I know he’s the King of Bachata, but Romeo Santos has left an undeniable mark on Urban music. From his time in Aventura to his solo career, all the way through last week, Santos has been on some of the biggest tracks in urban music. He’s collaborated with artists like Don Omar, Nicky Jam, and Wisin & Yandel. There’s a strong argument to be made that Romeo Santos is one of most important artists in the history of urban music.
Let’s evaluate the evidence over the years.
Ella y Yo – Aventura, Don Omar (2005)
The first entry on this list comes from Romeo Santos’s Aventura years. This song came during the phase where reggaeton was maturing and Aventura had the sole grasp on the bachata market. The music video is all about Romeo Santos’s fictional wife cheating on him with Don Omar. The song combines the early reggaeton sound and attitude of Don Omar with the bachata notes of Aventura. Watching this video 16 years later is a cool time capsule and look into the early days of the genre.
This song really marked Santos’s first foray into urban music and established a set of skills that he would build off.
Noche de Sexo – Aventura, Wisin & Yandel (2005)
This song, if you couldn’t do the translation in your head, is all about sex. It’s a great example of both early reggaeton and 2000s culture. Sure, its a bit shallow and pretty singular in focus but that’s not unusual for the era. This song has long been a fan favorite of Wisin & Yandel and certain to come up in a mix of urban classics. Santos’s distinctive voice fits the track perfectly and adds a unique element to the track. Santos would collaborate with Wisin & Yandel in future tracks but this song remains their iconic tune.
All Up 2 You – Aventura, Akon, Wisin & Yandel (2009)
Its 2021 and this song still slaps. The combination of Aventura, Akon, and Wisin & Yandel is a heavy grouping. Its hard to go wrong when you have so many heavyhitters on one track. This song is just perfectly 2009 but it holds up today. It’s aged like a Ferrari. Just timelessly cool and fun. I only found this song recently and it’s going to be on every playlist I make from now on. I love it.
El Farsante (Remix) – Ozuna, Romeo Santos (2018)
A song we listed on our Sad Hours playlist (which you can read about here). This song was emotional enough to begin with. Add Romeo on the remix and it adds an entire new element of sadness. Santos knows how to tug at our heart in this reggaeton Sad Hours classic. He’s able to tap into his bachata roots while fitting into Ozuna’s reggaeton/trap style.
Ella Quiere Beber (Remix) – Anuel AA, Romeo Santos
I loved the original version of this song. It remains one of Anuel’s best songs. Romeo Santos jumps on the remix on it gets even better. Romeo so much talent that he can elevate any track he’s on. In this case, he serves as a good foil to Anuel’s gruff persona. While this video isn’t as good as the original, it’s still pretty enjoyable.
Fan de Tus Fotos – Romeo Santos, Nicky Jam (2021)
The newest addition to this list, this song came out a few weeks ago. It’s a fastball right down the middle. A classic Nicky Jam reggaeton track. I enjoy it. It’s not the greatest song for either artist but it’s a solid addition to both of their discographies.
I’m sure I missed a few songs but these are 6 very good reggaeton songs for Romeo. That’s more than a lot of artists can take credit for. I’d love to see him take on reggaeton full time in some future project but that might be asking a bit much.