The Official Home of the Macarena
The Macarena is a 1993 song by Los del Rio, a Spanish duo from Dos Hermanas near Seville. The Bayside Boys remix added English verses in 1995, and in 1996 it spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 while people everywhere learned the dance. Here you can read the Macarena song lyrics in English and Spanish, learn the steps, and find out how it all started.
Song Lyrics
Give your body joy Macarena
That your body is to give you joy and good thing
Give your body joy, Macarena
Hey Macarena
(...dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena...)
Cultural Impact
The Dance That United the World
The original Spanish version came out in 1993. The song only went global after it got English verses in 1995. Within a year it had set off an international dance craze, years before social media existed.
Those English verses came from the Bayside Boys, Miami producers Mike Triay and Carlos de Yarza, whose Macarena remix was released in August 1995. The Spanish chorus still belonged to Los del Rio, the duo who wrote the Macarena. For the full story from Seville to the 1996 charts, read our history of the Macarena.
- 14 weeks at number one. In 1996 the remix spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and 60 weeks on the chart in total.
- 11 million copies. The single had sold over 11 million copies by 1997.
- VH1's top one-hit wonder. VH1 ranked it the "#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of all Time" in 2002.
In 1996, a crowd of 50,000 people at Yankee Stadium danced it together, in what many believe was a world record for group dancing.
Breaking Records and Making History
The song was recorded in 1992 and released in 1993 as a rumba. It went through six different versions before reaching the one the world knows.
"We never imagined that a simple song about a girl named Macarena would unite people across the world. Even today, the royalties exceed six figures annually; it's a blessing that keeps on giving."
Today the Macarena ranks #5 on Billboard's All-Time Top 100 and #1 on Billboard's All-Time Latin Songs list. Musicians still study the track, and you can learn the Macarena chords to play it yourself.
The Digital Renaissance
The Macarena faded in the early 2000s, and social media brought it back. The 2019 "Macarena Challenge" on TikTok introduced the dance to a new generation, with celebrities and influencers putting their own spin on the moves.
Search #macarenachallenge on any social platform and you will find thousands of versions, from straight copies of the routine to new remixes. Flash mobs still pop up on every continent. Our page on Macarena flash mobs has some of the best, and the Macarena blog covers the song's other appearances, from movies to mashups.
Learn the Dance
Six steps. Each arm move is done with the right hand first, then the left.
- 1Arms Forward
Extend your right arm forward, palm down. Then extend your left arm forward, palm down.
- 2Cross Shoulders
Place your right hand on your left shoulder, then your left hand on your right shoulder.
- 3Hands Behind Head
Place your right hand behind your head, then your left hand behind your head.
- 4Hands on Hips
Move your right hand to your left hip, then your left hand to your right hip.
- 5Hip Rotation
Rotate your hips in a circular motion while keeping your hands on your hips.
- 6Jump & Turn
Jump and make a quarter turn, then start the sequence again facing the new wall.
For every count and the common mistakes, follow our step-by-step Macarena dance guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Macarena dance?+
The Macarena is the dance done to the song of the same name by Los del Rio. It became a worldwide craze in 1996. The routine is a 16-count sequence of arm and hip moves that ends in a jump and a quarter turn, so anyone can learn it in a few minutes.
Who created the Macarena?+
The Macarena was created by Los del Río, a Spanish music duo made up of Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones. They recorded the song in 1992 and released it in 1993 as a rumba.
How long was the Macarena number one?+
The Bayside Boys remix of the Macarena spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996.
How long was the Macarena on the Billboard Hot 100?+
The song stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 60 weeks and sold 11 million copies by 1997.
What does 'Macarena' mean?+
Macarena is a traditional Andalusian woman's name. In Seville it is also the name of a neighborhood and of the Basilica de la Macarena. In the song, Macarena is the main character. The English verses keep her story light, while the original Spanish lyrics describe her cheating on her boyfriend.
Is the Macarena still popular today?+
Yes. The song had a revival in 2019 with the 'Macarena Challenge' on TikTok and other social media platforms. Flash mobs and covers keep appearing worldwide, and the song still generates six-figure royalties annually for its creators.