When it comes to showing their Mami some love, Latinos aren’t shy about their displays of affection. The same thing applies to songs made for moms, which tend to be full of love and affection and much-needed during these challenging times.
From Ricardo Arjona to Aventura, here are 12 tracks that we’ll be playing for the special lady in our lives.
“Mi Novia Se Me Esta Quedando Vieja” – Ricardo Arjona
Guatemalan star Ricardo Arjona didn’t just write a song for his mom; he made it a single. The girlfriend analogy only makes it more poignant, so much so that Arjona’s mom says she doesn’t like to listen to it because it makes her cry.
“Después De Tí” – Christian Castro
The lyrics to this 1997 hit seem to be all about love (“There is nothing after you, no sun no morning), but songwriter Rudy Perez actually penned it after his mom’s death, in her memory.
“Amor Eterno” – Juan Gabriel
No, it’s not THAT endless love. This one was written by the Mexican singer/songwriter after his mom’s death and is very explicit in its mourning (“How I would love for you to be alive, that your eyes had never closed”). A huge hit for Gabriel, it’s been covered by many acts, most famously, Rocío Durcal.
“Amor De Madre” – Denise Rosenthal
Chilean artist and one of Billboard’s Latina Artists to Discover During Quarantine, Denise Rosenthal, released this soulful funk dedicated to her mother, highlighting their differences but unconditional love.
“Canto A La Madre” – Neto Bernal
Billboard’s Latin Male Artist to Discover During Quarantine, Neto Bernal, compares a mother’s great love to that of God’s in this heartfelt ranchera.
“Te Voy a Decir Una Cosa” – Amaia Montero
There’s no nostalgia or sadness in this joyful ode to mom penned by the former lead singer of Spanish pop group La Oreja de Van Gogh.
“Amor de Madre” – Victor Manuelle
The salsa star goes introspective in this track that became a single (“she stopped being her to be there for me”) from his 2009 album Muy Personal.
“Amor De Madre” – Aventura
This Aventura song is a tale of a single mom who resorts to prostitution to raise her son. But the boy doesn’t appreciate his mother’s sacrifices and things go south. Vintage Santos story-telling, though not for the faint of heart.
“Ella” – Bebe
From Bebe’s 2009 Latin Grammy-winning Pa’Fuera Telarañas, this female power track is not specifically about moms, but works for us!
“Madrecita Querida” – Vicente Fernandez
Want to serenade mom with a mariachi? Ask them to play Vicente Fernandez’s ode to motherhood and you’ll make her cry.
“A Ella Le Debo Mi Amor” – Laura Pausini
Penning lyrics about motherhood and unconditional love for her daughter, Laura Pausini released this heartwarming lullaby in which she sings about giving all her love to her baby girl.
“A Eme O” – Andrea Echeverri
The Colombian alt-rocker wrote this love song for her daughter, with the title spelling out the word love (amor) in Spanish. The lyrics are anything but trite though (“Since you were born, I’m a better lover, as if you had opened up my conduits”).
