‘Tis the season to listen to Christmas songs on repeat. Like many other artists across genres, Latin acts have been releasing bilingual (Spanish and English) holiday songs — whether original or covers — to get in the spirit navideño. There are of course the go-to classics like José Feliciano‘s “Feliz Navidad,” which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 and remains one of the top 10-performing hits in the decade-plus history of Billboard‘s Holiday 100 chart.
But artists like Don Omar have started their own tradition and for a third consecutive year, the Puerto Rican hitmaker has released a new edition of Tradición Urbana, featuring songs like “Navidad Sin Ti” by Christian Alicea, “Noche Fría” by Luis Vargas and Alcover and “En Esta Navidad” by El Yman.
Another new release is Carla Morrison‘s latest version of “Noche de Paz,” as a part of Kroger’s 2023 holiday campaign film. The Mexican singer-songwriter had previously covered this iconic song in her 2016 Christmas EP, La Niña del Tambor. This year’s reinterpretation is highlighted by Carla’s heartfelt vocals and Mexican instrumentation.
Other holiday-inspired new releases include Charlie Zaa’s “No Me Puede Faltar (Navidad)”; Matisse’s Christmas EP, Una Navidad Con Matisse, featuring collabs with Ha*Ash, El David and Josue Alaniz; and Myriam Hernández’s updated version of “Campanas de Plata,” which she originally recorded in 1989, and is part of her upcoming album, Nuestra Navidad.
Just in time for the holidays, here’s an updating list of new Navidad-themed or -inspired Latin songs released this year, to add to your Christmas music playlist. (Stream Billboard‘s 2023 Latin Christmas Playlist here.)
Chilean singer-songwriter Myriam Hernández released a new version of “Campanas de Plata” that will be included in her upcoming Holiday-themed album Nuestra Navidad (which follows the first volume of the set, released last year). Hernández originally recorded “Campanas” — an homage to Christmas Eve — in 1989 for a compilation Christmas album featuring other artists. Listen to the gorgeous updated version, featuring the Orquesta Sinfónica de Bratislava, here.
Mexican pop-rock trio has us in the Christmas spirit with their new holiday EP, Una Navidad Con Matisse. The six-track set includes covers of timeless holiday classics such as “Blanca Navidad,” “Last Christmas,” and “Santa Claus Llegó a la Ciudad” featuring collabs with Ha*Ash, El David nd Josue Alaniz. Listen to the EP here.
The Mexican singer-songwriter’s latest version of “Noche de Paz” is part of Kroger’s 2023 holiday campaign film, which features holiday songs that span a range of cultures and languages via their “The Holiday Remix” playlist. This year’s reinterpretation of “Noche de Paz” — which Morrison had previously covered in her 2016 Christmas EP La Niña del Tambor — is highlighted by heartfelt vocals and Mexican instrumentation. The song is now being played in Kroger stores through Jan. 2. You can stream it here.
Colombian tropical artist Gusi presents his new EP Mi Fiesta Favorita Vol. 1, which includes six dance-ready songs just in time for Christmas and end-of-the-year celebrations. Stream the EP here.
For a third year in a row, Don Omar has released Tradición Urbana, a conceptual album that features different artists every year to help spread holiday cheer. This time around, in Tradición Urbana 3, the Puerto Rican superstar recruits artists like Christian Alicea, Jowell and Alcover. Listen to the 10-track album here.
Proposing a new sound of Christmas, NEON16 has delivered an EP that pays homage to holiday classics but also includes new and original Christmas tracks from Alex Ponce, Nashy-Nashai, RMAND and Wanda Original. “A NEON Christmas came from my idea of wanting to reimagine Christmas music, doing it in a different way that represents our culture,” Lex Borrero, co-founded of talent incubator NEON16, said in a statement. “It gives us the opportunity as a company to reimagine the visuals, the presentation, the marketing of how we would look at Christmas.”
Check out A NEON Christmas here.
Puerto Rican urban-pop duo Domino Saints kicks off Christmas season with the upbeat “Noche Buena,” included in the compilation album Santa’s Flow, featuring other artists like Obie Bermudez and Jerry Bazúa. Listen to “Noche Buena” here.
Colombian artist Charlie Zaa has released a beautiful ballad just in time for Christmas. The piano-led song is about love in its purest form. “Christmas is the birth of Jesus, Our Lord, who came to save us,” Zaa expressed in a press release. “He represents the purest love. That’s why this song talks about how everything can be missing except love, whether it’s the love of a partner, a child, a parent or a loved one. This song is my best gift to all of you, who have accompanied me throughout my career. I hope you enjoy it with your family during this beautiful season of gratitude.”
Listen to “No Me Puede Faltar (Navidad)” here.