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Escúchame (Carlos Ponce song)

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"Escúchame"
Single by Carlos Ponce
from the album Todo lo Que Soy
ReleasedAugust 16, 1999 (1999-08-16)
StudioCrescent Moon
Miami, Florida
GenreFlamenco pop
Length3:15
LabelEMI Latin
Songwriter(s)Marco Flores
Producer(s)Marco Flores
Carlos Ponce singles chronology
"Recuerdo"
(1999)
"Escúchame"
(1999)
"La Razón de Mi Ser"
(2000)

"Escúchame" (transl. "Listen to Me")[1] is a song by Puerto Rican entertainer Carlos Ponce from his second studio album, Todo lo Que Soy (1999). The song was written and produced by Marco Flores. It was released as the album's lead single on August 16, 1999, by EMI Latin. A flamenco pop ballad, it features Ponce making a plea to a woman he loves. The song received positive reactions from music critics, who praised its melody and genre. Commercially, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Airplay charts in the United States. The song's music video was filmed in Old San Juan in Puerto Rico and features the artist impressing a woman in a club. A Portuguese-language version of the song was released in Brazil, where it reached number one in several of its cities.

Background and composition

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In 1998, Ponce released his self-titled debut album, which spawned two hit singles ("Rezo" and "Decir Adiós") and had sold over 450,000 copies worldwide.[2][3] The record led to Ponce winning the Billboard Latin Music Award for Pop Album of the Year by a New Artist in 1999.[4] On July 22, 1999, Ponce announced that he was releasing his second studio album, Todo lo Que Soy, which was released on September 21, 1999, and recorded at the Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.[5][6] Ponce recruited several songwriters for the project such as Marco Flores, Tim Mitchell, and Roberto Blades.[7] Flores penned two of the album's track including "Escúchame", which he also produced.[8][5] A flamenco pop ballad,[8][9][10] the singer is "pleading calls for love".[9] The lyrics narrate the "plea of a lover to a beautiful woman".[6] The track utilizes flamenco guitars and hand clapping.[11]

Promotion and reception

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"Escúchame" as released as the album's lead single on August 16, 1999.[3] Ponce performed the song live at a free concert at the Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida, on September 28.[1] He also sung the track live during a halftime show at the Miami Dolphins versus Philadelphia Eagles game on October 24, 1999.[12] The music video for the song was filmed at Old San Juan in Puerto Rico and features the artist dancing in n club while being enamored by a woman.[6][13] The visual was nominated in the category of Best Clip of the Year in the Latin field at the 2000 Billboard Video Music Awards,[14] but lost to "Ritmo Total" (1999) by Enrique Iglesias.[15] A Portuguese-language version of the song featuring Brazilian singer Belo [pt] was released exclusively to Brazil in 2000 and reached number one in several of its cities, according to Crowley Broadcast Analysis.[16] A music video for the Portuguese version was released in Brazil as well.[16]

Billboard editor John Lannert regarded the track to be "flamenco-laced" and stated its "sonic vibe recalls the chugging grooves of Enrique Iglesias' 'Bailamos'".[17] The Dallas Morning News' Mario Tarradell found "Escúchame" to be "invigorating".[18] Laura Emerick of the Chicago Sun-Times highlighted the song where Ponce "lets more of his personality shine through this time" on the disc.[11] The Houston Chronicle critic Joey Guerra felt that the song "should have no problem finding an audience" and complimented Ponce's vocals, as it works "nicely with the song's airy rhythms and hand claps."[9] At the 2001 ASCAP Latin Music Awards, it was recognized as the best-performing Latin songs of the year under "Pop/Balada" category.[19] Commercially, the song topped the Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Airplay charts in the US, making it Ponce's third number one on both charts.[20][21]

Formats and track listings

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Charts

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lynch, Marika (September 29, 1999). "Cheers, Tears, Greet Latin Rocker Ponce". Miami Herald. p. 2B. Retrieved August 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Bonacich, Drago. "Carlos Ponce Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Paoletta, Michael (September 18, 1999). "Carlos Ponce Keeps to Mother Tongue" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 38. p. 124. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Lannert, John (April 24, 1999). "10th Annual Billboard Latin Music Conference". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 17. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Carlos Ponce - Todo Lo Que Soy Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Carlos Ponce habla de su nuevo álbum". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). July 22, 1999. p. 31. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "Disco Noticias: 'Escuchalo' hoy". La Opinión (in Spanish). August 16, 1999. p. 3D. ProQuest 368300968. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Quiere portar el traje charro". Palabra. October 29, 1999. p. 3. ProQuest 377091262. Retrieved August 29, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ a b c Guerra, Joey (September 27, 1999). "Universal Appeal – 3 new CDs capitalize on fascination with Latin music sounds". Houston Chronicle. p. 1. Flamenco flourishes highlight 'Escuchame', the first single that should have no problem finding an audience. Ponce's pleading calls for love work nicely with the song's airy rhythms and hand claps.
  10. ^ Perez, Erwin (October 14, 1999). "Lo que suena". El Nuevo Herald. p. 20D. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Emerick, Laura (December 19, 1999). "Spin Control". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 6.
  12. ^ Talalay, Sarah (October 25, 1999). "Celebrating Diversity". Sun-Sentinel. p. 5C. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Ponce, Carlos (1999). Escúchame (online video) (in Spanish). YouTube. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  14. ^ Hay, Carla (23 September 2000). "Gilman Tops Nominees in Billboard Video Awards". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 39. Nielsen Business Media. p. 86. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  15. ^ Hay, Carla (25 November 2000). "Gilman Sweeps Billboard Video Music Awards". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 48. Nielsen Business Media. p. 101. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Carlos Ponce grabo video en Brasil". La Opinión (in Spanish). July 1, 2000. p. 6D. ProQuest 368357973. Retrieved August 29, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  17. ^ Lannert, John (9 October 1999). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 41. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  18. ^ Tarradell, Mario (October 8, 1999). "Ponce Doesn't Disappoint with 'Todo Lo Que Soy'". Sun Herald. The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "El Premio ASCAP Awards Arturo Sandoval, Songwriter Omar Alfanno". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 21. Prometheus Global Media. May 19, 2001. p. 50. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Carlos Ponce Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Carlos Ponce Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  22. ^ Esúchame (Media notes). Carlos Ponce. United States: EMI Latin. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Esúchame (Media notes). Carlos Ponce. Europe: Intercord. 1999. INT 8 78565 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ Esúchame (Media notes). Carlos Ponce. Europe: Intercord. 1999. INT 293.461.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ Esúchame (Media notes). Carlos Ponce. Spain: EMI Spain. 1999. PE99120.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ Esúchame (Media notes). Carlos Ponce. Brazil: EMI Brasil. 2000. PP0522 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ "The Year in Music: 2000". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-76. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.