El Niágara en Bicicleta
Encyclopedia
"El Niágara en Bicicleta" (Niagara Falls
by Bicycle, literally Niagara Falls on a Bicycle) is a song written and performed by Dominican
singer-songwriter
Juan Luis Guerra
and his backup vocal group, 4-40. The track was released as the third single released from his eighth studio album, Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Igual which Guerra produced by himself. The single became a success on the Top Latin Songs and Latin Tropical Airplay
chart where it peaked #2. It was the best-performing Latin Tropical Airplay song of 1999.
n idiom
used to describe overcoming a difficult situation. In the song, Guerra uses the term to describe the near impossibility of obtaining medical treatment in a developing country
. He has been known to compose political songs that reflect on the current situation in his country. In writing the song, Guerra stated that he was inspired by "a pressing problem with public health services in my country. The song was based on the experience on a hospital trip he took for his high bilirubin
and criticized the lack of equipment that was either broken or unavailable.
and Miami, Florida
over two days. As with the song, the music video takes place in a hospital after a person had an accident on a bicycle. Due to a lack of supplies however, the person is asked to wait for his turn in a long line of people.
's song Livin' La Vida Loca
.
called the song the highlight of disc describing it as "Guerra at his very best". In 2000, the song received a Latin Grammy Award
for "Best Tropical Song
" as well as a Latin Grammy Award nomination for "Song of the Year
". The song also received a Latin Billboard Music Award for "Tropical/Salsa Track of the Year".
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
by Bicycle, literally Niagara Falls on a Bicycle) is a song written and performed by Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer from the Dominican Republic who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards...
and his backup vocal group, 4-40. The track was released as the third single released from his eighth studio album, Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Igual which Guerra produced by himself. The single became a success on the Top Latin Songs and Latin Tropical Airplay
Latin Tropical Airplay
The Tropical Songs is a record chart published on Billboard magazine established in 1994 with the first number-one song to be published was "En Las Nubes" by Edgar Joel. It features Latin music information from tropical music such as salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato...
chart where it peaked #2. It was the best-performing Latin Tropical Airplay song of 1999.
Song Information
The phrase "[pasar] el Niágara en bicicleta" (to ride a bicycle across Niagara Falls) is a CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
used to describe overcoming a difficult situation. In the song, Guerra uses the term to describe the near impossibility of obtaining medical treatment in a developing country
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
. He has been known to compose political songs that reflect on the current situation in his country. In writing the song, Guerra stated that he was inspired by "a pressing problem with public health services in my country. The song was based on the experience on a hospital trip he took for his high bilirubin
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is the yellow breakdown product of normal heme catabolism. Heme is found in hemoglobin, a principal component of red blood cells. Bilirubin is excreted in bile and urine, and elevated levels may indicate certain diseases...
and criticized the lack of equipment that was either broken or unavailable.
Music video
The music video was directed by Venezuelan-American JC Barros and was filmed in Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
and Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
over two days. As with the song, the music video takes place in a hospital after a person had an accident on a bicycle. Due to a lack of supplies however, the person is asked to wait for his turn in a long line of people.
Chart performance
"El Niágara en Bicicleta" debuted at #39 where it climbed to #5 on the week of May 8, 1999. The song then peaked #2 on the Top Latin Songs on the week of May 29, 1999 for which was being held off by Ricky MartinRicky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
's song Livin' La Vida Loca
Livin' la Vida Loca
"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin's self-titled debut English album. The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999...
.
Charts
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Tropical Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
2 |
Reception
On the review of the album, Evan Gutierrez described "El Niágara en Bicicleta" as "irresistibly singable". David Wilson of Wilson & Alroy's called the song "an interesting merengue-rap". On an editorial review of the album, Fernando Gonzalez of Amazon.comAmazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
called the song the highlight of disc describing it as "Guerra at his very best". In 2000, the song received a Latin Grammy Award
Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...
for "Best Tropical Song
Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song
The Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally . The award is...
" as well as a Latin Grammy Award nomination for "Song of the Year
Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence, creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
". The song also received a Latin Billboard Music Award for "Tropical/Salsa Track of the Year".