On August 28, 2016, Juan Gabriel unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack. He was 66 years old and in the midst of his MeXXIco Es Todo Tour, which had just kicked off in the U.S.
Today (Jan. 7), El Divo de Juarez would’ve been celebrating his 71st birthday.
His legacy continues to shine, especially in his timeless songs that for generations have filled fans with a rollercoaster of emotions, such as empowering moments with “La Farsante” to joyful tunes like “El Noa Noa.”
For the most part, however, Juanga’s romantic ballads and mariachis are about heartbreaks and despite the lyrics about deception, they are perfect to sing-along with your friends at a party.
As Billboard continues to celebrate Juanga’s legacy, check out five songs that the brokenhearted can relate to.
“Asi Fue”
“Asi Fue” tells the difficult story of a person who’s admitting to his or her partner that they have fallen in love with someone else and are moving on: “I’m honest with you and with them. I love her and I forgot about you. If you want, we can be friends, I can help you forget the past.”
“Yo No Naci Para Amar”
On “Yo No Naci Para Amar,” Gabriel sings about being a hopeless romantic when he was 16 years old. The track highlights how all of his friends found love, but he was still single. “I wasn’t born to love, no one was born to love me,” Juanga laments.
“Por Que Me Haces Llorar?”
If you are seeking closure, hit up your ex with “Por Que Me Haces Llorar?” With lyrics such as “why do you make me cry? Can’t you see how much I love you?”, this mariachi jam gets the message across. During his concerts, Juanga would drink a glass of wine while he performed this heartfelt song, because who wouldn’t?
“Ya Lo Sé Que Tú Te Vas”
The Mexican singer knew heartbreak was about to happen before it even happened! “Ya Lo Sé Que Tú Te Vas” is for the person who suspects his or her partner is acting differently and they will want to break up sooner rather than later. “I already know you’re leaving and that perhaps you’re not coming back,” Juanga chants before bidding them farewell. “Goodbye, my love.”
“No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar”
If you’re about to throw in the towel, then “No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar” is a song for you. On this song, the Mexican icon sings about his bad luck in love and how he made a mistake the first time he gave his heart to someone: “This disappointment has left me with a bad taste/ It has taken my courage/ I will never stumble, I will not notice anyone/ I will not fall in love again.”