The "Macarena" is a Spanish dance song by Los del Río that became an international and cultural phenomenon in the mid-1990s.

Antonia Romero and Rafael Ruiz [Ed: Two very Spanish looking dudes, it has to be said.] started performing together in Spain as Los del Río in 1966. There was no reason to assume the group would ever extend their cultural reach beyond the popular music of their native country. But everything changed during a chance meeting with the Venezuelan businessman Gustavo Cisneros. According to an interview with Spanish Vanity Fair in 2015, the two men saw a flamenco dancer by the name of Diana Patricia Cubillán. Her moves so impressed Romero and Ruiz that, on the spot, they set about writing the lyrics to the song that would ultimately become their biggest hit.

For the purposes of the song, they named the protagonist "Macarena”, after Romero's daughter, Esperanza Macarena. (As an aside, it may come as a shock to those who danced to the song at weddings and cruises to discover that the lyrics tell the tale of a promiscuous woman named Macarena who is unfaithful to her husband while he's away in the army.)

Originally released in 1993, the song enjoyed modest success. Then a Bayside Boys remix, which added English lyrics and a dance beat to the original Spanish version, was instrumental in bringing Macarena to the English-speaking audience. This version topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks in 1996, making it one of the longest-running number-one hits in US chart history. The song also achieved number-one status in multiple countries, including Australia, France, Germany and Italy. The music video will bring it all back. Check it out online.

A significant aspect of Macarena is the accompanying dance, which features a sequence of simple arm and hip movements that repeat throughout the song. The dance's simplicity allowed people of all ages and backgrounds to participate, making it a unifying activity at social gatherings. The song’s infectious rhythm reinforced its popularity.

The cultural impact of the Macarena extends beyond its commercial success. It became a symbol of 1990s pop culture, featuring prominently in television shows, movies and commercials.

The Macarena was often performed at public events. In one notable instance, the song was played at the 1996 Democratic National Convention, where delegates danced to it on the floor, highlighting its widespread appeal and recognition. There was a time when the Macarena was indeed impossible to escape. The New York Yankees set a record for the largest mass performance of the Macarena dance, with 50,000 people swivelling their hips in unison on 16 August 1996.

By 2022, and despite the perennial appeal (there are said to be more than 4,700 unique versions of Macarena in existence) and some nostalgic/ironic revival, antipathy for the song was so embedded in society that it was featured on a playlist used by New Zealand authorities to drive away anti-government protestors who had been refusing to budge.

Finally, amidst all of the parodies (and there are many) we found one that we thought we might bring to your attention. Check out “No More Corona!” from Sarah Weiler in COVID-19 Lockdown in 2020. Enjoy!

Story Idea: Nils Benson
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References

https://macarena.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macarena
https://www.ranker.com/list/history-of-the-macarena-song-dance/dave-schilling
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/14/1080623397/new-zealand-protests-james-blunt-barry-manilow

Images

1. Rafael Ruiz (left) and Antonio Romero performing the Macarena alongside dancers at a New York music store in 1995. Phot credit: Evan Agostini/Liaison.
2. Los del Río (Antonia Romero and Rafael Ruiz) appear in the music video, 1996
3. Video: "Macarena" Bayside Boys Remix [Official Video / HD], 1996
4. Macarena dance moves poster
5. Hilary Clinton dances the Macarena (sort of) at the 1996 Democratic National Convention
6. 50,000 Macarena dancers at a New York Yankees game on 16 August 1996
7. "Macarena Madness Takes the Floor" The New York Times, 27 December 1995
8. Video: "No More Corona! (Macarena Parody) - Lockdown 1", Sarah Weiler, 2020