The 100 Best Telenovela Theme Songs: This Week, 100-81 (original) (raw)

Billboard editors rank the top songs from their favorite telenovelas produced in the U.S. and Latin America.

Telenovela Stars, Pablo Alboran, Veronica Castro, Thalía y Enrique Iglesias

Pablo Alboran, Veronica Castro, Thalía and Enrique Iglesias Illustration by Selman Hoşgör

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For anyone who grew up in a Spanish-speaking country or a Spanish-speaking home, telenovelas were not only part of the soundtrack of their lives, but of their very upbringing. Because watching telenovelas is not a lonely pursuit; it’s a shared experience with parents, siblings, friends, nannies, college roommates and grandparents.

Indeed, the origins of telenovelas date back to the factories of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with some historians specifically referencing tobacco factories in Cuba, where a “reader” would read stories to distract those who rolled the tobacco. From there, they evolved into the famous radio novelas, where daily chapters were narrated. These, in turn, became telenovelas, which are often equated with soap operas, but they’re more like cousins. Telenovelas air daily, both in daytime and nighttime slots, and their running time is far shorter than that a soap opera, usually between three to six months.

Produced throughout Latin America, but especially in Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela (previously), Colombia, and Brazil, the DNA of the telenovela is melodrama — love, betrayal, revenge, passion — all taken to the extreme. And of course, there’s the music: Each telenovela comes with its main theme, the song that announces the program’s beginning or its farewell, the siren that calls us to watch. It’s impossible to think of a telenovela without thinking of the song that identifies it, and for many artists, getting a song into a telenovela was a crucial marketing component to land a hit.

At Billboard, we set out to make a list of the 100 songs that made the most emblematic telenovelas memorable in our collective memories. Compiling the list was a titanic task, as there are literally thousands of telenovelas that have been successful on the continent, with ratings varying from country to country. We gathered all the editors and contributors of Billboard Latin and Billboard Español — 11 journalists in total, born and raised in Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, the United States, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic — and asked each one to select their favorite theme songs.

Although telenovelas date back to the 1950s, our list starts in the 1970s. We focused on “traditional” telenovelas, those that are broadcast daily during the day or night. We did not include biographical telenovelas based on the lives of specific people, or weekly series. We zeroed in on productions from Latin American countries and the United States, but did not include Brazilian telenovelas, given the language difference, or those produced in Spain. But we did include “narconovelas,” those dealing with cartel themes, as they are a specific subgenre of the daily telenovela.

Although we consider the 100 songs on this list to be the pinnacle of the genre, we have ranked them in order of importance, considering their impact, history, performer, and their influence on the history of music and the telenovela. For the next five weeks, every Monday we will publish a list of 20 telenovela theme songs, starting with Number 100, until we reach No. 1 in December.

This week’s list beings with No. 100, and counts down to No. 81. Enjoy!

The story: Based on the novel by Colombian writer Juan Gossaín, “La Mala Hierba” (Bad Weed) from Caracol network was perhaps the first narco-novela. It told the story of El Cacique Miranda, a man from the Colombian coast who accidentally enters the marijuana business, accumulating wealth and misfortune. The theme song was performed by vallenato legend and three-time winner of the vallenato festival Alfredo Gutiérrez, who also appeared in a cameo.
Why It Connected: The nighttime telenovela, considered violent for its time, caused a sensation and was a harbinger of the future of drug trafficking and the havoc it would wreak on Colombia.

The Story: Set in 1940s Mexico City, the telenovela unfolds in the Kumbala cabaret, a center of high society and clandestine dramas. The narrative focuses on Isabela, a wealthy young woman, who must navigate through a labyrinth of social expectations while dealing with her love for Adolfo amidst family disapproval and dramatic rivalries.
Why it connected: In a twist, the theme song was an instrumental piano ballad by the late great composer Bebu Silvetti. It set the tone of mystery that perfectly encapsulated the secret world of Kumbala. Its haunting melody resonates with the novel’s themes: forbidden love, ambition, and betrayal.

The Story: Florencia Bertotti stars in this modern version of Cinderella produced in Argentina. Florencia, a young orphan who works in a produce shop and sings in a band with her friends, performs at a party for the Fritzenwalden family, changing her life forever.
Why It Connected: The music reflected the fresh and vibrant energy of Floricienta, making each song an anthem among fans and creating a lasting bond. It was key in conquering young audiences in 40 countries and inspiring global adaptations.

The Story: Francisco el matemático (Francisco the Mathematician) is the story of a good-hearted young mathematics teacher who navigates the problems of his high school students at a district school in Bogotá. Originally conceived as a weekly series, it became a daily soap opera thanks to its success.
Why It Connected: Francisco dealt with the real problems of young people from different social strata. The series benefited from its theme song, an adaptation of the party dance song “El revoliático,” which famously uses the phrase “Francisco el matemático.” The song, a classic in Colombia composed by Alvaro Mercado and Alcides Díaz, was repurposed for the series in the voice of Diana Angel.

The Story: Produced by Venevisión and written by César Miguel Rondón, this Venezuelan soap opera delves into the intricate lives of a wealthy patriarch and his three daughters, exploring the depths of their complex romantic entanglements. It unveils of long-held family secrets, and the personal challenges they face.
Why It Connected: The slow-burning theme song, with its emotive lyrics and Rigó’s evocative voice, perfectly mirrored the internal conflicts and romantic depth of the series, striking a chord with the audience.

The Story: Desde que te conocí (Since I Met You) is an adaptation of telenovela Señora Isabel, which was also adapted before as Mirada de Mujer, all with enormous success. The plot revolves around a woman played by Victoria Ruffo, who is deceived by her husband and after divorcing meets a much younger man (Mauricio Ochman), who inspires her to move forward. The main theme song, written by Sandra Bustos and Ángelo, was performed by Ruffo herself.
Why It Connected: The relationship that arises between an older woman and a younger man, ended many prejudices.

The Story: This Venezuelan soap opera starring Catherine Fulop and Fernando Carrillo tells the story of the pampered Abigaíl, the only daughter of a wealthy businessman who falls in love with her school literature teacher, Carlos Alfredo. After immediately having a child with him, the young protagonist, in a moment of mental delirium, gives her baby away to an unknown taxi driver. Abigaíl will spend the next few years fighting to recover both her son and Carlos Alfredo’s love.
Why It Connected: With powerful lyrics about longing for the past and the sadness of not being able to be with your loved one, “Oh, No (No Te Quiero Olvidar)” by Fernando y Juan Carlos fit perfectly with the plotline, amplifying the emotions of its characters in the audience’s hearts as the opening theme of the show.

The Story: This teen-oriented telenovela, starring Anahí and Kuno Becker, premiered in 2000, during the “golden age” of Mexican pop music of the late ’90s and early 2000s. In this new version of Quinceañera, Anahí plays Jovana Luna, who lives in a humble home and, in her free time, works at a café to help her father with household expenses. She falls in love with León Baldomero (Kuno), but her mother rejects him because he’s humble mechanic.
Why It Connected: The story resonated with the Y2K generation by focusing not only on the love story but also on topics like drugs, sex, teenage pregnancy, family dynamics, and eating disorders. The song is a rebellious pop-rock singalong performed by Lynda Thomas (known as Lynda), who later retired from music.

The Story: Produced by José Enrique Crousillat and Malú Crousillat for Televisa, the plot is the typical forbidden love where the humble woman falls in love with the rich man. In it, Morelia (Alpha Acosta) escapes from her native Michoacán and goes to Miami where she works in a nightclub. One of her clients sues her and the lawyer Carlos Montero (Arturo Peniche) comes to the rescue.
Why It Connected: Like most telenovelas, it was full of drama. On top of that, Cristian Castro’s plaintive performance of “Morelia,” a ballad, almost compelled you to watch. The song hit No. 30 on _Billboard_‘s Hot Latin Songs chart in 1995.

The Story: This melodrama, produced by soap opera iconic producer Rosy Ocampo for Televisa, is one of the most emblematic children’s telenovelas on Mexican television, and tells the story of a children’s musical group whose name gives the TV show its title. The protagonists are twin sisters separated at birth, both played by Belinda, who was later replaced by Daniela Luján due to work commitments, as stated by the production at the time.
Why It Connected: Music was key to its popularity. “The Froggie Dance” became an iconic song for Belinda. In 2016, the singer debunked rumors that she disliked performing it live, and this year, performed it corrido tumbao style during her performance at the Arre festival.

The Story: This children’s musical telenovela, produced by Rosy Ocampo, tells the story of a group of children — the “Alegrijes” (or Happies) and the “Rebujos” (Grumpies) — who discover a haunted mansion. Eventually, they realize it’s “haunted” by the eccentric and well-meaning Don Darvelio. Now, the children music find a way to beat evil Helga, who wants to get rid of orphan Sofía, the only one who has the power to destroy her.
Why it connected: Think Harry Potter meets High School Musical, plus key breakout roles for Diego Bonetta and Allisson Lozz.

The Story: This adaptation of the first version of Esmeralda from 1970 stars Venezuelan actors Grecia Colmenares (Topacio) and Víctor Cámara (Jorge Luis) as a blind country girl and the son of a wealthy landowner, respectively. They fall in love and become entangled in a series of lies that prevent them from being together throughout the plot.
Why It Connected: Although it appeared to be the typical story of a poor girl falling in love with a rich man, the protagonist overcame professional and emotional challenges. The main theme song was performed by Venezuelan actor and singer Carlos Mata.

The Story: Starring Lucía Méndez and Andrés García, this Mexican soap opera tells the story of Antonio Lombardo, who, after losing his memory in an accident, falls in love with Raquel, a woman deceived by his ambitious stepbrother.
Why It Connected: The lyrics reflect the protagonist’s internal struggle, which allowed the audience to identify with her suffering. This would be one of many soap operas to which Mendez lent her voice in addition to her acting skills.

The Story: Six women who work in a real estate agency face different problems; one is diagnosed with cancer (Rebecca Jones); another suffers from psychological abuse from her partner (Nailea Norvind); another is beaten by her alcoholic husband (Alejandra Barros); another is in a constant power struggle with her husband (Sophie Alexander); another is psychologically manipulated by her partner (África Zavala); and the sixth (Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez), was cheated on by her husband with a younger woman.
Why It Connected: The female audience felt identified with the stories, and the song by Kany García, a powerful female artist, was also used in a campaign against domestic violence. It reached No. 22 on _Billboard_‘s Latin Pop Airplay chart.

The Story: The plot revolves around the Hierro Family (starring Blanca Guerra and Alejandro Camacho as the parents) and their children (Angelique Boyer and Jorge Poza). The lives of adults and young people with their own problems were part of the first soap opera broadcast on the 10:00 p.m. slot in Mexico, setting a precedent for prime time which remains in place today.
Why It Connected: Showcasing a family like any other was the first hook. The voice of Fonseca, at that time a rising artist, singing tropipop, gave it contemporary flavor.

The Story: The Mexican adaptation of the Colombian soap opera Betty La Fea had the most watched ending in the history of Mexican television at the time. The Mexican version tells the story of the intelligent but ugly Lety (Angélica Vale), who falls in love with the owner of the modeling and advertising agency Conceptos, the womanizing Fernando (Jaime Camil).
Why It Connected: The story of the underdog who manages to win is always compelling. Everyone bet on Lety. Although La fea más bella had a soundtrack with many songs, the most catchy is the danceable “El club de las feas,” which ended the soap opera every night.

The Story: One of Mexico’s most successful soap operas, Corazón Salvaje, from Televisa, tells of a love triangle between two countesses – Mónica (Edith González) and Aimée – and the illegitimate son of a landowner (Eduardo Palomo), at the beginning of the 20th century in Puerto Vallarte, Jalisco.
Why It Connected: The rivalry between the innocent Mónica and the more manipulative Aimée (starring Ana Colchero) fascinated Mexicans and launched the career of González, who died in 2019 of cancer. The theme song — written by the leading songwriter of the day, Juan Carlos Calderón, and performed by Mijares — reached No. 7 on _Billboard_‘s Hot Latin Tracks chart.

The Story: A remake of the 1965 telenovela, _La Mentir_a’s new version, produced by Carlos Sotomayor, is about Demetrio (Guy Ecker) trying to solve the mystery of why his brother committed suicide. All he knows is that he did it after a woman, whose name starts with a V, broke his heart. He’s on the hunt to find this woman’s identity.
Why It Connected: La Mentira was full of star power. It began with the theme song, which in Fernández’s voice, topped the Regional Mexican Airplay chart for three weeks. Its protagonists – including Kate Del Castillo, Guy Ecker, Eric Del Castillo, Blanca Guerra and Karla Álvarez — were also stellar.

The Story: A spring of water literally divides two wealthy families. But their respective children (starring Adela Noriega and Mauricio Islas) nevertheless fall in love.
Why It Connected: The location of San Andrés Tuxtla in Veracruz, the plot, the villain and the actors made it one of the most successful Mexican soap operas. Luis Miguel’s main theme song, from his now-iconic album Mis Romances, lent even more star power to the novel.

The Story: In the Mexican telenovela, a woman, played by singer/actress Daniela Romo, lives with her family under a false identity, fleeing from a dark past. The protagonist is at the center of a complicated love triangle with two men competing for her love, adding tension and conflict to an already dangerous situation.
Why It Connected: Daniela Romo’s performance was perfectly complemented by the musical theme, composed by the legendary Juan Gabriel. The theme song is a true vocal feat. To date, “De mi enamórate” is No. 19 on _Billboard_‘s Greatest of All Time Hot Latin Songs chart and remains one of Romo’s best vocal works.

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