Top 10 Jon Secada Songs

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Our Top 10 Jon Secada Songs list presents the best Jon Secada songs including “Angel,” “Just Another Day,” and many more. Before Grammy Award-winning Jon Secada became one of the world’s best-selling Latino artists in the music industry, he was born in 1961 as Juan Francisco Secada Ramirez in Cuba before relocating to Miami, Florida ten years later. In 1979, after graduating from high school, pursuing a career in music as encouraged by his teachers who discovered he had a talent for it. He enrolled in the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music where he first earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1983 and a Master of Music degree in jazz vocal performance in 1986.

From Teacher to Performer

Starting in 1986, Jon Secada was a teacher at Miami Dade College. This is where he met Emilio Estefan, husband of Gloria Estefan, who would play an instrumental role in Secada’s development as a recording artist. First, he sang backup with Gloria Estafan and her musical group, Miami Sound Machine. By 1991, which was the final year Secada taught at the college, he co-wrote and served as a backup singer for Gloria’s hit single, “Coming Out of the Dark.” The song came as an inspiration after Gloria Estefan broke her back while riding a tour bus in 1990. Two years later, Secada released his self-titled debut album, which sold enough copies to become certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America three times over. It also earned him a 1993 Grammy Award win for Best Latin Pop Album for its Spanish version. A year after this he performed a duet with Frank Sinatra which included a new recording of “The Best Is Yet to Come.”

Ever since his breakthrough in 1993, it has been nothing less than stellar success for Jon Secada as a recording artist, stage performer, and even voice actor. The global fan base has remained just as awestruck by the man’s talent now as they were when they first heard him sing.

Jon Secada Legacy

So far, there are seventeen studio albums to Jon Secada’s credit. The English version of his debut album, Jon Secada, was released in 1992 as was the Spanish version, Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte. In English, this means “Another Day Without Seeing You.” When Secada made his first impression as a recording artist, he did so by storm.

Top 10 Jon Secada Songs

#10 – If I Never Knew You (featuring Shanice)

As a duet performed with Shanice, “If I Never Knew You” was a ballet specifically written for the 1995 Disney film, Pocahontas. This version played during the end credits before it was released as the soundtrack’s second single. On the US Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart, it peaked as high as number seven and it was a number fifty-one hit on the official UK Singles Chart. Originally, this version was supposed to play in the movie itself but failed to keep the interest of a test audience of children. It was, however, used when the movie was over and later released as a single. This romantic duet may not have won over the attention of kids but it certainly won over the romantics of the adult population.

#9 – Mental Picture

In 1996, “Mental Picture” became a BMI Latin Awards winner for Award-Winning Songs. It also won an Asian Music Award for Best Pop Song, which illustrated just how popular Jon Secada has been worldwide. On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, “Mental Picture” peaked at number ten. It was a number twenty-nine hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, a number sixteen hit in Canada, and a number forty-four hit in the UK. This easy-listening, romantic number once again illustrated how much of a romantic Jon Secada has been as a singer and songwriter.

#8 – Si Te Vas

“Si Te Vas,” in English, means “If You Go” in English. This Spanish version of this hit single earns its own place in the list as a separate entity from “If You Go” for its remarkable display of Jon Secada at his finest. On the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, it peaked at number one. The music video for this particular single was nominated for Video of the Year by the Lo Nuestro Award but that win went to Luis Miguel for “La Media Vuelta” instead. The starting piano, combined with Secada’s powerful vocal delivery, made “Si Te Vas” as a cheery number despite the fact it was about the narrator’s concern his love interest’s departure would leave a hole in his heart.

#7 – I’m Free

In 1994, “I”m Free” earned the Award-Winning Songs win with the BMI Latin Awards ceremony, followed by a 1995 win as Most Performed Song by the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. In 1993, “I’m Free” peaked as high as number twenty-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number four on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary. In Canada, “I”m Free” peaked as high as number three and it was a number fifty hit on the UK Singles Chart. This embrace of freedom song served as an inspirational number then and it still is today. According to Secada, freedom comes when a person only makes the conscious decision between what’s truly important and what isn’t.

#6 – If You Go

“If You Go” was an Award-Winning Songs recipient, courtesy of the BMI Latin Awards in 1996. In this beautiful ballad, Secada’s lyrical plea to his love interest not to leave him was an incredibly soulful performance that was enough to cause even the listener’s heart to ache. “If You Go” peaked at number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number three on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Globally, it was at least a top forty hit among the nations of Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, and the UK. This is the English version of “Si Te Vas,” which is a justifiable favorite in its own right.

#5 – Do You Believe in Us

“Do You Believe in Us” was the recipient of ASCAP’s Pop Music Awards’ Most Performed Song in 1994 as one of Jon Secada’s three that would earn such an honor. It was also an Award-Winning Songs winner with the BMI Pop Awards. On the US Billboard Hot 100, “Do You Believe in Us” was a number thirteen hit. On the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, it peaked as high as number three. It was also a major hit among the nations of Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK. As a love ballad, which has been Secada’s specialty as a singer-songwriter, “Do You Believe in Us” is more than just a well-favored hit. It is one of those amazing soul-searching songs, thanks to its inspirational lyrics and how beautifully Secada carries his voice from start to finish.

#4 – Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte

In English, “Otro dia Mas Sin Verte” means “Another Day Without Seeing You.” As the title track belonging to the Spanish version of Jon Secada’s debut album, this became BMI Latin Awards’ Song of the Year in 1993, as well as its Most Performed Latin Song of the Year. This amazing rock ballad perfectly illustrated why Jon Secada kept winning one award after another and why he’s become such a fan favorite worldwide. Regardless of what language he sings, Secada continues to blow the listener away with music so powerful that it can bring tears to one’s eyes. As “Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte,” this was a number one song on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, as well as in Panama and Uruguay. In Colombia and El Salvador, it peaked as high as number two and was a number three hit in Mexico.

#3 – Just Another Day

In 1994, “Just Another Day” won the ASCAP Pop Music Awards’ Most Performed Songs Award, one of three that would do so that year. It was also an Award-Winning Songs winner according to the BMI Latin Awards. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it was a number five hit, and on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at number two. Worldwide, this single peaked at least within the top ten among the nations of Austria, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the UK. It also earned gold certifications from Australia, Germany, and USA’s RIAA. In the UK, “Just Another Day” became certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Clearly more than just another song, “Just Another Day” also featured Gloria Estefan singing as a backup vocalist, adding to Secada’s already powerful performance.

#2 – She’s All I Ever Had

In 2001, “She’s All I Ever Had” became a BMI Latin Award winner for Award-Winnings Songs, marking it the eighth time Jon Secada would do so as a recording artist. This 1999 original from Ricky Martin, was actually written by Jon Secada and it became a massive hit for the Latino star from Puerto Rico. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it was a number two hit and was at least a top forty hit among a multitude of nations, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.

#1 – Angel

The ballad, “Angel,” was a 1994 recipient of the ASCAP Pop Music Awards Most Performed Song and was an Award-Winning Songs winner with BMI Latin Awards. It was also nominated for Pop Song of the Year by the Lo Nuestro Awards in 1993. Although he didn’t earn the win there, “Angel” has since become an all-time cult favorite. For Jon Secada, “Angel” was his second single release, which peaked as high as number eighteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a number three hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The Spanish version of this song became a number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. What’s not to love with this incredible song, sung by such talent? “Angel” was a tale Secada shared about a woman whom he met while he was in Amsterdam that impressed him so much he wrote about her.