"Júrame" (transl. "Swear to Me")[1] is a song by American singer Gisselle from her seventh studio album, Voy a Enamorarte (2000). The song was written and produced by Colombian musician Kike Santander. It was recorded twice, as a popballad and a merengue track, respectively. In the lyrics, it deals with love's ambition. Both versions were released as a single from the album by BMG US Latin in 2000. A music video for the ballad version was filmed in Florida.
Since 1995, Gisselle had established herself as one of Puerto Rico's top female merengue singers having released six studio albums.[2] Her previous studio album Atada (1998) received a Grammy nomination for Best Merengue Album in 2000.[3] Gisselle had desired to record a popballad album for a long time.[4] "Many people do not know that I started with pop ballads, so actually this like a return for me", the artist added.[5] Her opportunity came after her record label BMG US Latin had a vote of confidence and brought Colombian musician Kike Santander to help with the project.[4] It was a challenge for Santander due to the fact that Gisselle was not a balladeer.[6]
To prepare for the album, Gisselle took lessons from a vocal coach to expand on her range and delivery.[4] The artist also mentioned that whereas Atada had merengue songs with ballad influences, the inverse is true for Voy a Enamorarte (2000).[7] Recording took place at the Hit Factory, Out Line Studios in Puerto Rico and Moon Red Studios in Miami, Florida.[8] Santander handled the album's production and penned most of the album's tracks including "Júrame".[5] The song was recorded twice, one as a pop ballad and the other a merengue track.[9] Lyrically, the song deals with "love's ambition".[10]
Promotion and reception
Both versions of "Júrame" were released on their respective radio formats in 2000 by BMG US Latin.[11][12] A music video for the ballad version was filmed in one of the beaches in Florida.[13] Yolanda Rodriguez of the Associated Press called "Júrame" the "best in the set".[14]The Baltimore Sun's J.D. Considine felt that both "Júrame" and "Estar Contigo" are "perfectly suited to her sound and sensibility".[15] Writing for Newsday, Richard Torres cited the song, "Quien Te Hace el Amor", and "Voy a Enamorarte" as "such lovely love songs".[16]MTV editor Mikel Toombs preferred the merengue version of the track.[17] The San Antonio Express-News reviewer Ramiro Burr praised the "soulful" saxophone and commented that "Júrame" "showcases (Gisselle)'s vocal range and on-the-money phrasing".[10]Billboard critic Michael Paoletta was not impressed with either version of the song, stating they both "come across as tepid instead of steamy".[1]
^Júrame (Media notes). Gisselle. United States: BMG US Latin. 2000. 3124-2 RLDJ.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)