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Romances (Luis Miguel album)

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For the 1991 album, see Romance (Luis Miguel album).
Untitled

Romances is the twelfth studio album by Mexican singer Luis Miguel, released on 12 August 1997, by Warner Music Latina. It is the third album of the Romance series, in which Miguel covers Latin songs from 1940 to 1978. Aside from Miguel, the production also involved arranger Bebu Silvetti, and Armando Manzanero, who directed all of Miguel's Romance albums. Romances consists of twelve cover versions and two new compositions by Manzanero and Silvetti. Recording took place in early 1997 at the Ocean Way recording studio in Los Angeles, California.

Romances has sold over 4.5 million copies and received platinum certifications in several Latin American countries, the United States and Spain. Miguel promoted the album by touring the United States, Latin America and Spain. The album was generally well received by critics, who praised Miguel's vocals as well as the song selection. The album earned Miguel several awards, including a Grammy Award in the United States. Six singles were released: "Por Debajo de la Mesa", "El Reloj", "Contigo (Estar Contigo)", "De Quererte Así (De T'Avoir Aimee)", "Bésame Mucho", and "Sabor a Mí".

Background

In 1991 Miguel released Romance, a collection of classic Latin ballads, the oldest of which dates back to the 1940s. The album was produced by Armando Manzanero and arranged by Bebu Silvetti,[1] and was credited for revitalizing the bolero genre.[2] It also made history as the first Spanish-language album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States.[3] A follow-up to Romance was released in 1994 under the title Segundo Romance (Second Romance), which was produced by Miguel, Juan Carlos Calderón and Kiko Cibrian.[4] Both albums received a platinum certification by the RIAA in the United States and also became successful in countries outside of Latin America and the United States, such as Finland and Saudi Arabia,[5] selling over twelve million copies combined.[5][6][7]

In December 1996 Miguel held a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he announced his desire to record a third Romance album and mentioned the possibility of working with Manzanero and Juan Gabriel. He also expressed an interest in singing in Italian and Portuguese,[8] although the album's songs are originally all in Spanish. Two months later Manzanero confirmed that he was working with Miguel on another bolero-inspired ballads album, under the tentative title Tercer Romance ("Third Romance").[9] Miguel's record label confirmed that fourteen tracks would be included on the album under the title Romances.[10]

Recording and production

A man is smiling to the right.
Luis Miguel worked with Armando Manzanero and Bebu Silvetti on the recording of Romances.

Miguel collaborated with Silvetti for the arrangement of Romances, while Manzanero was in charge of direction.[11] Recording began on 18 March 1997,[12] at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood and at The Hit Factory in New York City.[13] During the recording of Romances, as in Romance, Silvetti employed his signature style of arrangements known as the "Silvetti Sound", which Leila Cobo of Billboard describes as "anchored in sweeping melodies, lush string arrangements, acoustic instrumentation, and above all, unabashed romanticism".[14] Silvetti has stated that when he produces an album he does not simply copy his own arrangements, because he feels that would be "ridiculous", and prefers to be creative within his own style.[14] About the selection of songs for the album, Manzanero stated that "I give [Miguel] the songs, and he chooses what he wants to record."[15] Participants in the recording sessions included sixty-one musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[16]

Miguel covers twelve Latin ballads in Romances, including songs by José Antonio Méndez, Carlos Arturo Briz, Consuelo Velázquez Álvaro Carrillo, Roberto Cantoral, María Grever, Enrique Santos Discépolo, Agustín Lara, and Luiz Bonfá.[1][4] The latter composer wrote the song "Manhã de Carnaval" ("Morning of Carnival") in Portuguese, later translated into Spanish by Jesus Maria Arozamena Bersategui as "Canción de Orfeo" ("Orpheus' Song").[17] "De Quererte Así" ("If I Love You Like This") is a French song ("De T'Avoir Aimée"), originally performed and written by Charles Aznavour, which was translated into Spanish by Alex Marcoriginates.[18] Miguel had covered some of the aforementioned composers' songs on his previous Romance albums. Miguel covers Manazero's songs "Voy a Apagar la Luz/Contigo Aprendí" ("I Am Going To Turn Off The Lights/With You I Learned") and "Amanecer" ("To Be Awake").[19] The two original compositions were "Por Debajo de la Mesa" ("Underneath the Table") by Manzanero and "Contigo (Estar Contigo)" ("To Be With You") by Bebu Silvetti and Sylvia Riera Ibáñez.[19]

Commercial reception

Album

The album was released on 12 August 1997, in the United States and, by the week of 23 August 1997, it debuted at number two on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.[20] A week later it became number one, which it has been for a total of eleven non-consecutive weeks. Romances was even more successful in the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart, having been number one for 13 weeks.[21] On the Billboard 200 chart it peaked at number fourteen, with sales of over 57,000 units within the first week[22]—a record at that time for a Spanish-language album.[3] It was also Miguel's highest-peaking album in the Billboard 200 until the release of Cómplices in 2008, which peaked at number ten.[23] It was the second best-selling Latin album in the United States during 1997, after Tango by Julio Iglesias.[24] By October 1997 it had sold over a million copies in Mexico and was certified quadruple platinum in the country, as well as across Central America.[25][26] A year after release it received a platinum certification in the United States by the RIAA.[27] In Argentina it reached number one on the CAPIF albums chart and was the best-selling album of 1997 in the country, with sales of approximately 781,000 copies.[28][29] In Spain the album reached number one on the PROMUSICAE chart and was certified octuple platinum, selling over 800,000 copies.[30][31][32] In South America the album was certified gold in Brazil, Platinum in Ecuador and Peru, double platinum in Colombia and Paraguay, sextuple platinum in Venezuela,[26] octuple platinum in Chile, and diamond in Argentina.[3][33] According to the Guinness World Records Romances was the best-selling Spanish-language album of 1997.[34] A DVD-Audio for the album was released in 2001.[35] Over 4.5 million copies of the album were sold, as of 1999.[36][37]

Singles

Luis Miguel "Por Debajo de la Mesa" (1997)
A sample of the lead single "Por Debajo de la Mesa", an original composition for the album by Armando Manzanero.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Por Debajo de la Mesa" was released as the lead single from the album. The single was released for radio airplay on 15 July 1997, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart two months later; it would spend twenty-six weeks on the chart.[38][39] A music video was made for the song.[40] The second single released, "El Reloj" ("The Clock"), reached number two on the Hot Latin Songs chart,[41] as did the third single, "Contigo (Estar Contigo").[42] "De Quererte Así (De T'Avoir Aimee)" peaked at number twenty-three on the Hot Latin Songs chart,[43] while "Sabor a Mí" ("Taste From Me") peaked at number six after its release.[44] "Bésame Mucho" ("Kiss Me More") reached number one on the Mexican singles chart and was the among top ten best-performing songs of 1998 in Venezuela according to Record Report.[45][46]

Promotion

Main article: Romances Tour

Miguel launched his Romances Tour, consisting of 84 concerts, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 12 September 1997. The performances featured Miguel performing dance-pop and bolero arrangements for two-and-a-half hours.[47] Adam Sandler of Variety expressed a mixed reaction to the concert in the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. He noted that Miguel rarely acknowledged his audience or ventured out from center stage.[48] Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times had a more positive reaction, which he described as a "marvelously designed and wonderfully executed blend of Latin music tradition".[47] Another Times contributor, Ernesto Lechner, wrote that Miguel's bolero performance at the Arrowhead Pond arena in California "brought the house down" and stated that the experience at the concert was "pretty close" to Beatlemania.[49] In New York City, Miguel performed five consecutive shows in the Radio City Music Hall. In Mexico City he performed seventeen consecutive concerts in the National Auditorium, where it was the highest-grossing concert by a Latin artist that year.[50] The tour also traveled to South America; including Chile, and Argentina; and continued until May 1998, when Miguel performed throughout Spain.[51] Miguel was the first Latin artist to be inducted to the Pollstar "Top 20 All-Time Grossing Tours" for most tickets sold for consecutive concerts at one venue in 1997.[52]

Critical reception and awards

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Chicago Tribune[53]
Los Angeles Times[54]
Los Angeles Daily News[55]

Romances was generally well received by critics, who praised Miguel's tenor voice and the album's selection of songs. Terry Jenkins of AllMusic praised the collaborative work of Silvetti and Manzanero and called Romances "a sensuous, enchanting album".[11] Achy Obejas of the Chicago Tribune called Miguel's voice the album's strong point and noted the "presence of electronic instruments and the darker, more somber mood".[53] On the other hand, she felt that Miguel was beginning "to slip", citing the tracks "Jurame" and "Por Debajo de la Mesa" as examples. Los Angeles Times editor Ernesto Lecnher gave the album one-and-a-half out of four stars and claimed that Romances "sinks under its own weight, delivering mostly bloated versions of timeless material".[54] Fellow Los Angeles Times contributor Ed Morales disagreed with his review and wrote that "Lechner needs to go into his music room, turn down the lights, snuggle up with his significant other and really listen to 'Romances.' I give his review * and 'Romances' ****" .[56] Anne Valdespino of the Los Angeles Daily News praised the selection of songs and Miguel's performance, calling the performer a "class act".[55]

At the 40th Grammy Awards, Miguel received the award for Best Latin Pop Performance.[57] Miguel also received a Billboard Latin Music Award for "Male Pop Album of the Year" and a World Music Award for "Best Selling Latin Artist".[2][58] Miguel received a Premio Amigo and Premio Onda for "Best Latin Singer of the Year" in Spain,[3] and the album was nominated for a Premio Amigo for "Best Latin Album".[59] Armando Manzanero received a Broadcast Music Incorporated award for his work on "Por Debajo de la Mesa".[60]

Legacy

Warner Music released a three-disc compilation album titled Todos Los Romances ("All The Romances") in 1998, which contains all the tracks from Miguel's Romance albums.[61] The album peaked at number twelve in the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and at number six in the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart.[62] It was certified gold in Argentina.[63] Romances was followed by one more bolero album, Mis Romances (2001) which was produced by Miguel.[64]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Year of composition[13]Length
1."Voy a Apagar la Luz / Contigo Aprendí"Armando Manzanero
  • 1960
  • 1967
4:11
2."Sabor a Mí"Álvaro Carrillo19593:06
3."Por Debajo de la Mesa"Manzanero19973:05
4."La Gloria Eres Tú"José Antonio Mendez19523:21
5."Amanecer"Manzanero19783:31
6."Encadenados"Carlos Arturo Briz19563:59
7."Bésame Mucho"Consuelo Velázquez19415:26
8."Contigo (Estar Contigo)"
19974:11
9."Noche de Ronda"Agustín Lara19404:16
10."El Reloj"Roberto Cantoral19563:02
11."Júrame"María Grever19593:57
12."De Quererte Así (De T'Avoir Aimee)"
19583:14
13."Uno"Enrique Santos Discepolo, Marianito Mores19434:48
14."Mañana de Carnaval (Manhã de Carnaval)"
  • Luiz Bonfá
  • Antonio Maria (adapt.)
  • Jesus María Arozamena
19604:07

Credits and personnel

The following credits are from AllMusic and from the Romances liner notes:[13][19]

Performance credits

Technical credits

  • Alejandro Asensi – art coordinator, production coordination
  • Greg Burns – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Daniela Federici – photography
  • Marco Gamboa – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Mauricio Guerrero – mixing
  • Jac Holzman – mixing producer
  • Keith Holzman – production coordination
  • Armando Manzanero – art direction, composer
  • Ron McMaster – mastering
  • Luis Miguel – producer
  • Gabrielle Raumberger – graphic design
  • John Rod – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Rafa Sardina – engineer, mixing
  • Sander Selover – pro-tools
  • Bebu Silvetti – arranger, composer, mixing producer, musical direction, piano, synthesizer
  • Jeremy Smith – engineer
  • H. Thompson – assistant engineer, mixing, mixing assistant

Charts and certifications

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Romance — Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  2. ^ 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 14 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Luis Miguel". Latinoise. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Segundo Romance — Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b Obejas, Achy (30 August 1996). "Luis Miguel Grows Up And Moves On With His Latest Albums". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  6. ^ "American certifications – Luis Miguel". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  7. ^ La Franco, Robert (1997). "Forbes". 160 (5–9): 155. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ "Va por el tercero". Reforma (in Spanish). 10 December 1996. Retrieved 9 April 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Lannert, John (8 February 1997). "Latin Notas". Billboard. 109 (6): 32. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  10. ^ De León, Angélica (16 July 1997). "Es Luis Miguel un clásico del romance". Reforma (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b c Jenkins, Terry. "Romances — Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Confirma 'Romance III'". Reforma (in Spanish). Grupo Reforma. 16 January 1997. Retrieved 9 April 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)[dead link‍]
  13. ^ a b c Romances (CD liner, CD back cover). Luis Miguel. United States: WEA Latina. 1997. p. 17. W2 19798.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ a b Cobo, Leila (29 December 2001). "Source of 'Silvetti Sound' Still Excels". Billboard. 113 (52): 15. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  15. ^ Cobo, Leila (10 May 2003). "Armando Manzanero". Billboard. 118 (19): 36. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  16. ^ Garay, Adriana (28 May 1997). "¡Espectacular!". Reforma (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 June 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Manha de Carnaval —Luiz Bonfá". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  18. ^ "De T' Avoir Aimée —Charles Aznavour". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  19. ^ a b c "Romances — Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  20. ^ "Top Latin Albums  — Week of August 23, 1997". Billboard. 23 August 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  21. ^ "Latin Pop Albums  — Week of August 23, 1997". Billboard. 23 August 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  22. ^ Lannert, John (30 August 1997). "Latin Notas: Chart Notes". Billboard. 109 (35): 33. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  23. ^ "Compilices — Luis Miguel". Billboard. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  24. ^ a b c "1997: The Year in Music". Billboard. 109 (52): YE-57. 27 December 1997. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  25. ^ Lannert, John (18 October 1997). "Latin Notas". Billboard. 109 (42): 44. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i Fino, Dolores (17 July 1998). "Ritmo Latino". La Prensa San Diego. The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  27. ^ a b "American album certifications – Luis Miguel – Romances". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  28. ^ a b Lannert, John (27 September 1997). "Latin Notas". Billboard. 109 (39): 56. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  29. ^ a b Lannert, John (30 May 1998). "Latin America's Music Market Rises". Billboard. 110 (22): 84. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  30. ^ a b Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos. Año a año. 1959-2002 (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain: Iberautor Promociones Culturales. p. 952. ISBN 978-84-8048-639-2.
  31. ^ a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. 110 (21): 63. 28 May 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  32. ^ M. J. C (9 October 1999). "Luis Miguel actúa en el estadio de La Cartuja ante 25.000 personas". El País (in Spanish). Sevilla. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  33. ^ a b "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  34. ^ The Guinness Book of Records 1999. Guinness. 1998. p. 240. ISBN 9780851120706.
  35. ^ "Romances (DVD Audio) —Luis Miguel". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  36. ^ Llewellyn, Howell (2 October 1999). "Miguel Proudly Sticks To Spanish On 'Amarte' From WMI". Billboard. 111 (40): 24. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  37. ^ "Latin Star Miguel To Launch World Tour". Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  38. ^ Meraz, Carlos (15 July 1997). "Llega a todo el mundo 'Por Debajo de la Mesa". El Norte (in Spanish). Grupo Reforma. Retrieved 28 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ "Por Debajo de la Mesa  — Luis Miguel". Billboard. 6 September 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  40. ^ Miguel, Luis (actor, singer). Por Debajo de la Mesa by Luis Miguel Music Video on Yahoo! Music (Music video) (in Spanish). Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  41. ^ "El Reloj — Luis Miguel". Billboard. 8 November 1997. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  42. ^ "Contigo (Estar contigo) – Luis Miguel". Billboard. 24 January 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  43. ^ "De Quererte Así (De T'Avoir Aimee) — Luis Miguel". Billboard. 18 April 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  44. ^ "El Reloj — Luis Miguel". Billboard. 11 July 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  45. ^ "Revista de revistas" (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. 1998: 80. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  46. ^ Aguirre, Jesús (1998). El consumo cultural del venezolano (in Spanish). Caracas, Venezuela: Fundación Centro Gumilla. p. 1995. ISBN 9789806361799.
  47. ^ a b Hilburn, Robert (20 September 1997). "Luis Miguel's Crossroads". Los Angeles Times. p. 3. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  48. ^ Sandler, Adam (22 September 1997). "Variety Review – Luis Miguel". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  49. ^ Lechner, Ernesto (28 February 1998). "Luis Miguel's Crossroads". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  50. ^ Lannert, John (10 January 1998). "Latin Notas: En Concierto". Billboard. 110 (2). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 26. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  51. ^ "Biografía de Luis Miguel". Terra Networks (in Spanish). 5 October 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  52. ^ "Biografía de Luis Miguel". Esmas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  53. ^ a b Obejas, Achy (3 October 1997). "Music. Album Reviews — Luis Miguel Romances". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  54. ^ a b Lechner, Ernesto (24 August 1997). "Luis Miguel "Romances", WEA Latina". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  55. ^ a b Valdespino, Anne (29 August 1997). "Sound Check". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  56. ^ Morales, Eduardo (7 September 1997). "He'll Take Romance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  57. ^ "The 1998 Grammy Award Winners". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 26 February 1998. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  58. ^ Lannert, John (28 April 1998). "Latin Music Award Winners, Include First Timers, Familiar Faces". Billboard. 110 (15): 74.
  59. ^ "La Revista: Gentes". El Mundo (in Spanish). 16 November 1997. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  60. ^ "BMI Latin Awards: 1999". Broadcast Music Incorporated. 1 January 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
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  62. ^ "Todos Los Romances — Luis Miguel". Billboard. 19 September 1998. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  63. ^ "Argentinian certifications – Luis Miguel". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  64. ^ "Mis Romances — Luis Miguel". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  65. ^ a b c "Romances – Luis Miguel". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  66. ^ a b "1998: The Year in Music". Billboard. 110 (52): YE-66. 26 December 1998. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  67. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Luis Miguel – Romances" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 11 February 2011.

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