We are back with Part 2 of our essential summer album series. Last week’s album was Mended by Marc Anthony (read here). This week we’re talking about Romeo Santos’ 2014 album Formula Vol. 2.

This 19 track album is chock full of classics. Santos, after leaving his band Aventura to go solo, immediately dominated the bachata market. His 2011 album Formula Vol 1 was widely successful and provided some all-time great songs. 3 years later, Formula Vol 2 would take Santos to a new level of international success.

Romeo Santos – Formula Vol 2.

A follow up to Santos’s debut solo album, Formula Vol 2 includes colorations with Marc Anthony, Drake, Carlos Santana, and Nicki Minaj. One of the best selling albums of the 2010s, Santos’ tour supporting the album was also a massive success. The album combines Santos’s signature bachata style with tastes of other genres to create what I would argue is the greatest bachata album of all time. Where greatness is, success follows. Propuesta Indecente, the lead single off of the album is one of the most watched Latin music videos of all time with 1.7 billion views.

This album brings me back to my high school days, driving my old Jeep around listening to 93.5 FM on the radio. So many of the tracks off of this album have become classics for me. They’re mainstays in any respectable setlist.

The Essential Tracks

This 19 track album contains some of the best Latin songs of the 2010s so it’s hard to name just the essentials. The entire album is essential. We’ll do our best to name the songs you have to listen to if you only have like 25 minutes or so.

“Cancioncitas de Amor” is the first essential track we’ll talk about. With this song, Santos explores the pain of a heartbroken man hearing love songs on the radio. As the chorus goes, “the DJ will lose his job if he plays me any love songs”. It’s a medium tempo bachata track that picks up speed toward the end. This is a great track to build up with either as a DJ or when you’re dancing.

“7 Dias” is probably the first song I heard off of this album. It’s a cocky bachata track about being able to make a woman fall in love with in him in just 7 days. Each day is a different stage of roamne

Almost a member of the billion views club, “Eres Mia” is a very special song. It’s one that I think most of us can relate to. It’s a classic tale. Your ex gets a new boyfriend. He’s clearly lesser than you. He’s boring, he’s a loser. You know that your ex was better with you so you get cocky and tell her that. My favorite lines are when Romeo says that when his ex gets married, he’ll laugh and tell her husband that’s she’s only borrowed.

I had to talk about “Odio”, even briefly. This was Drake’s first foray into Latin music and the first time he sang in Spanish before “Mia” with Bad Bunny. This is obviously one of the most successful songs off of Formula Vol 2.

Tracks for Literally Every Occasion

Like I said before, this album immediately brings me back to driving around in my old Jeep. It’s an album made for late night driving with the windows down. Since this album is so heavily filled with classics, it’s essential listening before any night out dancing.

Whether you’re looking for pure bachata or need something with a little edge like a Romeo Santos/Nicki Minaj combo, this album has it. Let’s not forget the salsa/bachata combo with Marc Anthony. I could go on and on but you get the idea. This is the perfect summer album that will keep the vibe going from sundown to sunrise.