Good Music for Your Cinco De Mayo Fiesta

With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, in addition to having good eats, you are going to want to have good tunes for your party goers to dance to. Music helps to set the tone of a get together and while there are many, many wonderful songs to have at your Fiesta de Cinco de Mayo, here are a couple that may get your guest to get their groove on. This list includes not only some good Latin music but also music that celebrates the uniqueness of the patron drink of Cinco de Mayo: tequila!!

1) "Suavamente"--Elvis Crespo: Come on!! Everyone knows this song from where Crespo sings the first words with no background music and then the beats start as his lyrics get faster. This is a wonderful song to dance to as you can't keep your hips from moving once it comes on. As an added bonus, print the lyrics to the song and try to have everyone sing along. If nothing else, it will be hilarious!!!

2) "Oye Como Va"--Tito Puente or Carlos Santana: Once again, come on!! Everyone knows this song and will dance their booties off to it. Either version works as everyone knows either one. This will bring back memories for some of your older party goers and make the younger people begin to appreciate the music of the yesteryear a little bit more. Plus the Latin beat of Puente and/or the sultry guitar strumming of Carlos Santana...who doesn't love that?

3) "I Like it Like That"-- Ray Barretto featuring the Blackout All-stars, Paquito d'Rivera, Tito Nieves, Tito Puente, Sheila E., Dave Valentin, Grover Washington, Jr.: Okay I will admit the song is really, really repetitive as the only lyrics you hear are "I like it like that". But the music is what really makes this song worth an addition. It is a great song to dance to and has the classic music style of Puente and the fantastic drummer Sheila E. You will definitely enjoy the song although I personally recommend getting the original version and NOT the remix.

4) "La Bamba"--Richie Valens: Really? Do I have to explain this at any further length?

5) "La Tortura"--Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz: Okay Spanish speakers ignore the literal translation of the lyrics because let's face it, kind of a drag. Instead enjoy the uniqueness of the mix of Latin beats with a tinge of the Middle Eastern flavor (as Shakira is known for his hip shaking and belly dancing) and try to move your hips like hers throughout this wonderful duet featuring Sanz.

6) "Techno Cumbia"--Selena: Because you have to have at least one song by Selena try this one. It has an almost disco feel to the cumbia beat of the song and it is something everyone can dance to because of that. Unlike traditional cumbia music, this one has that distinctive flavor of disco and techno music so even really picky listeners should enjoy it.

7) "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off"--Joe Nichols: Fun song. It's just a fun fun fun song about the drink everyone loves to hate the morning after. As there will be a lot of tequila drinking between the Margaritas, Sunrises, Mexican Martinis and the body shots you may as well poke fun at yourself and your guests and the crazy things that tequila may make you do.

8) "Margaritaville"--Jimmy Buffet: Once again extolling the ups and downs of tequila but focusing a lot on the down aspect of it. Classic song but play it towards the middle that way you have a chance to play upbeat songs afterward so you and your guests don't get bummed out while drinking and partying because we all know that is easy to do.

9) "What Happens in Mexico"--Toby Keith: Okay while this doesn't exactly pinpoint tequila like the other songs do, it's still a fun song and it talks about Mexico. Plus it's from Toby Keith who despite any personal shortcomings is a damn good singer/songwriter. So enjoy this love song talking about the craziness that can happen down in Mexico when you let your inhibitions go.

Last but not least:

10) The Chicken Dance!!!: Once again fun fun fun song. Played at every wedding and quinceanera it's just a fun little Mexican dance. Go for it. Everyone knows the Chicken Dance and anyone who says differently is lying and needs to let their inner silly child free!!

And there you have it. A couple of songs that will help to make your fiesta to be a fun one. Don't forget the queso, chips, salsa, and of course the drinks; have fun!