Colombia, a country known for its rich music, has produced many hit songs that international artists have gone on to use as samples. A sample is a portion of a song or sound recording that is reused in another track, often with the purpose of adding greater depth and energy to the new song.
Samples can come from many sources, including funk, house, disco, or hip-hop. English-speaking artists often incorporate rhythms and melodies from non-Western music, such as Arabic, African, or Latin American, into their work. Given that Colombian folk music is one of the most powerful and popular in Latin America, many artists around the world have used Colombian songs as samples to elevate their musical productions. Here are some of the most well-known.
Ay Curura, a popular Colombian song to sample
Curura, by Colombian music legend Toto la Momposina, is one of the most famous Colombian folk songs. Recognized for its iconic gaita flute, Curura has been widely sampled by international artists. The song has guaranteed them immediate success thanks to the strength and captivating nature of the original Colombian melody.
The first international artists to sample Curura was hip-hop producer Timbaland, in one of his rap songs. Misleadingly named “Indian Flute,” the song features Indian American singer Rajé Shwari, and is an interesting case of cultural appropriation.
The most famous sample of Curura, however, was featured in a song by a Colombian artist. The global hit “Que Calor” (“So Hot”) by DJs Major Lazer, featuring J Balvin and Dominican rapper El Alfa, uses the original gaita flute melody from Curura, speeding it up to create a fast and rhythmic track.
When African House meets Colombian Cumbia
One of the most unlikely musical crossovers is between Colombian cumbia and South African amapiano. This genre, blending house, African rhythms, gospel, and hip-hop, has recently emerged as one of the most popular in Africa and on the underground house scene.
One of the genre’s most popular songs, “Banyana” by DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU, samples one of the most iconic songs of Colombian folk music: “El Pescador” (“The Fisherman”) by Toto la Momposina. The song is essentially a Zulu cover of the Colombian track. In the song, lead singers Daliwonga and Sir Trill replicate the same flow, cadence, and rhythm as the original, following its structure and including choral elements.
The return of Colombia’s Magin Diaz
An iconic Colombian folk song has recently been popularized internationally by Iranian-born pop star Sevdaliza in her hit song “Alibi”, which also features Brazilian Pablo Vittar and French Yseult.
The chorus of the song features the refrain from “Rosa que Linda Eres” (“Rosa, How Beautiful You Are”) by Magín Díaz. The original song, which praises the beauty of a girl named Rosa, adds depth to the modern version, which also praises a woman – though nameless – and her strength.