Únicas
Encyclopedia
Únicas is the eleventh studio album by Spanish
duo Azúcar Moreno
, released on Sony International in 2002.
Únicas was the first Azúcar Moreno album since 1990's Bandido
not to be partly or entirely recorded in the United States, but in Spain and Italy, and it also features strings by the Prague
Philharmonic Orchestra. Únicas however saw the Salazar sisters continuing their longtime and successful collaboration with Spanish singer and composer Miguel Gallardo, this time also in the role as main producer, assisted by Bruno Zuchetti and Danilo Ballo in Milan
and Rome
. The album also featured further songwriting contributions from the team Pedro del Moral and David Ferrero, who previously had remixed several of their hits like "Amén", "Abracadabra", "Mamma Mia", "Olé" and "Mecachis!".
The lead single from the album was "Besame", also released as an extended dance mix, followed by a cover of The Champs
' 1958 rock hit "Tequila
" and the melancholy ballad "Volvería A Nacer". The album continued the duo's fusion of flamenco
, rumba
and contemporary urban dance music genres like disco
and R & B, the track "Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao" also incorporates influences from Brazil
and "Habbibi Te Quiero" (Habibi
meaning "darling" or "my beloved" in Arabic) again features rhythms and sounds from the Middle East
. The album closes with the high camp
anthem "Divina De La Muerte", with the verse explaining that there is nothing better to cheer up a dull day than going on a shopping spree, and the sisters namedropping their favourite designer brands; Dolce & Gabbana
, Chanel
, Prada
, Shiseido
, Gucci
, Louis Vuitton
, Galliano
, Dior
, Moschino
, Valentino, Escada
, Versace
, Cartier
, Cavalli
etc. The chorus goes on to proclaim; "Yo soy una chica con suerte - estoy divina de la muerte!" (Translated: "I'm a lucky girl - I'm deadly divine!".)
The Únicas album was only a moderate commercial success compared to Azúcar Moreno's previous efforts, selling some 100.000 copies in their native Spain. Unicas was also one of Sony Music Entertainment
's 2002 releases known to be affected by the company's copy protection
software, both the album cover and the CD itself clearly state No reproducibile en PC
/MAC
.
Únicas came to be Azúcar Moreno's final album with Miguel Gallardo, who over a period of some ten years had written, co-written, produced or co-produced around twenty-five songs for the duo, including some of their greatest hits. After a long struggle with cancer Gallardo died in 2005.
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...
duo Azúcar Moreno
Azúcar Moreno
Azúcar Moreno was a famous Spanish music duo who have sold more than 3 million albums and singles since 1985 domestically, and became famous in Europe, the United States and Latin America in the 1990s, with approximately 10 million albums sold worldwide.-Biography:Composed by sisters Antonia and...
, released on Sony International in 2002.
Únicas was the first Azúcar Moreno album since 1990's Bandido
Bandido (album)
Bandido is the fourth studio album by Spanish duo Azúcar Moreno, released on CBS-Epic in 1990. The album became the Salazár sisters' international breakthrough....
not to be partly or entirely recorded in the United States, but in Spain and Italy, and it also features strings by the Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
Philharmonic Orchestra. Únicas however saw the Salazar sisters continuing their longtime and successful collaboration with Spanish singer and composer Miguel Gallardo, this time also in the role as main producer, assisted by Bruno Zuchetti and Danilo Ballo in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The album also featured further songwriting contributions from the team Pedro del Moral and David Ferrero, who previously had remixed several of their hits like "Amén", "Abracadabra", "Mamma Mia", "Olé" and "Mecachis!".
The lead single from the album was "Besame", also released as an extended dance mix, followed by a cover of The Champs
The Champs
The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila". Formed by studio executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-Side for the Dave Burgess single, the intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-Side, "Train to...
' 1958 rock hit "Tequila
Tequila (song)
"Tequila" is a 1958 Latin-flavored rock and roll song recorded by the group, the Champs. The title of the song constitutes the entirety of the lyrics, and is spoken a total of three times during the course of the song. "Tequila" became a #1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts at the time of its...
" and the melancholy ballad "Volvería A Nacer". The album continued the duo's fusion of flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
, rumba
Rumba
Rumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no...
and contemporary urban dance music genres like disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
and R & B, the track "Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao" also incorporates influences from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and "Habbibi Te Quiero" (Habibi
Habibi
Habibi is an Arabic word whose literal meaning is my beloved and that originates from the adjective habib...
meaning "darling" or "my beloved" in Arabic) again features rhythms and sounds from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. The album closes with the high camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
anthem "Divina De La Muerte", with the verse explaining that there is nothing better to cheer up a dull day than going on a shopping spree, and the sisters namedropping their favourite designer brands; Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury industry fashion house. The company was started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. By 2005 their turnover was €597 million....
, Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
, Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
, Shiseido
Shiseido
is a major Japanese hair care and cosmetics producer. It is the oldest cosmetics company in the world and the fourth largest cosmetics company in the world.-History:...
, Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
, Galliano
John Galliano
John Charles Galliano CBE, RDI is a Gibraltan-born British fashion designer who was best known as head designer of French haute couture houses Givenchy and Christian Dior , and his own self titled fashion house.-Family:He was born in Gibraltar to a Gibraltarian father, Juan Galliano, and a...
, Dior
Dior
Dior can mean:* Christian Dior SA, a French clothing retailer* In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium:**Dior Eluchíl, a Half-elven of the First Age**Dior , a Steward of GondorDior is a surname, and may refer to:...
, Moschino
Moschino
Moschino is an Italian fashion design house and manufacturer of women's, men's and children's fashion.-History:The brand was originally created in 1983 by the late Franco Moschino...
, Valentino, Escada
Escada
Escada is an international luxury fashion group in women's designer clothing. The company has a presence in about 60 different countries. Its main sales markets are North America, western and eastern Europe and Asia. It filed bankruptcy in August 2009, and was acquired by Megha Mittal, in November...
, Versace
Versace
Gianni Versace S.p.A. , usually referred to as Versace, is an Italian fashion label founded by Gianni Versace in 1978.The first Versace boutique was opened in Milan's Via della Spiga in 1978, and its popularity was immediate. Today, Versace is one of the world's leading international fashion houses...
, Cartier
Cartier SA
Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...
, Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli
Roberto Cavalli is an Italian fashion designer from Florence.-Biography:Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Tuscany. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a member of the Macchiaioli Movement, whose work is exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery. Cavalli decided to enroll at the local Art Institute,...
etc. The chorus goes on to proclaim; "Yo soy una chica con suerte - estoy divina de la muerte!" (Translated: "I'm a lucky girl - I'm deadly divine!".)
The Únicas album was only a moderate commercial success compared to Azúcar Moreno's previous efforts, selling some 100.000 copies in their native Spain. Unicas was also one of Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
's 2002 releases known to be affected by the company's copy protection
Copy Control
Copy Control was the generic name of a copy prevention system, used from 2001 until 2006 on several digital audio disc releases by EMI Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment in several regions...
software, both the album cover and the CD itself clearly state No reproducibile en PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
/MAC
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
.
Únicas came to be Azúcar Moreno's final album with Miguel Gallardo, who over a period of some ten years had written, co-written, produced or co-produced around twenty-five songs for the duo, including some of their greatest hits. After a long struggle with cancer Gallardo died in 2005.
Track listing
Sources: Rateyourmusic, Discogs, AllmusicPersonnel
- Azùcar Moreno - lead vocals, backing vocals
- Cinzia Astolfi - backing vocals
- Angela Bautista - backing vocals
- Triana Bautista - backing vocals
- Emilio "Webo" Cuervo - backing vocals
- Esmeralda Grao - backing vocals
- Araceli Lavado - backing vocals
- Miguel Morant - backing vocals
- Danilo Ballo - 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...
, programming - Luis Cabañas - programming
- Jesús Catalá - percussion
- Miguel Angel Collado - keyboards, programming, backing vocals
- Danny Costa - percussion, palmas
- Pedro del Moral - programming
- David Ferrero - programming
- Enzo Filippone - drums
- Pedro J. González - Spanish 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...
- José Agustín Guereñu - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Manuel Machado - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, soloist - Segundo Mijares - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, soloist - Juan Miguel Mogica - programming
- William Paredes - tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- David Perez - accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
- Bruno Zuchetti - keyboards, programming
- Ludovico Vagnone - acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, Spanish guitar, backing vocals, recording - The PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
Philharmonic Orchestra - orchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus... - Mario Klemens - orchestral conductor
- Richter Arnolt - violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, orchestra - Pok Bahuslav - violin, orchestra
- Kristyna Belohlavkova - violin, orchestra
- Marek Elznic - violin, orchestra
- Rammy Emanuelle - violin, orchestra
- Silar Franchíl - violin, orchestra
- Froneh Frant - violin, orchestra
- Trykar Marek - violin, orchestra
- Vladyka Milan - violin, orchestra
- Mrázek Ivo - violin, orchestra
- Hron Jakub - violin, orchestra
- Kóhle Jan - violin, orchestra
- Pavicek Jeromin - violin, orchestra
- Holenà Jirí - violin, orchestra
- Zajíe Jiri - violin, orchestra
- Millite Kaudersova - violin, orchestra
- Mchutil Josef - violin, orchestra
- Bohumil Kotmel - violin, orchestra
- Forbelská Ludmila - violin, orchestra
- Mracková Ludmila - violin, orchestra
- Srámek Morek - violin, orchestra
- Branislav Ondrèv - violin, orchestra
- Ysech Pavel - violin, orchestra
- Klas Petr - violin, orchestra
- Josef Pokluda - violin, orchestra
- Sisler Radim - violin, orchestra
- Tatána Richterová - violin, orchestra
- Dana Sislerová - violin, orchestra
- Lauda Stepón - violin, orchestra
- Barinka Tomas - violin, orchestra
- Richard Valasek - violin, orchestra
- Zajacik Valdimir - violin, orchestra
- Dudek Van - violin, orchestra
- Köhler Van - violin, orchestra
- Jkosa Virí - violin, orchestra
- Vlastimil Zeman - violin, orchestra
Production
- Miguel Gallardo - record producerRecord 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...
, musical director, realization - Bruno Zuchetti - musical arranger, producer, musical director, realization, recording
- Danilo Ballo - musical arranger, producer, musical director, realization, recording
- Miguel Angel Collado - musical arranger, musical director
- Emanuele Ruffinengo - production coordination, musical director, realization
- Ludovico Vagnone - recording
- José Peña Engineer - digital editing, mixing
- Riccardo Dacunto - recording
- Fernando Chávez - recording
- Sabino Cannone - mixing, sound design
- Mark Bishop - sound design
- Jose Vinader - engineer
- Francisco Gude - engineer
- Marcos Liviano - assistant
- Michael Hradisky - assistant
- Antonio Baglio - mastering engineer
- Carlos Martin - graphic design, art direction
- Juanjo Manez - stylist
- Adolfo Cabiedes - interpretation
- Joan Alsina - photography
- Recorded at Zodiak Studios and Altavox Studios (MilanMilanMilan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
), Trendy Studios (RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
), Ludus Studios & Trak Studios (MadridMadridMadrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
). Strings recorded at Smecky Studios (PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
).