"Cuba Libre" ("Free Cuba") is a 1998 song by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released as the third single from her eighth studio album, Gloria!. It is a dance-pop song which was included on the album in two versions: English and Spanish. The song is one of the three only Spanish-language tracks, alongside "Oye!" and "Corazón prohibido". It represents a homage to Estefan's homeland, Cuba.[1] "Cuba Libre" was written and composed by Gloria Estefan, along with Emilio Estefan Jr. and Kike Santander.[2]
Critical reception
Ben Wener from Beaver County Times noted the "bouncing Afro-Cuban flourishes" of the track in his review of gloria!.[3] The Daily Vault's Alfredo Narvaez wrote that "Cuba Libre" is about "the feelings many of the expatriates of that island feel – hoping for a day that they'll be able to return home."[4] Chuck Eddy from Entertainment Weekly named the song as "ominously undulating", adding that it "reach[es] for the skies like a missile-crisis fiesta thrown by Donna Summer."[5] Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle called it "an ode to Estefan's birthplace".[6] Victoria Segal from NME stated that the singer "sparkles with diva potential", "tenderly singing of her homeland".[7] Larry Flick from Vibe applauded the song, as well as "Oye!", by stating that they "have a ferocious new energy and a vocal spark that Estefan hasn't previously displayed."[8]
Track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Cuba Libre".
Europe CD Maxi single (666691 2)
- "Cuba Libre" (Spanish Version)
- "Cuba Libre" (English Version)
- "Bailando Megamix"
Charts
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
---|---|
Spain (AFYVE) | 3 |
References
- ^ Richie Unterberger; Samb Hicks; Jennifer Dempsey (1999). Music USA: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. p. 146. ISBN 9781858284217. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Gloria! - Gloria Estefan". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ "Estefan's new release a career turning point". Beaver County Times. 10 June 1998. p. 30. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ "Gloria Estefan - Gloria!". The Daily Vault. 2 March 1999. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Chuck, Eddy (5 June 1998). "Gloria! Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ Guerra, Joey (31 May 1998). "Playing the dance card /Estefan should swirl to new heights with `gloria!'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ Segal, Victoria. "GLORIA ESTEFAN – Gloria!". NME. Archived from the original on 2000-10-16. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ Flick, Larry (July 1998). "Gloria Estefan "Gloria!"". Vibe. Vol. 6, no. 5. Vibe Media Group. p. 186. ISSN 1070-4701.
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