A Son de Guerra (English: To The Beat Of War), sometimes referred to as Asondeguerra, is the 11th studio album recorded by Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, It was released by Capitol Latin on June 8, 2010 (see 2010 in music). The album contains 11 tracks, and its musical structure and production are based on Merengue, Bachata, Son, Salsa, experimenting and incorporating elements of jazz, blues, funk, cumbia, rock, reggae, rap, and mambo. Lyrical themes on the album include protest against political corruption, immigration, love and romance. Featured appearances include Juanes and Chris Botti. For many fans and critics alike, it's his album with the most social content and strong social criticism since his 1992's Areito.
| A Son de Guerra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 8, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2009–2010 | |||
| Studio | JLG Studio (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) Ocean Way Recording Studio City Sound (Hollywood, California) | |||
| Genre | Merengue · bachata · tropical music | |||
| Length | 36:53 | |||
| Label | Capitol Latin | |||
| Producer | Juan Luis Guerra | |||
| Juan Luis Guerra chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from A Son de Guerra | ||||
A Son de Guerra met with positive reviews by critics. It won three awards including Album of the Year on November 11, 2010, at the 11th Annual Latin Grammy Awards and was nominated Best Tropical Latin Album at 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. The album was support by six official singles: Bachata en Fukuoka which won Best Tropical Song at the 11th Latin Grammy Awards, Mi Bendicion, La Guagua, La Calle, Lola`s Bambo and Apaga y Vamonos.
A Son de Guerra debuted at number one on the Billboard Tropical Albums. It remained the top-selling album on the chart for 9 weeks and was certified platinum (Latin field) in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It top the charts in Spain and Uruguay and reached the top 10 in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. It was certified gold and platinum in Mexico and Venezuela. To promote the album, Guerra embarked on the A Son de Guerra World Tour. In 2013, Guerra released A Son de Guerra Tour, recorded live during the tour stop in Santo Domingo the previous year.
Background and production
editBy the end of 2009, Guerra concluded his Travesia Tour which he performed in countries such as Japan for the first time. At the end of the tour, the artist stated that he wanted to do something different in comparison to his other works. By 2010, Juan Luis Guerra had sold over 20 million copies worldwide.[4][5] On March 22, 2010, Guerra released the lead single "Bachata en Fukuoka" and he explained that he got the inspiration of the lyrics during his stop of his previous in the city of the same name in Japan.[6][7]
On May 25, 2010, Guerra revealed to the press "Perhaps it is the most varied album in terms of musical genres, in others I have made two or three fusions, in this one I have made a deeper mix". Also, it explained first time he mixed seven music genres: bachata, merengue, mambo, jazz, cumbia, son and rock and also that he returned to do social content on his music.[8]
Musical style, writing and composition
editThe album contains 11 tracks in total. The opening track "No aparecen" is a romantic merengue. "La Guagua" is a son with elements of cumbia and guracha with a strong with a political message and is a reflection about the poverty and political corruption in Latin America.[9] Mi bendicion is a bachata song that talks about the blessing of been love. "La Calle" feat Juanes, is a rock song with also contains social criticism. "Bachata en Fukuoka" is a romantic bachata song. "Apaga y Vamonos" is a merengue song that contains social criticism and reflects about how the poverty, corruption and poor conditions had stayed the same.[8] "Son del Rey" is Christian song with an infectious Cuban son rhythm. Cayo Arena is a merengue with strong influences of jazz and blues.[10][11]
"Arregla Los Papeles" is an intricate salsa that talks about immigration. "Lola`s Mambo" is a salsa song with elements of mambo. Caribbean Blues is a Cuban son and is his first English language song since "Medicine for my soul" on his 10th studio album La Llave la de mi corazon.[12]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [13] |
A Son de Guerra was one of the most anticipated Latin albums for the summer of 2010.[14] The album met with positive reviews. Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic gave the album a positive review, and while he felt that "there's nothing extravagant here", he stated that "every song is interesting from one standpoint or another."[13]
At the 11th Latin Grammy Awards the album won three awards: Best Tropical Song, Best Contemporary Tropical Album and Album of the Year for his “A Son de Guerra.[15] At the 2011 Premio Lo Nuestro, he was the most nominated artist with six.[16] Eventually he won best merengue artist.[17] At the 27th Annual Soberano Awards, previously Casandra awards, Guerra won two awards including album of the year for A Son de Guerra.[18] The album received a nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album at 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Commercial performance
editIn the United States, A son de Guerra debuted at number two on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and number one Billboard Tropical Albums on the week of 26 June 2010. Also, It debut at 52 on US Billboard 200. It was certified platinum (latin field) by the RIAA for shipping 100,000 copies in the United States.[19] In Mexico, the album peaked a number six and was certified gold for selling over 30,000 copies.[20]
In Chile, it peaked at number 7 and number 6 in Colombia at albums retail charts. In Peru, it peaked at number 9 at the albums retail albums charts. In Spain, A son de Guerra debuted at number one on the albums charts.[21] In Uruguay, the album debuted at number one at the album monthly charts. In Ecuador, the album reached number 5 on the retail charts and sold over 5,000 copies. In Venezuela, it reached number 2 at the albums retail charts and was certified platinum.[citation needed]
Credits and personnel
edit- Adam Ayan – mastering
- Patricio Bonilla – trombone
- David Channing – engineer
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
- Juan De La Cruz – bongos, conga, maracas, Timbals, guiro
- Abednego DeLos Santos – electric bass
- Jose Fléte – trombone
- Rafael "Rafo" German – guira
- Juan Luis Guerra – producer, arrangements
- Jeremías King – electric bass
- Rafael Lazzaro – engineer
- Allan Leschhorn – engineer
- Luis Mansilla – engineer
- Adalgisa Pantaleon – chorus
- Apolinar Peralta – trombone
- Juan Rizek – Chorus
- Frank Rodriguez – assistant engineer
- Janina Rosado – piano, producer, engineer, chorus, synth
- Allen Sides – engineer
- Ruben Toribio – electric bass
- Carlos Torres – trombone
- David Torres – mixing assistant
- Ronnie Torres – engineer, mixing, mastering supervisor
- Roger Zayas – chorus
Tracklist
editAll tracks are written by Juan Luis Guerra
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Aparecen" | 3:16 |
| 2. | "La Guagua" | 3:23 |
| 3. | "Mi Bendición" | 3:08 |
| 4. | "La Calle (featuring Juanes)" | 3:34 |
| 5. | "Bachata en Fukuoka" | 3:11 |
| 6. | "Apaga y Vámonos" | 3:15 |
| 7. | "Son al Rey" | 3:32 |
| 8. | "Cayo Arena" | 3:24 |
| 9. | "Arregla los Papeles" | 3:33 |
| 10. | "Lola's Mambo (featuring Chris Botti)" | 3:00 |
| 11. | "Caribbean Blues" | 3:35 |
Chart performance
edit| Chart (2010-2011) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Chilean Albums Chart[22] | 7 |
| Colombian Albums Chart[23] | 3 |
| Ecuadorian Albums (Musicalisimo)[24] | 5 |
| Mexican Albums Chart[25] | 6 |
| Mexican International Chart Albums[20] | 11 |
| Spanish Albums Chart[21] | 1 |
| Peruan Albums Chart[26] | 9 |
| US Billboard 200[27] | 52 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums[27] | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Latin Tropical Albums[27] | 1 |
| Uruguayan Albums (CUD)[28] | 1 |
| Venezuelan Albums (Recordland)[29] | 2 |
Sales and certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Ecuador | — | 5,000[30] |
| Mexico (AMPROFON)[31] | Gold | 30,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[32] | Platinum (Latin) | 100,000^ |
| Venezuela[33] | Platinum | |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Juan Luis Guerra estrena la canción Mi bendición como primer single de su nuevo álbum A son de Guerra, que se publica el 8 de junio emimusic.es Retrieved August-30-2010.
- ^ Estrena Juan Luis video dirigido por su hijo chetumail.com Retrieved August-30-2010.
- ^ Estrena Juan Luis Guerra su nuevo sencillo "La Calle" elfinanciero.com.mx Retrieved September-03-2010.
- ^ "Juan Luis Guerra junto a 4.40 en nuevo disco". El Universo (in Spanish). June 7, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Juan Luis Guerra cumple 53 años con nuevo disco Asondeguerra". El Informador :: Noticias de Jalisco, México, Deportes & Entretenimiento (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Juan Luis Guerra regresa con nueva música". www.eluniversal.com.co (in European Spanish). March 22, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Juan Luis Guerra takes bachata around the world". Reuters. May 21, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "Vuelve Juan Luis Guerra a los temas sociales con su CD "AsondeGuerra"". Cubadebate. May 25, 2010.
- ^ "Entrevista con Juan Luis Guerra". El País (in Spanish). June 23, 2010. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ ivetteromero (June 16, 2010). "New Album: Juan Luis Guerra's "A son de Guerra"". Repeating Islands. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Juan Luis Guerra fusiona estilos en su disco "A son de Guerra": JUAN LUIS GUERRA (Entrevista)". EFE News Services, Inc. June 14, 2010. 375371715 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Juan Luis Guerra explora nuevos sones". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ a b A Son de Guerra – Review Allmusic
- ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala; Ben-Yehuda, Ayala (May 25, 2010). "Juan Luis Guerra: Summer Album Preview 2010". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (November 12, 2010). "Latin Grammys Find Their Sweet Side". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Premio Lo Nuestro abrió las urnas". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Premios Lo Nuestro". Entertainment Affair. February 18, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ Diario, Listin (March 22, 2011). "Juan Luis y Zacarias, máximos ganadores del Casandra hasta el momento". listindiario.com (in Spanish). Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "LOS MÁS VENDIDOS" (PDF). www.webcitation.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "JUAN LUIS GUERRA Y 4.40 – A SON DE GUERRA (ALBUM)". PROMUSICAE.
- ^ "Feria Mix". Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Latin America Charts". UKMIX Forums. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Musicalisimo :: Ecuador". December 31, 2010. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "Top 100". February 3, 2014. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Phantom Music Store - Compras online de CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray, Vinilos". September 3, 2011. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Son de Guerra". Billboard.
- ^ ":: Cámara Uruguaya del Disco". August 1, 2010. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ "|| RecordLand ||". October 27, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "Los Latin Grammy tienen 3 favoritos". El Comercio.
- ^ Panamá, GESE-La Estrella de. "Juan Luis Guerra 'Un alto a la violencia'". La Estrella de Panamá.
- ^ "American album certifications – Juan Luis Guerra – ASONDEGUERRA". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Yo Soy Venezolano Juan luis guerra gana disco de platino en Venezuela - Yo Soy Venezolano". www.yosoyvenezolano.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2022.