Learn Spanish With J Balvin with these 13 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

J Balvin
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning Spanish with J Balvin's music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. It is also great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning Spanish!
Below are 13 song recommendations by J Balvin to get you started! Alongside each recommendation, you will find a snippet of the lyric translations with links to the full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs!

J Balvin grew up in Medellín playing guitar in a teenage rock band with Nirvana and Metallica on repeat, and spent part of his teens in Oklahoma and New York picking up English. Born José Álvaro Osorio Balvín in 1985, he had been releasing music in Colombia for about a decade before anyone outside it paid attention.

"6 AM" with Farruko changed that in 2014, and "Ay Vamos" and "Ginza" followed: "Ginza" held number one on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart for 22 weeks, a record at the time. He kept singing in Spanish anyway, and "Mi Gente" reached number three on the Hot 100 once Beyoncé joined the remix, before "I Like It" with Cardi B and Bad Bunny went to number one in 2018. His albums run La Familia, Energía, Vibras, Colores (every track named after a color, and a Latin Grammy for best urban album), José and Rayo, plus Oasis, a joint record with Bad Bunny. In August 2019 he became the first Latino artist to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago.

CONTENTS SUMMARY
Mi Gente (My People)
Si el ritmo te lleva a mover la cabeza
Ya empezamos como es
Mi música no discrimina a nadie
Así que vamos a romper
If the rhythm leads you to move your head
We already started the right way
My music doesn't discriminate against anyone
So let's tear it up

J Balvin kicks off "Mi Gente" with a simple test: "Si el ritmo te lleva a mover la cabeza / Ya empezamos como es" (If the rhythm makes you move your head / We've already started right). This song is a massive global party, and everyone is invited. Balvin makes his mission clear: "Mi música no discrimina a nadie" (My music doesn't discriminate against anyone). It's all about the power of a beat to bring people together, no matter where they're from. He even points out the collaboration in the lyrics, mixing French and Spanish to celebrate his partnership with French DJ Willy William: "Francia Colombia me gusta" (I like France Colombia).

This is a song full of confidence. J Balvin knows he has a worldwide hit, declaring "El mundo es grande pero lo tengo en mi mano" (The world is big but I have it in my hand). The whole track is a call to the dance floor, asking "Y dónde está mi gente" (And where are my people) before commanding everyone to move. It's a pure celebration of music's ability to create a party that "no tiene fin" (has no end).

LA CANCIÓN (THE SONG)
Pensaba que te había olvidado
Pero pusieron la canción
Que cantamos bien borrachos
Que bailamos bien borrachos
I thought I had forgotten you
But they played the song
That we sang when we were really drunk
That we danced when we were very drunk

“LA CANCIÓN” is that irresistible reggaeton confession where J Balvin and Bad Bunny admit what many of us secretly know: one song can shatter the illusion of moving on. The track opens with the pair convinced they have already forgotten an old flame, only for their song to start playing at the club. Instantly, the memories crash back—nights of singing off-key, stumbling dances, and tipsy kisses that felt like the world’s best idea. Over a slow, hypnotic beat, they laugh at themselves for thinking a string of casual hookups, a few English ballads, or swaggering bravado could erase genuine feelings.

As the alcohol flows, each verse dives deeper into nostalgia: back-seat rendezvous, beach adventures, stealthy visits to a strict parent’s house, even the scent of Chanel mixed with sweat. The singers recognize that time has passed and their ex is happy with someone else, yet the moment that old melody surfaces, the past seems vivid and alive. Ultimately, “LA CANCIÓN” captures that bittersweet tug-of-war between pride and vulnerability, proving that music can reopen scars, revive joy, and remind us that some loves never fade completely, no matter how many times we hit “next track.”

Sigo Extrañándote (I Still Miss You)
Tú sabes que no quiero perderte
Sabes que este amor es tan fuerte
Era envidiable lo de los dos
Es que esta noche volvería a tocarte
You know that I don't want to lose you
You know that this love is so strong
What we had was enviable
It's that tonight I'd touch you again

This song is a total post-breakup anthem from Colombia's J Balvin. He's singing to someone he's lost, and he is not over it. He reminds her how good they were together, saying their love was so strong that what they had was "envidiable" [enviable]. The main message is right there in the title: "Entiende que yo sigo extrañándote" [Understand that I'm still missing you]. He repeats this over and over, making it clear she's on his mind "a cada instante, en todo momento" [every instant, in every moment].

What makes this song so relatable is how he's dealing with the breakup in a very modern way. He admits, "Yo estoy pendiente a tus movimientos" [I'm watching your moves] and then confesses he sees her posts on Instagram. He watches her photos and says he's dying to be the one with her at night. He's desperate to fix things, pleading with her to just tell him where to meet: "Dime dónde, por favor, responde" [Tell me where, please, answer]. It's a classic story of wanting someone back, with a 21st-century social media twist.

Si Te Vas (If You Leave)
Dime si te vas, pa' emborracharme de una vez por todas
Pa' imaginarte con otra persona, me muero de celos y no colaboras
Toda una criminal, por ti, descubrí que los hombres sí lloran
Que decir mentiras se puso de moda, si te vas a ir, dale, vete ahora
Tell me if you're leaving, so I can get drunk once and for all
To picture you with someone else, I'm dying of jealousy and you don't help
Such a criminal, because of you I discovered that men do cry
That telling lies became trendy, if you're gonna leave, come on, leave now

J Balvin and Jay Wheeler are going through it in this song. It's all about a super messy, on-again, off-again relationship where nobody knows what's happening. One minute he's begging her to make a decision: "Dime si te vas, pa' emborracharme de una vez por todas" (Tell me if you're leaving, so I can get drunk once and for all). He's so full of jealousy and frustration that he says because of her, he "descubrí que los hombres sí lloran" (discovered that men do cry).

He knows the whole situation is a toxic cycle. They fight, she threatens to leave, and then she comes back. He admits, "Sé que vas a pedirme volver otra vez / Y yo, de pendejo, digo sí otra vez" (I know you're going to ask me to come back again / And I, like an idiot, say yes again). Even though he knows they're "nada serio" (nothing serious), he can't help his feelings. It's a classic case of someone driving you crazy, but you just don't want to lose them.

YO LE LLEGO (I'LL PULL UP)
Dime dónde es que está la bebida y yo le llego
¿Dónde están las mujeres? Y yo le llego
Dime dónde está mi gente y yo le llego
¿Dónde es que están los cuartos, manito? Y yo le llego
Tell me where the drink is and I'll pull up
Where are the ladies? And I'll pull up
Tell me where my people are and I'll pull up
Where's the money at, bro? And I'll pull up

Ready for a party anthem? "YO LE LLEGO" is basically J Balvin and Bad Bunny's promise to show up wherever the fun is. The title itself, "yo le llego," is a cool piece of slang that means "I'll be there" or "I'll pull up." The whole chorus is just them asking for directions to the good stuff: "Dime dónde es que está la bebida y yo le llego" (Tell me where the drink is and I'll be there), "¿Dónde están las mujeres? Y yo le llego" (Where are the women? And I'll be there). It's a simple, direct message: if you have a party, they're coming.

Both artists use their verses to brag about their success and lifestyle. J Balvin, who's from Medellín, Colombia, shouts out his global reach, listing countries from Mexico to Argentina. He boasts about his wealth with lines like "Hace rato pasamos los siete ceros" (We passed seven figures a while ago). Bad Bunny is just as confident, introducing himself by his full name, Benito, and dropping the hilarious line "Me pongo Rolex como si fueran Casio" (I wear Rolexes like they were Casios). He even brushes off a past relationship, saying "Que se joda, yo fui quien ganó" (To hell with her, I'm the one who won), because now he gets to live exactly how he wants.

Forever My Love
La luz de tu mirar
Tu hermoso caminar
No existe nadie como tú
The sky magenta blue
The light of your gaze
Your beautiful walk
There is nobody like you
El cielo azul magenta

Forever My Love is a heartfelt bilingual duet where Colombia’s reggaetón superstar J Balvin joins forces with British pop icon Ed Sheeran. Together they paint a dreamy picture of love that glows under a “sky magenta blue,” mixing Spanish warmth with English tenderness. The song feels like a slow-dancing confession: both singers marvel at their partner’s beauty, promise eternal support, and celebrate the magic of being alone together with nothing but the moonlight.

Behind its soothing melody lies a simple yet powerful message: true love is imperfect but unbreakable. The lyrics admit that “habrán momentos de sufrimiento” (there will be moments of suffering), yet the repeated vow “ahí estaré” (I’ll be there) turns uncertainty into reassurance. By the end, the phrase “Hoy y mañana, por siempre mi amor—Forever my love” becomes a mantra of lifelong devotion, reminding learners that love can bridge languages, cultures, and any obstacle life throws their way.

Mi Gente (My People)
Si el ritmo te lleva a mover la cabeza ya empezamos cómo es
Mi música no discrimina a nadie así que vamos a romper
Con lo mío todos se mueven
La fiesta la llevo en mis genes
If the rhythm gets your head moving, that's how we get started
My music discriminates against no one, so let's tear it up
To my sound, everyone moves
I've got the party in my genes

"Mi Gente" is a massive global party anthem, and the title itself means "My People." J Balvin kicks things off with a simple idea: "Si el ritmo te lleva a mover la cabeza ya empezamos cómo es" (If the rhythm makes you move your head, we've already started). The whole point is that his music is for everyone, declaring "Mi música no discrimina a nadie así que vamos a romper" (My music doesn't discriminate against anyone, so let's break it). The song is a call for unity on the dance floor, bringing together people from Willy William's France, J Balvin's Colombia, and Beyoncé's Houston.

Beyoncé's verse adds a whole new level of confidence and power. She celebrates her heritage, saying the "Creole in my body is like a potion," and makes it clear she's in charge. She even throws down a challenge: "If you really love me make an album about me, word up." She then expands the global call, lifting up her people from "Texas, Puerto Rico / Dem' islands to México." The song's central question, "¿Y dónde está mi gente?" (And where are my people?), isn't just a party shout, it's an invitation for everyone, everywhere, to join in.

Otra Noche Sin Ti (Another Night Without You)
Me despierto y lo primero que hago es ver si me escribiste
Anoche te dejé un mensaje, pero no lo leíste
Yo comprendo que tú no quieras saber más de mí
Dicen que te perdí, te perdí
I wake up and the first thing that I do is look if you wrote to me
Last night I left you a message, but you didn't read it
I understand that you don't want to know about me anymore
They say that I lost you, I lost you

Lonely phones, sleepless nights, and a beat you can’t stop moving to – “Otra Noche Sin Ti” pairs Colombian superstar J Balvin with the soulful voice of Khalid for a bilingual confession of heartbreak. From the very first line, Balvin checks his messages like someone searching for oxygen, only to find silence. No amount of cash can fill the empty side of the bed, and pride keeps two ex-lovers oceans apart. Over a smooth reggaeton groove, he admits his mistakes and pictures his former partner dancing with someone else while his own name becomes “prohibited” in the room they once shared.

Khalid then slides in from Los Angeles with verses in English, echoing the same ache: he is ready to jump on a one-way flight if it means ending the loneliness. Both artists circle the same painful truth: “I can’t take another night without you.” The catchy repetition of the chorus turns personal sorrow into a club anthem, reminding listeners that even confident superstars crumble when love is gone. Whether you focus on the Spanish lines or the English ones, the song is a relatable diary entry for anyone who has stared at their phone at 3 a.m. hoping for a second chance.

Sigue (Keep Going)
Sigue
Que a mí me gusta todo lo que exhibes
Yo puedo tocar los temas
Que miren cómo te recorro el cuerpo entero
Keep going
Because I like everything that you exhibit
I can touch the subjects
Let them see how I traverse your entire body

This song is a straight-up party track about desire on the dance floor. J Balvin and Ed Sheeran see a woman they're attracted to and are very direct about what they want. J Balvin tells her, "Sigue / Que a mí me gusta todo lo que exhibes" (Keep going / Because I like everything you show off), making it clear he's enjoying her dancing and confidence. The whole song is an invitation to leave the club and spend the night together, with lines like "Mami, si me sigues, nos vamos pa'l hotel" (Mami, if you follow me, we're going to the hotel).

What's fun here is how blunt they are. There's no subtle poetry; it's all about physical attraction and a wild night. They even throw in a pretty bold suggestion: "Llama a tu amiga pa' que hagamos una trinidad" (Call your friend so we can make a trinity). Ed Sheeran's verse is a cool surprise, where he playfully calls himself "Tu blanquito pelirrojo, rojo" (Your little white redhead, red), showing he's in on the joke of a British pop star on a reggaeton track. It's a song about pure, unfiltered fun and wanting someone right now.

Agua (Water)
Esto es un party por debajo del agua
Baby, busca tu paraguas
Estamos bailando como pez en el agua
Como pez en el agua, agua
This is an underwater party
Babe, grab your umbrella
We're dancing like fish in water
Like fish in water, water

Dive in and grab your umbrella, because “Agua” turns the ocean into the hottest dance floor on the planet! J Balvin and producer Tainy invite us to an under-the-sea fiesta where day and night blur, the beat never stops, and everyone moves “como pez en el agua.” With playful shout-outs to SpongeBob, Squidward (Calamardo), Patrick, Sandy (Arenita), and even Gary the snail, the song fuses reggaetón heat with cartoon fun, creating a world where tropical sunshine and neon jellyfish lights coexist.

At its core, “Agua” is a celebration of carefree joy: leave your worries on the shore, feel the bass, and let the water cool you while the rhythm heats you up. The lyrics splash listeners with images of sweet pineapple, sun-kissed skin, and endless dancing, reminding us that happiness can be as simple as good music, good company, and a little imagination beneath the waves.

UN DÍA (ONE DAY)
One day you'll love me again
Hug me again till the end
One day you'll beg me to try
One day you'll realize I'm more than your lover
...
...
...
...

UN DÍA (ONE DAY) is a bilingual tug-of-war between longing and pride. Over Tainy’s smooth reggaeton beat, J Balvin, Dua Lipa, and Bad Bunny trade verses that picture a love stuck in limbo. The singers replay memories of sun-soaked trips, late-night calls, and irresistible chemistry, yet they refuse to relive the heartache. Their message is clear: you let this slip away, now you’ll have to miss me. The hypnotic chorus, “One day you'll love me again,” turns regret into confidence, predicting that the runaway lover will eventually circle back, only to find a stronger, more self-assured partner waiting—or maybe not waiting at all.

Underneath the catchy hook lies a story of empowerment. The song flips the usual breakup script by mixing vulnerability with swagger. Spanish and English lyrics weave together images of Turks and Caicos beaches, London reunions, and star-studded nights in Marbella, showing that love can take you everywhere yet still leave you lonely. By the final chorus, the listener feels both the ache of what was lost and the thrill of moving on, making UN DÍA (ONE DAY) a bittersweet anthem for anyone who knows that sometimes the best revenge is simply living your best life until one day they remember what they’re missing.

Machika
Vamos, vamos a romper
No hay tiempo para perder
De la disco pal' motel
Más mala que Annabelle
Let's go, let's break
There's no time to waste
From the club to the motel
Badder than Annabelle

Machika (a Papiamento word that means smash it) is a high-octane invitation to cut loose. Colombian superstar J Balvin joins forces with Aruban singer Jeon and Brazilian icon Anitta to ignite a global dance-floor riot. From the opening “Vamos, vamos a romper” the trio urges everyone to break free, waste no time, and ride a turbo-charged beat that races from the club to the motel. The nonstop chant “machika” echoes the pounding bass, while references to nitro engines, gold-priced time, and Zorro-style marks promise a night so intense it will leave a lasting stamp.

Behind the party firepower lies a shout of border-busting confidence. Each artist proudly waves a different flag yet unites in one rhythm, proving that Latin music is “la nueva era.” The lyrics celebrate fearless women who never back down, encourage living in the moment rather than hoarding, and spread good vibes that cross every frontier. In short, “Machika” is both an explosive soundtrack for an unforgettable night out and a declaration that Latin culture can smash through any barrier when it moves together.

Dime (Tell Me)
A que no le dices que me amas
A que no le dices que me llamas
Que ya debe saber
Que eres más mía desde ayer
Bet you don't tell him that you love me
Bet you don't tell him that you call me
That he must already know
That you're more mine since yesterday

**"Dime" plunges us into a steamy tug-of-war where loyalty, ego, and irresistible chemistry collide. J Balvin links up with Bad Bunny, Arcángel, De La Ghetto, and Revol to paint the picture of a forbidden romance: she has a boyfriend, they all have their own flings, yet the late-night messages and secret rendezvous keep pulling the two main characters back together. The chorus’ challenge – “Dime si esta noche nos vemos” – dares her to admit she prefers the thrill and passion of this clandestine affair over the safe routine with her official partner.

Throughout the verses, playful boasts and vivid snapshots (blocking on Instagram, luxury shopping bribes, cherry-scented nights) expose a relationship that is as fiery as it is complicated. The men know the situation is messy, but the adrenaline of risking it all – and the confidence that “she’s more mine since yesterday” – makes the drama addictive. In classic reggaetón style, the track mixes swagger, sensuality, and a hint of mischief to highlight a universal theme: sometimes the heart (and body) want what they shouldn’t, and the temptation to say “Te amo” to the wrong person can be impossible to resist.

We have more songs with translations on our website and mobile app. You can find the links to the website and our mobile app below. We hope you enjoy learning Spanish with music!
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