Conga (song)

"Conga"
Single by Miami Sound Machine
from the album Primitive Love
B-side	"Mucho Money"
Released	September 3, 1985
Genre	Dance-pop
Length	4:14
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Enrique E. Garcia
Miami Sound Machine singles chronology
"I Need a Man" (1984) "Conga" (1985) "Bad Boy" (1986)
Primitive Love track listing "Falling In Love (Uh-Oh)" (5) "Conga" (6) "Mucho Money" (7) Greatest Hits track listing "Dr. Beat" (1) "Conga" (2) "Words Get in the Way" (3) Music sample "Conga"

"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.

Background

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.^[1]

"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.^[2]

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.

Cover versions

• Charo, in her 1988 concert at Bally's Reno.^[3]
• La Toya Jackson, in her 1989 concert at Bally's Reno.
• The Barrio Boyzz, on the 1993 album Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
• Sammi Cheng, a Hong Kong female singer, in her 2009–2010 tour Love Mi.
• George Lam, a Hong Kong male singer, into single 阿Lam日記, in his 1986 album 最愛.
• Japanese Guitarists Issei Noro of Casiopea, Masahiro Andoh of T-Square, and Hirokuni Korekata of KORENOS, As a band called Ottottrio, covered "Conga" on their Live Album, "Super Guitar Session Red Live", released in 1989.
• The Chipettes covered this song for the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Music from the Motion Picture album and for the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked film. This version is mashed with Yolanda Be Cool featuring DCUP's "We No Speak Americano". Alvin and the Chipmunks later covered the song in full for the 2015 film Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip and its soundtrack.
• The Broadway cast of On Your Feet! sing "Conga" during Act 1.

Formats and track listings

Extended Play - Original Versions.

1. "Conga" (album version) – 4:14
2. "Conga" (instrumental version) – 4:14
3. "Conga" (dance mix) – 6:06

Extended Play/ 7" Single - Remixes.

1. "Conga" (European remix/the stronga-conga remix) – 4:24
2. "Conga 25" – 3:58

U.S. vinyl 7" single (34 05457).

1. "Conga" (album version) - 04'14"
2. "Mucho Money" (album version) - 04'44"

U.S. vinyl 12" single (49 05253).

1. "Conga" (dance mix) - 6'06"
2. "Conga" (instrumental version) - 4'14"

'Europe vinyl 12" single (A12.6361).

1. "Conga" (album version) – 4:14
2. "Mucho Money" (album version) - 04'44"
3. "Conga" (dance mix) – 6:06
4. "Conga" (instrumental version) – 4:14

Holland vinyl 7" single (650060 7).

1. "Conga" (European remix/the stronga-conga remix) - 05'30"
2. "Mucho Money" (album version) - 04'44"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985–86) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 37 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 5 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[9] 18 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 16 Spain (AFYVE)[11] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 79 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 10 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[14] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 60 Chart (2016) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[16] 63

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Peak position[2] US 40 Brazil 59 New Zealand 15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17]	Gold	50,000^^
United States (RIAA)[18]	Gold	500,000^^
^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date
Europe	September 3, 1985
United States	October 31, 1985
United Kingdom	December 6, 1985

References

1. "American single certifications – Estefan, Gloria & Miami Sound – Conga". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
2. Conga (Single – 1985/1986)
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KUfy_KS8ZQ
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 199. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 26 June 1988.
5. "Ultratop.be – Miami Sound Machine – Conga" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0637." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
7. "Dutchcharts.nl – Miami Sound Machine – Conga" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
8. "Charts.org.nz – Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
9. "Swedishcharts.com – Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
10. "Swisscharts.com – Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
11. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
12. "Archive Chart: 1985-07-13" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
13. "Miami Sound Machine – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Miami Sound Machine. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
14. "Miami Sound Machine – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Miami Sound Machine. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
15. "Miami Sound Machine – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Miami Sound Machine. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
16. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
17. "Canadian single certifications – Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Music Canada. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
18. "American single certifications – Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics