Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)
"Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" | ||||
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Single by Gloria Estefan | ||||
from the album Cuts Both Ways | ||||
B-side | "Oye Mi Canto (Spanish version)" | |||
Released | September 1989 (UK) April 1990 (US) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:52 (album version) 4:55 (Spanish version) | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Gloria Estefan singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" on YouTube |
"Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" is a song by Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released as a single from her debut solo album, Cuts Both Ways (1989). In the US, it was the fourth single from the album and was released in April 1990. It was the second single in the UK, released on September 4, 1989, and throughout Europe in September and October 1989.
Composition and release
A latin dance track, the song exemplified some of Estefan's musical roots, much like in the style of her earlier music with Miami Sound Machine, and is much in the style of "Conga" and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You". Though the song was only a minor chart hit in the US, it was more successful internationally. Furthermore, Estefan obtained her first MTV Video Music Award for this song for the "International Viewer's Choice Awards" in 1990. The remixes of the song and short editions were created by Pablo Flores, who would go on to remix many other Gloria Estefan recordings, as well as Keith Cohen and David Morales.
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Jason Birchmeier said the song is "club-ready" with its "big late-'80s synth-drum patterns", adding it as a "super" song.[1] Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Pop diva appears primed for club acceptance once again with this undeniably catchy tune, which comes with not only the requisite house mixes, but also English and Spanish versions.[2] Ernest Hardy from Cashbox commented, "Wherein little Gloria gets back in touch with her roots, then has them retouched so they’re palatable to the club crowd. There’s a Def 12", a House Mix, the 12” Pablo Mix and a Spanish version. Because Estefan has such a large following, this will do well regardless, but it has a forced feel to it, with all these mixes, none of which quite ring true."[3]
Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus described it as a "uptempo party track".[4] Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted that "a bouncy salsa feel and a tough dance beat combine to support Estefan's voice. Latin music has never been a big commercial proposition in Western Europe but songs like this could change all that."[5] A reviewer from People opined that the song "seems much looser and much closer to the group’s Latin origins".[6] Pop Rescue described it as "a fantastic foot-tapping latin music song".[7]
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Paula Walker.[8] It was later published on Estefan's official YouTube channel in October 2009. It has amassed more than 11 million views as of September 2021.[9]
Track listings
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" (Radio Mix) | Gloria Estefan, Jorge Casas & Clay Ostwald | 3:50 |
2. | "Oye Mi Canto" (Spanish Version - Edit) | Gloria Estefan, Jorge Casas & Clay Ostwald | 4:08 |
Charts
Chart (1989–90) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | 13 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] | 50 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] | 40 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] | 17 |
Ireland (IRMA)[14] | 7 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] | 8 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 9 |
Poland (Polish Singles Chart) | 4 |
UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 16 |
US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 48 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] | 31 |
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[20] | 10 |
West Germany (GfK)[21] | 28 |
References
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Gloria Estefan - Cuts Both Ways". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ Coleman, Bill (24 March 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 69. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ Hardy, Ernest (24 March 1990). "Pop Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 18. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (23 October 2013). "Our Top 10 Gloria Estefan singles". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 September 1989. p. 20. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Cuts Both Ways". Entertainment Weekly. 21 August 1989. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ "REVIEW: "CUTS BOTH WAYS" BY GLORIA ESTEFAN (CD, 1989)". Pop Rescue. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan: Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)". IMDb. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan - Oye Mi Canto (Official Video)". YouTube. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan – Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1251." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 14 October 1989. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Gloria Estefan". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 76. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Gloria Estefan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan – Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Gloria Estefan – Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 May 2020.