| Cuba Libre | |
| Cover: | Gloria Estefan Cuba Libre Single.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Gloria Estefan |
| Album: | Gloria! |
| Released: | November 9, 1998 (Europe) |
| Recorded: | 1997–1998 |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 4:38 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Prev Title: | Oye! |
| Prev Year: | 1998 |
| Next Title: | Don't Let This Moment End |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
"Cuba Libre" ("Free Cuba") is a 1998 song by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released as the third single from her eighth studio album, Gloria!. It is a dance-pop song which was included on the album in two versions: English and Spanish. The song is one of the three only Spanish-language tracks, alongside "Oye!" and "Corazón prohibido". It represents a homage to Estefan's homeland, Cuba.[1] "Cuba Libre" was written and composed by Gloria Estefan, along with Emilio Estefan Jr. and Kike Santander.[2]
Ben Wener from Beaver County Times noted the "bouncing Afro-Cuban flourishes" of the track in his review of gloria!.[3] The Daily Vault's Alfredo Narvaez wrote that "Cuba Libre" is about "the feelings many of the expatriates of that island feel - hoping for a day that they'll be able to return home."[4] Chuck Eddy from Entertainment Weekly named the song as "ominously undulating", adding that it "reach[es] for the skies like a missile-crisis fiesta thrown by Donna Summer."[5] Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle called it "an ode to Estefan's birthplace".[6] Victoria Segal from NME stated that the singer "sparkles with diva potential", "tenderly singing of her homeland".[7] Larry Flick from Vibe applauded the song, as well as "Oye!", by stating that they "have a ferocious new energy and a vocal spark that Estefan hasn't previously displayed."[8]
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Cuba Libre".
Europe CD Maxi single (666691 2)