B-side "Mucho Money" Genre Dance-pop Label Epic | Released August 1985 (1985-08) Length 4:14 Writer(s) Enrique E. Garcia | |
"Conga" is the first hit 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 was written by the band's drummer and lead songwriter Enrique Garcia. The single was first released in 1985.
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Background
According to Gloria Estefan in an interview in the Netherlands television show RTL Late Night, 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."
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 ten in various countries, including the United States and the Netherlands. The song was a minor hit in the United Kingdom, where the attention was based more on the single "Bad Boy". In Billboard magazine's year-end chart in 1986, "Conga" finished at #40.
Music video
The video is set in the New York City night club "Copacabana", hosting a reception for an unspecified ambassador. After a piano rendition, the Miami Sound Machine is announced as the next featured act (though Gloria insists the setting is not appropriate for the song.) The more upbeat song becomes a hit.