You know that feeling when a song starts, and suddenly it’s 2010 again? You’re probably thinking of those neon lights, the rise of EDM-pop, and that unmistakable "shout-along" chorus. When we talk about enrique iglesias songs i like it is usually the one that people bring up first, even if they can't quite remember all the verses. It wasn't just a hit; it was a complete cultural reset for a guy people thought was just the "Hero" ballad singer.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild how much this track accomplished. It managed to blend a 1980s Lionel Richie classic with a Miami club vibe, all while riding the massive wave of reality TV fame.
The Weird Alchemy of "I Like It"
Most people don't realize that "I Like It" was actually a massive gamble. At the time, Enrique was drifting. He was successful, sure, but he wasn't "dominating the club" successful. Then came RedOne. If you don't recognize the name, he’s the mastermind behind Lady Gaga’s Just Dance and Poker Face. He brought that aggressive, four-on-the-floor Euro-dance beat to Enrique's breathy vocals, and something just clicked.
The song is built on a heavy interpolation of Lionel Richie’s 1983 smash "All Night Long (All Night)." But here’s the cool part: they didn't just sample a dusty old record. Enrique actually got Lionel Richie to go back into the studio and re-record his vocals specifically for this track. That "Fiesta, karamu, fiesta, forever" line isn't a loop; it's a living collaboration.
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Then you add Pitbull. In 2010, Mr. Worldwide was basically the seasoning you added to a song to make it a guaranteed Top 40 hit. His energy on the track is frantic and sorta messy in the best way possible.
Why Jersey Shore Made it a Monster
You can’t talk about enrique iglesias songs i like it without mentioning the GTL crew. MTV’s Jersey Shore was at its absolute peak when this song dropped. The track became the unofficial anthem of the show, and there are actually two different music videos for it.
One is the "standard" version with Enrique and Pitbull in a club. The other? It’s a fever dream featuring Snooki, The Situation, and Pauly D. Seeing Enrique Iglesias—a guy who usually plays the "sophisticated Latin lover"—partying with the cast of a reality show about tanning and laundry was a stroke of marketing genius. It grounded him. It made him feel like part of the "party" rather than just a performer on a stage.
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Chart Stats That Still Look Impressive
If you look at the numbers, this song was a juggernaut:
- It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, his best US performance since 2001.
- It hit No. 1 in Canada and stayed there for weeks.
- It eventually sold over 4 million copies in the US alone.
- It tied Enrique with legends like Michael Jackson and Prince for the most No. 1s on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart at the time.
Is it a "Guilty Pleasure" or Just Good?
Critics weren't always kind to this era of Enrique's career. Some felt the Auto-Tune was a bit too thick, or that the lyrics—"My girlfriend is out of town / and I’m all alone"—were a little too "frat boy" for a guy in his mid-30s.
But music isn't always about high-brow poetry. Sometimes, you just need a song that makes 129 beats per minute feel like the only thing that matters. The key of G major mixolydian used here is specifically designed to feel uplifting and "unresolved," which is why it feels like the party never actually ends while the song is playing.
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The Legacy of Euphoria
"I Like It" served as the lead English single for Enrique's first-ever bilingual album, Euphoria. This was a pivot point. Before this, he usually kept his English pop and Spanish ballads in separate boxes. By smashing them together and embracing the electronic dance movement, he basically paved the way for the Latin-pop explosion we saw later in the decade with artists like Bad Bunny or J Balvin.
He proved that a Latin artist didn't have to stay in one lane. You could be a romantic one minute and a club king the next.
If you’re looking to revisit this era, don't just stop at the radio edit. Look for the Chuckie Remix—it’s a six-minute journey that really shows off the "dirty" synth work RedOne was doing at the time. Also, if you’re a fan of the Jersey Shore nostalgia, watching the alternate music video is basically a time capsule of 2010 fashion (and hair gel).
To really appreciate why this works, try listening to it immediately after Lionel Richie's original "All Night Long." You'll hear exactly how they modernized those syncopated rhythms to fit a 21st-century dance floor. It’s a masterclass in how to use nostalgia without being buried by it.
Next Steps for Your Playlist:
- Check out the "I Like It" (Chuckie Remix) for a harder, more authentic 2010 club sound.
- Compare the track to "Bailando" to see how Enrique’s dance style evolved from Euro-pop toward a more traditional Latin-reggaeton fusion.
- Watch the "Jersey Shore" version of the music video on YouTube to see one of the most effective cross-promotions in music history.