Cha and Rhumba music recommendations?

[LindyKeya]

Hi all-
I know Cha cha recommendations are currently being covered in another thread, but I am looking for some choices along with some Rhumba options for a medley. So, what are some great Rhumba songs, especially something that would be popular? And do you know of any Cha Cha songs that would fit well with said songs?

(Also, I once heard a Rhumba that was fairly middle-eastern in sound, like a belly-dancing song, and was in French. It was amazing! If anyone knows of anything like that, it would be great!)

Thanks in advance!

[Spitfire]

Welcome LindyKeya,

Here's some good Rumbas:

Falling in Love - G. Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.
Blessed - Elton John
So Nice - Bebel Gilberto
Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps - Doris Day

[Sagitta]

I just went to a dance party where I danced rhumba to Turkish music...unfortunately have no idea what the songs were...I will ask around and see if I can get the songs.

[Adwiz]

what are some great Rhumba songs, especially something that would be popular?

One of my favorite Rhumba songs is "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin (from the motion picture soundtrack "Top Gun"). It's a 24bpm tune.

I also like "Windmills of Your Mind" by Sting (from the motion picture soundtrack for "the Thomas Crown Affair"). It isn't as much of a love song in its flavoring, but I love the constant references to turning which is so much a part of the beautiful Rhumba dance. It's a little faster at 28bpm.

Diana Krall's "Besame Mucho" is a very recent chart hit. Her version is a little slow for my liking, but a beautiful Rhumba song. If you can find a version with a strict tempo it would be popular.

"Calling" and "Cry" are other good Rhumba songs that have been on the pop music charts recently. They are 26 and 23bpm respectively. And there is the Destiny's Child hit "Emotion" at 23bpm.

As for creating a medley, I think there are lots of choices. One obvious choice is to use songs by the same artist. Another is to apply similar themes so that the two songs make sense together. For example, if you took Paulina Rubio's recent hit "Sexi Dance" as your Cha Cha tune, blended near the end into "Take My Breath Away" both songs have this breathless quality that would work nicely together. They also both have similar vocal tones.

But that's just one idea, there are many ways to put Cha Cha and Rhumba together. You have one dance about flirting followed by the Rhumba where the woman has, in a sense, succumbed to passion, making a nice combination for a medley. As long as the two aren't jarringly different it should work. For example, I wouldn't put J. Lo's "Let's Get Loud" in a medley even though I love it as a Cha Cha tune, because the shift to the love song would be too severe.

[clawhite]

Three Songs I really like for rumba:

California Dreamin' by Queen Latifah
Hurt by Johnny Cash
Death Letter by Cassandra Wilson

[liangjz]

R:

La Playa- Chayanne
Casi un Bolero - Ricky Martin
I like Mondo Bongo
Antologia- Shakira

Cha:
Tu y Yo- Thalia
Mendez songs - no criminal, fiesta
let's get loud - JLo
Represent Cuba- slow, but can be nice to practice to.
Come on Over- Aguilera

[Medira]

Rumba:

And I Love her - Jose Alberto
Sway - Bic Runga
Hold On - Alan Frew

Cha Cha:

El Diablo Ando Suelto - Rey Ruiz
Cama y Mesa - Orquesta la Palabra

[la morena]

Hurt by Johnny Cash


Now if there's one song I would never dance to....
More like a song to cry to.

[Brush Tap]

The Wild Orchid soundtrack has some great dancing music on it... there is a great rumba (good for American style- maybe too fast for International unless it is slowed down)... it is called "Bird Boy". There is also a great samba (Elejibo), and a couple of good cha chas ("Dark Secret" and something else).

[SexyMan2Cha]

Now if there's one song I would never dance to....
More like a song to cry to.

Was thinking the same thing, beuatiful song though.

R:
Light my fire - Will Young

[Kelior]

Rumba:
Falling into You - Celine Dion
Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
Es Por Ti - Juanes
Lady (Hear Me Tonight) - Modjo
Una Notte a Napoli - Pink Martini
Fields of Gold - Sting
After Dark - Tito & Tarantula
Pyramids of Pleasure - The Triplets
Cha Cha:
Sugar, Sugar - Archies (Andy Kim)
Arriba - Joee
I Need to Know - Marc Anthony
Last Kiss - Pearl Jam
Baila Morena - Zucchero

[Twilight_Elena]

Was thinking the same thing, beuatiful song though.

R:
Light my fire - Will Young

The most incredible (slow) practice chacha (it's practically ringing in my ears): Light my Fire - Shirley Bassey.

T_E