The recent death of Willie Colón, a prominent figure in salsa music and activism, has resulted in a surge of search interest. His passing, as reported by multiple sources, has prompted many fans and followers to seek information about his life and contributions to music. Colón was a well-known artist, and the news of his death has caught the attention of both the general public and the music community.
His extensive impact on salsa music and cultural activism likely explains the significant increase in searches. With over 100,000 searches currently being recorded, it indicates that his legacy resonates with a wide audience. People are reflecting on his influence, which has led them to search for tributes, obituaries, and details surrounding his life and career.
Several major news outlets have confirmed his passing, marking a moment of remembrance and recognition for his work. The collective nature of these reports, along with the outpouring of interest in information about his legacy, has likely fueled the high volume of searches associated with his name. This event highlights the profound effect that his death has had on fans and the music industry.
Watch the Moment
Internet Reacts
B
Thanks for putting this together!
D
You’re welcome. I just updated my post with a playlist so a person can just flip through the songs.
B
Thanks
D
Youre welcome. I spent quite a bit of time fooling around with an excel spreasheet to come up with this. So I figured I should share the result here.
R
Thanks! Do you have a playlist of these songs that you could share? Spotify or YouTube music.
D
Just a sec, I’ll make one
D
Here it is: [Salsa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXnjy5YlDwk&list=PLQEDBkFsraoVI1yLwX2PsACujiAn31rFT)
O
🇩🇴
C
Let me guess, you like Marc Anthony? Some songs you can add: Mi Mulata, Frankie Negrón Micaela, Sonora Carruseles Un Monton de Estrellas (salsa version, of course), Mojado Yo No Se Mañana, Luis Enrique Tanto La Queria, Andy & Lucas Aicha, Africando Toda Una Vida, Leoni Torres And for those who are into Latin covers: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Coco Freeman Big Yellow Taxi, Idana Valdes & Aquila Rose
D
Not sure if you noticed in my post. The way I made this list isn’t based on if I like them. It’s based on if the songs are popular bassed on streams. The interest in making the list is that the songs would likely be more accessible since they’re more popular. Thanks for the other songs, I’ll have a look at them.
C
>Not sure if you noticed in my post. The way I made this list isn’t based on if I like them. It’s based on if the songs are popular bassed on streams. I did, but we are all pre-slanted toward our own preferences.
D
Yeah, preferences is the whole problem… I’ve been sharing salsa tunes with my non-salsa friends for years with little success. After listening for 25 years myself, the stuff I like isn’t as easy on the ears to the unfamiliar listener. I mean, it takes some exposure to appreciate guaguancó or timba. So I decided to add some data literacy to my choice system for sharing. So I decided to make a list based on how widespead the songs are. We’ll see if I get better results by sharing songs with people. Also, there are always people who just entered salsa that are struggling with the beat. I think this list can be helpful for them. I really liked the ones you gave me. Leoni Torres and Luis Enrique didn’t come forward in the data due to error and I was able to include them in… Also the Un Monton de Estrella, that’s a huge one…..
D
Okay, I’ve added to my excel spreadsheet, thanks again… I went with the Polo Montanez instead of Mojado though… I think covers are interesting for this category. If a person already knows the song then it could be a good pathway to appreciating the salsa version of it…
P
I cannot listen to Marc Anthony at all. there was some poll in a FB group and interestingly many said they didnt like his music either .
D
No list is perfect. This one is based on streams. Remember, the purpose of the list is for people that don’t know salsa yet.
P
I understand. thanks. I remember that when I first started listening to the music, I liked it but there was no obvious rhythm at all, and now I know why.
D
Yeah, same hear, the first time I head it, I thought it was barely music. But boy am I in love with it now. Here’s the blurb I created inside the spreadsheet I made for this: This is a list of salsa songs compiled based on how widely played thay are (estimated streams). Song popularity could be an indicator that the rhythms and melodies are easier to interpret. There are a few listed that didn’t have stream counts but they are covers or origins of the songs. Salsa is not as obvious to understand because it is the result of centuries of cultural layering across Latin America. African musical traditions brought through the transatlantic slave trade contributed complex polyrhythms, syncopation, and call-and-response structures. These blended with European harmonic systems and instruments introduced through colonialism, as well as Indigenous influences. Over time, these elements fused in Cuba and later evolved further in places like New York City, where Afro-Caribbean rhythms met jazz and big band traditions. At the core of salsa is the clave, a repeating rhythmic pattern that organizes the music but is often implied rather than overtly played. For listeners accustomed to plain Western downbeats, the interlocking percussion, syncopated accents, and layered rhythms can feel elusive. Salsa is not rhythmically chaotic, it is intricately structured, but understanding it requires hearing how multiple cultural voices move together within one unified groove. Further a salsa song often has several parts (Intro, Verse (Cuerpo/Tema), Montuno (Coro-Pregón), Moña, Mambo, Solo, Coda/Cola). So a song isn’t homogenous entirely throuout. Salsa dancing revolves around eight counts, which is two 4/4 musical bars with a A-B pattern. Polyrhythms Application: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrEqNTyMF_A Polyrhythms Diagram: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yIXeVjM3cvA Clave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNw-WbUS_sw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye7d5mPNfYY
D
Another point worth mentioning is, when sharing music with our non-salsa friends, our own personal biases might work against us… that’s why I made the list. To find some songs to share that are not affected by my own biases.
P
I think there is a salsa version of Part-time Lover. that must be super popular
P
I would be surprised that any true salsa music connoisseur would love Marc Anthony’s songs
D
Sure, but you may misunderstand the purpose of the list.
A
Are you dense bro? You’ve commented like 4 times. The post literally says the songs are sorted by number of streams (I assume on Spotify or similar) and that it’s meant for non salsa listeners.
P
So salsa listeners don’t listen to Spotify ?
D
Yeah, it’s spotify and youtube streams.
Additional Sources:
WFAA – Salsa legend Willie Colón has died
Deadline – Willie Colón Dies: Salsa Music Legend And Activist Was 75
