Beyond ‘Amor Eterno’: 10 Songs to Remember Loved Ones This Día de Muertos
Credit: Instagram @carlamorrison
Have you ever heard a song that takes you back and reminds you of someone who isn’t here anymore? A certain lyric or melody stops you in your tracks, and for a few minutes, you’re thinking of a special loved one who isn’t physically with us. With Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) coming up on Nov. 1 to 2, we are curating a space to remember our loved ones through songs from various genres that capture the same complicated sentiment we’ll all feel someday: grief.
We often hear that grief isn’t linear, and it rings true. A way to ease that hollow feeling? Music. One of our culture’s most iconic songs for memorials, funerals, and viewings is Juan Gabriel’s heart-wrenching ballad “Amor Eterno,” which he penned in 1984 for his mother, who passed away in 1974. Though he originally gave it to Spanish singer Rocío Dúrcal to sing, it’s no surprise that his rendition would become as popular and beloved as hers. More than 40 years later, “Amor Eterno” remains a top choice not only for death anniversaries but also for Day of the Dead, as we celebrate a love that endures beyond death.
But many songs beyond “Amor Eterno” tap into these complicated sentiments, sometimes better channeled through music than words. From Mexican alternative rock band PXNDX’s bass-forward track “Los Malaventurados No Lloran” to Dominican-Italian singer Yendry’s ballad dedicated to her late grandmother “La Puerta,” here are ten emotional songs to listen to as we grieve our lost loved ones this Día de Muertos.
PXNDX – "Los Malaventurados No Lloran"
Not to be that emo millennial, but PXNDX will always have a place in our generation’s hearts. Released in 2006, during the band’s Monterrey-based heyday, “Los Malaventurados No Lloran” became one of their most popular songs. With an opening verse like “Sé que está en algún lugar mejor / Donde no hay abuso fuera de este mundo / Quiero encontrar el medio para yo / Poder hablar con ella, poder decirle a ella,” the song became a modern anthem of grief for those who wish for one last conversation with their late loved one.
BRUSES – "ME ESTOY RINDIENDO am0r :("
Bruses dropped this song in June 2025, and it has haunted me ever since. In “ME ESTOY RINDIENDO am0r :(” the Tijuana-born experimental artist channels emotional numbness and questions love after death—two deep and relatable sentiments many of us experience after losing someone. With bass-heavy textures and a sharp, eerie voice, Bruses captures the hollowness that comes after realizing someone is gone forever.
Banda Los Recoditos – "Mi Ultimo Deseo"
Banda Los Recoditos’ “Mi Último Deseo” is perhaps the most famous banda song played at funerals, celebrating life and the now before it’s too late. With lyrics like “Por eso aprovecho de cada momento / Pues consciente estoy de que no soy eterno / Por eso la paso contento en la peda / Y de vez en cuando le entro a la loquera,” the song calls for celebrating the good moments with the person who passed away rather than dwelling on sadness.
Helado Negro – "Running"
Penned in 2019, “Running” is one of Helado Negro‘s most popular songs to date. It touches on nostalgia—the longing to turn back time to when things were different. The Ecuadorian-American artist gently sings, “Because I feel you / In my mind / All the time. Because I see you / In my hands / Every day,” creating a melancholic hymn that can be interpreted in many ways—grief being one.
Caifanes – "Antes de Que Nos Olviden"
Sure, “Antes de Que Nos Olviden” has gained a new audience after the nostalgic No One Will Miss Us (Nadie nos va a extrañar) series, but it’s much more than that. Released in 1990, “Antes de Que Nos Olviden” is a tribute to the students killed on Oct. 2, 1968, at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Mexico City. It’s a song about resilience, confronting oppression, and reflecting on a tragic moment that changed many people’s lives forever. It’s about collective grief.
Porter – "Himno Eterno"
With a delicate piano intro, Porter‘s “Himno Eterno” is a gorgeous ballad about loss. Led by the Mexican band’s distinctive vocalist, David Velasco, the track captures the sentiments many of us feel during Day of the Dead. He sings, “Te robaste el brillo en mis ojos / Me está chillando el alma / Quiero verte de cerca,” asking to see his loved one one more time.
KAROL G, Greg Gonzalez – "Después De Ti"
Karol G has a way of getting us in our feelings. In the sentimental ballad “Después De Ti,” she takes on a sadder tone and sings about loss. With chords from Cigarettes After Sex guitarist and vocalist Greg Gonzalez, the Colombian superstar sings “Ya no me veo igual / Todo sin ti está mal / Solo queda decir / Que te quise de más,” an ode to her late loved one.
HUMBE – "fantasmas"<br>
HUMBE‘s song goes viral during the Day of the Dead season—and for good reason. Released in 2023, “Fantasmas” became one of this generation’s go-to songs to use as a tribute to their late loved one at the beginning of Nov. With soulful croons about absence and memories, the Mexican singer delivers a track that echoes “Amor Eterno”‘s sentiment beautifully.
Carla Morrison – "Déjenme Llorar"
If you are looking for a song to bawl your eyes out to this Day of the Dead, this is the one. Carla Morrison‘s piano ballad “Déjenme Llorar” captures that uncontrollable sorrow when you realize someone is gone forever. Though it doubles as a breakup song, lyrics like “Déjenme llorar / Quiero despedirme en silencio / Hacer mi mente razonar / Que para esto no hay remedio” make it a must-listen this Day of the Dead.
YENDRY – "La Puerta"<br>
YENDRY always wears her heart on her sleeve. In “La Puerta,” it’s no different. Written for her late grandmother, the Italian-Dominican singer-songwriter captures loss—specifically, what it feels like to lose a loved one. Accompanied by gentle chords, YENDRY softly croons about faking happiness, coping with sadness, and moving on after losing someone—feelings many of us share during Day of the Dead.