Pa Mis Muchachas

In 2000, Aguilera released her second studio album Mi Reflejo, her first Spanish-language album.[5] The album went on to be ranked number ten on the Billboard's Top 20 Latin Albums of All Time.[6] Aguilera began teasing the release of her second "overdue" Spanish-language album two decades later in early 2021 noting in a Health magzine that:

I'm months away from anything being announced [...] I am reinspired and have reconnected with myself. I've fallen in love with music all over again, which is a really big thing to say, having spent my entire career in music.[7]

On October 19, Aguilera began posting clips of the song's accompanying music video on her social media, eventually releasing both the song and video on October 22.[8] On working on the song, Aguilera noted that the song "serves as an homage to women".[9] She added that, "We wanted to make sure that this was definitely a representation of Latin women who are the strength of a family, the backbone. In the song we mention that I'm a woman that is strong because I was raised by a woman that was strong and so was she before that. It's something that gets passed down by generations. I chose Nathy, Becky and Nicki because of the strength they exude".[9]

"Pa Mis Muchachas" was the first track that was created for Aguilera's then-upcoming second Spanish album, which the singer revealed during her interview with the Ocean Drive magazine:[10]

Funnily enough, "Pa Mis Muchachas" was the very first song we wrote and recorded for this album. Right from the start, in my very first session at Maestro Julio Reyes Copello's studio, the energy was undeniably special. The guitar strings, the lyrics, intensity and passion within the song poured out of everyone. I was introduced to Nathy, Nicki and Becky, and there was no doubt in my mind that they were the perfect muchachas for this track.[10]

"Pa Mis Muchachas" is a guaracha song inspired by Cuban-style music.[11] It is written in the key of A minor, with a moderately fast tempo of 118 beats per minute.[12]

Upon release, the song received positive reviews. Harper's Bazaar writer Bianca Betancourt noted that "Aguilera's signature vocals shine over the infectious guaracha-style beat — a high-tempo genre that stems from Cuba" adding that "it's the best she's sounded in years".[9] A Manila Standard writer also praised Aguilera's vocals noting that the track contains "simmering acoustic guitar threads around a head-nodding beat as [Aguilera's] instantly recognizable vocals ring out".[13] They went on to say that her "show-stopping delivery" complimented the accompanying voices of Becky G, Nicki Nicole, and Nathy Peluso and that the song "unites some of the boldest powerhouses in Latin music and culture, heating up each verse".[13] Paige Mastrandrea of Ocean Drive praised the song for its "nostalgic vibe" that the audiences were "craving from" Aguilera since her previous female collaboration — 2001's "Lady Marmalade",[10] a sentiment also shared by Enrique Cerros of NEIU Independent.[14] Billboard considered the song "a modern-day girl-power anthem that honors the Latinas that came before us",[15] and Rolling Stone's Lucas Villa simply labelled it as "mighty".[16] Writing for Atwood Magazine, Josh Weiner found the song "extraordinary", a "delight", and "one of the most energetic numbers Aguilera’s produced in recent memory".[17] Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus thought the song is "as infectious as it is powerful", and praised Aguilera for her work with Latin female artists, which he believed "works well for the purpose of this song".[11] Cynthia Valdez of ¡Hola! opined that "Pa Mis Muchachas" "overflows with spirit, strength, soul and style", and noted that the performers "make each verse of the song explode with emotion".[18]

"Pa Mis Muchachas" was listed as one of the best Latin songs of 2021 by Amazon Music's experts. It was ranked at number thirty-nine on the top hundred list.[19] Bianca Betancourt of Harper's Bazaar placed the song at number nineteen on the list of 2021's best songs, and called it "a bold and vivacious anthem celebrating the female friendships that make us stronger, in which Aguilera belts her signature runs over a traditional Cuban guaracha beat." She added that Aguilera "remains one of the strongest vocalists of her generation — regardless of language."[20] The Tab's Harrison Brocklehurst named "Pa Mis Muchachas" "one of the greatest songs of 2021" and "one of the best songs of her [Aguilera's] career".[21]

"Pa Mis Muchachas" debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Latin Digital Song Sales on the chart issue dated November 6, 2021.[22] It also debuted within Top 20 of another Billboard chart, namely Hot Trending Songs.[23] It charted at number 18 on the Latin Pop Airplay,[24] and number 37 on the Hot Latin Songs.[25] The song received a gold certification from the RIAA and reached the top tens of various spanish speaking countries.[26]

Aguilera performed the song live with Becky G, Nicole and Peluso at the 22nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards.[27] The performance was called a "decadent, grrl-power-filled showcase" by The Latin Recording Academy.[10]

At the 2022 Top Music Universe Awards, "Pa Mis Muchachas" earned Aguilera, Becky G, Nicole and Peluso a nomination for the Latin Collaboration of the Year award.[35] It was also nominated for the Best Collaboration award at the Top 50 Music Awards.[36]