La Vida es Así explained

La Vida Es Así
Cover:La_Vida_Es_Asi_(Reggaeton).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Ivy Queen
Album:Drama Queen
Released:May 11, 2010
Recorded:2009–2010
Mas Flow Studios
(Carolina, Puerto Rico)
Genre:Reggaetón
Label:Machete Music
Producer:Luny Tunes, Tainy
Prev Title:Dime
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Amor Puro
Next Year:2010

"La Vida Es Así" (English: Life Is Like That) is a song by Puerto Rican reggaetón singer-songwriter Ivy Queen. It was written by Queen, Francisco Saldaña and Marcos Masis, produced by Tainy and released as the lead single off her seventh studio album, Drama Queen (2010) on May 11, 2010.

The song was serviced to Latin radio in both Urban and Tropical formats. The reggaeton version of "La Vida Es Así" was a success on the Billboard Latin charts. The song's accompanying music video was shot on May 17, 2010 in Miami and premiered on mun2 on June 22, 2010 and VEVO on June 28, 2010 and was directed by Marlon Peña. The video has over 100 million views on YouTube.[1]

In 2022, the song was re-recorded into bachata for Arthur Hanlon's album Piano & Mujer, Vol. 2.

Background

After the success of her 2007 effort Sentimiento, which would be certified Platinum by the United States Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a substantial live album was distributed by Machete in 2008. This would lead up to Queen signing with the label in April 2010 as the label celebrated its fifth anniversary. The signing, described as a 360 deal, includes profit sharing in tours, sponsorships and merchandising. Ivy Queen was previously signed to a distribution deal with Univision Records, which in turn was acquired by Machete's parent company Universal Music Latin Entertainment in 2008. President of Universal Music Latino and Machete, Walter Kolm, commented in a press release "It's a privilege to have Ivy Queen a part of our artistic roster. Ivy is an extraordinary woman with incomparable talent, and she's number one in her genre. We're happy to be able to work with her on her new album as well as future projects". "I'm very proud to be a part of Machete Music. They are a young, vibrant company that has created a name for itself in Latin music in the United States and the world. They are a strong and important company that has been recognized for nurturing their artists’ creative talents," said Ivy Queen, regarding the partnership.[2] Ivy Queen told Efe that the composition process started while she was heartbroken at home. Her emotions then burst out in the recording studio. She added the song is one of 26 songs she wrote during this period.[3]

Composition

"La Vida Es Así" was written by Queen, along with Francisco Saldaña and Marcos Masis. The song features vocal effects, minor key tonality and synthesizers.[4] The urban version attacks with a modern and aggressive beat, while the bachata version slows with tropical rhythms by Luny Tunes.[5] In the lyrics, Ivy Queen declares to a rival "The guy you're dating is mine, and you know it, but here's the detail: He's worthless in bed. That's why I'm here to congratulate you for setting me free, I have to confess." The reggaeton rhymes depict how life is while telling a story of revenge and love sickness.[6] [7] Angie Romero of Latina Magazine describes the song as being a "powerful and pulsating break-up anthem."[8] Recording for "La Vida Es Así" and the rest of Drama Queen took place at Mas Flow Studios, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, owned by Luny Tunes.[9] The reggaeton version was produced by Tainy, who also produced "Acércate" off of Drama Queen. The bachata version was produced by Tainy and Luny Tunes who also co-produced "Acércate". Queen has worked with Luny Tunes previously before, with Luny Tunes producing many of her biggest hits such as "Te He Querido, Te He Llorado".

Release and chart performance

"La Vida Es Así" was released in both urban and bachata versions on May 11, 2010 by Machete Music.[10] The bachata version was released on June 22, 2010. The reggaeton version became a success on the Billboard Latin charts, while the bachata version failed to acquire any chart success. On the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, the song debuted at number forty-nine on the week of June 6, 2010 and peaked at number eleven on the week of August 21, 2010.[11] [12] Aventura’s "El Malo" withheld the song from entering the top ten of the chart. On the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart, the song debuted at number thirty-three on the week of July 3, 2010 and peaked at number ten on the week of August 28, 2010.[13] [14] On the Billboard Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, the song debuted at number twenty-nine on the week of May 22, 2010. The following week, the single catapulted 29-7, enjoying a 1.8 million audience impression, up 154% from the previous week.[15] It reached number one for the week of July 10, 2010, becoming her second number-one single, replacing "Cuando Me Enamoro" by Enrique Iglesias featuring Juan Luis Guerra and was later succeeded by "Cuando Me Enamoro" a week later.[16] [17] It was the sixteenth most played song on Miami's La Kalle 106.7FM in 2010.[18]

Reception

Simone Wilson, writing for LA Weekly, listed the song as one of the best reggaeton songs of the past half-decade (2006–2011).[19]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2010)Position
US Latin Songs (Billboard)[20] 11
US Latin Digital Songs (Billboard)[21] 11
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[22] 10
US Tropical Songs (Billboard)[23] 7
US Latin Recurrent Airplay (Billboard)[24] 6
US Latin Rhythm Digital Songs (Billboard)[25] 2
US Latin Rhythm Songs (Billboard)[26] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)Position
US Latin Songs (Billboard)[27] 37
US Latin Digital Songs (Billboard)[28] 49
US Tropical Songs (Billboard)[29] 23
US Latin Rhythm Digital Songs (Billboard)[30] 18
US Latin Rhythm Airplay (Billboard)[31] 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ivy Queen – La Vida Es Así – YouTube. YouTube. June 16, 2010. July 14, 2013.
  2. Web site: Ivy Queen Signs With Machete Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927132243/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3835924.htm. dead. September 27, 2013. PR Web. Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC. Carla Lopez. April 7, 2010. January 10, 2013.
  3. Web site: Ivy Queen desahoga todos sus sentimientos en su nuevo disco "Drama Queen" . Spanish . . . Jorge J. Muñiz Ortiz . April 9, 2010 . November 3, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061130/http://noticias.terra.com/noticias/ivy_queen_desahoga_todos_sus_sentimientos_en_su_nuevo_disco_drama_queen/act2277159 . September 21, 2013 .
  4. Web site: La Vida Es Asi – Ivy Queen . . July 10, 2010 . October 29, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213165429/http://www.pandora.com/ivy-queen/la-vida-es-asi-radio-single/la-vida-es-asi . December 13, 2013 .
  5. Web site: 'La vida es asi' Nuevo sencillo de Ivy Queen. Terra Networks. Telefónica. May 19, 2010. November 6, 2012.
  6. Ivy Queen's reggaeton rhymes depict "How Life Is". Billboard. Ayala Ben-Yehuda . July 23, 2010. June 13, 2012.
  7. Ivy Queen Brings the 'Drama,' Eyes Timbland, Ne-Yo Collaborations. Billboard. Ayala Ben-Yehuda . June 25, 2010. October 29, 2012.
  8. Web site: Ivy Queen on Relationship Drama and Ruling Reggaeton. Latina. Latina Media Ventures LLC. Angie Romero. April 13, 2010. June 15, 2012.
  9. Web site: Ivy Queen – Drama Queen CD Album. CD Universe. Muze Inc. August 6, 2010. June 15, 2012.
  10. Web site: Amazon.com: La Vida Es Así: Ivy Queen: MP3 Downloads . Amazon. Amazon.com, Inc. November 11, 2012.
  11. Hot Latin Songs 2010-06-12. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  12. Hot Latin Songs 2010-08-21. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  13. Latin Pop Airplay 2010-06-03. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  14. Latin Pop Airplay 2010-08-28. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  15. Latin Billboard: May 29, 2010. Billboard. April 3, 2010. October 31, 2014.
  16. Latin Rhythm Airplay 2010-05-22. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  17. Latin Rhythm Airplay 2010-07-10. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  18. Web site: Top 17 of 2010. Maxima Musica. Univision. December 30, 2010. October 28, 2013.
  19. Web site: Top Ten Best Reggaeton Songs of the Last Half Decade. LA Weekly. Wilson, Simone. February 6, 2018. November 21, 2011.
  20. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ivy queen|chart=Latin Songs C}} Ivy Queen – Chart History: Latin Songs]. Billboard. October 30, 2012.
  21. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ivy queen|chart=Latin Digital Songs}} Ivy Queen – Chart History: Latin Digital Songs ]. Billboard . October 30, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131110021344/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309237/marco-antonio-sol-s/chart . November 10, 2013 .
  22. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ivy queen|chart=Latin Pop Songs C}} Ivy Queen – Chart History: Latin Pop Songs]. Billboard. October 30, 2012.
  23. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ivy queen|chart=Tropical Songs}} Ivy Queen – Chart History: Tropical Songs]. Billboard. October 30, 2012.
  24. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ivy queen|chart=Latin Recurrent Airplay}} Ivy Queen – Chart History: Latin Recurrent Airplay]. Billboard. March 5, 2013.
  25. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ivy queen|chart=Latin Rhythm Digital Songs}} Ivy Queen – Chart History: Latin Rhythm Digital Airplay ]. Billboard . October 30, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131110021344/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309237/marco-antonio-sol-s/chart . November 10, 2013 .
  26. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ivy queen|chart=Latin Rhythm Airplay}} Ivy Queen – Chart History: Latin Rhythm Airplay ]. Billboard . October 30, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131110021344/http://www.billboard.com/artist/309237/marco-antonio-sol-s/chart . November 10, 2013 .
  27. Latin Songs (Year-end) 2010 – Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  28. Latin Digital Songs (Year-end) 2010 – Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  29. Ivy Queen – Chart History: Tropical Songs (Year-end). Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  30. Latin Rhythm Digital Songs (Year-end) 2010 – Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. October 31, 2012.
  31. Latin Rhythm Songs (Year-end) 2010 – Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. October 31, 2012.