Camila Cabello marked the ninth anniversary of her hit song "Havana" on social media, saying she still loves the track deeply. She said she still loves the song very much along with all the memories it has given her, thanked fans for listening to it so much, and added that she loves them.
The story behind Havana
"Havana" is Camila Cabello's biggest global hit. It was released on August 3, 2017, featuring rapper Young Thug. The lyrics describe, in an upbeat and danceable way, how half of her heart stayed in the Cuban capital after she fell for a "bad boy."
Cabello was born in Cojimar, Cuba, and spent part of her childhood in Mexico before moving to Miami. She co-wrote the song with Pharrell Williams, aiming to reflect her Latin roots on her debut solo album, "Camila."
Record label executives initially doubted the commercial potential of "Havana" as a lead single for radio, favoring other, more conventional pop sounds. But the public's reaction changed course. During Cabello's early live performances of the song, the response from fans was so overwhelming that it began racking up plays, prompting the label to back it as the official single.
"Havana" went on to become Cabello's biggest global hit and the most-streamed song of her career, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in more than 20 countries.
In October 2021, the Recording Industry Association of America certified the song Diamond after it surpassed 10 million units sold in the United States. With that milestone, the Cuban-born singer became the first Hispanic or Latina artist born outside the United States to achieve the honor.
A proud Latina artist
Cabello has spoken often about how her heart is split between Cuba and the United States, saying she loves both Spanish and her roots as much as English and everything she has achieved while living in North America.
The song, which just turned nine, was written specifically as a tribute to her hometown. The line "half of my heart is in Havana" reflects the feeling of having left a fundamental part of her life on the island.
Cabello took that pride further in 2022 with the release of her album "Familia," which incorporated traditional rhythms from the places where she grew up, including salsa and mariachi. The album's music videos, costumes and staging repeatedly evoke Caribbean architecture, telenovela culture and the large family gatherings common in Hispanic communities.
