Amor a la Mexicana

Amor a la Mexicana
Studio album by
Thalía
Released1 July 1997 (1997-07-01) - US
Recorded1996–1997
Genre
[1]
Length41:17
LabelEMI Latin
Producer
Thalía chronology
Nandito Ako
(1997) 		Amor a la Mexicana
(1997) 		Arrasando
(2000)
Alternative cover
Por Amor cover
Singles from Amor a la Mexicana
  1. "Amor a la Mexicana"
    Released: 3 June 1997 (1997-06-03)
  2. "Por Amor"
    Released: 23 September 1997 (1997-09-23)
  3. "Mujer Latina"
    Released: 9 December 1997 (1997-12-09)
  4. "Noches Sin Luna"
    Released: 20 January 1998 (1998-01-20)
  5. "Ponle Remedio"
    Released: 10 March 1998 (1998-03-10)
  6. "Es tu amor"
    Released: 26 May 1998 (1998-05-26)
  7. "De dónde soy"
    Released: 4 August 1998 (1998-08-04)

Amor a la Mexicana (English: Mexican-style love) is the sixth studio album by Mexican singer Thalía, released on 24 June 1997, by EMI Latin.[2]

The album was recorded in the Crescent Moon Studios, Miami, with producers Emilio Estefan, Kike Santander, Bernardo Ossa, Pablo Flores, Roberto Blades and Javier Garza. It blends various genres incorporating elements cumbia, salsa, and balladry.

Upon its release, the album received positive reviews and entered the top 10 on both the Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts. It was later certified certified two times platinum by RIAA. The lead single, "Amor a la Mexicana", was particularly praised for showcasing Thalía's artistic evolution.[1]

The album went on to sell over two million copies worldwide, making it one of Thalía's best-selling releases and one of the best-selling Latin albums of its era. It also enjoyed significant success in Chile.

According to Luca Villa from Billboard, Thalía's album played a key role in popularizing and globalizing Mexican culture.[3]

Production and promotion

Following the success of Thalía's fourth studio album, En éxtasis (1995), EMI Latin began planning the release of a new album. Recording sessions for this project started in 1996, with the label investing approximately 1.5 million dollars in its promotion.[4]

The album was scheduled for a worldwide release in 1997.[5] However, in certain countries, such as Brazil, it was launched in 1998. For the Brazilian edition, three songs were recorded in Portuguese and included as bonus tracks.[6]

In France, the album was titled Por Amor and featured different cover artwork to appeal to the local market.

Thalía visited many countries to promote her album including: Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Italy, France, Philippines, Germany, Belgium, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, the United Kingdom, El Salvador, Bolivia, Spain, Portugal, Indonesia, Lebanon, Finland, Austria and the United States.[7]

Singles

"Amor a la Mexicana" was released as the album's lead single, it became one of Thalia's biggest international hits and is widely recognized as one of her signature songs. A remixed version called "Cuca's Fiesta Mix" was included in some editions of the album and a banda version was included in Thalía's compilation album Thalía con banda: Grandes éxitos (2001), the three versions have their own music video.

"Por Amor" was released as the second single of the album, the music video was released in two different versions, directed by Gustavo Garzon, the original album version and the "Primera Vez Remix" version, both first aired in late 1997. It was the 55th most played song in Romania in 1999.[8] The song also received radio airplay in Spain.[9]

The third single was "Mujer Latina" it was released as "Vengo! Vengo! (Mujer Latina)" in Europe. It has two videos, and it was directed by Gustavo Garzon. The song had airplay success in Latin American radio stations and reached the top spot in Chile.[10] The song reached number two in Guatemala.[11]

The fourth single of the album was "Noches Sin Luna" it was released in early 1998 and a Portuguese version of the song was included as a bonus track in the Brazilian edition.

"Ponle Remedio" was Released in 1998 as the fifth single and presented in television programs and radios stations as advertisement.

"Es Tu Amor" was released as the sixth single, it was also included in the soundtrack of the movie Ever After. Thalia presented the song live during concerts and performed in several events. De Dónde Soy was released as the seventh and final single from the album only in Spain and Latin America. A Portuguese version of the song ("De onde sou") was also released and was included in the Brazilian edition of the album.

Two promotional singles were released: "Dicen Por Ahí" which was released at the same time of "De dónde soy" which received airplay in Spain and later performed on Thalía's soap opera Rosalinda in 1999.[12] The song "Echa Pa'lante" that was included in the Dance with Me movie soundtrack in an English version and the original version was performed in Thalía's soap opera Rosalinda. The version in the movie is completely different from the original song, even changing its message. The original song, in this album, was a political protest song against the ruling PRI in the 1997 Mexican parliamentary elections.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

The album was praised by music critics. Jason Birchmeier from AllMusic website gave the album four out of five stars and called the album's production "predictably excellent". He also wrote that the album has "songs with compelling, appropriately mexicana lyrics and catchy, singalong hooks" and that it includes "very few, if any, dull moments". He conclude that "Amor a la Mexicana is a sort of timeless album".

Commercial performance

The album achieved commercial success in Latin America, the U.S., Philippines and European countries such as France and Spain.[13] According to Billboard magazine Amor a la Mexicana is a multimillion seller.[14] It sold over 2 million copies worldwide,[15] and is considered "Thalía's best selling album" according to The New York Times in 2003.[16]

Across South America, the album sold 93,000 copies in Argentina in early 1998.[17] It ended as one of the most successful releases by EMI during that year in the country, obtaining a certification of Double Platinum, denoting sales of 120,000 units.[18][19] In Chile, Amor a la Mexicana became one of the best-selling albums with over 70,000 copies sold as of 2000.[20] In Colombia, the album sold over 14,000 units by May 1998.[21] Across Europe, the album increased sales in Spain from 10,000 to 150,000 after her visit in various TV spots.[22] In 2000, during the promotion of her album Arrasando in Greece, she received two Gold records, including one from Amor a la Mexicana.[23][24] It peaked within the top five in European countries such as Greece and Hungary.[25][26]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Por Amor"Kike Santander3:55
2."Noches sin luna"Santander, Miguel Jose Velasquez3:59
3."Mujer Latina"Santander3:38
4."Amor a la Mexicana"Mario Pupparo4:25
5."Rosas"Héctor Martínez, Pupparo4:36
6."Echa pa'lante"Emilio Esfefan Jr., Javier Garza, Pablo Flores, Roberto Blades3:52
7."Ponle remedio"Blades4:09
8."Es tu amor"Santander4:38
9."De dónde soy"Karla Aponte, Cesar Lemos3:57
10."Dicen por ahí"Aureo Baqueiro3:57
Brazilian Edition Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Menino lindo" (Menina linda)Luciano Sotelino4:11
12."De onde sou" (De Donde Soy)Carla Aponet, Cesar Lemos3:56
13."Noites Sem Lua" (Noches sin luna)Kike Santander, Migel Jose Velasquez3:57
European Edition Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Amor a la Mexicana" (Cuca's Fiesta Edit Mix)Mario Pupparo3:46
12."Por amor" (Primera Vez Remix)Kike Santander4:39
13."Mujer Latina" (Remix España)Kike Santander3:53
USA Re-release edition (2005)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Amor a la Mexicana" (Emilio Mix)Mario Pupparo3:59
12."Por amor" (Primera Vez Remix)Kike Santander4:39
13."Mujer Latina" (Remix España)Kike Santander3:53
14."Amor a la Mexicana" (Cuca's Fiesta Mix)Mario Pupparo6:44
Por Amor (French Edition of Amor a La Mexicana)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Amor a la Mexicana" (Cuca's Fiesta Edit Mix)Mario Pupparo3:46
2."Por amor"Kike Santander3:56
3."Piel Morena" (Hitmakers Radio Edit)Kike Santander3:54
4."Noches sin luna"Kike Santander, Migel Jose Velasquez4:00
5."Mujer Latina"Kike Santander3:38
6."Rosas"Héctor Martínez, Mario Pupparo4:39
7."Echa pa'lante"Emilio Esfefan Jr., Javier Garza, Pablo Flores, Roberto Blades3:54
8."Ponle remedio"Roberto Blades4:09
9."Es tu amor"Kike Santander4:37
10."De dónde soy"Karla Aponte, Cesar Lemos3:58
11."Dicen por ahí"Aureo Baqueiro4:00
12."Amor a la Mexicana"Mario Pupparo4:26

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[19] 2× Platinum 120,000^
Brazil — 50,000[33]
Chile[35] Platinum 70,000[34][20]
Colombia — 14,638[21]
Greece (IFPI Greece)[23] Gold 30,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[36] Gold 140,000[6]
Philippines (PARI)[6] Platinum 40,000[6]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28][37] 2× Platinum 300,000[38]
United States (RIAA)[39] 2× Platinum (Latin) 200,000^
Summaries
Latin America
as of 1998 		— 500,000[40]
Worldwide — 2,000,000[15]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Jason Birchmeier. "Thalia Review: Amor a La Mexicana (Allmusic)". Allmusic. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  2. ^ "Thalia Official Website: Discography - Amor a La Mexicana". Allmusic. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Villa, Lucas (October 11, 2020). "Thalia's 10 Best Songs on the Billboard Charts, In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2020-10-16. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "Thalía se lanza a la conquista del mercado francés". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). May 9, 1998. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  5. ^ Moura, Rosangela de (6 September 1997). "Thalia responde aos fãs na Folhinha". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d Teresa Aguilera (November 29, 1997). "Thalia- Latin America's Reigning Music Queen". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "Thalía, contratos y carnaval". Clarín (in Spanish). Argentina. February 2, 1998. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  8. ^ Topul anului 1999
  9. ^ "Spanish radio" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 18. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via American Radio History.
  10. ^ "Thalía enloquece a Chile". El Tiempo. 1998-04-27. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  11. ^ "Ricky Martin, Arjona y Sanz se disputan la popularidad". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 1998. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "Spanish radio" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 16. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via American Radio History.
  13. ^ "Thalía". Cromos (in Spanish). 2006. p. 16. Thalía logra el éxito en Europa con el albúm Amor a la mexicana . Luego llegan sus discos Arrasando , Thalía , Greatest hits , entre otros . Thalía canta en inglés , portu- gués , español y francés
  14. ^ Lannert, John (22 October 2005). "Beyond Glitz, Thalía Blazes Her Own Triade". Billboard. p. 34.
  15. ^ a b Abrago, Pepe (May 1, 2000). "Las Marias quedarán atrás... pero Thalía vive su mejor momiento". Cinemanía. Promotora General de Revistas, S.A. p. 39. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  16. ^ Ruth La Ferla (12 October 2003). "Tommy Pygmalion Has a New Project". The New York Times.
  17. ^ "Agenda". Para Ti (in Spanish) (3956–3960): 42. 1998. [...] Este viernes y sábado presentará allí los temas de Amor a la mexicana, su segundo disco editado en la Argentina y que ya lleva vendidas 93 mil copias.
  18. ^ "Argentine Biz Worries That '98 Gains Will Deflate in '99" (PDF). Billboard. November 21, 1998. p. 85. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  20. ^ a b Parra Aravena, Ana María (July 28, 2000). "Breves: Thalia más platinada". Nacion (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Thalía, una Mexicana con sabor a la Colombiana". El Tiempo (in Spanish). May 15, 1998. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  22. ^ "Billboard - Latin Music 6 Pack". Billboard. 20 February 1999. pp. 38–.
  23. ^ a b "Thalia - World Tour "Arrasando" - Grecia 2000". Alpha TV. Alpha Satellite Television S.A. 1997. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved June 28, 2019. Gold record showed at 21:11
  24. ^ "Thalia bloqueó tránsito en centro de Atenas". El Mercurio (in Spanish). Chile: Empresa El Mercurio S.A.P. 14 September 2000. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Greece Top Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 16. April 15, 2000. p. 9. Retrieved January 13, 2020 – via American Radio History.
  26. ^ a b "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2000. 9. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  27. ^ Lannert, John (26 July 1997). "Billboard – Latin Notas". Billboard. p. 34.
  28. ^ a b Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  29. ^ "Thalia Chart History (Top Latin Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  30. ^ "Thalia Chart History (Latin Pop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  31. ^ "Top Latin Albums". Billboard. 27 December 1997. p. YE-57. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  32. ^ "AFYVE EN 1998". Anuariossgae: 63. 27 December 2000. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  33. ^ Hollo, Karina (1998). "Calientes e vendedores". Contigo! (in Portuguese). Editora Abril. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024. Thalia aproveita o sucesso de suas novelas para vender discos. O primeiro, En Extasis, alcançou, no Brasil, a marca de 180 mil cópias. O segundo, Amor a la Mexicana, 50 mil. English translation: Thalia takes advantage of the success of her soap operas to sell records. The first, En Extasis, reached the mark of 180 thousand copies in Brazil. The second, Amor a la Mexicana, 50 thousand.
  34. ^ "Thalia con su disco "Arrasando" gana otro disco de platino". ZonaMusical. July 26, 2000. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  35. ^ Hollo, Karina (1998). "Thalía volta a fazer novelas". Contigo! (in Portuguese). Editora Abril. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024. Enquanto isso, Amor a la Mexicana conquistou disco de platina (250 mil exemplares vendidos) no Chile". Translation: "Meanwhile, Amor a la Mexicana went platinum (250,000 copies sold) in Chile"
  36. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Thalia in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Amor a la Mexicana in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  37. ^ "Discos de platino y oro 1999 (*)". El Mundo (in Spanish). 2000. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  38. ^ Leon Herrera, Javier (August 6, 2000). "Mexico lindo y... cada vez mas querido". El Norte (in Spanish). ProQuest 315993066. Retrieved January 5, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  39. ^ "American album certifications – Thalia – Amor a la Mexicana". Recording Industry Association of America.
  40. ^ "Thalía destroi corações". Revista Chiquititas (in Portuguese). Brazil: Editora Atlântida. 1998. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024. "Amor a la Mexicana já vendeu 500 mil cópias na América Latina e espera que as vendas ultrapassem 1 milhão. Que bom! English translation: "Amor a la Mexicana has already sold 500,000 copies in Latin America and expects sales to exceed 1 million. How great!