Salsa Hits of the Noughties

With the ascendence of reggaeton in the noughties, as new generations took over the streets and craved the ever-hardening bass, some of the best salsa tracks ever were made in these ten years. Whilst embracing the new urban beats coming out of Puerto Rico and Cuba, Latin music fans continued to indulge in their love of this genre and its rich tapestry of percussion and melody. Nineties heartthrobs like Luis Enrique continued their appeal to teenagers now turned mothers, the tumbao of Puerto Rico's Gran Combo, Cuba's Los Van Van or Colombia's Orquesta Guayacan remained too sweet to resist, whilst Nuyorican newcomers Spanish Harlem Orchestra showed a legacy. Some smootchy tunes here and some absolute dancefloor bangers...enjoy!

by Jose Luis Seijas

1. Yo no se mañana Luis Enrique (2009)

And just when the pundits announced salsa dead, enter...the prince of salsa, just a few years older and but still the charm and the chops. The song was his highest-peaking single since "Lo Que Es Vivir" in 1992 and won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song.

2. Después de Todo Los Van Van (2004)

Even if it tried, Los Van Van, arguably the best Cuban band ever, could never not make dancefloor hits. After 30 years in the game, this beautiful song proved it was still innovating and connecting with and uplifting its audiences at an intimate and emotional level.

3. Conteo Regresivo Gilberto Santa Rosa (2007)

Puerto Rico's quintessential romantic hero never dies. The live recording not only captured Gilberto's energy, elegance and soneo, that had made him one of salsa's biggest stars, but also the excitement that live salsa music created, reminding audiences what the genre had over reggaeton.

4. Me Libere Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (2001)

This track, still played on every salsa club night around the world, showed that quality never goes out of fashion, and that this Puerto-Rican hit-making factory, still had it 30 years after they first were founded.

5. Cuando hablan las miradas Orquesta Guayacan (2008)

No one quite does intensity like the Colombians...another orchestra churning out quality year on year, to prove that style (and salsa) never went out of fashion

6. A Puro Dolor Son by 4 (2000)

One that had everyone swooning, the love song of the Noughties which was used in various soap operas including Mexican blockbuster series "La calle de las novias"

7. Te va a Doler Maelo Ruiz (2003)

What a song, what a voice. Everyone loves a song about a break-up, but not everyone can make you want to dance like crazy singing about loss and regret. This salsa is as good as it gets!

8. La Banda Spanish Harlem Orchestra (2002)

A new band honouring the classic salsa dura sound of New York, created a new anthem to last the ages. The fantastic sound of this 13-piece band and its world class musicians, including prominent trombonist Jimmy Bosch and pianist Oscar Hernandez, perhaps also encapsulated why the industry was pushing reggaeton, so much cheaper and easier to make. But this instant classic showed the rewards of investment.

9. A que se debe Bobby Valentin (2007)

And the legends don't stop...and at almost 80 years old this release took the unique style of a Latin jazz master into the 21st century.

10. Tu Carinito Puerto Rican Power (2000)

Everyone loved this track in the Noughties! It had the energy, the simplicity and the harmonies of a dancefloor hit. Just the title words set off the chorus in the brain...que me des tu cariñito, mi amor...

Enjoy all the great salsa hits of all the decades at a special 'Salsa is Back' edition of LatinoLife in the Park - the UK's largest music festival - on Sunday 20 July in Walpole Park, London W5. Main stage salsa headliners include TROMBORANGA and RENE ALVAREZ' TRIBUTE TO HECTOR LAVOE, celebrating the music of La Voz (The Voice). Meanwhile our NYC Salsa 'Immersive Experience' will transport festival goers to New York's Golden Era of Salsa. Get your tix before prices go up! Tickets here