The English Version
The Bayside Boys Macarena Remix
In August 1995, Miami producers Mike Triay and Carlos de Yarza, working as the Bayside Boys, added English verses to Los del Rio's Macarena. In 1996 their remix spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
August 1995
Remix Released
14
Weeks at #1 (1996)
Mike Triay & Carlos de Yarza
Remix Artists
60
Weeks on the Hot 100
When most people outside Spain picture the Macarena, they hear this version. It keeps the Spanish chorus that Los del Rio recorded in 1993 and wraps it in a dance beat and new English verses. You can read the English verses or compare the original and remix lyrics on our lyrics page.
How the Bayside Boys Built the Remix
In 1995, Miami DJs Mike Triay and Carlos de Yarza, performing as the Bayside Boys, were asked to make a version that would work for American audiences. They changed three things.
Kept the Spanish Chorus
Los del Rio's chorus stayed in Spanish, sung by the duo. That hook is the part everyone shouts along to.
Wrote New English Verses
The Spanish verses were replaced with English ones, sung from Macarena's point of view. They are new lyrics, not a translation of the Spanish story.
Rebuilt the Beat
The rumba rhythm of the original gave way to an electronic dance beat suited to mid-90s clubs and radio.
Why Two Languages Worked
Crossover records often lose either their original audience or their new one. This one kept both.
Spanish Speakers Kept Their Song
The chorus and the voices of Los del Rio were still there, so the remix did not sound like a cover.
English Speakers Could Sing Along
Listeners who knew no Spanish now had verses they understood, plus a chorus simple enough to learn by ear.
Radio Would Play It
English verses made the track easier for mainstream American stations to add to their playlists.
Built for the Dance Floor
The new beat matched the 16-count dance, which spread the song from clubs to weddings and stadiums.
The 1996 Chart Run
The remix climbed slowly after its 1995 release and reached number one in 1996.
14 Weeks at Number One
In 1996 the remix spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
60 Weeks on the Chart
The song stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 60 weeks in total.
Number One Abroad
The remix topped charts in more than 15 countries, from Australia to the United Kingdom.
How the Remix Is Put Together
The remix follows the original verse and chorus pattern, with the verses swapped out.
Verses: In English, sung by a woman speaking as Macarena.
Chorus: The original Spanish chorus by Los del Rio, ending in "Hey Macarena."
Production: An electronic dance beat in place of the original rumba arrangement.
Where the Remix Showed Up
The remix spread well beyond radio.
Sports Arenas
Stadium crowds performed the dance together between plays and innings.
Political Moments
Delegates danced to it at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.
Weddings
It became a regular request at wedding receptions.
Where to Hear the Bayside Boys Remix
The remix is on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. Search for "Macarena Bayside Boys Remix" on any of them.
Why This Version Lasted
The remix showed that a song could cross a language barrier without being translated. Today, when people talk about "the Macarena," this is usually the recording they mean. The Spanish verses it replaced tell a different story, which our Macarena song meaning page explains.