rSnapshotPhotos/Shutterstock.comJulio Iglesias is the embodiment of the romantic singer. The former Real Madrid goalkeeper became the best-selling Latin American artist of all time after a car accident. He sang in 14 languages and conquered the world with his velvet voice, his sun-kissed skin, and his inimitable charm.
His music is pure nostalgia: lush orchestras, soft guitars, and lyrics about eternal love and melancholy. Julio is not just a singer; he is a global brand of seduction and class.
10. Gwendolyne
The song with which he participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 (representing Spain, in Amsterdam). Although he finished fourth, this marked his international breakthrough. It is a classic ballad about a lost love. The orchestration is grand, and Julio sings with that typical sob in his voice that would become his trademark. A piece of pop history.
9. Begin the Beguine (Volver a Empezar)
His unique version of the Cole Porter classic. He gave it a light disco beat and Spanish lyrics, with which he scored a surprising number 1 hit in the United Kingdom in 1981. The track is stylish and swinging. It shows that Julio could bridge the gap between old American standards and the European pop market. Elegance at its peak.
8. All of You (with Diana Ross)
Julio was the king of duets (including collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Dolly Parton). This partnership with Diana Ross is sweet, romantic, and perfectly produced. The music video is pure 80s romance. The voices blend together like honey. It is a textbook example of the adult contemporary pop that made him a star in the US.
7. Manuela
One of his earliest major hits. The rhythm is playful and the melody is incredibly catchy. Julio sings here with a slightly rawer and more powerful tone than in his later, whispering period. The song has a wonderful summery vibe. In many countries, this was the first introduction to the Spanish charmer. A live favorite that always ensures sing-along crowds.
6. Amor, Amor, Amor
The title alone is the essence of Julio. A rhythmic track with a prominent guitar and a cheerful, compelling beat. It is about the omnipresence of love. The chorus is simple and effective. Julio sounds like the ultimate bon vivant here. It is music for a yacht in the Mediterranean, with a glass of wine in hand.
5. Hey
A dramatic power ballad in which he addresses an ex who is now with someone else, but who, according to him, will never be as happy. “No vayas a presumir.” The arrogance of the lyrics (“He will never love you like I do”) is softened by the beautiful melody and his emotional delivery. It is one of his greatest sales successes worldwide.
4. Me Va, Me Va
The ultimate party song by Julio. A celebration of life, love, and the people around him. The tempo is high and the atmosphere is exuberant. “Me va, me va, me va.” It is impossible not to feel happy when listening to this track. It radiates a positivity that shows why he is so beloved by the general public.
3. To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before (with Willie Nelson)
The unlikely combination of the Spanish playboy and the American outlaw country singer. It became a massive global hit. They sing about their past with women, not with regret, but with gratitude. The contrast between Julio’s smooth voice and Willie’s nasal tone works like magic. In the Top 2000, this is a staple; an anthem for the melancholic womanizer.
2. Quiereme Mucho
A classic bolero that Julio sang into the charts. The title means “Love me a lot.” The tempo is slow, sultry, and hypnotizing. This is Julio at his best: soft, intimate, and full of passion. The strings and the background choirs make it a lush arrangement. The ultimate song for a romantic evening.
1. Un Canto A Galicia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j802Z77Z1mLMOmk
By far his biggest and most beloved song in the Netherlands. An ode to Galicia, the region where his father was from. He sings it in Galician, not Spanish. The melody is deeply melancholic and full of homesickness. Although many people did not understand the lyrics, they felt the emotion. It spent weeks at number 1 and is a timeless classic inseparable from the summer of 1972.