Honestly, trying to pin down a definitive Juan Gabriel list of songs is a bit like trying to count the stars over Ciudad Juárez. It’s a massive, beautiful mess of emotions. Alberto Aguilera Valadez—the man behind the legend—wasn’t just a singer. He was a songwriting factory that never took a day off.
Most experts, including those at the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, estimate he wrote somewhere between 1,500 and 1,800 songs. That is an insane number. Think about it. If you listened to a new Juan Gabriel track every single day, it would take you nearly five years to get through the whole catalog. And we aren't talking about "filler" tracks either.
The Hits Everyone Knows (And Why They Matter)
You can't go to a Mexican wedding or a Sunday family BBQ without hearing his voice. It's basically the law. But which ones actually top the Juan Gabriel list of songs in terms of cultural impact?
"Amor Eterno" is the big one. It's the ultimate tear-jerker. Most people think it’s a romantic breakup song, but Juanga actually wrote it as a tribute to his mother, Victoria Valadez Rojas, after she passed away in 1974. It’s become the unofficial anthem for mourning in the Latin world.
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Then you have "Querida." This track stayed at number one in Mexico for an entire year. One. Whole. Year. It’s got that dramatic 80s production that somehow feels timeless because his vocal performance is so raw.
- "No Tengo Dinero": His first big hit from 1971. It’s upbeat but tells a story about being broke and hoping love is enough.
- "El Noa Noa": A tribute to the club where he got his start. It’s pure kitsch and impossible not to dance to.
- "Hasta Que Te Conocí": A masterclass in the "crescendo." It starts quiet and ends in a wall of sound and heartbreak.
Songs He Wrote for Others
This is where the Juan Gabriel list of songs gets really interesting. A huge chunk of his legacy lives in the voices of other icons. He was like a musical King Midas; everything he touched for another artist turned to platinum.
Take Rocío Dúrcal. Their partnership was legendary. Songs like "Costumbres" and "Déjame Vivir" define her career, but they are 100% Juanga creations. He also wrote "De Mí Enamórate" for Daniela Romo, which became a massive soap opera theme. Even Luis Miguel got a piece of the magic with "Lo Pasado, Pasado."
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He didn't just write lyrics; he wrote personalities. He knew how to tailor a melody to the specific "hurt" in a singer's voice.
The Evolution of the Catalog
If you look at his discography, it’s not just one style. He jumped from teen pop in the early 70s (El Alma Joven) to full-blown Mariachi with the legendary Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán.
Later in life, he got into the "Los Dúo" era. These albums brought his classic list of songs to a new generation by pairing him with everyone from Juanes to J Balvin. His final studio project, Eterno, released posthumously, proves that even now, the vault is still giving us gems.
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A Quick Reality Check on the Numbers
While 1,800 is the number often cited, many of these remain unreleased or were written under pseudonyms early in his career. His official registered catalog with SACM (Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico) is the gold standard for anyone trying to track every single lyric.
What to Do Next
If you want to actually experience the depth of the Juan Gabriel list of songs, don't just stick to a "Greatest Hits" Spotify playlist. Those are fine for beginners. To really get it, you need to hear the live versions.
Your Action Plan:
- Watch the 1990 Bellas Artes Concert: This was a massive deal. A pop singer performing at Mexico's high-culture opera house was scandalous at the time. The versions of "Así Fue" and "Ya Lo Sé Que Tú Te Vas" from this night are arguably better than the studio recordings.
- Dig into the "Divo y Sus Divas" collection: Listen to the songs he wrote for women. The perspective shift in his writing when he writes for a female voice is fascinating.
- Check out the B-Sides: Look for tracks like "Inocente Pobre Amigo" or "La Farsante" to see how he blended humor with traditional ranchera music.
The man is gone, but the songbook is permanent. Whether you're happy, devastated, or just want to dance at the Noa Noa, there's a track in that massive list waiting for you.