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Manos al Aire
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Wikipedia article
"'Manos al Aire'" (; English: "Hands in the Air") is a Spanish-language song by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. Written by Furtado, Alex Cuba and James Bryan, it was produced by Furtado and Bryan for the former's fourth studio album, 'Mi Plan' (2009). The song, which translates to "Hands in the Air" or "I surrender", is about "surrendering to love, and vulnerability", as Furtado put it. She felt that the song could only be sung in Spanish because it would be a "train-wreck" if it were sung in English because of the complexity of the lyrics.
It was released by Nelstar Entertainment and Universal Music Latino as the first single to worldwide radio on June 29, 2009. "Manos al Aire" reached number-one on the US 'Billboard' Latin Songs chart, becoming Furtado's first number-one song on the chart as a lead artist. Furtado also became the first North American act to have an originally written Spanish song to reach number-one on the chart. It peaked at number two in Germany, Czech Republic and Italy. It also peaked within the top 10 in Austria, Hungary, Switzerland and Spain. The music video of the song was filmed in Toronto and it portrayed Furtado as an angry lover who, during the video, throws away personal belongings and items, and removing articles of clothing which symbolizes her letting her guard down and surrendering to love. The song won a BMI Award in 2011.
Background and writing
"Manos al Aire" was co-written by Nelly Furtado, James Bryan and Alex Cuba, and produced by Furtado and Bryan. It is a Latin pop song with "a slice of pop/rock with twangy guitars, tight drums and terrific breathy vocals" and has acoustic and dance influencesCobo, Leila (Posted: July 13, 2009)[http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1071178/nelly-furtado-manos-al-aire "Nelly Furtado, 'Manos Al Aire'".] 'Billboard'. Retrieved June 24, 2011. The song's title translates to "Hands in the Air" or "I Surrender".Levine, Nick (Posted: October 7, 2009)[http://www.digitalspy.com/music/interviews/a180576/nelly-furtado.html "Nelly Furtado - Music Interview - Digital Spy".] 'Digital Spy'. Retrieved June 24, 2011. Furtado told MTV that the song is about "surrendering to love, and vulnerability ... and it talks about the dynamic of a relationship and the everyday fight to be a couple".MTV Music (Posted: August 29, 2009) [http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2009/07/29/new-video-nelly-furtado-manos-al-aire/ "New Video: Nelly Furtado, 'Manos al Aire'".] MTV Networks. Retrieved July 11, 2011. Furtado felt that the emotions that the lyrics portray could only be expressed in Spanish because, as she put it: "There's a complexity going on there that would be a bit of a train-wreck in English."Vena, Jocelyn (Posted: August 5, 2009) [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617595/nelly-furtado-singing-spanish-felt-natural.jhtml "Nelly Furtado Says Singing In Spanish On 'Mi Plan' Felt 'Natural'"] MTV Networks. Retrieved July 11, 2011.Levine, Nick (Posted: October 7, 2009) [http://www.digitalspy.com/music/interviews/a180576/nelly-furtado.html "Nelly Furtado - Music Interview".] 'Digital Spy'. Retrieved July 11, 2011. In an interview with Mayor Nissim, of Digital Spy, she further explained the conception of the song. She said that the song's protagonist feels angry but during the chorus says, as she put it, "My hands are in the air, let's work this out". Furtado also felt that if the song was performed in English, she would be labelled "furious or sappy" because of the content.Nissim, Mayor (Posted: September 14, 2009) [http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a177306/furtado-spanish-helps-express-emotion.html "Furtado: 'Spanish helps express emotion' - Music News"] 'Digital Spy'. Retrieved July 16, 2011. It was recorded by Bryan at the Rumblecone Studios and The Orange Lounge in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and mixed by Demacio "Demo" Castelln.
Critical reception
Mayer Nissim of Digital Spy said: "the fact that 'Manos' and several other songs feature rather Americanised production can prevent them from completely hitting the mark - sad to say, but Furtado's tunes don't always get the Spanish wallop her vocals deserve."Nissim, Mayer (Posted: September 13, 2009) [http://www.digitalspy.com/music/albumreviews/a178051/nelly-furtado-mi-plan.html Music - Album Review - Nelly Furtado: 'Mi Plan' - Digital Spy.] Retrieved January 10, 2011. Leila Cobo stated that the song "doesn't set the tone for the album, which balances intimacy with commercial appeal."Cobo, Leila (Posted: September 12, 2009) [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/magazine/reviews/albums/e3id2735b8f1234ea9ca80c7730e3c609bf "Mi Plan".] 'Billboard'. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
Michael Cragg, of musicOMH, called the song "a catchy blend of rock guitars and pattering beats". He also wrote that the chorus-line is "one of the few that genuinely stick in the mind".Cragg, Michael (Posted: September 14, 2009) [http://www.musicomh.com/albums/nelly-furtado-3_0909.htm "Nelly Furtado - Mi Plan - Album Review".] OMH. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
Chart performance
The single was well received in the United States. During its third week on the 'Billboard' Hot Latin Songs chart, it ascended from number 30 to number 13.Cobo, Leila (Posted: August 6, 2009) [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/news/e3i99e7b38cf6795ab067138f286b77f561 "Nelly Furtado's 'Manos,' Jenni Rivera's 'Ovarios' Leap On Charts".] 'Billboard'. Retrieved June 24, 2011. After two weeks at number two, "Manos al Aire" replaced Shakira's "Loba" at number-one the 'Billboard' Latin Songs chart, during the week dated September 12, 2009.[http://m.billboard.com/column/chart-beat-thursday-colbie-caillat-black-1004009242.story#/column/chart-beat-thursday-colbie-caillat-black-1004009242.story "Chart Beat Thursday: Colbie Caillat, Black Eyed Peas, Prince".] 'Billboard'. Retrieved June 24, 2011. It became Furtado's first number one song as a lead artist, and her second since Juanes' "Fotografa" topped the chart in 2002. Shakira's "Loba" had regained its place at number-one, ending the song's four week stint at the top spot.Trust, Gary (Posted: September 24, 2009) [http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267293/chart-beat-thursday-live-blogging-the-hot-100 "Chart Beat Thursday: Live-Blogging The Hot 100".] 'Billboard'. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
In Italy, "Manos al Aire" debuted at number two and remained at the spot for two consecutive weeks.[http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly+Furtado&titel=Manos+al+aire&cat=s "italiancharts.com - Nelly Furtado - Manos al Aire".] FIMI. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 28, 2011. After it fluctuated down the chart, it climbed up back into the top 10 and remained for four weeks until it left the chart three weeks later. The song peaked at number nine for two consecutive weeks, after spending 10 weeks on the chart in Spain.[http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly+Furtado&titel=Manos+al+aire&cat=s "spanishcharts.com - Nelly Furtado - Manos al aire".] PROMUSICAE. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
Music video
The music video for "Manos al Aire" was filmed in June 2009 in Toronto and premiered on July 29, 2009.[http://blogamole.tr3s.com/2009/07/29/video-premiere-nelly-furtados-manos-al-aire/ "Video Premier: Nelly Furtado's 'Manos al Aire'".] MTV Networks / Blogamole. Retrieved July 11, 2011. It was released to Apple's iTunes Store on August 3, 2009.[https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/manos-al-aire-with-english/id326923168 "Manos al Aire (With English Subtitles) by Nelly Furtado".] iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved July 8, 2011. In the beginning of the video, Furtado is shown driving an army jeep and sporting army gear, all of which she said represents her character's strong ego.(Posted: July 28, 2009) [http://www.nellyfurtado.com/news/default.aspx?nid=22261 "Behind-the-Scenes of Nelly Furtado's 'Manos Al Aire' Music Video".] Nellyfurtado.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011. As the video progresses, Furtado is shown throwing items and personal belongings out of the Army truck. These belongings are symbolized as her "emotional" weapons. In another scene, Furtado departs from the truck, and begins walking down a street.(Posted: July 28, 2009) [http://mipagina.univision.com/furtadonelly/blog/2009/07/28/international_video_premiere_manos_al_aire "International Video Premiere: "Manos al Aire".] (in Spanish). Univision Communications. Retrieved July 18, 2011. She also begins shedding her army gear and getting rid of her purse and other articles of clothing, all of which symbolizes letting her guard and defenses down. As the video comes to a conclusion, Furtado, who is vulnerable, shows up to her boyfriend's frontdoor, who greets her with the same defenseless attitude. Per Furtado's request, the video features English subtitles for viewers. The lyrics in the English subtitles for the video are not literal translations, they are an English interpretation of the song, which Furtado herself had written.Furtado, Nelly (Posted: August 15, 2009) ["Nelly Furtado : News : Message from Nelly".] Nellyfurtado.com. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
Track listing
; German 2-track single[https://itunes.apple.com/mx/album/manos-al-aire-single/id324545413 Manos al Aire - Single by Nelly Furtado] 'iTunes'. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
#"Manos al Aire" 3:28
#"Manos al Aire" (Robbie Rivera Radio Mix) 3:35
; German 4-track single[https://www.amazon.de/dp/B002GYS29Y "Manos al Aire: Nelly Furtado: Amazon.de: Musik".] Amazon Germany. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
# "Manos al Aire" 3:28
# "Manos al Aire" (Robbie Rivera Radio Mix) 3:35
# "Manos al Aire" (Robbie Rivera Juicy Mix) 7:07
# "Manos al Aire" (Robbie Rivera Radio Mix Instrumental) 3:33
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the 'Mi Plan' liner notes.(2009) Album notes for 'Mi Plan' by Nelly Furtado [Booklet]. Nelstar Entertainment, Inc. Miami, FL.
*Nelly Furtado producer
*James Bryan producer, recording engineer, drum programming, guitars, keyboards
*Demacio "Demo" Castelln mixing
*Dan Warner additional guitar, bass
*The Demolition Crew co-producer
*Michael Anthony additional drum programming
*Nick Banns string arrangements
*Daniel Stone percussion
*Jason "Metal" Donkersgoed assistant mixing
*Ron Taylor digital editing
*Chris Gerhinger mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Radio and release dates
See also
* List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Songs of 2009
References
Buy Manos al Aire now from Amazon
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