These songs have defined my time in Ecuador (20-1)

The truth is that I could probably write a master's dissertation about each of these songs in the top 20. They have all, in their own way, helped shaped my experience in Ecuador.

20. A dormir juntitos - Eddy Herrera y Liz



In addition to the bachata that I talked about in yesterday's installment, the technocumbia is a staple of late-night, small-town dances. When you listen to this song, they might be singing about durmiendo juntitos, but you are probably a meter and a half away from your dance partner, with whom you aren't making eye contact.

19. Te amo - Makano



If there was one defining artist of my first two years in Ecuador, it had to have been Makano. The soothing beats from this Panamanian pop singer took over the small towns of Ecuador. This was one of his biggest hits.

In the States, I don't really sing along with pop music, but I really get into in Ecuador. This is one of the best songs to really belt out like you mean it.

18. Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan



Mr. Saxobeat has shot up the charts in the last year or so. You'll hear it on the bus. You'll hear it again walking down the street. You'll hear it again when your roommate decides to play it on loop on iTunes. Then, before you know it, you're listening to it on your own volition and singing along.

17. Te amo tanto - Nigga



This song is in the same category as Makano's hit that came in at No. 19. I would say that these songs are the Latin American equivalent of R & B. As great as Makano's hit is, Nigga's just one ups him.

16. Te regalo amores - Rakim y Ken-Y



You cannot deny the greatness of this song. Once it really gets going, there might not be a more addictive and enjoyable song to listen to.

15. Moscau - Dschinghis Khan



I had never heard this song in my first two years as a volunteer. It was much more popular in the jungle. But my roommates, who both spent the first two years of their service in the jungle, brought this gem up to Quito with them. If we ever have a dance party in our house, this is the song that typically kicks it off.

We don't really have any idea what they are saying, but I'm sure it's great.

14. Niña bonita - Chino y Nacho



I´m going to allow my roommate, Meaghan, to insert a guest commentary on this song because my best memory of this song was when Meaghan and another volunteer immitated the music video at our close of service conference.

"This song really speaks to the heart of the Latin people."

13. ¿Qué tengo que hacer? - Daddy Yankee



Daddy Yankee is one of the pioneers of hip hop, at least in my mind. This song came out at about the time I started service, and it was a hit with all the kids in my youth group.

12. Pa Panamericano



There was a time last year when every single person in Ecuador had this song stuck in his or her head.

11. Cuando me enamorao - Enrique Iglesias y Juan Luis Guerra



Si pudiera bajarte una estrella...

From those first words, you can tell that this song is coming straight from the heart directly to airwaves throughout Ecuador.

A veces desespero cuando me enamoro.

I didn't even realize that the video is a school assembly. Outstanding.

10. Calle ocho - Pitbull



I was walking through the store with my roommates the other week. Out of nowhere, we started singing this song's chorus.

One, two, three, four. Uno, dos, tres, cuatro.

A group of elementary-school aged girls overheard us and started giggling. It was outstanding.

I can't tell you how many times I have been asked "what do "You know I want. I know you what me" mean by Arenillas youth?

This song has pretty much everything you could look for in a reggaeton song: a catchy chorus. a little bit of English, large sections of the song that you don't understand, Pitbull.

9. Tsunami - Bayron Caicedo



Bayron Caicedo's nickname is "El duro, duro, duro de Ecuador."

James Brown was often referred to as the hardest-working man in show business. Well, Bayron Caicedo is the hardest-working man in Ecuadorian show business.

The man is always on tour. He must have played live in or around Arenillas four times in my service. I spoke to friends who lived in the jungle, and they said the same thing. The man loves to put on shows and collect pay checks.

He loves it so much that he puts his phone number at the beginning of his music videos.

I've spent this whole time just talking about the man himself and haven't even touched on the epicness of this song. The dance scene that plays out in this video is pretty much what happens every time this song is played in Ecuador - all-out dance party.

8. Na de na - Angel y Khriz



When I hear this song, I think discoteca

The beat was probably forged in the depths of Latin America's sleaziest clubs. The words, or syllables because there are very complete words in this, were composed in the graffiti on the club's bathroom walls. Its bass has blasted the innocence from many a young Ecuadorians going to the discos.

Notice the use of the reggaeton horn in the background. Love the horn.

7. Cara guay



I have spent more than a year in the Ecuadorian sierra. The go-to song for any traditional social gathering in this part of the country is Cara Guay. I don't know if anyone knows what it means. All I know is that everyone loves it.

I have a distinct memory of walking down the street in my training community three years ago when a local dance group was dancing to this one in the street.

This video was already high on the list before I saw the beginning of this video. Simply outstanding.

6. Tu nombre en mi cuaderno - Makano



Why is this the most played song in my iTunes?

Could it be that it was the most requested song by the youth in the newspaper club when they came to my house to work?

Could it be that I then played it on repeat after they left?

5. Tres notas - Au-D



Hearing this song's opening notes just makes me nostralgic for pre-service training.

One of the staff members put on a memorable performance of this vintage Ecuadorian pop song. Needless to say, it brought the house down, and people are still talking about it.

4. Lagrimas - Aventura



I swear there has never been a studio played of this song in Ecuador. The only recording you will ever hear has the crowd in the background, which makes it that much better.

While "Tu nombre en mi cuaderno" might be the most played song on my iTunes, this is probably the song that I have heard the most in my three years. It is stil regularly played and sang along to on the buses.

3. Como hago - Eddy Herrera



Every volunteer has a techno cumbia song at the top of their list. And every one of those songs has a story behind it.

I remember hearing this song for the first time at a fiesta during my first week at site.

For some reason, the "como hago ahora para no llorar..." line was already stuck in my head the next day. It's been there for three years and counting now.

2. Waving flag - K'naan



Along with Waka Waka, this was one of the theme songs for the 2010 World Cup. I don't know if there has ever been a more uplifting, positive song ever written. When you hear it, you can't help but feel inspired.

Even after the World Cup ended, I would keep hearing this song for months afterward. Although I don't hear it as much these days on the airwaves, I wish I heard it more.

Is there a more feel-good video than a bunch of happy kids running, playing soccer, and waving their hands in the air?

You can also check out the Spanish version of this song by David Bisbal that is pretty great, as well.



1. Danza kuduro - Don Omar



If you are ever feeling a little down, if you feel like Ecuador is out to get you, there is one sure-fire way to pick your spirits up. Open up iTunes and put on this song (Or open your windows because, odds are, your neighbors are playing it). From its first notes to its unforgettable chorus to the mix of Spanish-Portuguese to the time when the artist yells out "sexy," you just can't help but feel better after hearing this song.

There are so many aspects of this song that put it at the top of this list:

• The great English dialogue between Don Omar and Luczenzo at the beginning of the video. They sound a like a couple of Ecuadorian high school students practicing for an English test.
• The fact that the video is presented by "Machete Music"
• The high ratio of yachts per minute
• The high ratio of bikini-clad dancers to artists
• The split-screen technology.
• Don Omar's ridiculous dance at the steering wheel
• The fact that nobody really knows what the song really means.

One of my friends plays an acoustic version of this song that I hope to get on YouTube very soon.