Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla.
With the start of 2025, that means plenty of classics from 2005 are turning 20. That year marked an important moment for the growth of Latine music on a global level with the emergence of emo, the rise of reggaeton, and the blockbuster success of Shakira, which defied language barriers.
By 2005, many Latine artists in the ‘90s and early 2000s were becoming crossover stars with English-language albums. After Shakira captured the world’s attention with 2001’s Laundry Service, she put her expanded fanbase onto her Spanish-language music. The Colombian pop icon’s follow-up album was 2005’s Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, which included the reggaeton-infused “La Tortura” and the ethereal pop-rock of “No” that was co-produced by Soda Stereo’s Gustavo Cerati. When Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 opened at No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, Shakira made history with the highest debut by an all-Spanish album.
A year prior, Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” was the spark that lit the fuse for reggaeton music in the mainstream. The Puerto Rican icon kept the momentum going in 2005 with Barrio Fino En Directo, a live version of his breakthrough LP. Daddy Yankee also loaded the LP with more hits like “Rompe” and “Gangsta Zone.” The genre’s hit-makers Luny Tunes also pushed themselves to the scene’s forefront with Mas Flow 2 album. Wisin y Yandel later took reggaeton to the next level with their album Pa’l Mundo.
At the same time, Latine rock and alternative music was picking up steam with names like Julieta Venegas, Natalia Lafourcade, and Coti reaching wider audiences, while PXNDX (aka Panda) were ushering the emo wave into Mexico. Música mexicana was also thriving on the charts with the success of Intocable and Jenni Rivera.
Here’s a list of 20 of our favorite songs from that era turning 20 in 2025.
Calle 13 first hit their stride at the top of 2005 with the cumbia-infused “Atrévete-te-te.” The revolutionary Puerto Rican group, which was led by Residente, masterfully served up social critiques of the times in one of the year’s most emblematic songs.
Shakira solidified herself as a global icon with the hip-shaking “La Tortura.” The Colombian star put the world under her spell with the reggaeton-pop banger that featured Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz.
After making his mark with “Gasolina,” Daddy Yankee proved he was the king of reggaeton with the explosive “Rompe.” While getting the party started, the Puerto Rican icon sang about breaking through any obstacles in his way.
After breaking through with the telenovela Rebelde, RBD continued to reign supreme in 2005. The Mexican pop group charmed their fans around the world with the electrifying “Nuestro Amor,” which also served as the theme song for the telenovela’s second season.
Aventura united the Caribbean with the sultry banger “Ella y Yo.” Romeo Santos and his bandmates seamlessly mixed Dominican bachata music with reggaeton alongside Puerto Rican Don Omar.
Juanes channeled more of the rock from his Ekhymosis days into “La Camisa Negra.” The Colombian icon hit his stride as a sexy guitar-slinger with this breakup anthem.
Longtime Natalia Lafourcade fans remember when she briefly formed the band Natalia y la Forquetina. The Mexican singer-songwriter joined forces with Café Tacvba’s Emmanuel del Real to fuse her alternative sound at the time with elements of bossa nova in the breezy “Casa.”
Los Bunkers represent Chile’s alternative music scene. The band seemingly pulled inspiration from The Strokes to bring a refreshing edge to Latine rock with their breakthrough hit “Llueve Sobre La Ciudad.”
Latine alternative, indie, and pop music harmoniously collided in “Nada Fue Un Error.” Argentine singer-songwriter Coti’s live performance of the bittersweet song with Mexican icons Paulina Rubio and Julieta Venegas made it a global hit.
In 2005, Reik emerged as the Latine pop answer to the rock and alternative music coming out at the time. The Mexican group first struck a chord with their fans with the guitar-driven love song “Yo Quisiera.”
After producing hits like Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” and “Lo Que Pasó, Pasó,” Luny Tunes united all the reggaeton heavyweights at the time for an epic collaboration. The Dominican duo teamed up with Daddy Yankee, Wisin y Yandel, Baby Ranks, and Tony Tun Tun for the fiery “Mayor Que Yo.”
Before Peso Pluma and Jasiel Nuñez, Belanova first popularized “Rosa Pastel” in the Latine lexicon. Within the heartbreaking song, the Mexican trio blended their playful electro-pop sound with the rock-infused edge.
Miranda! is known for keeping Latine pop fresh from Argentina. The duo blended their signature electro-pop with rock influences in the mesmerizing “Don.”
By 2005, PXNDX rebranded their sound and became Mexico’s answer to My Chemical Romance, Good Charlotte, and Fall Out Boy. The Nuevo León-based group gave their emo fans anthems to rock out to like the heart-wrenching “Cita En El Quirófano.”
As reggaeton was continuing to break through in 2005, Ivy Queen was holding it down for women in el movimiento. The Puerto Rican icon ruled the dance floor with the commanding “Cuéntale,” where she portrayed a mistress who wanted her lover to come clean to his wife.
A decade after Selena’s tragic passing, Jenni Rivera was becoming the next Mexican-American artist to blaze a path for women in música mexicana. She earned her “Diva de la Banda” crown with the sultry “De Contrabando,” written by the legendary Joan Sebastian.
Following the rock en español wave across Argentina in the ‘80s, Babasónicos emerged a decade later to bring a more contemporary edge to the movement. In 2005, the band ushered in an alternative sound to the scene in their album Anoche, which included the angsty “El Colmo.”
Belinda shredded her teen-pop past after teaming up with Mexican group Moderatto. The Spanish-Mexican icon joined forces with them for their fierce glam rock anthem “Muriendo Lento,” a cover of a Timbiriche classic.
Wisin y Yandel solidified themselves as the premier duo of reggaeton with 2005’s Pa’l Mundo album. The Puerto Rican icons pushed reggaeton into the future with their electronic spin on the genre in the irresistible “Llame Pa’ Verte (Bailando Sexy).”
Intocable took música mexicana to the top of the charts with their romantic love song “Aire.” Just like the air that we breathe, the Mexican group’s biggest hit of their career was everywhere and inescapable.
