Cha Cha Music Recommendations

I play a few Latin tunes a night at one regular gig, and I'm always looking for a wider selection.

I'm looking specificaly for what you may call Cha Cha music, the slightly slower rhythms. Keeping the mood upbeat is key and is what I'd like some suggestions on -- high energy while playing the typically slower Cha Cha rhythms.

I love Latin music, especially the large group musicians, one of my favorites being the well-known Mongo Santamaria (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80305162050&sql=Bqlfnzf07ehpk). I personally don't enjoy Latin Pop (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS80305162050&sql=C160), the electronic house sound is not to my taste (although it may be to yours).

I appreciate any suggestions, I'm always glad to have another CD to be able to use at any needed time. ;)

-FF

[Spitfire]

Ola Chica - Chico Fernandez
Ou Est Passee Ma Boheme - Julio Iglesias
Y Bailo - Donato & Estefano

These are good tunes for cha-cha.

[Vince A]

As much as I love to WCS to "slower" music, a slow cha cha just kills me. I almost go to sleep when my Pro says "let's warm up (for our routine) with a slow cha cha." My muscle memory for this dance is in a "fast twitch" mode. I suffer, but do it. I should practice slower more often, as I usually catch slower songs in competition! But I've had fast too.

REMEMBER: THIS IS ONE PERSON'S OPINION! NO ATTACKS PLEASE!

A cha cha to me is "an action" dance, and I get get and give action to faster cha cha music.

My wife is really into Marc Anthony, and I practice almost daily to "I Need To Know" and "Tragedy."

I'll have to listen to some of the ones suggested here . . .

[Spitfire]

As much as I love to WCS to "slower" music, a slow cha cha just kills me. I almost go to sleep when my Pro says "let's warm up (for our routine) with a slow cha cha." My muscle memory for this dance is in a "fast twitch" mode. I suffer, but do it. I should practice slower more often, as I usually catch slower songs in competition! But I've had fast too.

REMEMBER: THIS IS ONE PERSON'S OPINION! NO ATTACKS PLEASE!

A cha cha to me is "an action" dance, and I get get and give action to faster cha cha music.

My wife is really into Marc Anthony, and I practice almost daily to "I Need To Know" and "Tragedy."

I'll have to listen to some of the ones suggested here . . .

I can understand that; I prefer the more up tempo myself, but will dance to any cha-cha.

Another good tune - "Someday" by Sugar Ray.

[Vince A]

Spitfire,
I agree, I will cha to just about anything . . .

"Someday" is one of my wife's favorite - a great cha cha!

[MissAlyssa]

Spitfire,
I agree, I will cha to just about anything . . .

"Someday" is one of my wife's favorite - a great cha cha!


Hella good-No doubt is a really good song and so is Lady marmalade-christina aguilera, mya, missy, lil kim, pink is fun!

[Spitfire]

And so is "The Game of Love" by Santana/Michelle Branch.

[MissAlyssa]

And so is "The Game of Love" by Santana/Michelle Branch.

oOo good one! :D

[Spitfire]

And so is "The Game of Love" by Santana/Michelle Branch.

oOo good one! :D

Michelle Branch is a Flagstaff girl.

A cha cha to me is "an action" dance, and I get get and give action to faster cha cha music.

I agree on the preference, that's why I'm always on the lookout for Cha Cha music that won't make me (and the whole room I'm spinning for) sleepy :|

-FF

[Vince A]

funkyfreak,

You hit the "nail on the head." Not only does it put the "whole room to sleep," I also start heading that way . . . in the middle of the dance!

Heard another good song at lunch . . . can't put my finger on the artist though . . . "Follow Me" (Everything is alright) . . . good for WCS as well!

VA

[MissAlyssa]

funkyfreak,

You hit the "nail on the head." Not only does it put the "whole room to sleep," I also start heading that way . . . in the middle of the dance!

Heard another good song at lunch . . . can't put my finger on the artist though . . . "Follow Me" (Everything is alright) . . . good for WCS as well!

VA



I believe the song is "follow me" by artist Uncle Kracker :wink:

[youngsta]

Spanish Harlem Orchestra - "Pa'Gozar" is easily my favorite right now.

[MissAlyssa]

I don't know who sings it but one of my fave songs to practice cha cha to (because it is slow) is a song that's chorus goes "cha....cha....cha" haha, like that helps right? Anyone know what I'm talking about?? :?

[pygmalion]

This is not nightclub/DJ music, but I just heard a great slow cha cha, by a West African artist -- Ismaila Oussou, called Mandaly. Perfect tempo for teaching or practice. :D

[danceguy]

I picked up an album by Julio Iglesias with a song called "Una Donna Puo Cambiar La Vita," what a great Cha-Cha tune! It feels fast to me (I'm not very experienced though)...but it is a bit short at around 3 minutes or so.

[Spitfire]

I picked up an album by Julio Iglesias with a song called "Una Donna Puo Cambiar La Vita," what a great Cha-Cha tune! It feels fast to me (I'm not very experienced though)...but it is a bit short at around 3 minutes or so.

Ou Est Passee Ma Boheme - Another Julio Iglesias song that is good for Cha Cha.

[Phil Owl]

A couple cool tunes to Cha-Cha to:

The Sinister Minister - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Twilight World - Swing Out Sister

[Adwiz]

Here are my favorite pop-music Cha Cha tunes. I prefer them fast and frisky, which I think best reflects the cheeky nature of the dance.

1. I Like it Like That by the Blackout Allstarts (very fast: 34bpm)

2. Get the Party Started by Pink (32bpm)

3. Dance With Me by Debelah Morgan (29bpm)

4. In These Shoes? by Kirsty MacColl. What a shame about this great singer being killed in a boating accident, she had so much potential for the dancing community. The words to this song are a joy. (31bpm)

5. Let's Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez (33bpm)

6. Escape by Enrique Iglesias (32bpm)

7. Tragedy by... who sings this? I just have the DanceLife strict tempo version. (29bpm)

8. Walkin' on the Sun by Smash Mouth (31bpm)

9. Sexi Dance by Paulina Rubio (31bpm)

10. All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow (32bpm)

[SDsalsaguy]

1. I Like it Like That by the Blackout Allstarts (very fast: 34bpm)
This used to be Janelle's and my favorite song to practice our salsa routines too! The speed was just a bonus -- we could go that fast if needed and could just use all the extra time in regular tempo songs...

[Spitfire]

The Game of Love - Santana with Michelle Branch
Someday - Sugar Ray
Cha Cha Latino - Don't know artist, if anyone does let me know.
Chilly Cha Cha - " "
Todo Todo Todo - Daniella Romo
A Change - Cheryl Crowe

[Adwiz]

Todo Todo Todo - Daniella Romo

Just checked that one out. Nice Cha Cha tune, fast and fun the way I like.

[HothouseSalsero]

I really like dancing a slow cha cha cha.

One of my favorites is Eddie Palmieri's "Criticona." Also, I like "Tema del Apollo"

Jimmy Bosch's guajira "Pa' Mantener Tradicion" has a lot of instrumental soloing in it which gives it an edge. (Most people these days, in the U.S. anyway, seem to dance guajiras as cha cha chas. In fact, as far as I know I still haven't seen an actual guajira being danced.)

I love Joe Bataan's "Muchacho Ordinario" but I guess that is more mid-tempo than slow.

[peachexploration]

Papo y Robertitio by Roberto Blades is a good one. :)

[dolceamore]

I don't know who sings it but one of my fave songs to practice cha cha to (because it is slow) is a song that's chorus goes "cha....cha....cha" haha, like that helps right? Anyone know what I'm talking about?? :?

hey yeah, i think i know.......... does it go cha cha cha cha , cha cha cha.. in like a whispery kind of voice and its kind of slow. i dunno i danced to something like that for a showcase but yeah... maybe its not what ur thinkin lol[/quote]

[LatinaQuerida]

a couple good cha-cha songs are: sex bomb and senorita by Justin Timberlake

[dolceamore]

i LOVE dancing to Senorita by Justin timberlake. its very up beat and fun!

[Oscar]

My first post :D A super site you guys have going :) Glad to finally be a part of it.

I've heard songs like Chilli Cha Cha, Todo Todo, Sexi Dance, Need to Know etc. which come under what is considered suitable for the Cha. Personally i find them too rigid in their form, which is not to say i dislike them. I just find the feel to be a little ..mmm...regimented?

My question is: What rhythm/category/style do these songs (the ones listed under here) come under? Are the songs I'm listing here cha cha cha's? If not what are they? I'm more interested in songs with this rhythm irrespective of whether they are cha's or not.

Vertical Expression of Horizontal Desire - Bellamy Brothers
South of the Border - Dean Martin / Chris Isaak
Ticket to Heaven - Dire Straits
Diesel Cafe - Dire Straits
Tequila Sunrise - Eagles
When you're only lonely - J.D. Souther

What are these? Does anyone know of any songs with a similar rhythm to these? If you do please lemme know! Am i wrong in thinking these are all cha cha cha's of some sort? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Sagitta]

Welcome to DF Oscar!! :D It is the participation of members like you that make this site what it is, and so I look forward to your contributions. I noticed that you are in Kuwait!! Cool! I'm pretty sure that you are our first DF member from there. :) As for those songs hopefully one of the other members will help you out as I don't listen to that sort of music much.

[Spitfire]

Oscar,

Welcome; you've come to the right place :D

I'm not familar with the other songs you mention, but Tequila Sunrise and You're Only Lonely are most suited to Rumba.

[Blondie]

i LOVE dancing to Senorita by Justin timberlake. its very up beat and fun!

Upbeat? I just heard it for the first time. It's a slow song, no more than 60-70 bpm. I suppose one could practice cha cha VERY slow to it and work hard on technique.

[blaze]

Respect to all, but I like songs listed by Spitfire the most so far =).