Qué Calor Explained

Qué Calor
Cover:Major Lazer Que Calor.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Major Lazer featuring J Balvin and El Alfa
Album:Music Is the Weapon
Language:Spanish
English Title:"It's so Hot"
Genre:Latin[1]
Label:Mad Decent
Chronology:Major Lazer
Prev Title:Make It Hot
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Trigger
Next Year:2019

"Qué Calor" is a song recorded by American electronic dance music trio Major Lazer featuring Colombian singer J Balvin and Dominican rapper El Alfa. It was released on September 11, 2019, through Diplo's label Mad Decent. It is the second single from Major Lazer's fourth studio album Music Is the Weapon, which was released in 2020. This also marks the second collaboration between Major Lazer and J Balvin, after "Buscando Huellas" in 2017.[2] [3] The artists also released a lyric translation of the track in English.[4]

Background

One week before, Major Lazer announced the date of the release and posted a snippet of the track on social networks. They also said to Billboard, "J Balvin and El Alfa both are two of the most exciting artists currently working to us, and artists that we have longstanding relationships with. We've collaborated with Latin artists from the very beginning of Major Lazer -- I think many Americans forget how much of the Caribbean is Spanish-speaking, and that's a huge part of our influences. There's so much energy in Latin music right now and we love helping bring it back home."[5] Diplo said too, "Sorry I was late on the song of the summer." The song is part of the FIFA 20 and FIFA 23 game soundtrack and in the FIFA 20 "Volta Football" new mode. The official soundtrack of FIFA 20 was also released via Spotify, Apple, and Deezer on September 13.[6] [7]

Indian rapper Badshah released an official remix of the song on November 15, 2019. On this occasion, he said, "It is a huge pleasure for me to be on the 'Que calor' India Remix. I loved the track the moment I heard it. Major Lazer are dance music legends, I have worked with them in the past and I truly believe they have a major role in shaping the current global sound. J Balvin is a rockstar whom I really look up to and I think El Alfa has done an extraordinary job. It gives me honour and pleasure to be collaborating with these stars and bring Que calor to India." Major Lazer added, "We just dropped an official remix of Que Calor with Badshah, who brings serious heat. India holds a special place in our hearts and our Indian fans have given so much love back to us to our songs, so it was time for us to give something special to them."[8] A week later, on November 22, 2019, the track was also remixed by California rapper Saweetie.[9]

Critical reception

Kat Bein from Billboard described the song as "a steamy banger for peak club hours". Writing for Dancing Astronaut, Farrell Sweeney called it a feel-good song. According to him, it's the perfect trigger to get the listener dancing. In parallel, Brian Bonavoglia from DJ Times noted the track as a robust dancefloor anthem with summertime vibes alive.[10] Katie Stone from EDM.com said that "Que Calor" is a vibrant track and a melding of cultures with a dancehall-dembow rhythm that looks like El Alfa style. In the same way, Mike Wass from Idolator called the song "a rump-shaking floorfiller with enough hooks to demolish the language barrier."[11] The flute at the beginning of the track was seen as a cover of 1993 Colombian cumbia classic "Curura" by the Afro-Colombian group Totó la Momposina with modern pop influences.[12] [13] Keely Quinlan from Stereogum described the song as "an oriental-sounding flute plays, an infectious central melody, underscored by a speedy, tinny rhythm section".[14]

Music videos

The official music video of the song was released at the same day through Major Lazer's YouTube channel. The music video was directed by the VMA and BET Award-winning Colin Tilley, who worked on videos of "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar, "Mask Off" by Future and "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj.[15] [16] It was produced by Jamee Ranta and Jack Winter,[17] and orchestrated by choreographer Calvit Hodge. There are girls dancers around the artists, in a dark atmosphere, like in the clip of "Lean On".[18] The girls in the clip are Major Lazer usual dancers, the Lazer Gyals, Sara Bivens and Helen Gedlu.[19] [20] The video sees Diplo in a cow-print getup complete with a printed cowboy hat, around flames, while J Balvin and El Alfa spit fire. Farrell Sweeney from Dancing Astronaut also noted the dynamic visual accompaniment to the dance-worthy single.[21]

On October 3, 2019, Major Lazer posted on their YouTube channel an official dance video directed by Calvit Hodge. Then, on November 1, 2019, J Balvin released through his YouTube channel a dance video compilation. To implement this third clip, the artists asked their fans to give videos showing them dancing on the song. Then, a compilation of their movements was made, accompanied by many dancers and including appearances from American rapper and songwriter Lil Pump, America's Got Talent's Kid The Wiz and Youtuber Lele Pons.[22] [23]

Commercial performance

In the week ending September 19, the song made a 487% gain in sales in the United States in its first full tracking week as it sold 4,000 downloads, according to Nielsen Music. Two weeks after the release, it climbed to number one on the US Latin Digital Songs chart, peaked at number 20 on the US Latin Streaming Songs chart, and at number 13 on the US Hot Latin Songs chart.[24] This single also marks the first time that Major Lazer joins the list of seventeen DJs who have entered Latin Digital Song Sales in 2019.[25]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[26]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019–2020)Peak
position
Chile (Monitor Latino)[27] 18
Colombia (National-Report)[28] 47
Croatia (HRT)[29] 100
El Salvador (Monitor Latino)[30] 13
France (SNEP)[31] 14
Guatemala (Monitor Latino)[32] 8
Honduras (Monitor Latino)[33] 6
Italy (FIMI)[34] 48
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[35] 32
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[36] 39
Nicaragua (Monitor Latino)[37] 1
Panama (Monitor Latino)[38] 15
Puerto Rico (Monitor Latino)[39] 4
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40] 18
Venezuela (Monitor Latino)[41] 17

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)Position
France (SNEP)[42] 183
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[43] 41
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[44] 87
Chart (2020)Position
France (SNEP)[45] 77
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[46] 17
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[47] 52

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clip "Que Calor" : Major Lazer, J. Balvin et El Alfa prolongent l'été !. Christophe. Segard. September 11, 2019. aficia. fr. September 15, 2019. Together, it's the song "Que Calor" that they offer to the public, a Latin anthem that should have its effect..
  2. Web site: Major Lazer Cranks Up The Summer Heat With J Balvin & El Alfa In 'Que Calor'. Chris. Malone. September 11, 2019. Forbes. September 15, 2019.
  3. Web site: 'Que Calor' : la collaboration explosive entre Major Lazer et J Balvin. Adrien. Bertoni. September 11, 2019. DJ Mag France, Switzerland & Belgium. fr. September 15, 2019.
  4. Major Lazer, J Balvin & El Alfa Turn Up the Heat in 'Que Calor' Lyric Translation. Jessica. Roiz. September 25, 2019. Billboard. October 18, 2019.
  5. Major Lazer's 'Que Calor' With J Balvin & El Alfa Finally Has a Release Date. Suzette. Fernandez. September 5, 2019. Billboard. September 15, 2019.
  6. Web site: FIFA 20 soundtrack features over 110 songs including Major Lazer's new single. Karlie. Powell. September 11, 2019. Your EDM. September 16, 2019.
  7. FIFA 20 Soundtrack Features J Balvin, Major Lazer, Anderson .Paak, Disclosure, Alison Wonderland & More: Listen. Judy. Cantor-Navas. September 13, 2019. Billboard. September 16, 2019.
  8. News: Rapper Badshah Collaborates With J Balvin, Major Lazer for Que Calor Remix. November 15, 2019. News18 India. November 15, 2019.
  9. News: Major Lazer Debuts Saweetie Remix of 'Que Calor'. TV News Desk. November 22, 2019. BroadwayWorld. November 22, 2019.
  10. Web site: Major Lazer Shares Flavorful Single "Que Calor" With J Balvin & El Alfa. Brian. Bonavoglia. September 11, 2019. DJ Times. September 16, 2019.
  11. Web site: Major Lazer Calls On J Balvin & El Alfa For "Que Calor". Mike. Wass. September 11, 2019. Idolator. September 15, 2019.
  12. Major Lazer, J Balvin, El Alfa Set the Club Ablaze in New 'Que Calor' Video. Suzy. Exposito. September 11, 2019. Rolling Stone. September 15, 2019.
  13. Web site: Major Lazer Team Up with J Balvin & El Alfa On "Que Calor". Katie. Stone. September 12, 2019. EDM.com. September 15, 2019.
  14. Web site: J Balvin & El Alfa Join Major Lazer For "Que Calor": Watch The Video. Keely. Quinlan. September 11, 2019. Stereogum. September 15, 2019.
  15. Web site: Major Lazer and J Balvin Share New Song "Que Calor": Listen. Evan. Minsker. September 11, 2019. Pitchfork. September 17, 2019.
  16. Web site: Major Lazer – "Que Calor" (Feat. J Balvin & El Alfa). Will. Gottsegen. September 11, 2019. Spin. September 17, 2019.
  17. Web site: J Balvin, Major Lazer y El Alfa presentan el sencillo "Que calor". September 12, 2019. iHeartRadio. es. October 18, 2019.
  18. Web site: Major Lazer, J Balvin et El Alfa: "Que Calor" enfin disponible!. Marine. Madelmond. September 11, 2019. NRJ. fr. September 15, 2019.
  19. Major Lazer Recruit J Balvin, El Alfa For Cumbia-Inspired 'Que Calor': Watch the Video. Kat. Bein. September 11, 2019. Billboard. September 15, 2019.
  20. Web site: Major Lazer share new track, 'Que Calor': listen. DJ Mag Staff. September 11, 2019. DJ Mag. September 17, 2019.
  21. Web site: Major Lazer teams up with J Balvin and El Alfa for 'Que Calor'. Farrell. Sweeney. September 11, 2019. Dancing Astronaut. September 15, 2019.
  22. News: Major Lazer and J Balvin tap fan talents in 'Que Calor' music video. Dancing Astronaut Staff. November 5, 2019. Dancing Astronaut. November 15, 2019.
  23. News: Major Lazer share dance compilation video of 'Que Calor': Watch. Amy. Fielding. November 5, 2019. DJ Mag. November 15, 2019.
  24. Web site: With Major Lazer And J Balvin At His Side, El Alfa Logs His Third-Ever Hot Latin Songs Hit. Gary. Suarez. September 24, 2019. Forbes. October 18, 2019.
  25. Major Lazer's 'Que Calor,' Feat. J Balvin & El Alfa Climbs to No. 1 on Latin Digital Song Sales Chart. Pamela. Bustios. September 26, 2019. Billboard. October 18, 2019.
  26. Web site: Que Calor (feat. J Balvin & El Alfa) / Major Lazer – TIDAL. Tidal. September 15, 2019.
  27. Web site: Top 20 Chile – Del 14 al 20 de Octubre, 2019. Monitor Latino. es. November 17, 2019.
  28. Web site: Top 100 Colombia – Semana 39 del 2019 – Del 20/09/2019 al 26/09/2019. National-Report. October 9, 2019. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20190928135735/http://national-report.com/top-colombia/. September 28, 2019.
  29. Web site: ARC 100 - datum: 2. prosinca 2019.. HRT. hr. December 23, 2019.
  30. Web site: Top 20 El Salvador – Del 4 al 10 de Noviembre, 2019. Monitor Latino. es. November 17, 2019.
  31. Web site: Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles (téléchargement + streaming) – SNEP (Week 45, 2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20191111014246/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=45. dead. November 11, 2019. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. fr. November 13, 2019.
  32. Web site: Top 20 Guatemala – Del 28 de Octubre al 3 de Noviembre, 2019. Monitor Latino. es. November 17, 2019.
  33. Web site: Top 20 Honduras – Del 25 de Noviembre al 1 de Diciembre, 2019. Monitor Latino. es. November 26, 2019.
  34. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 1. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. January 4, 2020.
  35. Mexico Airplay: November 2, 2019. Billboard. November 5, 2019.
  36. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. September 23, 2019. September 21, 2019.
  37. Web site: Top 20 Nicaragua – Del 30 de Septiembre al 6 de Octubre, 2019. Monitor Latino. es. November 17, 2019.
  38. Web site: Top 20 Panama – Del 11 al 17 de Noviembre, 2019. Monitor Latino. es. November 17, 2019.
  39. Web site: Puerto Rico General. es. Monitor Latino. November 17, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200421184419/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Print/puerto%20Rico/general/20191007. April 21, 2020. live.
  40. Web site: Top 100 Canciones: Semana 43. Productores de Música de España. October 30, 2019.
  41. Web site: Venezuela General. es. Monitor Latino. April 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200422094258/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Print/venezuela/general/20200113. April 22, 2020. live.
  42. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2019. SNEP. fr. January 17, 2021.
  43. Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. December 6, 2019.
  44. Hot Latin Songs – Year-End 2019. Billboard. December 6, 2019.
  45. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2020. SNEP. fr. February 5, 2021.
  46. Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 4, 2020.
  47. Hot Latin Songs – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 4, 2020.