Rico Suave (song)
Encyclopedia
"Rico Suave" is a 1990 single
by Ecuador
ian rapper and singer Gerardo. It appeared on his 1991 album Mo' Ritmo
. The track peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on April 13, 1991, and reached #2 on the Hot Rap Singles chart a week earlier. In the song, the narrator tells of his luck with women and his lady-loving lifestyle.
The song ranks #100 on VH1
's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s and #9 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders. It also ranked at #37 on Blender
's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever", and, most recently in 2010, at #15 on AOL Radio
's list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, with Matthew Wilkening calling it, "The Latino Situation", and stating that "We did the math: Gerardo can't be [Jersey Shore
star Michael Sorrentino
's] father. But it would make sense, right?" The song samples "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose
" by James Brown
.
It contains a sample of the 1984 song "Chamo Candela" by Venezuelan Tropical Group Daiquiri .
The video's intro consists of the singer and two back-up dancers squatting in front of a skyscraper with their backs to the camera. Near the end of the video, Gerardo takes his jacket off. The bilingual version of the video also details Gerardo's encounter with his date's white parents, who appear less than thrilled with Gerardo. The video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards
for Best Male Video
and Best New Artist
.
recorded a parody entitled "Taco Grande
" about a man who visits a fictional Mexican
restaurant, featuring Cheech Marin
speaking rapid Spanish in the bridge. It was released on his 1992 album Off the Deep End
. This parody uses the English language more than Spanish.
Saturday Night Live
featured a skit showing "one-hit wonder
" artists of the past. Among them was Gerardo (portrayed by Horatio Sanz
) who addressed himself as "Rico Suave" as if it was his real name.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ian rapper and singer Gerardo. It appeared on his 1991 album Mo' Ritmo
Mo' Ritmo
Mo' Ritmo is the debut album of Latin rap artist Gerardo. It was released on January 29, 1991 on Interscope Records, the first such album to be released by the record company...
. The track peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on April 13, 1991, and reached #2 on the Hot Rap Singles chart a week earlier. In the song, the narrator tells of his luck with women and his lady-loving lifestyle.
The song ranks #100 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s and #9 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders. It also ranked at #37 on Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever", and, most recently in 2010, at #15 on AOL Radio
AOL Radio
AOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
's list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, with Matthew Wilkening calling it, "The Latino Situation", and stating that "We did the math: Gerardo can't be [Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...
star Michael Sorrentino
Michael Sorrentino
Michael Sorrentino , publicly known by his nickname The Situation, is an Italian American television personality. He has appeared on the MTV reality show Jersey Shore since its premiere in 2009.-Early life:...
's] father. But it would make sense, right?" The song samples "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose
Give It Up or Turnit a Loose
"Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" is a funk song recorded by James Brown. Released as a single in 1969, it was a #1 R&B hit and also made the top 20 pop singles chart...
" by James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
.
It contains a sample of the 1984 song "Chamo Candela" by Venezuelan Tropical Group Daiquiri .
Maxi-CD single
- "Rico Suave" "El Culito" (More Dick Plzz) - 3:29
- "Rico Suave" (Mo' Ritmo Dance Version) - 7:15
- "Rico Suave" (Spanish Version) - 4:17
12" single
- "Rico Suave" (Spanglish Version) - 4:09
- "Rico Suave" (The More English Edit) - 3:29
- "Rico Suave" (Mo' Ritmo Dance Version) - 7:15
- "Rico Suave" (Spanish Version) - 4:17
Remix single
- "Rico Suave" - 4:09
- "Rico Suave" (Spanish Version) - 4:17
- "Rico Suave" (Instrumental Energize Mix) - 4:09
Music video
The video for the single features Gerardo and several male back-up dancers dancing in a sexual way. Gerardo wears an open leather jacket, revealing his abs and pecs. The backup dancers wear white teeshirts under their oversized suit jackets.The video's intro consists of the singer and two back-up dancers squatting in front of a skyscraper with their backs to the camera. Near the end of the video, Gerardo takes his jacket off. The bilingual version of the video also details Gerardo's encounter with his date's white parents, who appear less than thrilled with Gerardo. The video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
for Best Male Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video is one of the four original general awards that have been handed out every year since the very first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. In 2007, though, the award was briefly renamed Male Artist of the Year, and it awarded the artist's whole body of work...
and Best New Artist
MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
The MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984...
.
Peak positions
| Chart (1991) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
2 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 89 |
Parodies
"Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
recorded a parody entitled "Taco Grande
Taco Grande
"Taco Grande" is a parody of Gerardo's song "Rico Suave" written by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is about the narrator's cravings for Mexican food and his visit to a fictional Mexican restaurant...
" about a man who visits a fictional Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
restaurant, featuring Cheech Marin
Cheech Marin
Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
speaking rapid Spanish in the bridge. It was released on his 1992 album Off the Deep End
Off the Deep End
Off the Deep End is the seventh studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1992. This album was the first album self-produced by Yankovic, after six albums with Rick Derringer. Recorded between June 1990 and January 1992, the album was a follow-up to the unsuccessful soundtrack to Yankovic's...
. This parody uses the English language more than Spanish.
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
featured a skit showing "one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
" artists of the past. Among them was Gerardo (portrayed by Horatio Sanz
Horatio Sanz
Horatio Sanz is a Chilean-born American actor and comedian best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998-2006. Sanz most recently starred alongside his former SNL castmate Chris Parnell in the Comedy Central series Big Lake.-Early life:Sanz, the youngest of three sons, was born in...
) who addressed himself as "Rico Suave" as if it was his real name.