After a few decades together, Mexican group Los Ángeles Azules experienced a career resurgence this past decade thanks to their pop crossover hits. Many Mexican divas specifically have found a new groove in the band’s unique cumbia sonidera sound. One of the most recent, Latin pop star Belinda, has helped Los Ángeles Azules achieve another hit with “Amor a Primera Vista.”
The multi-member band led by Elías Mejía Avante, a.k.a El Doc, has been performing since the ’80s. To keep challenging and taking cumbia music to new places, Los Ángeles Azules teamed up with a number of Latin pop stars since then like Gloria Trevi, Ximena Sariñana, Natalia Lafourcade and Julieta Venegas. Their pop collaborations have resulted in many crossover hits and hundreds of millions of views on YouTube.
With Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart mostly occupied by música urbana stars these days, Los Ángeles Azules recently reached No. 16 with “Amor a Primera Vista” featuring Belinda, Mexican singer-songwriter Horacio Palencia, and Colombian reggaetonero Lalo Ebratt. In the group’s good hands, that treasured cumbia continues to stay fresh and current thanks to their collaborations. Here’s a list of Los Ángeles Azules’ best pop collaborations this decade.
1
"Amor a Primera Vista" Feat. Belinda & Lalo Ebratt
Los Ángeles Azules really rebounded this year in the Latin pop realm with “Amor a Primera Vista.” The song blends multiple worlds: the irresistible lyrics of regional Mexican music staple Horacio Palencia, the sweet voice of Latin pop princess Belinda and the urbano flow of Lalo Ebratt. Everything is wrapped up in the group’s warm cumbia sound, making the love song one that’s easy to fall in love with. The music video has amassed over 150 million views on YouTube.
2
"Acariñame" Feat. Julieta Venegas
Los Ángeles Azules most recent single “Acariñame” is a beautiful duet between Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas and Argentine heartthrob Juan Ingaramo, who was recently nominated for Best New Artist at this year’s Latin Grammy Awards. Things are extra electric with Fobia rockero Jay de la Cueva on guitar in the mix. Cumbia music continues to evolve with the group’s inventive collaborations and this one is absolutely alluring. The embrace Venegas and Ignaramo sing about is tangible in their affectionate performances.
3
"Mis Sentimientos" Feat. Ximena Sariñana
Los Ángeles Azules recently graced the stage at this year’s Latin Grammy Awards with Mexican singer-songwriter Ximena Sariñana, who was up for Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Sariñana made a brief intro with her nominated single “Cobarde” before the full band joined her for their 2013 hit “Mis Sentimientos.” She embodied the red dancing woman emoji during the performance as Los Ángeles Azules tore it up onstage. The funky cumbia track is still as fresh as ever a few years later.
4
"Dr. Psiquiatra" Feat. Gloria Trevi
Mexican pop goddess Gloria Trevi teamed up with Los Ángeles Azules in 2016 to re-record her 1989 single “Dr. Psiquiatra” with a cumbia music twist. “¡No soy loca!” she yelled out to the crowd. The pop-rock classic was made anew with the band’s slinky orchestration as Trevi continued to battle her psychiatrist’s claims in a passionate performance. In that same live session recorded with Los Ángeles Azules in Mexico, she also covered the band’s soaring song “Mi Cantar.”
5
"Nunca Es Suficiente" Feat. Natalia Lafourcade
For last year’s Esto Sí Es Cumbia album, Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade re-recorded her 2015 hit “Nunca Es Suficiente” with Los Ángeles Azules. The plucky track is even more playful with the band’s cumbia music update. Lafourcade puts on a hypnotizing performance as she lays out her dilemma with a romance that’s more hurtful than satisfying. Los Ángeles Azules turn her pain into something that can be danced away. The band’s magical touch is strong with this one.