Spanish radio broadcaster CADENA 100 marked Singles' Day on November 11 by presenting five pop anthems that celebrate independence, freedom, and self-love.
Writing from Madrid, journalist Almudena Navarro reported that the annual observance serves as an opportunity to raise a glass to single life and remember that living without a romantic partner offers plenty of reasons to celebrate.
The broadcaster emphasised that being single does not mean being incomplete. According to the network, some people thoroughly enjoy their independence, others are discovering a fresh life stage in the wake of a breakup, and many are simply delighted with their relationship status because self-love should never be missing.
Origins of Singles Day at Nanjing University
The celebration known as Singles' Day began in China in 1993, when a group of students at Nanjing University chose November 11 to celebrate being unattached.
The date was selected deliberately: the four single digits in the numerical date 11/11 symbolize solitary individuals. Although the tradition started as an unusual campus custom, it eventually grew into an international observance that is now widely recognized around the world for massive commercial sales and retail promotions.
Nanjing University, located in Jiangsu province in eastern China, ranks among the country's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education, having originated as an imperial academy centuries earlier.
Shakira and an anthem of personal liberty
CADENA 100 pointed to Colombian singer Shakira as an artist who transformed single life into a celebrated anthem with her release Soltera.
Released in September 2024, the song features catchy rhythms with afrobeat influences that celebrate personal liberty, close friendships, and having a good time. Shakira sings about entering a new chapter in life where she decides to leave past worries behind and enjoy herself without giving explanations, extending an invitation to go out with friends and dance without letting anyone dictate how to live.
Shakira, who was born in Barranquilla, has sustained a multi-decade career as one of the most successful Latin recording artists in modern pop history. Her recent activity has included plans to return to Latin America with her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour following a major residency in Madrid, alongside personal time dedicated to her family and her father's health.
Beyonce and moving on without regret
The broadcaster selected American singer Beyonce and her 2008 release Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) as a defining pop statement for independent women.
According to the station, the track turned the everyday gesture of raising a hand into an international phenomenon. The song centres on a woman who chooses to move forward after a relationship in which she did not receive the commitment she expected, delivering the clear message that if someone cannot appreciate what they have, a partner has no obligation to wait around.
The release was accompanied by an iconic music video featuring intricate, synchronized choreography that travelled around the world and solidified the song as a global anthem of empowerment.
Beyonce rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead vocalist of Destiny's Child before building an acclaimed solo career that made her the most awarded artist in Grammy history.
Taylor Swift and the relief of moving on
Taylor Swift was featured for her proven ability to transform romantic disappointment into anthems that fans can sing along to at full volume.
In her 2012 track We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, the American singer puts a decisive end to an unstable, on-and-off relationship. CADENA 100 noted that the song features an indelible chorus that conveys the sense of relief felt once reconciling with an ex is definitively off the table.
The station explained that certain relationships simply conclude, and deciding not to look back is often the healthiest choice an individual can make.
Swift originally released the song as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Red, an era that marked a key transitional moment in her evolution from country prodigy to global pop powerhouse.
Aitana and Ana Guerra with Lo Malo
Spanish pop was featured on the playlist through singers Aitana and Ana Guerra with their 2018 hit collaboration Lo Malo.
The track originated inside the television academy of Operacion Triunfo, Spain's long-running talent competition, and quickly conquered the country's music charts as an authentic phenomenon. With an urban rhythm and confident attitude, the two performers champion a woman who refuses to settle for a relationship that fails to bring her happiness.
The radio station stated that the track fits Singles' Day naturally by asserting that people should never accept less than they deserve in romance.
Operacion Triunfo, which first aired in Spain in 2001, has produced many of the country's most prominent pop stars, and the 2017 edition helped launch both Aitana and Guerra into major international music careers.
Rosalia and trading heartbreak for dancing
The station rounded out its five selections with Catalan singer Rosalia and her 2022 hit Despecha, which served as a major summer soundtrack.
With Caribbean rhythms and contagious energy, the song captures the urge to go out, dance, disconnect, and leave worries behind. According to CADENA 100, the track speaks directly to anyone who prefers to trade the tears of a romantic disappointment for a night of partying while living in the moment.
Rosalia, who grew up in Sant Esteve Sesrovires near Barcelona, has earned widespread critical acclaim for modernizing traditional flamenco music, while her online followers have recently tracked social media clues pointing toward an upcoming project titled Lux.
CADENA 100 message on celebration
CADENA 100 concluded its tribute by reiterating that having a partner is unnecessary when marking November 11.
The station advised audiences, whether single by choice or because life led them there, to turn up the volume, phone their friends, and enjoy the tracks featured across the network's music catalogue. The broadcaster emphasized that happiness does not depend on marital status, reminding listeners that spending time without a partner can be a great plan.
CADENA 100 is a Spanish adult contemporary radio network headquartered in Madrid and operated by the Abside Media group, broadcasting music and morning shows across the country.
