Santeria is a song by the American ska punk band Sublime, from their third album Sublime (1996), recorded at Pedernales Studio in Austin, Texas, for the label MCA and produced by Paul Leary. Bradley Nowell, Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh are credited as writers. The genres are ska, reggae and reggae rock. The music recycles the bassline and guitar riff of the earlier "Lincoln Highway Dub", from Robbin' the Hood (1994). It was released as a single on January 7, 1997, after the death of lead singer Bradley Nowell in May 1996. It became a moderate US crossover hit, with over 5 million copies sold, and reached the top five of Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Along with "What I Got", it is often regarded as the band's signature song.
Critics noted its mix of styles: The A.V. Club called it a blue-beat reggae song on its surface and a classic country song in essence, and Forbes called it a throwback reggae rock hit. The music video, filmed after Nowell's death, visualises the story as a Western. The song has been featured in Guitar Hero World Tour, Rock Band 3, Rocksmith 2014, and the films Idle Hands and Knocked Up.
