1-2-3 (Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine song)


"1-2-3" is a 1988 song by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine. The song was written by the band's drummer and lead songwriter Enrique "Kiki" Garcia along with Estefan and appears on the multi-platinum album Let It Loose.
Released as the fifth and final single from that album in the late summer of 1988, "1-2-3" peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1988, and was the band's seventh Top 10-hit. It also saw a second release in January 1989 after the success of "Can't Stay Away From You" and "Anything For You" in late 1988. It became the band's seventh Top 10 hit in the US. In addition, the song became their fourth #1 hit on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. On the Billboard R&B chart, "1-2-3" peaked at 54, and on the UK Singles Chart it peaked at #9. After the success of the re-releases of "Can't Stay Away From You" and "Anything For You", 1,2,3 also saw a re-release outside the US in January 1989. Although the single version was very similar to the album version, it was remixed to add more horns, a stronger rhythm track, and a different intro to the song; this version was issued on Gloria Estefan Greatest Hits and The Essential Gloria Estefan. An extended version of the song was also released on 12" single.
The lyrics of "1-2-3" detail the singer's desire to have a shy suitor approach her.
In 1991, Estefan sang a children's rendition of the song with Big Bird and the Birdketeers on Sesame Street.

Official versions

Original versions
  1. Album Version —
Eric Schilling & John Haag remixes
  1. Remix —
  2. Remix Instrumental —
  3. Extended Version —
  4. Dub Mix —
Pete Hammond remixes
  1. The Dancing By Numbers Mix —

    Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Formats and track listings

Release history