"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
According to Gloria Estefan in an interview in the Netherlandstelevision showRTL 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 and became a worldwide hit, reaching #10 on the U.S. BillboardHot 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 10 in various countries, including the United States and the Netherlands. The song was not a hit in the United Kingdom, failing to chart on the top 75. There the attention was based more on the single "Bad Boy". In Billboard magazine's year-end chart in 1986, "Conga" finished at number 40.
Music video
The video is set in the fictional Miami night club Copacabana, hosting a reception for an unspecified ambassador. After a boring piano recital, the Miami Sound Machine is announced as the next featured act Despite the initial shock of his wife, the more upbeat song becomes a hit with the audience and ambassador.
Sammi Cheng, a Hong Kong female singer, in her 2009–2010 tour Love Mi.
George Lam, a Hong Kong male singer, remade the song as the single "Ah Lam 日記" with Cantonese lyrics for 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 Broadway cast of On Your Feet! sing "Conga" during Act 1.
