Ese Hombre (Rocío Jurado song) explained

Ese Hombre
Type:single
Artist:Rocío Jurado
Album:Señora
Released:1980
Recorded:1979
A-Side:Señora
Label:RCA Records

"Ese Hombre" (English: "That Man") is a song written by Ana Magdalena and Manuel Alejandro and performed by Spanish recording artist Rocío Jurado for her studio album Señora (1979). It was released by RCA Records as a B-side to "Señora" in 1980. Lyrically, the song is about a womanizer who lures women into a wrongful relationship filled with lies and deceit.

In 1994, American salsa singer La India recorded the track for her first solo album, Dicen Que Soy (1994), which was produced by Sergio George. "Ese Hombre" is the salsa song responsible for La India's honorific title as the "Princess of Salsa", according to The New York Times. The recording received positive reviews and acclaim from media respondents. "Ese Hombre" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Tropical Songs chart and peaked within the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and Latin Pop Songs charts. The track became La India's second number-one single on the Tropical Songs chart behind, "Nunca Voy a Olvidarte".

Background and release

In 1979, Rocío Jurado recorded "Ese Hombre" for her studio album Señora (1979).[1] It was released by RCA Records as a B-side to "Señora" in 1980.[2] The song was written by Manuel Alejandro and Ana Magdalena[3] for the Spanish singer.[4] Jurado sung a duet version with Rosario Mohedano during one of her live tours.[5]

According to the lyrics, the protagonist is describing negative attributes about a former lover who uses a false identity to capture and lure women into deceitful ill-fated relationships.[6]

La India salsa version

Ese Hombre
Type:single
Artist:La India
Album:Dicen Que Soy
Released:1994
Recorded:1994
Genre:salsa, tropical
Label:RMM
Producer:Sergio George
Prev Title:Nunca Voy a Olvidarte
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Que Ganas de No Verte Más
Next Year:1995

La India recorded the song for her second studio album, Dicen Que Soy (1994). Because of its heavy airplay on radios, the single boosted sales for the parent album.[7]

RMM selected "Ese Hombre" among its top ten music videos for their compilation album RMM Best of Videos Vol. I (1997).[8] "Ese Hombre" is a salsa[9] song set in common time at 88 beats per minute.[10]

Reception

Lise Waxer wrote in her book Situating Salsa: Global Markets and Local Meanings in Latin Popular Music, that "Ese Hombre" is a "strong feminist song".[11] Virginia Marie Raymond wrote in her book Mexican Americans Write Toward Justice in Texas, 1973--1982 that the lyrics are "rousingly hostile",[12] while John Lannert of Billboard magazine praised the recording's lyrical content calling it a "fiery, stand-up-to-that-man testimony".[13] David Cazares of the Sun Sentinel called the track an "outrageous song that bashes an egotistical and womanizing man". Cazares believed the track suited La India because it revamped her salsa career.[6]

Ramiro Burr of the San Antonio Express-News named "Ese Hombre" and another La India recording, "Nunca Voy Olvidarte" as "radio hits".[14] Manuel Peter wrote that "Ese Hombre" is an "anthem for female salsa lovers".[9] Larry Flick of Billboard, called the recording a "tropical purity".[15] According to Jose Manuel Simian of The New York Times, "Ese Hombre" contributed to La India being named the "Princess of Salsa".[16] Madeline Rodriguez of Gozamos.com named "Ese Hombre" the "perfect break-up song".[17] Jim Allen of AllMusic, called the song a "propulsive, no-nonsense attack" that "deliver a resonant portrait of this contemporary salsa sensation."[18]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Allmusic and Dicen Que Soy liner notes.[19]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senora. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. 22 September 2014.
  2. Señora. Rocío Jurado. 1980 . LP. RCA Records. PB-7708. Spain.
  3. Book: Subero. Gustavo. Queer masculinities in Latin American cinema : male bodies and narrative representations. 2014. I.B.Tauris. London. 978-1780763200. 199. 22 September 2014.
  4. Book: Isfahani-Hammond. Alexandra. The masters and the slaves plantation relations and mestizaje in American imaginaries. 2005. Palgrave Macmillan. New York, N.Y.. 1403981620. 125. 1st . 22 September 2014.
  5. Rocio Siempre . 2010 . Compact disc . . 78635334425 .
  6. News: Cazeras. David. La India Blends Urban Sensibility, Latin Music. 28 January 2013. Sun Sentinel. 15 August 2003. 18 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215036/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-08-15/entertainment/0308131050_1_la-india-latin-music-awards-latin-jazz. dead.
  7. Lannert. John. Latin Notas. Billboard. 18 Feb 1995. 107. 7. 32. 22 September 2014.
  8. Lannert. John. Rock Imprint Jazzes Up RMM. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 19 Jul 1997. 109. 29. 39. 22 September 2014.
  9. Book: Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae. Manuel. Peter. Bilby. Kenneth. Largey. Michael . 110. Temple University Press. 10 August 1995. 9781592134649. 23 March 2014.
  10. Web site: Ese Hombre: La India Digital Sheet Music. 1994 . 21 September 2014 . Chordify.com . RMM . Chordify.
  11. Book: Waxer, Lise. Situating salsa : global markets and local meanings in Latin popular music. 2002. Routledge. 0815340192.
  12. Book: Raymond, Virginia Marie. Mexican Americans Write Toward Justice in Texas, 1973--1982. 2007. 978-0549715474.
  13. Lannert. John. Soho's India Puts Zest Back in Salsa. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 25 February 1995. 107. 8. 28 January 2013. 0006-2510.
  14. News: Burr. Ramiro. Salsa, New York style India to make S.A. debut Thursday night. 28 January 2013. San Antonio Express-News. 8 August 1997. "Sergio George, generated "Nunca Voy Olvidarte" and "Ese Hombre" as radio hits.".
  15. Flick. Larry. Dance Trax. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 15 Feb 1997. 109. 7. 30. 22 September 2014.
  16. News: Simian. Jose Manuel. Brooklyn's Barclays Center celebrates best of '90s salsa. 22 September 2014. The New York Times. 5 Jun 2014.
  17. Web site: Rodriguez. Madeline. Interview: La India, Princesa de la Salsa. Gozamos.com. 22 September 2014. 11 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711121118/http://gozamos.com/2013/03/interview-la-india-princesa-de-la-salsa/. dead.
  18. Web site: Allen. Jim. The Greatest Salsa Ever (Album Review). AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. 22 September 2014.
  19. Web site: Dicen Que Soy — La India: Credits. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation.