Hits Mix Explained

Hits Mix
Type:remix
Artist:Celia Cruz
Cover:Celia Cruz - Hits Mix.jpg
Released:5 November 2002
Genre:Dance · Latin pop
Length:41:47
Label:Sony Discos
Producer:Sergio George
Prev Title:La Negra Tiene Tumbao
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:Regalo del Alma
Next Year:2003

Hits Mix is the first remix album by Cuban recording artist Celia Cruz. It featured two singles, a Spanglish remix version of "La Negra Tiene Tumbao", entitled "Gotta Get Down" and a dance remix of "Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)".

Upon release, the album peaked at number 106 on the Billboard 200, number two on the Billboard Latin Albums chart, and number one on the Billboard Tropical Albums chart. It became the best-selling Tropical album of 2003. It was also the ninth best-selling Latin album of 2003.

Recording and production

Producer Sergio George was hired to produce more traditional tracks for Cruz's fifty-ninth album, La Negra Tiene Tumbao (2001). However, George wanted to try something different. According to George, he played a demo version of "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" for Cruz, "not knowing how she would respond, and that was the song that she most reacted to". "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" was the last song completed for the album.[1]

Musical composition

The original version of "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" combines elements of salsa music, reggae music and hip hop music.[2] The song's title translates to "The Black Woman has Style" or "The Black Woman has Attitude".[3] The song was composed in minor key and incorporates the use of vocal call and response.[4]

"Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)" was originally performed by American singer Gloria Gaynor. It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris.[5] Cruz originally covered the song in Spanish on her 2000 album, Siempre Vivire (I Will Always Live).[6]

Critical reception

An editor for Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars, insisting that the album contains "pumped-up remixes of favorites from previous releases." The reviewer claimed that Cruz alternates from "swooping, but not showy, melodic moves to rhythmic rapid-fire pronouncements" on the release. According to the reviewer, "Cruz starts what feels like a dance party headed towards the wee hours."

At the 2004 Latin Billboard Music Awards, the album was awarded the Greatest Hits Album of the Year Award. In the same category, Cruz was also nominated for Exitos Eternos (2003).[7] Her 2004 album Regalo del Alma was awarded Tropical Album of the Year in the female category. Cobo predicted that the album should and would win the award.[8] In the same category, Cruz was also nominated with Exitos Eternos and Hits Mix, also becoming the Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year.[9]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003)Peak
Position
US Billboard 200[10] 106
US Latin Albums (Billboard)[11] 2
US Tropical Albums (Billboard)[12] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)Position
US Latin Albums (Billboard)[13] 9
US Tropical Albums (Billboard)[14] 1

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Latin Notas: Still Cruzin. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 7 December 2002. 16 January 2017. Cobo, Leila.
  2. Book: From Bananas to Buttocks: The Latina Body in Popular Film and Culture. University of Texas Press. Mendible, Myra. 97. 3 June 2010. 9780292778498. 16 January 2017.
  3. Book: Rock On": Women, Ageing, and Popular Music. Routledge. Gardner, Abigail. 16 March 2016. 61. 16 January 2017. 9781317189107.
  4. Web site: La Negra Tiene Tumbao - Celia Cruz on Pandora Internet Radio. Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 16 January 2017. 18 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170118095114/http://www.pandora.com/celia-cruz/exitos-eternos/la-negra-tiene-tumbao. dead.
  5. Web site: 'I Will Survive': Radio 4 celebrates the enduring success of Gloria Gaynor's classic song . 24 March 2005 . . 18 July 2016.
  6. Web site: Siempre Vivire - Celia Cruz: Songs, Revoews, Credits: Allmusic. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. 15 July 2016.
  7. Web site: Billboard Latin Music Award Finalists. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 21 February 2004. Cobo, Leila. 27 July 2016.
  8. Web site: And The Winner Is.... Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 4 September 2004. Cobo, Leila. 27 July 2016.
  9. Web site: Latin Music's Brightest Stars Honored at the 2004 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. 29 April 2004. 20 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Top 200 Albums: Aug 16, 2003 - Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 16 August 2003. 5 July 2016.
  11. Web site: Latin Albums: Aug 16, 2003 - Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 16 August 2003. 5 July 2016.
  12. Web site: Tropical Music Albums: Aug 16, 2003 - Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 16 August 2003. 5 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Year In Music: Top Latin Albums. Billboard. 27 December 2003. Prometheus Global Media. 15 July 2016.
  14. Web site: Year In Music: Top Tropical Albums. Billboard. 27 December 2003. Prometheus Global Media. 15 July 2016.