Los del Río, a duo from near Seville, wrote “Macarena” in 1993 after seeing a flamenco dancer at a party in Venezuela. Macarena is a common name in Seville (from the Virgin of La Macarena and the neighbourhood of the same name), and the song is about a girl who loves to party. In the verses — less famous than the dance — she's fond of a boyfriend who's away doing military service, and she doesn't wait for him.
The 1995 Bayside Boys remix, with English verses added, became a global number one and spent fourteen weeks at the top of the US charts; the dance, with its hand moves, became a worldwide craze.
The Spanish chorus is a classic for beginners: an encouragement to give your body some joy. Notice the Andalusian “pa’” for “para” and the “¡Eh, Macarena!” shout everyone knows.