Guapa
Encyclopedia
Guapa is the fourth studio album released on April 25, 2006, by Spanish
Pop rock
band La Oreja de Van Gogh
. On December 5, 2006, Más guapa was released exclusively in Spain and Mexico. Two months later, on February 13, 2007, the album was also released in Chile. The album includes a second disc of previously unreleased material from the Guapa sessions, as well as from recording sessions of previous albums. The album won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Album By a Duo or Group. Guapa is the band's last album with Amaia Montero
as lead singer.
The album's composition began in February of 2005. By November of that year, there were already 18 tracks that would probably be in the final album. It was recorded in France, in Du Manoir from December second through 23rd, 2005. In January, 2006, they began re-recording in Madrid and reporters from TV channel Cuatro
were present throughout to later publish a report regarding the album. In spite of the group's desire that a report not be made, a DVD was included in certain versions of Guapa.
The album was produced with Nigel Walker. Its publication coincides with the 10th anniversary of the group's existence. Guapa contains thirteen songs that mix the band's typical pop with reggae
, ranchera
, a bit of bossa nova
, some sounds from the 60's and 70's, a few techno arrangements and recollections of American music. In this CD the artistic maturity of the group becomes apparent in their lyrics as well as their melodies with songs like Noche (Night), Muñeca de trapo, (Rag Doll), and Perdida (Lost).
It was the most anticipated album of 2006 in Spain. Originally, the release was set for March 28, 2006; however, technical problems with a machine in Du Manoir made the premiere be on April 25, 2006. When Muñeca de Trapo was released as a first single in Los 40, it was quite a success.
Two days before its official premiere, the telephone company Movistar offered a Sony Ericson phone with the 13 tracks from the album and the video of the first single preloaded in the phone, causing the album to already be pirated before its official release.
Regardless of the information above, by December 2006, the album already had seven Platinum CDs, making it one of the most old albums in Spain during that year. The album won the Latin Grammy of 2006 as best pop album by a group or duo. In 2007 versions in Italian of Dulce Locura (Sweet Insanity) and Muñeca de Trapo were recorded. These were Dolce Follia and Bambola di Pezza, included in the Italian version of Guapa which was not successful because it was not advertised due to Amaia Montero
's unexpected departure. Indeed, her leaving the group has made the album one of the least advertised and memorable from the whole group.
As soon as the album was out in the market, the band began its advertisement in North America as well as South America, staying in almost every Spanish-speaking country. Some of the most important events of this tour include the one in Mexico City, Luna Park in Buenos Aires
, and perhaps band's most prominent one: the one in Santiago, Chile. This tour through the America's made the album sell about a million copies there, making themselves enter countries they had not entered before.
This great success in America along with the sales in Spain which went beyond 560,000 make Guapa the third most sold album in the history of La oreja de Van Gogh, without about 1,500,000 copies sold.
By the end of the stage of Guapa, the band had over 6,000,000 CD's sold in total all around the world. The album remained for over 30 weeks in the Top 10 CD's sold in Spain, 10 of which, although not consecutive, made it #1.
and Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida
.http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/07/03/cultura/1057196032.html When asked what inspired the minimalism of Guapa during an online chat session hosted by elmundo.es
, the band revealed that the title is, in fact, an abbreviation of their longest album title yet:
Translation:
Guapa is the story of who doesn't give up in the wonderful journey of finding oneself, of who accepts to be years older and to continue to have fears, of who fills the pillow with insecurities, but upon awakening always makes the bed, of who smiles truthfully and like before: without realizing so, of who is able to reach a compromise between what she loves and what she wants, of who makes of time a quiet ally who, every morning before the mirror of the soul, will make her feel every time a bit prettier.
The title is a spiritual affirmation
printed on the album's back cover.http://www.elmundo.es/encuentros/invitados/2006/09/2138/index.html
A new edition of Guapa was released under the title Más Guapa or Prettier. Besides including a CD with all the songs in Guapa, this edition also includes another CD with unpublished songs that were not included in previous albums. This includes songs that were excluded from Guapa one of which (En mi lado del sofá) (On My Side of the Sofa) became the only advertised single of this album.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band La Oreja de Van Gogh
La Oreja de Van Gogh
La Oreja de Van Gogh is a Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated Spanish pop band from Donostia-San Sebastian. The name of the band refers to the famous post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh who cut off the lobe of his own ear...
. On December 5, 2006, Más guapa was released exclusively in Spain and Mexico. Two months later, on February 13, 2007, the album was also released in Chile. The album includes a second disc of previously unreleased material from the Guapa sessions, as well as from recording sessions of previous albums. The album won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Album By a Duo or Group. Guapa is the band's last album with Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero Saldías , also known as the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh between 1996 and 2007, is a singer/songwriter from Basque Country, Spain. Including her work with the band, Montero has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.-Background:Amaia Montero is the daughter of José...
as lead singer.
The album's composition began in February of 2005. By November of that year, there were already 18 tracks that would probably be in the final album. It was recorded in France, in Du Manoir from December second through 23rd, 2005. In January, 2006, they began re-recording in Madrid and reporters from TV channel Cuatro
Cuatro
Cuatro is Spanish for the number four. It may also refer to:* Cuatro , Name for two distinct Latin American instruments one from Puerto Rico and the other from Venezuela....
were present throughout to later publish a report regarding the album. In spite of the group's desire that a report not be made, a DVD was included in certain versions of Guapa.
The album was produced with Nigel Walker. Its publication coincides with the 10th anniversary of the group's existence. Guapa contains thirteen songs that mix the band's typical pop with reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, ranchera
Ranchera
Ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
, a bit of bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
, some sounds from the 60's and 70's, a few techno arrangements and recollections of American music. In this CD the artistic maturity of the group becomes apparent in their lyrics as well as their melodies with songs like Noche (Night), Muñeca de trapo, (Rag Doll), and Perdida (Lost).
It was the most anticipated album of 2006 in Spain. Originally, the release was set for March 28, 2006; however, technical problems with a machine in Du Manoir made the premiere be on April 25, 2006. When Muñeca de Trapo was released as a first single in Los 40, it was quite a success.
Two days before its official premiere, the telephone company Movistar offered a Sony Ericson phone with the 13 tracks from the album and the video of the first single preloaded in the phone, causing the album to already be pirated before its official release.
Regardless of the information above, by December 2006, the album already had seven Platinum CDs, making it one of the most old albums in Spain during that year. The album won the Latin Grammy of 2006 as best pop album by a group or duo. In 2007 versions in Italian of Dulce Locura (Sweet Insanity) and Muñeca de Trapo were recorded. These were Dolce Follia and Bambola di Pezza, included in the Italian version of Guapa which was not successful because it was not advertised due to Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero
Amaia Montero Saldías , also known as the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh between 1996 and 2007, is a singer/songwriter from Basque Country, Spain. Including her work with the band, Montero has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.-Background:Amaia Montero is the daughter of José...
's unexpected departure. Indeed, her leaving the group has made the album one of the least advertised and memorable from the whole group.
As soon as the album was out in the market, the band began its advertisement in North America as well as South America, staying in almost every Spanish-speaking country. Some of the most important events of this tour include the one in Mexico City, Luna Park in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, and perhaps band's most prominent one: the one in Santiago, Chile. This tour through the America's made the album sell about a million copies there, making themselves enter countries they had not entered before.
This great success in America along with the sales in Spain which went beyond 560,000 make Guapa the third most sold album in the history of La oreja de Van Gogh, without about 1,500,000 copies sold.
By the end of the stage of Guapa, the band had over 6,000,000 CD's sold in total all around the world. The album remained for over 30 weeks in the Top 10 CD's sold in Spain, 10 of which, although not consecutive, made it #1.
Album title
For past albums, La Oreja de Van Gogh have presented esoteric and lengthy titles such as El viaje de CopperpotEl Viaje De Copperpot
El viaje de Copperpot is Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh's second studio album, issued by Sony Music Entertainment on September 11, 2000. It was the band's first album to feature a bonus track....
and Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida
Lo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías La Dormida
Lo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida is the third studio album of the Spanish pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh issued by Sony Music Entertainment in April 2003. On May 10, 2004, Sony Music issued a special edition of Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida for the French market,...
.http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/07/03/cultura/1057196032.html When asked what inspired the minimalism of Guapa during an online chat session hosted by elmundo.es
El Mundo (Spain)
El Mundo is the second largest printed and the largest digital daily newspaper in Spain and one of the newspapers of record in that country, with a daily circulation topping 300,000 readers for the printed edition and 24 million unique web visitors per month for the...
, the band revealed that the title is, in fact, an abbreviation of their longest album title yet:
- Guapa es la historia de quien no se da por vencido en el maravilloso viaje de encontrarse a uno mismo, de quien acepta cumplir años y seguir teniendo miedos, de quien llena la almohada de inseguridades pero al levantarse siempre hace la cama, de quien sonríe de verdad y como antes: sin darse cuenta, de quien consigue que lo que quiere y lo que le apetece hagan las paces, de quien hace del tiempo un aliado sigiloso que, cada mañana y frente al espejo del alma, le hará sentirse cada vez un poco más guapa.
Translation:
Guapa is the story of who doesn't give up in the wonderful journey of finding oneself, of who accepts to be years older and to continue to have fears, of who fills the pillow with insecurities, but upon awakening always makes the bed, of who smiles truthfully and like before: without realizing so, of who is able to reach a compromise between what she loves and what she wants, of who makes of time a quiet ally who, every morning before the mirror of the soul, will make her feel every time a bit prettier.
The title is a spiritual affirmation
Affirmations (New Age)
Affirmations in New Age and New Thought terminology refers primarily to the practice of positive thinking—fostering a belief that "a positive mental attitude supported by affirmations will achieve success in anything." More specifically an affirmation is a carefully formatted statement that should...
printed on the album's back cover.http://www.elmundo.es/encuentros/invitados/2006/09/2138/index.html
Track listing
Más guapa
----A new edition of Guapa was released under the title Más Guapa or Prettier. Besides including a CD with all the songs in Guapa, this edition also includes another CD with unpublished songs that were not included in previous albums. This includes songs that were excluded from Guapa one of which (En mi lado del sofá) (On My Side of the Sofa) became the only advertised single of this album.
Disc 2
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | "En mi lado del sofá" (On my side of the sofa) • Music: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín • Lyric: Pablo Benegas |
3:30 |
| 02. | "V.O.S." DEMO VERSION (V.O.S.) • Music & lyric: Xabi San Martín |
3:18 |
| 03. | "Nuestro mundo" (Our world) • Music: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín • Lyric: Pablo Benegas |
3:30 |
| 04. | "Cuántos cuentos cuento" DEMO VERSION (How many tales I tell) • Music & lyric: Xabi San Martín |
3:27 |
| 05. | "Amores Dormidos Amores Dormidos "Amores Dormidos" was the second single from Edurne's debut album Edurne. It was released in Spain only, and it was written by La Oreja de Van Gogh. The song was the original soundtrack for a Herbal Essences shampoo advert in Spain, where Edurne appeared in.This song is also found on the album Más... " (Asleep Loves) • Music: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín • Lyric: Pablo Benegas |
3:47 |
| 06. | "Canción desesperada" (Desperate song) • Music: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín • Lyric: Pablo Benegas |
3:34 |
| 07. | "Coronel" (Colonel) • Music & lyric: Xabi San Martín |
3:59 |
| 08. | "La paz de tus ojos" DEMO VERSION (The peace of your eyes) • Music: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín • Lyric: Pablo Benegas |
4:02 |
| 09. | "Nube" (Cloud) • Music: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín • Lyric: Pablo Benegas |
3:43 |
| 10. | "Despacio" (Slow) • Music: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín • Lyric: Pablo Benegas |
3:59 |
| 11. | "Déjate llevar" (Get Carried Away) • Music & lyric: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín, Pablo Benegas, Álvaro Fuentes, Haritz Garde |
3:31 |
| 12. | "Aquella ingrata" (That ungrateful girl) • Music & lyric: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín, Pablo Benegas, Álvaro Fuentes, Haritz Garde |
3:05 |
| 13. | "El árbol" (The tree) • Music & lyric: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín, Pablo Benegas, Álvaro Fuentes, Haritz Garde |
3:39 |
| 14. | "Escalera a la luna" (Ladder to the moon) • Music & lyric: Amaia Montero, Xabi San Martín, Pablo Benegas, Álvaro Fuentes, Haritz Garde |
5:43 |
Performing
- La Oreja de Van GoghLa Oreja de Van GoghLa Oreja de Van Gogh is a Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated Spanish pop band from Donostia-San Sebastian. The name of the band refers to the famous post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh who cut off the lobe of his own ear...
- Amaia MonteroAmaia MonteroAmaia Montero Saldías , also known as the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh between 1996 and 2007, is a singer/songwriter from Basque Country, Spain. Including her work with the band, Montero has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.-Background:Amaia Montero is the daughter of José...
– vocals, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Xabi San Martín – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, backing vocals - Pablo Benegas – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Álvaro Fuentes – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Haritz Garde – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Amaia Montero
Technical
- La Oreja de Van Gogh – record productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, audio mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Nigel Walker – record production, audio mixing
- Leon Zervos – audio masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Bori Alarcón – technical production
- Rudolf Hernández – technical production
- Carlos Hernández – technical production
- B. Oberhagemann – record production
- Bernard Cocoignac – technical production
- Marie Claire – technical production
- Margarita Pérez – technical production
- Paco Pérez – technical production
Design
- Rafa Sañudo – graphic designGraphic designGraphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
- Montse Velando – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Ray – illustrations
Album
| Year | Chart | |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Spain Top 100 Albums | #1 |
| 2006 | U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
#114 |
| 2006 | U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums Billboard Top Latin Albums Latin Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all Billboard album charts, the chart is based on sales... |
#5 |
| 2006 | Mexico | #1 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | US Latin | ||
| 2006 | "Muñeca de trapo Muñeca de Trapo "Muñeca de trapo" is the first single from the fourth studio album of La Oreja de Van Gogh, Guapa. The song is known for its heavy sound, strong beat, and surging guitars... " |
1 | 12 |
| 2006 | "Dulce locura Dulce Locura "Dulce Locura" , at first named Luna is the second single from the album Guapa by the Spanish pop/rock group La Oreja de Van Gogh... " |
1 | 37 |
| 2006 | "Perdida" | 32 | - |
| 2006 | "En mi lado del sofá" | 1 | |
| 2007 | |||
| Number one hits | 3 | 0 | |
| Top ten hits | 3 | 0 | |