Latin Pop

The Latin music explosion that shook the world at the end of the '90s was only a taste of the infectious pop sounds that had been shaking all the salsa-fied countries for years. With these tracks, you can enjoy the biggest Latin Pop hits with relish, courtesy of bangin' Puerto Rican crossover star Ricky Martin ("Livin' la Vida Loca"), the crown prince of Spanish pop Enrique Iglesias — "Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)" — the Golden Girl of Mexican pop, Paulina Rubio ("Y Yo Sigo Aqui"), and Spanglish superstars, Las Ketchup, gettin' zippy with "Aserejé (Hippy)." Nelly Furtado grooves Colombian-style, in Next Steps.

Feeling bueno? You must remember this: a "cancion" is just a song, and here are more of the songs that define the pop charts in Latin America and, increasingly, across the rest of the planet. Colombia's Juanes, a native of Medellin, hooks up with Portuguese/Canadian collaboration queen Nelly Furtado for the spirited duet "Fotografía," Quebec-native Marie Carmen wraps us 'round her little finger on "Eres para Mí," Shakira sprinkles in some Eastern influences on "Ojos Así," and Brazilian legend Astrud Gilberto shimmies through "Photograph." Latin pop unites the world, as you'll discover in Deep Cuts.

Ready for some more? Round out your "coleccíon" with these tracks. Italy's Laura Pausini — who is multi-lingual and has recorded songs in Italian, Portuguese, French, English and Spanish — emphasizes the Latina-Anglo connection alongside James Blunt on "Primavera In Anticipo (It Is My Song)"; Argentina's Diego Torres brings the beefcake from Buenos Aires on "Color Esperanza"; Puerto Rican boy band Menudo tackles the title track of 1981 breakout album Quiero Ser; and Mexico's Cristian Castro keeps it sweet with "Por Amarte Así."

Latin pop is like regular pop, only spicier, hotter, and marinated in lust. Put your passions on the flame-grill and work up a sweat in the company of Sergio Mendes, who invites the Black Eyed Peas to join his carnival on "Mas Que Nada," Shakira who adds heat to Beyoncé's already-hot sauce on "Beautiful Liar," and the girls of Las Ketchup, who throw hip-hop, flamenco and rock into the mix for "Aserejé (Hippy)" a.k.a. "The Ketchup Song." Throw in Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, a couple of senors Iglesias (Snr. & Jnr.), a pinch of Italian seasoning (Laura Pausini), and those Los del Río gents with their "Macarena" . . . and you're good to go. Vamos!