Conga (song)

"Conga" is the first hit single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine, led by Gloria Estefan, on their second English-language album, Primitive Love. The song was written by the band's drummer and lead songwriter Enrique Garcia. The song first appeared on August 31, 1985, as part of the album. The single was released in Australia on September 9, 1985.[1]

"Conga"
Single by Miami Sound Machine
from the album Primitive Love
B-side"Mucho Money"
ReleasedSeptember 9, 1985 (1985-09-09)
Genre
Length4:14
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Enrique E. Garcia
Producer(s)
Miami Sound Machine singles chronology
"I Need a Man"
(1984)		 "Conga"
(1985)		 "Bad Boy"
(1986)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"Conga" became a worldwide success and is recognized as the Miami Sound Machine and Gloria Estefan's signature song. The single reached the top 10 in various countries, including the United States and the Netherlands.

Background

According to Gloria Estefan in an interview in the Netherlands television show RTL Late Night,[2] Conga was written after the band had performed "Dr. Beat" in a club called Cartouche in Utrecht, the Netherlands. "Conga" is written in the key of E minor.[3]

"Conga" was re-recorded as a new remix in 2001, including samples of "Dr. Beat" and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and was released on Estefan's fourth compilation album. This new song was released as a promo single in Spain and titled "Y-Tu-Conga."

A version of "Conga" arranged with Brazilian rhythms and instrumentation and renamed "Samba" is included in Estefan's 2020 album Brazil305.[4] A remix of "Conga" featuring Leslie Grace and Meek Mill was released in 2021 as a Bacardi sponsored and Boi-1da produced single.[5][6]

Commercial performance

The single was released in 1985 and became a worldwide hit, reaching number 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 shipments of 500,000 copies.[7] However, it wasn't a hit in the United Kingdom, failing to chart on the top 75.

In Billboard magazine's year-end chart in 1986, "Conga" finished at number 40.[8]

Music video

The video is set in the fictional Miami night club Copacabana, hosting a reception for an unspecified ambassador. After a boring piano recital, the Miami Sound Machine is announced as the next featured act (though Gloria insists the setting is not appropriate for the song). Despite the initial shock of his wife, the more upbeat song becomes a hit with the audience and ambassador. Clips of the original video feature in the video of Estefan's 2020 Brazilian themed version, "Samba".

Formats and track listings
U.S. and Canada 7-inch single (Epic: 34 05457) [August 1985]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
2."Mucho Money"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
4:44
U.S. 12-inch single (Epic: 49 05253) [August 1985]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (dance mix)Enrique E. Garcia6:00
2."Conga" (instrumental version)Enrique E. Garcia4:52
U.S. 3" CD single (Epic: 34K 05457) [Reissue] {1988}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
2."Mucho Money"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
4:44
U.S. promo 7-inch single (Epic: 34 05457) [August 1985]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
2."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
U.S. promo 7-inch single (Discos CBS International: DBS 10074) [August 1985]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
2."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
Canada 12-inch single (Epic: 12EXP-05253) [August 1985]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (dance mix)Enrique E. Garcia6:00
2."Conga" (instrumental version)Enrique E. Garcia4:52
Europe 7-inch single No. 1 (Epic: EPCA 6361) [1985]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
2."Mucho Money"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
4:44
Europe 7-inch single No. 2 (MSM Group Photo Pic Sleeve) [Epic: EPCA 6361] {1985}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
2."Mucho Money"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
4:44
Europe 7-inch single No. 3 (Limited Edition Posterbag) [MSM Group Photo Pic Sleeve] {Epic: EPCA 6361} (1985)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:14
2."Mucho Money"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
4:44
Europe 12-inch single No. 1 (Epic: EPCA 12.6361) [1985]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (dance mix)Enrique E. Garcia6:00
2."Conga" (instrumental version)Enrique E. Garcia4:52
Europe 12-inch single No. 2 (MSM Group Photo Pic Sleeve) [Epic: EPCA 12.6361] {1985}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (dance mix)Enrique E. Garcia6:00
2."Conga" (instrumental version)Enrique E. Garcia4:52
Europe 7-inch single (European remix) [Epic: EPC 650060 7] {1986}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (European remix)Enrique E. Garcia4:25
2."Mucho Money"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
4:44
Europe 12-inch single (European remix) [Epic: EPC 650060 6] {1986}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (European remix)Enrique E. Garcia4:25
2."Conga" (instrumental version)Enrique E. Garcia4:52
3."Mucho Money"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
4:44
Germany 3" CD single (European remix) [Epic: EPC 654866 3] {Reissue} (1989)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (European remix)Enrique E. Garcia4:25
2."Conga" (dance mix)Enrique E. Garcia6:00
Germany 12-inch vinyl single (European remix) [EPC 654866 6] {Reissue} (1989)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Conga" (European remix)Enrique E. Garcia4:25
2."Conga" (dance mix)Enrique E. Garcia6:00

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[25] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date
Australia September 9, 1985 (1985-09-09)[1]
United States October 31, 1985 (1985-10-31)
United Kingdom December 6, 1985 (1985-12-06)

References
  1. "Kent Music Report No 583 – 9 September 1985 > Singles: New Releases". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  2. Fragment on YouTube
  3. E, Garcia, Enrique; Machine, Miami Sound; Gloria, Estefan (2012-10-01). "Conga". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2021-06-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Brazil305 - Gloria Estefan | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  5. Leslie Grace & Meek Mill Revamp Gloria Estefan's '80s Party Hit 'Conga': Here's A Comparison
  6. Bacardi remixes 'Conga' with Meek Mill, Leslie Grace in UGC push
  7. "American single certifications – Estefan, Gloria & Miami Sound – Conga". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  8. Conga (Single – 1985/1986)
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 199. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 26 June 1988.
  10. "Miami Sound Machine – Conga" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0637." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  12. "Miami Sound Machine – Conga" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  13. "Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  14. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  15. "Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  16. "Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  17. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  19. "Miami Sound Machine Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  20. "Cashbox Top 100: February 15, 1986". cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  21. "Miami Sound Machine Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  22. "Miami Sound Machine Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  23. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  24. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 27, 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. p. Y-21. {{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  25. "Canadian single certifications – Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Music Canada. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  26. "American single certifications – Miami Sound Machine – Conga". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
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