Azúcar Moreno

Azúcar Moreno, is a Spanish flamenco pop duo formed by sisters Antonia "Toñi" and Encarnación "Encarna" Salazar in 1984. Known for their rich blend of genres, Azúcar Moreno's repertoire spans from original flamenco vocal tracks to international classics. Hailing from Badajoz, Toñi and Encarna stem from a lineage of musicians, singers, and songwriters, including the acclaimed Porrina de Badajoz. Beginning as backup singers for their brothers in the band Los Chunguitos, Azúcar Moreno quickly rose to prominence after being signed by EMI Spain in 1982. They infused their Romani heritage and traditional "cantaora" vocal style with contemporary urban dance rhythms, producing hits like 1988's "Aunque Me Falte el Aire." Their international breakthrough came in 1990 with the Eurovision Song Contest where they performed "Bandido," included in their triple-platinum fourth album of the same name. Despite numerous technical problems during their performance, the track finished in fifth place and shot to popularity, anchoring their status in the global music arena. Over the following years, they worked with esteemed producers like Emilio Estefan on 1994's El Amor, winning a Billboard Music Award and emerging as top-sellers in the Spanish pop scene. Their most celebrated hit, "Solo Se Vive una Vez" from 1996's Esclava de Tu Piel, became one of the songs of the summer and reached the top of the charts in Spain. The duo continued to hone in on their flamenco-flavored brand of dance pop on albums like Olé (1998), Amén (2000), Únicas (2002), and Desde el Principio (2004), which featured the hit single "Él." In 2006, Azúcar Moreno paid tribute to the legendary Spanish actress and singer Lola Flores on their thirteenth studio LP, Bailando con Lola. The sisters faced a brief hiatus in 2007 due to Encarna's health challenges, but returned to activity in 2013, releasing a new album titled El Secreto in 2020. "Ay Mamá," their version of Rigoberta Bandini's 2021 hit single, arrived in 2023.