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Aries (album)

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Untitled

Aries is the ninth studio album by Mexican recording artist Luis Miguel. It was released by WEA Latina on June 22, 1993. After attaining success in 1991 with his previous album, Romance, Miguel decided to record an album of original recordings rather than a follow-up to Romance. Aries, which is similar to his earlier work prior to Romance, features pop ballads and dance numbers with R&B influences. The record was produced by Miguel, who was assisted by Kiko Cibrian, Rudy Pérez, David Foster, and Juan Luis Guerra.

Upon its release, Aries received mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics; they were divided on the dance tunes and ballads, although Miguel's vocals and the album's arrangements garnered positive reactions. The record peaked at number one on the US Billboard Latin Pop Albums, where it stayed for 19 weeks. Internationally, the album was certified triple platinum in Mexico, where it sold over one million copies. It was also certified diamond in Argentina. Aries has sold over two million copies worldwide as of 2000. Miguel received several accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.

Three singles were released to promote the album. Its first two singles, "Ayer" and "Hasta Que Me Olvides", topped the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart while "Suave" peaked at number nine on the chart. "Hasta el Fin" and "Tu y Yo" both peaked at number four on the Hot Latin Songs chart, and "Pensar en Ti" received airplay in Mexico. To further promote the record, Miguel launched the 1993 Aries Tour to some Latin American countries and the United States.

Background and recording

A man and a woman are facing the camera. The man on the right is hugging the woman with his right arm.
Rudy Pérez (pictured right) wrote four of the album's tracks including "Ayer", the Spanish adaption of David Foster's "All That My Heart Can Hold".

In 1991 Miguel released his eighth studio album Romance, a collection of classic boleros, the oldest of which originated in the 1940s. The album, which was produced by Armando Manzanero and arranged by Bebu Silvetti,[1] was a success in Latin America and sold over seven million copies worldwide.[2][3] It revived interest in the bolero genre and was the first record by a Spanish-speaking artist to be certified gold in Brazil, Taiwan, and the United States.[3] In spite of Romance's success, Miguel did not want to release an immediate follow-up to the album.[4] When asked why he chose not to record more boleros, he replied "I wanted to try my music, just forgetting a little bit about those boleros that everyone knows".[5] He began working with the composers for the album a year before recording in a studio in 1992 because he wanted to "discuss the works, the themes, and melodies; ... The creation of an album has to part of me or else I would not be able to interpret it, or in it", Miguel said.[6]

In August 24, 1992, Mexican newspaper El Siglo de Torreón reported that Miguel had begun collaborating with David Foster and Juan Carlos Calderón for their compositions, along with Anglo composers, and selecting cover versions for the album.[7] He also received assistance from Cuban composer Rudy Pérez and Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra with the songwriting.[6] Recording began on July 4, 1992.[8] Miguel had difficulty finding a suitable producer for the record; he initially worked with American audio engineer Bruce Swedien, but decided to re-record the whole album after disagreements with Swedien's direction. Unable to find a producer, he decided to co-produce the album with his long-time associate Kiko Cibrian [5] Recording the album took almost a year and was affected by several complications, including its high budget of over US$1.5 million, his father's death, and undergoing an appendectomy.[4] Miguel announced the name of the album would be Aries during a presentation at the 1993 Festival Acapulco.[9] About the naming of the album he said, "This album expresses my very personal way. I had a lot to do. I produced everything and wanted to have a lot of fun, take what I like, and what better than the zodiacal sign representing what one is."[10]

Composition

Luis Miguel "Que Nivel de Mujer"
A 27-second sample of Miguel's "Que Nivel de Mujer", a Spanish adaptation of "Attitude Dance" by Tower of Power. One of the band's member Emilio Castillo arranged the horn sections in the song. About the inclusion of the song, Miguel commented that he was very fond of "that type of R&B, Motown, and hip-hop" and that "My musical influence comes from those sounds".[5] Jose F. Promis of AllMusic referred "Que Nivel de Mujer" along with "Suave" and "Dame Tu Amor" as "beat, brass-heavy, attitudinal numbers that the singer delivers to fine results".[11]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Ten tracks—six of which are "romance-themed" ballads—comprise the final cut of Aries.[11] The rest of the album consists of four dance numbers with a "pop groove" and R&B influences, which are reminiscent of Miguel's earlier recordings before Romance.[4][12] Miguel said the mixture of ballads and uptempo music was done to "keep a steady musical line" because he did not want his music to be unrecognizable.[5] The dance tunes "Suave", "Dame Tu Amor", and "Que Nivel de Mujer" are "upbeat, brass-heavy, attitudinal numbers" while "Luz Verde" incorporates Latin hip hop and R&B.[11] "Suave" features a saxophone solo with American musician Kirk Whalum and "Que Nivel de Mujer" is a Spanish-language adaptation of "Attitude Dance" by American band Tower of Power. The band members assisted with the horn section in the song, which was led by one of its lead members Emilio Castillo.[6] Miguel said he included the band's song on the album because of his fondness for R&B in the 1970s, citing the group as one of his musical influences.[5]

"Ayer" is a Spanish-language cover of David Foster's instrumental "All That My Heart Can Hold" with additional lyrics by Rudy Pérez.[4][13] San Antonio Express-News editor Ramiro Burr described the song as a "lush ballad sung by Miguel in his stylistic romantic swagger that simultaneously conveys pride and pain".[14] Similarly, John Lannert wrote for the Sun-Sentinel that the track was comparable to Romance's "sparse lyrical muse and smooth musical backdrop".[12] Lannert also called Juan Luis Guerra's composition "Hasta Que Me Olvides" an "emotion-drenched love ode" and referred "Me Niego Estar Solo" and "Hasta El Fin" as "desperate confessionals about being out of love".[15] Achy Obejas of the Chicago Tribune described the ballads "Hasta El Fin" and "Tu y Yo" as "luxuriantly slow narratives of love lost".[16]

Singles and promotion

Luis Miguel "Ayer"
A 20-second sample of Miguel's "Ayer", the album's lead single. The song is a cover of David Foster's instrumental "All That My Heart Can Hold" with lyrics added by Rudy Pérez. Ramiro Burr writes for the San Antonio Express-News: "It is a lush ballad sung in Miguel's stylistic swagger that simultaneously conveys pride and pain".[14]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Ayer" was released as the lead single from Aries on May 17, 1993.[17] It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States the week of July 17, 1993, and stayed there for three weeks.[18] Three music videos for "Ayer" were directed by Benny Corral, Rubén Galindo, and Gustavo Garzón respectively.[19] The music videos were filmed in a mansion in Mexico City.[20] "Ayer" ended 1993 as the sixth-best-performing Latin song of the year in the United States.[21] Thye album's second single, "Hasta Que Me Olvides", was released in August 1993 and reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart the week of October 23, and remained there for three weeks.[18] The album's third single, "Suave", was released in September 1993 and peaked at number nine on the Hot Latin Songs chart;[22][23] its music video was directed by Kiko Guerrero and features Miguel dancing with several women on a beach.[24][25] In the United States, "Hasta el Fin" and "Tu y Yo" both peaked at number four on the Hot Latin Songs chart. "Pensar en Ti" received airplay in Mexico.[23][26]

To promote the album, Miguel began his Aries Tour on May 22 at the 1993 Acapulco Festival in Mexico.[27] After his performances in Mexico, he toured several countries in Latin America beginning with Argentina and later performed in the United States.[28] His set list consisted mainly of pop songs and ballads from Aries and his earlier career, as well as boleros from Romance, which he performed during the second half of the concerts.[29]

Commercial reception

Aries was released internationally on June 22, 1993.[14] However, pirated cassettes of the album were being sold for $1 in Mexico ten days before Aries was officially released.[5] WEA Latina prepared 500,000 copies to be distributed on release date, but after finding legitimate copies of the compact disc were already being sold on the pirate market, they recounted the copies stored in their warehouse and found only 300,000 units. WEA Latina responded to the piracy by having a Mexican radio station play the whole album a few days before its release.[30] In Mexico, the album was certified triple platinum and has sold over one million copies in the country.[31][32] In the United States, it debuted and peaked at the number two on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart; it was held off the number one position by Gloria Estefan's album Mi Tierra.[33] Aries remained at this position until it was replaced by the Gipsy Kings's album Love and Liberté 20 weeks later.[34]

Aries peaked at number one on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart and stayed at the top for 19 weeks.[35] Aries ended 1993 as the second best-selling Latin pop album in the United States after Romance.[36] In Argentina, the album peaked at number two on the album chart and was certified diamond by the Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers for sales of 500,000 copies.[37][38] Elsewhere in South America, the album peaked at number one on the Chilean albums chart and was certified platinum in Colombia.[39][40] Aries has sold over two million copies worldwide as of 2000.[41]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Billboardfavorable[42]
Chicago Tribune [16]
Los Angeles Times[43]

Upon its release, Aries received mixed-to-positive reactions from music critics. AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis gave the album 2.5 stars out of five and the ballads were "sometimes a little too syrupy". He complimented some of the dance tunes such as "Suave" and "Dame Tu Amor", but said "Luz Verde" was a "somewhat dated attempt at early-'90s Latin hip-hop R&B".[11] An editor for Billboard magazine wrote a favorable review of Aries, stating that Miguel "trades in nostalgic boleros for a stylish, up-to-date package" and called "Ayer" a "perfect transition track from Romance".[42] Chicago Tribune editor Achy Obejas gave the record 2.5 stars out of four, calling it "a kind of middle ground between Romance and its lush ballads, and the bouncy pop of 20 Años, its immediate antecedent". She praised Miguel's vocals as "wonderfully nuanced and dramatic", and said the ballads mostly "work", but that "the uptempo tunes fall flat most of the time".[16] Enrique Lopetegui of the Los Angeles Times gave the album three stars out of four; he lauded Miguel's inclusion of "healthy elements of jazz and funk into his polished sound" and said he "returns to familiar territory accompanied by his usual superb arrangements and musicianship".[43]

At the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in 1994, Miguel won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for Aries.[44] At the 6th Lo Nuestro Awards in the same year, the album won the award for Pop Album of the Year and Miguel was named Pop Male Artist of the Year.[45] He also received two nominations in the category of Pop Song of the Year for "Hasta Que Me Olvides" and "Ayer"; the latter track was also nominated Video of the Year.[46] At the inaugural Billboard Latin Music Awards in 1994, Miguel received two awards including Pop Album of the Year and Pop Male Artist of the Year.[47] Miguel was awarded Best Male Singer, Best Male Show for the tour, and Best Disc for the album at the 1994 Eres awards.[48]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Suave"
  • Orlando Castro
  • Kiko Cibrian
4:47
2."Me Niego a Estar Solo"Rudy Pérez4:17
3."Luz Verde"Pérez4:59
4."Hasta el Fin"Cibrian4:49
5."Ayer"
3:25
6."Que Nivel de Mujer"
  • Emilio Castillo
  • Castro
  • Stephen Kupka
4:28
7."Pensar en Ti"Francisco Céspedes4:15
8."Dame Tu Amor"
  • Cibrian
  • Adrián Possé
3:23
9."Hasta Que Me Olvides"Juan Luis Guerra4:40
10."Tu y Yo"
4:50

Credits and personnel

The following credits are from AllMusic:[49]

Performance credits

Technical credits

  • Mauricio Abaroa;- executive producer
  • Jim Champagne;- assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Cartel Disenadores;- design
  • Benny Faccone;- engineer, mixing
  • Alfredo Gatica;- art direction
  • Humberto Gatica;- mixing
  • Bernie Grundman;- mastering
  • Noel Hazen;- assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Kimm James;- assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Ezra Kliger;- concertmaster, production coordinator, violin
  • Paul McKenna;- mixing
  • Brian Pollack;- assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Jose L. Quintana;- coordination, production coordination
  • Carlos Somonte;- photography

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[38] Diamond 500,000^
Colombia (ASINCOL)[40] Platinum 60,000x 
Mexico (AMPROFON)[31] 3× Platinum 1,000,000[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Romance — Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  2. ^ "Dimes y Directes". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. October 12, 1992. p. 51.
  3. ^ a b Candelaria, Cordelia; Garcia, Peter; Adalma, Arturo (2004). Encyclopedia of Latino popular culture. Vol. 2. Westport, United States: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 551–552. ISBN 9780313322150. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d Burr, Ramiro (July 11, 1993). "Luis Miguel meets his challenges". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f Lannert, John (July 3, 1993). "Luis Miguel Returns With An R&B Flavor". Billboard. 105 (27). Nielsen N.V.: 1, 72. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. ^ a b c Burr, Ramiro (June 17, 1993). "Tejano pop star croons 2nd album". Austin American-Statesman. Cox Media Group. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Hit Parade". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. August 24, 1992. p. 50. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  8. ^ Calzada, Gloria (June 10, 1992). "Comentarios de...". El Informador (in Spanish). Unión Editorialista. p. 13-E.
  9. ^ "Hit Parade". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. May 18, 1993. p. 39. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  10. ^ "Confirmado Luis Miguel ¡No es mexicano!". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. May 19, 1993. p. 39. Retrieved July 20, 2015. Este disco expresa mi forma muy personal. Tuve mucho que ver en todo. Lo produje totalmente y quise divertirme mucho, sacar lo que a mi me gusta y, entonces qué mejor que el signo zodiacal que representa lo que uno es.
  11. ^ a b c d e Promis, Jose F. "Aries — Overview". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  12. ^ a b Lannert, John (June 20, 1993). "A Seduction Of Rhythm". Sun-Sentinel. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  13. ^ du Lac, J. Freedom (August 31, 2007). "Rudy Perez's two romance languages: Spanish, music". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c Burr, Ramiro (June 16, 1993). "Luis Miguel's latest due out Tuesday". San Antonio-Express News. Heart Corporation. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Lannert, John (June 20, 1993). "A Seduction Of Rhythm". Sun-Sentinel. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  16. ^ a b c Obejas, Achy (August 11, 1994). "Luis Miguel Aries". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  17. ^ Lannert, John (May 22, 1993). "Luis Miguel Sets New Single, Album". Billboard. 105 (21). Nielsen N.V.: 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Hot Latin Songs — 1993 archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1993. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  19. ^ "Dimes y diretes". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. June 22, 1993. p. 38. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  20. ^ "Luis Miguel, el número uno". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. August 31, 1993. p. 42. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  21. ^ Lannert, John (November 28, 1998). "Topping The Charts Year By Year". Billboard. 110 (48). Nielsen N.V.: 35. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  22. ^ "Hit Parade". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. September 27, 1993. p. 95. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Luis Miguel — Chart history: Latin Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  24. ^ "Listo el "Segundo Romance" de Luismi". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. July 27, 1994. p. 34.
  25. ^ Guerrero, Kiko (director). Suave (Television). Warner Music Latina. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  26. ^ "Hit Parade". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. June 28, 1994. p. 39. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  27. ^ "Listo el nuevo LP de Luismi". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. May 18, 1993. p. 39. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  28. ^ "Exitosa presentación de Luis Miguel". El Informador (in Spanish). Unión Editorialista. September 22, 1993. p. 11-E.
  29. ^ Romero, Fernando (June 17, 1993). "Maturing Luis Miguel now knows how to put on a show". San Diego Union-Tribune. Tribune Publishing.
  30. ^ "Nuevo producto de Luis Miguel inunda el mercado, pero en versión "pirata"". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. June 14, 1993. p. 44.
  31. ^ a b Calzada, Gloria (October 1, 1994). "Comentarios de...". El Informador (in Spanish). p. 12-E.
  32. ^ a b "Hit Parade". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. March 9, 1994. p. 43.
  33. ^ "Latin Notas". Billboard. 105 (28). Nielsen N.V.: 26 July 10, 1993. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  34. ^ "Top Latin Albums  — Week of November 27, 1993". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 27, 1993. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  35. ^ "Latin Pop Albums — 1993 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  36. ^ a b "Here are the yearly charts for the nation's best-selling..." Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. December 31, 1993. p. 2. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  37. ^ a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media: 43. May 28, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  38. ^ a b "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2012. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; July 6, 2011 suggested (help)
  39. ^ a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. 106 (15). Prometheus Global Media: 41. April 9, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  40. ^ a b "Luis Miguel Muy Amable Con la Prensa". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Editora de la Laguna. June 9, 1994. p. 50.
  41. ^ Cabello, Lérida; Morales, Emilio (April 19, 2000). "Luis Miguel 30 años". El Universal (in Spanish). Compañía Periodística Nacional. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  42. ^ a b Verna, Paul; Morris, Chris; Morris, Edward (July 3, 1993). "Album Reviews". Billboard. 105 (27). Nielsen N.V.: 48. ISSN 0006-2510.
  43. ^ a b Lopegetui, Enrique (July 11, 1993). "Latin Pulse : Salsa Converts and Veterans Flavor Sassy Beat With Meaning". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  44. ^ "The 36th Annual Grammy Awards : And the Grammy Goes to . . . Winners According to Category". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. March 2, 1994. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  45. ^ "Lo Nuestro – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  46. ^ Burr, Ramiro (May 1, 1994). "Miguel, Guerra top awards nominees". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ Lannert, John (May 21, 1994). "First Latin Music Awards Recognize Range of Talent". Billboard. 106 (21). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: LM-8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 12, 2015. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  48. ^ "Fueron entregados los premios "Eres"". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). February 12, 1994. p. 58. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  49. ^ "Aries — Credits". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  50. ^ "Luis Miguel Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  51. ^ "Luis Miguel Chart History (Top Latin Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  52. ^ "Luis Miguel Chart History (Latin Pop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  53. ^ a b "1994: The Year in Music". Billboard. 106 (52). Prometheus Global Media: YE-77, 78. December 24, 1994. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
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