balvin also sings the hook of the original song at the beginning of this version. This version has a more club-oriented sound. This version's official remix features Ozuna.

In addition to this, a music video premiered on Tyga's official YouTube channel on 17 December 2019, heavily inspired by the film The Mask. Los Del Rio also make a cameo appearance, performing the original chorus at the beginning of the video and making sparse appearances throughout.[160]

Charts

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[161] 13
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[162] 4
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[163] 16
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[164] 48
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[165] 82
Denmark (Tracklisten)[166] 24
France (SNEP)[167] 97
Germany (GfK)[168] 9
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[169] 28
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[170] 32
Italy (FIMI)[171] 21
Romania (Airplay 100)[172] 6
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[173] 56
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[174] 27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[175] 9
Turkey (Radiomonitor International List)[176] 1
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[177] 33
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[178] 3
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[179] 42
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[180] 27

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (2020) Position
Germany (GfK)[181] 74
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[182] 79
Romania (Airplay 100)[183] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[184] 81
Turkey (Radiomonitor International List)[185] 12

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[186] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[187] Gold 100,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[188] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[189] Platinum 70,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[190] Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[191] Platinum 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[192] Gold 30,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[193] Gold 10,000‡
United States (RIAA)[194] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other remixes, covers, sampling and parodies

[edit]

MC Rage parody

[edit]

MC Rage released the single "Fuck Macarena" in November 1996. It is a hardcore techno parody of Los del Río's "Macarena" and mocks the original version's lyrics, as do the dancers in the music video. MC Rage sings vulgar mocking lyrics as an outburst against the huge success of "Macarena". It peaked at No. 7 on the Dutch Top 40 on 27 December 1996, and at No. 8 on the Dutch Mega Top 100 on 25 January 1997.[195][196] The song has a music video featuring gabber ravers dancing hakken.

The GrooveGrass Boyz version

[edit]

In 1997, the GrooveGrass Boyz recorded a country music version of the "Macarena", with rewritten lyrics.[197] This rendition peaked at No. 70 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. This version was released on Imprint Records and sold over 80,000 copies.[198]

Jeffrey A. Harvey physics parody

[edit]

At the Strings 1998 conference in Santa Barbara about string theory, shortly after the publication of the paper Anti De Sitter Space and Holography by Edward Witten, Jeffrey A. Harvey composed a parody song called "The Maldecena" about the holographic principle.[199][200]

Pitbull sampling

[edit]

In 2012, Cuban-American rapper Pitbull and Dominican rapper Sensato recorded the song titled "Global Warming" as the intro song from his seventh studio album of the same name. The song sampled the Bayside Boys remix.

Jay-5 versions

[edit]

Reggae and dancehall artist Jay-5 released the album The Dancehall Macarena on VP Records in 2015, featuring the song "Dancehall Macarena",[201] an upbeat fusion of dancehall moves, inspired by the infectious '90s classic.[202]

The single "Dancehall Macarena" is the first official Jamaican dancehall line dance[203] and gained over 1.6 million views on YouTube.[204]

The success of "Dancehall Macarena" inspired a popular reggaeton version in 2016, "Dancehall Macarena Remix", by Colombian reggaeton artist Japanese featuring Jay-5.

Gente de Zona version

[edit]

In 2016, Cuban duo Gente de Zona teamed up with Los del Río and released a new joint version of the song, with new lyrics.[205]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Macarena

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Macarena is a Spanish dance song by the pop duo , originally released in 1993 as a -style track on their album A mí me gusta. Written by Los del Río's Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones and inspired by a dancer at a party in , the song's lyrics describe a woman named Macarena who cheats on her boyfriend while encouraging his friends to join in. A 1995 remix by the Florida-based group the Bayside Boys, featuring English verses and simplified dance instructions, propelled it to international fame. The remix version became a global phenomenon, topping the chart for 14 consecutive weeks in 1996 and selling over 4 million copies in the United States alone. Its infectious rhythm and easy-to-follow dance routine— involving hand movements to the hips, head, and shoulders—sparked a worldwide craze, performed at weddings, parties, and even political events like the , where Vice President famously participated. The song's cultural impact extended beyond music, influencing pop culture references and studies on social bonding through synchronized movement, as noted in a 2015 University analysis. Multiple remixes followed, including versions by Los del Mar in 1995 and a 2020 collaboration with and , but the Bayside Boys edition remains the definitive hit that defined 1990s dance trends.

Background

Composition

"Macarena" is composed in the rumba flamenca style, blending traditional rhythms with elements to create an upbeat, dance-oriented track. The instrumentation features acoustic guitars, and percussion, contributing to its lively, festive sound typical of Andalusian folk influences. The lyrics were written by Rafael Ruiz Perdigones and Antonio Romero Monge, the duo known as , and center on a playful, cheeky about a named Macarena who rejects her boyfriend Vitorino—away serving in the —for the advances of two of his friends. This story unfolds through lighthearted verses that highlight her flirtatious escapades and desire for excitement. Musically, the song follows a straightforward verse-chorus format, with verses narrating the story and a highly repetitive chorus —"Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena"—designed to be infectious and easy to to during dances. The hook's simplicity and repetition emphasize rhythmic clapping and movement, making it ideal for group participation. The original version was recorded in 1993 in , , for Los del Río's album A mí me gusta, capturing the duo's spontaneous, acoustic approach to the material. Subsequent remixes largely preserved this verse-chorus structure while adding electronic elements to broaden its appeal.

Origin and Production

The song "Macarena" was created by the Spanish duo Los del Río, consisting of Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones, in late 1992 during a private party in Caracas, Venezuela, hosted by media mogul Gustavo Cisneros. Inspired by a flamenco dancer named Diana Patricia Cubillán whom they met at the event, Romero penned the lyrics about a fictional woman named Macarena—originally titled "Magdalena" but changed to reference his daughter Esperanza Macarena—to capture a playful, flirtatious narrative in rumba flamenca style. The duo, hailing from Dos Hermanas near Seville, developed the track as a lighthearted addition to their repertoire, reflecting their roots in Andalusian folk traditions. Recording took place in Spain in 1993 for inclusion on Los del Río's album A mí me gusta, produced under the supervision of the duo themselves with a focus on authentic rhythms and simple instrumentation to emphasize the catchy chorus. The session aimed to preserve the spontaneous energy of their live performances, blending acoustic guitars, handclaps, and vocals in a style typical of Spanish rumba. "Macarena" was first released as a single in on , , by BMG , serving as the lead track from A mí me gusta. Initially promoted through radio play and the duo's regional tours, it gained traction at local ferias and festivals in , where performed it live to enthusiastic crowds, establishing it as a summer anthem before expanding to via performances and airplay.

Main Versions

Original Spanish Version

The original Spanish-language version of "Macarena" was released as a single in 1993 by the Andalusian duo , appearing on their A mí me gusta. The track, a flamenco-infused , runs for 4:12 and was distributed in formats including CD and 12-inch vinyl maxi-single. On the vinyl edition, the B-side included "Salsa Rumbera," while the CD single paired it with "Tocalo, Tocalo." In 1993, issued a Spanish-language remix known as the River Re-Mix 103 BPM, collaborating with producers and Big Toxic to incorporate electronic beats and a faster suitable for radio and club settings. This variant retained the original while enhancing its rhythmic appeal for broader Spanish-speaking audiences. The single saw significant regional success, reaching number one on the Spanish singles chart in 1993. In , it became a notable hit, particularly resonating in countries such as and , where its festive style aligned with local pop and scenes. Promotion centered on Spanish radio stations, television appearances, and live performances at regional festivals, helping solidify Los del Río's presence in the Iberian and Latin markets. This domestic traction directly influenced the development of international adaptations, such as the English-language remix.

Bayside Boys English Remix

The Bayside Boys remix of "Macarena" was created in 1995 in by the known as the Bayside Boys, consisting of Carlos "Yar-Zaa" De Yarza and Mike "In The Night" Triay. Building on the original Spanish version by , the team reworked an existing European remix called the "River Mix" by incorporating a faster tempo of 103 beats per minute, prominent synthesizers for a danceable electronic backdrop, and layered female backing vocals to enhance its club appeal. These production choices transformed the track into a high-energy hit tailored for American audiences, emphasizing pulsating rhythms and catchy hooks. The lyrical adaptation retained the infectious Spanish chorus while adding new English verses sung by Colombian-American vocalist Carla Vanessa, narrating the story of a flirtatious party girl named Macarena whose boyfriend is away in the army. In the verses, Macarena dances provocatively at a club, drawing attention from men and ultimately cheating on her partner with his friends, creating a cheeky, risqué narrative that contrasted with the song's upbeat vibe. The chorus features a phonetic, Americanized of "Macarena" to make it more approachable for non-Spanish speakers, blending elements seamlessly. Released on August 13, 1995, by , the remix initially received airplay on Miami's Power 96 FM station after DJ Jammin' Johnny Caride discovered the track at a local and enlisted the Bayside Boys to refine it for U.S. radio. The immediate listener response was overwhelming, with requests flooding the station and prompting RCA to distribute the single nationwide, sparking its viral spread through dance clubs and radio playlists across the and eventually globally. This grassroots momentum marked the remix's breakthrough, turning it from a regional curiosity into an international phenomenon by mid-1996.

Cultural Impact

Popularity and Dance Phenomenon

The Bayside Boys of "Macarena" exploded in popularity across the in 1996, driven by heavy rotation on radio stations and in nightclubs, particularly in where the originated. This surge transformed the track into an inescapable party anthem, frequently played at weddings, social gatherings, and community events, cementing its status as a staple of social occasions. The song's infectious rhythm sparked a massive craze, with participants following a simple sequence of movements: extending arms forward with palms down, flipping palms up, crossing arms over the chest, placing hands behind the head while shrugging shoulders, thrusting hips side to side, and concluding with a quarter-turn jump. These steps were widely taught in classes and school assemblies, though some districts, like Wake County in , banned the dance due to its hip movements being deemed inappropriate for students. On television, instructional segments proliferated, including MTV's 1996 feature where rapper and host learned the routine in a , helping to disseminate the moves to a broad audience. It notably featured at the in , where delegates, including figures like who added a humorous stiff-legged variation, performed it en masse on the convention floor, highlighting its crossover into political and public events. The phenomenon extended globally, with the dance adopted in many countries including the , , , and , often through localized tutorials in magazines and broadcasts that adapted the steps to cultural contexts. By 2025, "Macarena" endures as a nostalgic touchstone, revived in memes, viral challenges, and retro-themed events that celebrate its role in pre-digital viral culture, though some retrospectives note its perceived cheesiness as part of its polarizing charm. In 2025, a new trend called the "Woke Macarena," inspired by Irish singer CMAT's song "Stay for the Leading Lady," reimagined the dance with updated moves, gaining viral popularity.

Critical Reception

Upon its release in the mid-1990s, "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by received mixed reviews from music critics, with some praising its infectious catchiness and dance appeal while others dismissed it as a disposable novelty track. included the song in its 500 Greatest Pop Songs of All Time list at position 500, acknowledging its enduring pop impact despite its simplicity. In contrast, readers voted it the second-worst song of the in a 2011 poll, criticizing its repetitive nature and overexposure as emblematic of fleeting fads. Retrospective analyses have been more favorable, highlighting the track's role in popularizing within mainstream U.S. pop culture. ranked "Macarena" as the number-one in its 2002 documentary series, emphasizing its global dance phenomenon status over artistic depth. Music publications like SPIN have noted in 2021 reflections that, while lacking profound musicianship or messaging, the song's explosive success demonstrated the viability of bilingual crossovers and democratized flamenco-pop elements for international audiences. The song garnered several accolades focused on commercial and performance metrics rather than artistic awards. It received an ASCAP Pop Music Award in 1997 for Most Performed Song of the Year, recognizing its radio and television airplay dominance. were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 , celebrating the track's lasting influence on . The duo received no Grammy nominations during the song's peak era. Post-2020 discussions in music journalism have revisited "Macarena" through lenses of cultural fusion and digital revival, often debating its remix's toning down of the original's flirtatious Spanish lyrics for Anglo audiences. A 2023 Financial Times analysis explored its viral mechanics, citing research on how simple, teachable dance routines like the Macarena facilitate in . The song experienced a resurgence in 2024, where users highlighted the explicit themes of in the untranslated lyrics, sparking conversations on its unfiltered Latin roots versus sanitized global export.

Media and Performances

Music Video

The music video for the Bayside Boys remix of "Macarena," released in 1996, was directed by French filmmaker Vincent Calvet. Filmed against a minimalist bright white background to highlight the , it runs for approximately 4 minutes and emphasizes visual simplicity to focus on movement and energy. The video features the duo —Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones—performing in sharp suits, intercut with a group of diverse, colorful dancers led by choreographer Mia Frye, who also appears prominently. These dancers execute the simplified steps in trendy, vibrant outfits, creating a sense of joyful, inclusive party energy that mirrors the song's upbeat rhythm. Post-production adjustments, including two days and nights of tweaks, ensured equitable visibility for dancers of various tones, underscoring the video's aim for broad and global appeal. Released under , the video debuted in July 1996 and received heavy rotation on , where its clear demonstration of the eight-count dance routine served as an informal that accelerated the song's viral spread and encouraged widespread participation. This visual format transformed the track into a communal phenomenon, prioritizing the dance's instructional clarity over narrative complexity. An earlier music video for the original Spanish version of "Macarena," produced in 1993, adopted a simpler, more subdued aesthetic rooted in the song's flamenco influences, featuring Los del Río in basic performance footage without the remix's polished dance emphasis. This alternate version, tied to the track's initial release on the album A mí me gusta, captured the duo's traditional pop-flamenco style in low-key settings, contrasting sharply with the video's dynamic, instructional vibe.

Live Performances and Appearances

Los del Río embarked on a U.S. tour in amid the surging popularity of the "Macarena" Bayside Boys , performing the track at major venues to capitalize on its chart dominance. A highlight was their appearance on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31, , in New York, where they delivered a live rendition that ushered in 1997 and amplified the song's festive appeal. The tour extended into early 1997, culminating in a high-profile pregame show at on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, where the duo performed before a national audience of over 100 million viewers. The song's infectious dance routine quickly permeated sports culture, with celebrity groups and performers incorporating it into high-energy routines. The featured the Macarena in their halftime shows during the 1996-1997 season, energizing crowds at home games in as part of the broader dance craze sweeping . Similarly, the track became a staple at NBA games, often played during timeouts and halftimes to encourage fan participation, contributing to its status as one of the era's most ubiquitous arena anthems. Iconic moments included the U.S. women's gymnastics team, known as the Magnificent Seven, celebrating their gold medal win at the 1996 Olympics by dancing the Macarena on the podium, while Broadway star led a record-breaking 50,000-person performance at on August 16, 1996. Recent revivals have kept the Macarena alive in global events, blending with contemporary flair. In 2024, the track appeared in live medleys at festivals, such as the Shasta District Fair's Outlaw performance, where it was fused with traditional tunes like "" to engage audiences in interactive dances. In 2025, collaborated with conductor for live performances of "Macarena" at events including the Vrijthof concerts in and the 3Arena in , incorporating orchestral arrangements to nostalgic crowds. The duo's enduring influence is evident in its frequent use at and corporate events, where groups spontaneously perform the routine to foster team-building and joy; notable examples include a 2022 European Caravan community promoting Roma youth arts initiatives and a 2016 residents' performance in that went viral for its uplifting spirit.

Commercial Success

Chart Performance

The Bayside Boys remix of "Macarena" dominated international charts following its 1996 release, becoming one of the decade's defining hits. In the United States, it ascended to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 3, 1996, and maintained the position for 14 consecutive weeks, establishing it as the longest-running number-one single of the 1990s. The track spent a total of 60 weeks on the Hot 100, the longest chart run for any song up to that point. It also topped the 1996 year-end Billboard Hot 100 chart, underscoring its unparalleled dominance that year. In the 1990s decade-end rankings, it placed at number two on Billboard's Hot 100 recap, highlighting its enduring chart impact. The original Spanish version, released in 1993 from the A mí me gusta, initially found success in Los del Río's home market and select European territories. In , it reached number one on the national singles (PROMUSICAE), marking the duo's hit domestically. The song achieved number one on the SNEP Singles in for 7 weeks and appeared on year-end charts across several Latin American markets, including topping charts in , reflecting its early regional appeal in Hispanic-speaking regions before the remix's global explosion. Internationally, the Bayside Boys remix replicated its U.S. success in multiple territories, peaking at number one in countries including (for nine weeks on the ARIA Singles Chart), (on the Offizielle Deutsche Charts), and , while reaching number two in the (with eight weeks in the UK top 10 on the Official Singles Chart).
Region/ChartPeak Position (Bayside Boys Remix)Weeks at PeakTotal Weeks on ChartSource
U.S. Billboard Hot 10011460Billboard
UK Official Singles Chart2220Official Charts Company
Australia ARIA Singles Chart1919Australian Charts
Germany Offizielle Deutsche Charts1437Offizielle Charts
Spain Singles Chart (Original)1N/AN/AEl País
Ongoing streaming popularity has sustained the song's visibility, with the remix surpassing 178 million plays on as of November 2025, contributing to periodic revivals on global digital platforms.

Certifications and Sales

The Bayside Boys Remix of "Macarena" by became one of the best-selling singles of the , with global exceeding 11 million copies by 1997. This figure encompassed physical shipments and downloads across various international markets, driven by the remix's widespread radio and popularity. The remix accounted for the vast majority of the song's commercial performance, as the original Spanish version had limited global reach prior to the 1995 reworking. In the United States, "Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)" was certified 4× Platinum by the (RIAA) for 4 million units, incorporating certified sales, downloads, and streaming equivalents as of updates through 2024. This certification underscores the track's enduring impact, with ongoing streams contributing to the total; for instance, the remix has amassed over 178 million plays on as of November 2025. Internationally, the single received Gold certification from the (BPI) for 400,000 units shipped in the UK. In France, it earned Diamond status from the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique () for 500,000 sales. These awards reflect the song's strong European performance during its peak, though updated streaming thresholds have not yet elevated them to higher levels in official records as of 2024. On digital platforms, "Macarena" has continued to accumulate views and streams, with the official Bayside Boys Remix music video surpassing 399 million views on YouTube as of November 2025. The track's chart longevity, including a 14-week run at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, further bolstered its sales trajectory.

Derivative Works

Holiday Variant

In 1996, Los del Río released "Macarena Christmas," a festive adaptation of their signature hit "Macarena," incorporating Christmas-themed lyrics and instrumental elements such as jingle bells to evoke holiday cheer. The track builds on the Bayside Boys remix style from the original song, blending the upbeat dance rhythm with seasonal motifs like references to "Jingle Bells" and other carols. The production of "Macarena Christmas" resulted in the primary Joy Mix version, clocking in at 4:12, with an extended Joy Mix Club Version running 5:41; it was issued as a by BMG U.S. Latin in the United States. The single also bundled the original "Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)" and a Latin Remix by DJ Dero, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between and their Miami-based remix partners. This holiday spin-off aimed to capitalize on the song's global by infusing it with yuletide elements for seasonal appeal. Upon release, "Macarena Christmas" achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at number 57 on the chart in early 1997 after debuting in December 1996. It garnered inclusion in various holiday music compilations and playlists, reflecting its niche role in festive programming. As a enduring seasonal novelty, "Macarena Christmas" maintains annual radio during the holiday period and appears in streaming holiday collections, sustaining its lighthearted presence in rotations.

Cover Versions

One notable cover of "Macarena" was recorded by the Canadian group Los del Mar in 1995, with a follow-up version titled "Macarena '97" released the following year. This adaptation featured vocals by Wil Veloz on the Bola Remix and Pedro Castaño on other mixes, transforming the original into an upbeat dance track with electronic production. The single peaked at number 43 on the UK Singles Chart in 1996. The CD maxi-single for Los del Mar's version, released by Bolinda Records, included the following tracks:
TrackTitleDurationRemix/Version
1Macarena (Radio Version)3:51-
2Macarena (Mar Fe Mix)5:05Mar Fe
3Macarena (Bola Remix)6:37-
In 2019, American rapper released a hip-hop reinterpretation titled "Ayy Macarena," incorporating trap beats and English rap verses over the familiar . The track sampled elements of the original while adding contemporary lyrics, and a featuring Puerto Rican singer followed in 2020. Other covers include the 2016 reggaeton rendition "Más Macarena" by Cuban group , in collaboration with the original artists , which infused tropical rhythms and new Spanish lyrics celebrating Cuban culture. In 2025, Filipina singer Filipina Charm offered a fresh cover of the Bayside Boys Mix, preserving the danceable essence in a solo performance.

Remixes, Samples, and Parodies

One of the earliest notable unofficial remixes of "Macarena" was the country version by The GrooveGrass Boyz, released in 1997 as part of their self-titled album on GrooveGrass Recordings. This adaptation fused the original's dance rhythm with bluegrass instrumentation, including and , and achieved modest chart success on the and charts. In the same era, British gabber artist MC Rage produced a satirical techno track titled "Fuck Macarena" in 1996 on Hard-Up Records, which explicitly mocked the song's ubiquity through aggressive hardcore beats and lyrics decrying the dance craze as overplayed and annoying. The single, featuring multiple mixes like the "Radio Mix" and "HC Rmx," became a cult favorite in the European rave scene for its irreverent take on the pop phenomenon. The "Macarena" hook has been sampled in various hip-hop and electronic tracks, demonstrating its enduring rhythmic appeal. Parodies of "Macarena" often highlight its cultural saturation through humor. In 1998, during a conference banquet at the University of California, Santa Barbara, physicists performed "The Maldacena," a skit parodying the song to explain Juan Maldacena's conjecture on the holographic principle in string theory, with lyrics adapting the dance instructions to concepts like AdS/CFT correspondence and higher-dimensional projections. This event underscored the track's adaptability even in academic circles. The animated series The Simpsons referenced "Macarena" multiple times, notably in the 2002 episode "Blame It on Lisa" (season 13, episode 15), where a Brazilian dance instructor falsely claims the song and dance originated in Brazil, satirizing cultural misconceptions amid the family's trip to Rio de Janeiro. In recent years, "Macarena" has seen a resurgence through digital remixes and . UK-based EDM producer Jake Mak released an electronic edit in October 2025, transforming the track into a high-energy remix suitable for club play, available as a free download on platforms like . Cambodian DJ Mr. Theara dropped a breakbeat-infused in December 2024 on 3843719 DK, emphasizing bass-heavy drops while preserving the iconic . A 2025 mashup titled "Macarena Like It's Hot," blending "Macarena" with Snoop Dogg's "," was produced by DJ Mix-Master Jon, gaining traction online for its playful fusion of 1990s nostalgia and West Coast hip-hop. On , from 2020 to 2025, users have created numerous parodies, including ironic challenges and comedic skits exaggerating the original routine, often overlaying the remix with modern memes or absurd scenarios to mock its dated vibe.

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