Cult Spanish track Macarena celebrates 20th anniversary

The popular party track from the early ’90s, Macarena, completes 20 years in 2016. The original song released in 1993 in Spanish by the duo, Los del Rio.

Macarena, the cult Spanish party song, turns 20 this year. The catchy track first appeared on 1993 album A mi me gusta by Spanish duo Los del Rio, but became a mainstream hit when producers, Bayside Boys, remixed it with English lyrics.

Macarena first appeared in the 1993 album A mi me gusta by Spanish duo Los del Rio. (YouTube Grab)

It topped charts around the world, including the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 14 weeks.

Antonio Romeo Monge and Rafael Ruiz of Los del Rio, who have been performing together since 1962, are still overwhelmed with the support Macarena receives after it became the go-to jam for weddings, sporting events, bar mitzvah and even a Democratic convention, reported Billboard magazine.

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Watch the original Spanish version of Macarena here:

“We have no words to thank everyone. We’re just two guys from a small town, doing things very humbly because we come from very humble families, we lost our parents very young, we’ve worked so hard, and to see ourselves here?”

“That girl Macarena really was something,” added Rafael.

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Watch the Macarena song with English subtitles:

The story was inspired by a Venezuelan girl Antonio spotted at a private party. Singing a little tune to himself, about the girl he called Madalena, Antonio later changed the name to ‘Macarena’ in honour of his daughter, and the hit was born.

The song has sold over four million units in the US.