La Chona (song)

"La Chona"
1997 7-inch single cover
Single by Los Tucanes de Tijuana
from the album Me Robaste el Corazón
LanguageSpanish
B-side"El Centenario"
Released19 June 1995 (1995-06-19)
1997 (single version)
GenreNorteño
Length3:16
LabelEMI Mexico
Songwriter(s)Mario Quintero Lara

"La Chona" is a song by Mexican norteño band Los Tucanes de Tijuana. It was first released on 19 June 1995, as part of the band's album Me Robaste el Corazón (1995), later being released as a single in 1997. Written by lead vocalist Mario Quintero Lara, the song attained virality in 2018 following its usage in Internet memes and "La Chona Challenge".

Background and writing

Mario Quintero Lara, lead vocalist and songwriter for the band, wrote "La Chona" in five minutes after one of his friends, who was an announcer of a radio station in Ensenada, Baja California, requested that he should write it so that he could play it on the station.[1] Written about the friend's wife, he was not sure if he wanted to include the song on the band's album Me Robaste el Corazón, considering it an unimportant song.[2]

Release and reception

"La Chona" was first released on 19 June 1995 as the sixth track from the album Me Robaste el Corazón.[3] In 2018, the song went viral on social platforms through "La Chona Challenge"; similar to the "Kiki Challenge", a person exits a moving vehicle and dances on a road to the song.[4]

Track listings

  • US remix CD single[5]
  1. "La Chona" – 3:17
  2. "La Chona" ("popular" remix version) – 2:49
  3. "La Chona" (discothèque remix version; radio edit) – 4:53
  4. "La Chona" (discothèque remix version; extended version) – 6:32
  • Mexico 7-inch single[6]
  1. "La Chona" – 3:16
  2. "El Centenario" – 2:36

Charts

1997 weekly chart performance for "La Chona"
Chart (1997) Peak
position
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[7] 28
US Regional Mexican Airplay (Billboard)[8] 17
2015–2019 weekly chart performance for "La Chona"
Chart (2015–2019) Peak
position
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[9]
"La Chona Challenge" 		21
US Latin Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[10] 16
US Latin Streaming Songs (Billboard)[11] 22
US Regional Mexican Airplay (Billboard)[8]
"La Chona Challenge" 		24

Certifications

Certifications for "La Chona"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] 2× Platinum (Latin) 120,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Lugo, Verónica (27 July 2020). "La verdadera historia de 'La Chona', la mujer que llevó a la fama a un hombre" [The true story of 'La Chona', about a woman who brought a man to fame]. Actitud Fem. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Los Tucanes de Tijuana: Esta es la verdadera historia que inspiró a 'La Chona'; no era su canción favorita" [Los Tucanes de Tijuana: This is the true story that inspired 'La Chona'; it was not their favorite song]. Periódico Zócalo (in Mexican Spanish). 13 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  3. ^ Pérez, Carolina (24 June 2022). "'La Chona': ¿Quién es la mujer que inspiró la famosa canción de los Tucanes de Tijuana?". El Sol de Tijuana (in Mexican Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  4. ^ Inzunza, Francisco (23 July 2018). "'La Chona' de Los Tucanes de Tijuana vive su segundo aire". Debate. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  5. ^ Los Tucanes de Tijuana (1996). La Chona Remix (CD liner notes). EMI Latin. DPRO 11902.
  6. ^ Los Tucanes de Tijuana (1997). La Chona / El Centenario (CD liner notes). EMI Music Mexico. 724388369770.
  7. ^ "Los Tucanes de Tijuana Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Los Tucanes de Tijuana Chart History (Regional Mexican Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Los Tucanes de Tijuana Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Los Tucanes de Tijuana Chart History (Latin Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Los Tucanes de Tijuana Chart History (Latin Streaming Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  12. ^ "American single certifications – Los Tucanes de Tijuana – La Chona". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 3 September 2024.