Spanish Songs for All Ages
AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE FOR LEARNING SPANISH SONGS
One of the best ways to learn Spanish is through music. Songs naturally provide a context for vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, making it easier to learn new words and phrases. Music also helps improve memory retention in the rhythm and melody of it, the learners internalize the language easily. Singing along and learning the phrases and words of various types of songs allows not only to expand your vocabulary, but also learn what makes the language similar and different from their own native language. From beginner to refiner, these specially picked songs will be both enjoyable and rewarding to help you learn Spanish.
“Mi gran noche” by Raphael (Video): This timeless classic is an essential introduction to the future tense in Spanish and fits well for any learner who wishes to broaden their grammar knowledge. The lyrics, with their upbeat and clear nature, help you understand the sentence structure while you are immersed in a vibrant story of enthusiasm and excitement.
“Rosas” by La Oreja de Van Gogh : This pop ballad is perfect for beginners with its easy-to-follow lyrics. It uses themes that everyone can understand, especially grief, so the students can learn emotional vocabulary and comprehension.
“Con altura” by Rosalía : Rosalía’s chart topping hit is made up of modern slang and colloquialisms making it perfect for advanced learners. Reggaeton plus flamenco brings about new styles of music, giving you fluency while enjoying a global sensation.
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee : This is a great global phenomenon that has a lot of vocabulary for romance, rhythm, and cultural references. Despite his rap verses being a challenge, Daddy Yankee’s slower choruses are great; first being exposed to everyday phrases and then perfect for improving listening skills.
“Cuando me vaya” by Melocos and Natalia (Video): This song is perfect for learners who enjoy ballads and is all about nostalgia and farewells. The simple but moving lyrics provide a good chant of words for goodbyes and relationships; it also enhances your ability to decipher poetic expressions in Spanish.
“Todos me miran” by Gloria Trevi : This song has a pretty good clear enunciation to practice on and is an anthem of self-expression and power. The lyrics are repetitive and easy enough to follow, helping learners learn new vocabulary around confidence or individuality.
“Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias ft. Descemer Bueno, Gente de Zona : Intended for learners wishing to practice their fluency, this lively track combines urban Latin sounds with reggaeton. It’s easy to sing and memorize basic vocabulary of love and dancing in a simple structure and repetitive chorus.
“Corazón partío” by Alejandro Sanz : This soulful ballad draws listeners along to discuss themes that range from love and heartbreak through using informal expressions such as ‘Corazón partío’ (heartbroken). This is a slower pace, which is also conversational make it accessible for intermediate learners looking to expand their vocabulary after completing the previous lessons.
“Rayando el sol” by Maná : Maná’s melodic hit is a great chance to improve listening comprehension because the singer speaks clearly. The emotional theme of longing, nostalgia and such in the song really help learners connect well with the language.
“Vivir mi vida” by Marc Anthony : The perfect salsa hit to learn simple, uplifting phrases such as “Voy a reír” (I’m going to laugh). The repetitive nature and cheer inducing vibe of the song makes it a great way to develop word’s that talk about positivity and perseverance.
“La camisa negra” by Juanes : With relatable storytelling and conversational Spanish, this iconic Latin rock track drove themes of regret and heartbreak. It’s got a great catchy chorus and repetitive structure that makes it perfect for past tense verbs and colloquial expressions.
“Limón y sal” by Julieta Venegas : Julieta Venegas’ lyrics are sweet and explore themes of love and acceptance, and there are plenty of present tense verbs to practice! Using simple phrasing and conversational tone, this will be accessible (so even beginners can follow along while expanding their vocabulary).
“Bonito” by Jarabe de Palo : This uplifting song encourages us to see the beauty in the everyday of our lives and provides learners with multiple repetitions of positive adjectives and expressions. Its catchy rhythm makes it easy to sing along and pick up new words without effort.
“Bailando” by Alaska : This is a fun introduction to the gerund form in Spanish with Alaska’s classic pop hit. Its slow pace and clear pronunciation makes it easier that even beginners can understand and practice along with the song.
“Eres” by Café Tacuba : This romantic ballad helps with words related to admiration and devotion. With clear lyrics and emotional tone, this is a great opportunity for learners to practice their listening skills and form connections with meaningful phrases.
Additional Resources
This page was last updated by Marco Permunian
