Conga

"Conga"
Single by Miami Sound Machine
from the album Primitive Love
B-side	"Mucho Money"
Released	September 1985 (1985-09)
Format	Cassette single 12" Inch Vinyl Single 7" Inch Vinyl Single 3" CD Single
Recorded	1985
Genre	Dance-Pop, Samba
Length	4:14
Label	Epic Records
Certification	Gold
Miami Sound Machine singles chronology

"Conga" is the first single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine led by Gloria Estefan on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love.

Song history

The single was released worldwide in 1985 (see 1985 in music) and became a smash success around the world, providing the band worldwide mainstream popularity, reaching #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 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 sales of 500,000 copies.[1].

"Conga" was re-recorded and mashed-up with "Dr. Beat" in a new re-mix in 2001, which was released on Estefan's third compilation album. This new song was released as a promo single in Spain and titled "Y-Tu-Conga".

Formats and track listings

U.S. Vinyl 7" Single ()

1. "Conga" (Album Version)
2. "Mucho Money" (Album Version)

U.S. Vinyl 12" Single ()

1. "Conga" (Dance Mix)
2. "Conga" (Instrumental Version)

Europe Vinyl 12" Single ()

1. "Conga" (Dance Mix)
2. "Conga" (Instrumental Version)
3. "Mucho Money" (Album Version)

Holland Vinyl 7" Single ()

1. "Conga" (European Remix/The Stronga-Conga Remix)
2. "Mucho Money" (Album Version)

Chart performance

"Conga" became a worldwide success and is recognized as the signature song of the band and Gloria Estefan. The song reached the Top Ten in various countries, including the United States and the Netherlands. The song was a minor hit in the United Kingdom, while the attention was based more on the single "Bad Boy". In Billboard magazine's year-end chart in 1986, "Conga" finished at #40.[1]

Cover versions

• Charo, in her 1988 concert at Bally's in Reno.[2]
• La Toya Jackson, in her 1989 concert at Bally's in Reno.
• Sammi Cheng, a Hong Kong female singer, in her 2009-2010 tour Love Mi.
• George Lam, a Hong Kong male singer, into single 阿Lam日記, in 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.
• Additionally, Casiopea, Orquestra de la Luz and Anri covered the song on a Japanese T.V. Special called "Music Party II", broadcasted on 1990.

References in pop culture

• In Bender's What-If Machine simulation in the Futurama episode "Anthology of Interest II", he, and others, dance to "Conga" all night long.
• The song was used in the movie The Birdcage, where effeminate man-servant Agador, played by Hank Azaria, dances in a cut-off shirt and thong.
• On the show Human Giant, the song was featured in a skit called "Shittiest Mixtape Boombox Blast", where Aziz Ansari had to walk around downtown New York playing "Conga" and nine other horrible songs due to a lost bet.
• The song was featured in the 2007 film The Heartbreak Kid.
• It will be featured as one of the songs from the Sega game Samba de Amigo in the port for the Wii.
• The song was featured in Pump it Up as a cover by Queen Latin. It was in Pre 3, Prex 3, Exceed, Exceed 2, Zero, and NX.
• The song was used in the rhythm based Xbox 360 game Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3.
• The humor-core band Psychostick" plays a live heavy metal cover version of this song.
• Rémy and Steve in Les Invincibles talk about the song.
• In a documentary about the 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, an instrumental version was used at its intro.
• The song was featured in the 2002 film The Master of Disguise where Dana Carvey's character is dancing at a party located at a villains house.
• The song title was adopted by a group of Gloria Estefan fans for their online group, Conga Online, www.congaonline.net

Official versions

Original versions

1. Album Version (4:14)
2. Dance Mix (6:06)
3. Instrumental Version (4:14)

Remixes

1. European Remix/The Stronga-Conga Remix (4:24)

References

1. ^ a b c Conga (Single - 1985/1986)
2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KUfy_KS8ZQ

External links

1. gloriestefanmyspace
2. gloriestefanmexico.com
3. 90millas.com
4. gloriaestefandiscographydatabase