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El Amor (Ricardo Arjona song)
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Wikipedia article
"'El Amor'" is a latin pop song by Guatemalan recording artist Ricardo Arjona, released on 23 August 2011 as the lead single from his thirteenth studio album, 'Independiente' (2011). The song was written and produced by Arjona along with longtime collaborators Dan Warner and Lee Levin under their stage name Los Gringos, with additional production work from Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Tommy Torres. "El Amor" is the first single Arjona releases under his new record label, Metamorfosis.
Lyrically, "El Amor" was written by Arjona in an attempt to show all sides of love, explaining that "So many good things about love has been shown, that somebody had to turn it around and tell the bad ones". The song became Arjona's fourth single to reach number one on the US 'Billboard' Top Latin Songs, and the seventh to do so on the Latin Pop Songs chart. It also became his first song ever to reach number one on the Tropical Songs chart, improving his previous peak of number two almost twelve years prior. "El Amor" also topped several national charts from Latin America.
An accompanying music video for "El Amor" was released in September 2011. It was directed by Ricardo Caldern and filmed in black and white. The clip shows Arjona singing while a wedding is being celebrated inside a chapel. "El Amor" was performed by Arjona as part of a televised show broadcast by Televisa, which included guest appearances by Gaby Moreno, Ricky Muoz from Mexican band Intocable and Paquita la del Barrio. It was also included on the set list for his ongoing tour, the Metamorfosis World Tour.
Background
. "El Amor" is the first single released under the label.
'Independiente' is the first album Arjona released as an independent artist, and through his own record label, Metamorfosis, a company he created to refocus his career.(12 October 2011). [http://musica.univision.com/noticias/article/2011-10-12/ricardo-arjona-billboard-independiente-disco-oro "Ricardo Arjona, de nuevo en la cima con 'Independiente'"] (in Spanish). 'Univisin Musica'. Retrieved 15 October 2011. Presided by Arjona and some friends, 'Metamorfosis' is based in Miami and Mexico City,(7 July 2011). [http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/14853/Ricardo-Arjona-sacara-un-nuevo-disco-bajo-su-propio-sello-independiente/ "Ricardo Arjona sacar un nuevo disco bajo su propio sello independiente"] (in Spanish). 'San Diego Red'. Retrieved 30 October 2011. and also includes the photographer and director Ricardo Caldern, Universal Music Mxico's executive Humberto Calderon and BMG's Miriam Sommerz.[http://www.metamorfosis.be/somos somos < metamorfosis.be] (in Spanish). Metamorfosis. Retrieved 30 October 2011. Although the album is marketed with the new label, distribution was handled by Warner Music. Arjona commented many times, that he considered the way he decided to go independent raised more compromise than freedom, saying that "Inside the word 'Independent', even when it sounds like extreme freedom, there's a big amount of compromise and the responsibility of being able to administrate, in the best way possible, such independence."(4 October 2011). [http://www.el-nacional.com/noticia/3648/21/Ricardo-Arjona:-Estoy-empezando-de-nuevo-y-me-gusta.html "Ricardo Arjona: Estoy empezando de nuevo y me gusta"] (in Spanish). 'El Nacional' (Venezuela). Retrieved 15 October 2011.
'Independiente' was composed and written within one year,(3 October 2011). [https://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5h7VYAUB5BW4JQuJJXg6tx5pA-4bA?docId=1621707 "Arjona goza de "libertad extrema" consciente de sus riesgos"] (in Spanish). EFE Agency. Retrieved 15 October 2011. and marks the fourth time Arjona had collaborated with Tommy Torres, who had helped writing, composing, producing and providing backing vocals. The other three albums in which the two artists had worked together are 'Quin Dijo Ayer', in which Torres helped producing the singles "Quin" and "Quiero", and offering additional work on the new versions of Arjona's hits; '5to Piso', and 'Adentro', respectively. Also, in the album, Arjona returned to his classic and trademark sound, which Torres has helped crafting it since six years now, after the drastic change he made in 'Poquita Ropa'. On that album, the artist made use of the fewest instruments possible, simplifying his sound, and introducing what he called a "stripped-down version of his music".(26 August 2010). [http://www.lapatria.com/story/arjona-presenta-canciones-con-poquita-ropa "Arjona presenta canciones con Poquita Ropa"] (in Spanish). 'La Patria'. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
Weeks before the release of 'Independiente', Arjona issued a letter in which he talked about his past relations with recording companies. In the letter, he revealed that he entered in his first record label as an exchange, commenting that "a producer, friend of mine, told them [the record label] that if they don't sign me they won't sign two artists he had [at that time]", and that he received the "minimum royalty percentage" out from his most successful albums.(26 September 2011). [http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/2011/09/26/505071/las-razones-de-la-independencia-de-arjona.html "Arjona desclasifica los episodios menos glamorosos de su paso por las discogrficas"] (in Spanish). 'Emol.com'. Retrieved 15 October 2011. 'Billboard' notes that although other groups have decided to launch independently their works after having a contract with major record labels, Arjona is by far the most important artist in the Latin pop to follow this trend.
Composition
"El Amor" is a piano and guitar mid-tempo Latin pop ballad written by Arjona and produced by himself alongside longtime collaborators Dan Warner, Lee Levin and Tommy Torres. Recording work was held by Torres, alongside Carlos "Junior" Cabral, Isaias Garca, Jerald Romero and Dan Rudin. The song is the first lead single to be produced by Arjona along with Torres since '5to Piso' "Como Duele" back in 2008.'5to Piso' (Digital booklet). Ricardo Arjona. Warner Music Mexico: a division of the Warner Music Group. 2008. 'Poquita Ropa' lead single, "Puente" (2010), was produced by Arjona and Dan Warner.'Poquita Ropa' (Digital booklet). Ricardo Arjona. Warner Music Mexico: a division of the Warner Music Group. 2010. 825646802180. Torres also provided background vocals on the song.
"El Amor" was written by Arjona in an attempt to show all sides of love. As said by Arjona himself, "So many good things about love has been shown, that somebody had to turn it around and tell the bad ones".[http://www.informador.com.mx/entretenimiento/2011/328959/6/ricardo-arjona-obtiene-numero-uno-con-su-primer-sencillo-el-amor.htm "Ricardo Arjona obtiene nmero uno con su primer sencillo 'El amor'"] (in Spanish). El Informador. Retrieved 15 October 2011. The development of "El Amor" was motivated by Arjona's idea of showing "those big dark events within love that nobody talk about", saying that "love's dark sides are really fundamental to understand its great value".(19 September 2011). [http://rumberos.net/rumberos/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17507:ricardo-arjona-muestra-los-distintos-angulos-de-el-amor-&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=3 "Ricardo Arjona muestra los distintos ngulos de 'El Amor'"] (in Spanish). Rumberos.net. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
In an interview in February 2012, the singer stated that "El Amor" was the "most tawdry" song he has released throughout his career. He further added that the fact that they chose the song was a "contradiction" because it was not "the song which could better represent the entire album." He also added that the song was "very strong" and "a bit dark". The song marks the return of the signature and more mainstream sound of Arjona on a music basis, after the multi-genre and politically charged 'Poquita Ropa's lead single, "Puente", which failed to make impact on the United States and only managed to reach No. 36 on the Latin Pop Songs chart.
Chart performance
In the United States, "El Amor" became Arjona's first top ten single in the 'Billboard' Top Latin Songs since "Sin Ti... Sin Mi" in 2008 and the first to chart there since "Tocando Fondo" in 2009. The song also restored Arjona's chart success, after the 'Poquita Ropa' era, on which none of the three singles released off the album managed to attain chart success, and eventually only one appeared on any chart. The song finally reached number one position on the list, becoming his fourth chart-topper, and the first to do so since "El Problema", ten years prior. On the Latin Pop Songs chart, "El Amor" became Arjona's seventh song to reach the top spot of the chart, and the first to do so since "Como Duele" in 2008. Also, "El Amor" became his first song ever to reach number one on the Tropical Songs chart, breaking his previous record held by "Cuando", which reached number two twelve years prior, in 2000. In Venezuela, "El Amor" reached a peak of number five. It also reached number six on Mexico. The song also became a hit in the rest Latin America, reaching number one in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala.(30 September 2011). [http://www.larazon.com.ar/show/Arjona-independiente_0_282000146.html "Un Arjona "independiente""] (in Spanish). 'La Razn'. Retrieved 15 October 2011. On the 'Billboard' year-end charts for 2011, "El Amor" finished at number 73 on the Top Latin Songs chart. The song also finished within the top fifty songs on the Latin Pop Songs and Tropical Songs charts, appearing at number 41 and number 44, respectively.
Release and promotion
"El Amor" was released as the first single from 'Independiente' on 23 August 2011 in Canada, United States and Mexico as a digital download through the iTunes Store. The single was later made available on the rest of Latin America and some European countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and France on 6 September 2011. "El Amor" is the first single Arjona released under his recently founded record label, Metamorfosis.
Music video
, as well as on a program broadcast by Televisa in 2011.Ricardo Arjona released on 8 September 2011 the music video for "El Amor". It debuted on Arjona's official website, and then was sent to music channels around United States and Latin America. The clip was shot in Mexico City and was filmed entirely in black-and-white. The music video was directed by Ricardo Caldern, who has also directed the music video for Arjona's 2008 single "Como Duele". Caldern also produced the video, as well as developing the story and design. Before releasing the video, the singer launched a contest on his website that consisted on uploading to his official YouTube account videos related to the song, and the winner received a trip to Argentina to meet him.
The clip starts with a bride reaching, on a limousine, the chapel on which she's about to get married. As she is shown walking inside the chapel's doors, Arjona starts to sing while sit on the chairs in the empty chapel. Then, the bride is shown again alongside the groom in the altar, ready to make the vows, while the chapel is filled with the invitees. Then, scenes of Arjona playing the piano and singing, and scenes of the ceremony are interpolated, showing the behaviour of the invitees. Later, the invitees are shown involved in discussions and fights while Arjona keeps singing the chorus and verses of the song. As the fights between the invitees increase, the groom rejects the bride and she, stunned, escapes from the chapel. Then, it is shown that all was an illusion from the bride, and they are shown exiting the chapel, married. As of 11 July 2012, the video has reached 14 million views on YouTube.
Live performances
"El Amor" was in the set list for a televised program in 2011. The special included guest singers such as Gaby Moreno, Ricky Muoz (from Mexican band Intocable) and Paquita la del Barrio. Broadcast by Televisa, the program was made to showcast the new fourteen songs included on 'Independiente'. Ricky Muoz commented that he was "happy to do things for Ricardo [Arjona]" and elaborated that the met each other "some time ago" and that it was "a very special situation." The show was later bordcasted on 5 November 2011 by Canal de las Estrellas. The song is also present on his ongoing Metamorfosis World Tour. It is performed while on the first of the four ambiences on the concert, alongside "Lo Que Est Bien Est Mal", "Animal Nocturno", "Hay Amores" and "Desnuda".Trap, Oscar. [http://www.diariouno.com.ar/espectaculos/Ricardo-Arjona-convoco-a-mas-de-25.000-personas-en-el-Malvinas-Argentinas-20120426-0003.html "Ricardo Arjona convoc a ms de 25.000 personas en el Malvinas Argentinas"] (in Spanish). Diario Uno. Retrieved on 26 April 2012.Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from 'Independiente' liner notes.'Independiente' (booklet). Ricardo Arjona. Mexico City: 'Metamorfosis', a division of Warner Music Mexico S.A. de C.V. 2011. 825646649396.
*Ricardo Arjona chorus
*Dan Warner bass, guitar, recording engineering
*Lee Levin drums, percussion, recording engineering
*Matt Rollings piano, Hammond B3, recording engineering
*Tommy Torres chorus, recording engineering
*Chris MacDonald arrangement, directing
*Pamela Sixfin violin
*David Angell violin, viola
*Connie Ellisor violin
*Mary Katherine VanOsdale violin
*Karen Winkelmann violin
*Carolyn Bailey violin
*Erin Hall violin
*Zeneba Bowers violin
*Cornelia Heard violin
*James Grosjean viola
*Elizabeth Lamb viola
*Anthony LaMarchina cello
*Julia Tanner cello
*Craig Nelson bass
*Carlos "Junior" Cabral recording engineering
*Isaias Garca recording engineering
*Jerald Romero recording engineering
*Dan Rudin recording engineering
*David Thoener mixing
Trackslisting
*'Digital Download'
#"El Amor" 4:47
*'Remix featuring O'Neill'
#"El Amor" 4:02
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"|-
! Chart (2011)
! Peak
position
|-
|Mexico (Monitor Latino)
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|Mexico ('Billboard' International)
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|-
|-
|-
| Venezuela Top Latino (Record Report)
|align="center"|4
|-
|}
Yearly charts
Certifications
Release history
References
Category:2011 songs
Category:2011 singles
Category:Ricardo Arjona songs
Category:Songs written by Ricardo Arjona
Category:Spanish-language songs
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