Let's Get Loud

"Let's Get Loud"
Single by Jennifer Lopez
from the album On the 6
B-side	"Feelin' So Good"
Released	June 9, 2000 (2000-06-09)
Format	CD single, maxi single, 12" vinyl
Recorded	1999;[1] Crescent Moon Studios (Miami, Florida)
Genre	Salsa[2]
Length	3:58
Label	Columbia, Work
Writer(s)	Gloria Estefan, Kike Santander
Producer(s)	Emilio Estefan, Jr., Kike Santander
Jennifer Lopez singles chronology
"Feelin' So Good" (2000) "Let's Get Loud" (2000) "Love Don't Cost a Thing" (2000)

"Let's Get Loud" is a song recorded by American entertainer Jennifer Lopez for her debut studio album On the 6 (1999). Originally written by the song's co-writer Gloria Estefan for herself, she felt as if the song was too similar to her previous material and passed it onto Lopez. Estefan, who co-wrote the song alongside Kike Santander, stated that she would have "more fun with it" and would put "a new spin" on it. "Let's Get Loud" is often regarded as Lopez's signature song.^[3]

Since its release, "Let's Get Loud" charted on several charts around the world, reaching the top ten on five European countries. Despite not being released in the United States, it also charted on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs. "Let's Get Loud" received positive critical response and at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001, Lopez earned her second consecutive nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording with the song. An accompanying music video was directed by Jeffrey Doe and filmed live at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Background

From a young age, Lopez's Puerto Rican parents stressed the importance of work ethic and being able to speak English. They encouraged their three daughters to put on performances at home, singing and dancing in front of each other and their friends so that they would stay "out of trouble".^[4] While attending her final year of high school, Lopez learned about a film casting that was seeking several teenage girls for small roles. She auditioned and was cast in My Little Girl (1986), an low-budget film co-written and directed by Connie Kaiserman.^[5] After she finished filming her role in the film, Lopez knew that she wanted to become a "famous movie star". She told her parents this, but they ensisted that it was a "really stupid" idea and that "no Latinos did that". Their disagreements led Lopez to move out of their family home and into an apartment in Manhattan. During this period, Lopez performed in regional productions of several musicals, before being hired for the chorus in a musical that toured Europe for five months. She was unhappy with the role, as she was the only member of the chorus not to have a solo. From there, she got a job on the show Synchronicity in Japan, where she acted as a dancer, singer and a choreographer. Lopez then gained her first regular high-profile job as a Fly Girl dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. She moved to Los Angeles with then-boyfriend David Cruz to film the series and remained a regular cast member until 1993 when she decided to pursue an acting career.^[6]

After a series of co-starring film roles, Lopez received her big break came in 1996, when she was cast to play the title role in Selena, a biopic of the late American singer-songwriter Selena.^[7] In the film, Selena's real voice is used for the musical sequences in Selena, but Lopez would nonetheless sing the lyrics during the scenes instead of lip syncing.^[8] When asked by an interview if Selena inspired her to launch a music career, Lopez stated: "I really, really became inspired, because I started my career in musical theater on stage. So doing the movie just reminded me of how much I missed singing, dancing, and the like..." After filming Selena, Lopez was "really feeling [her] Latin roots" and cut a demo in Spanish.^[9] Lopez's manager then sent the song, entitled "Vivir Sin Ti", to Sony Music Entertainment's Work Records, who showed an interest in signing Lopez. Tommy Mottola, the head of the label suggested to her that she sing in English instead.^[10] She complied and began recording her debut studio album On the 6. During production of the On the 6, Lopez was aware of the fact that she received her recording contract on the premise of her looks and having an already established name in the entertainment industry, and wanted to prove that she had musical talent.^[11] Prior to the debut of her music, critics wondered why she would take the risk of launching a music career. It was noted that: "If the album was a flop, not only would it embarrass Lopez, but it might even damage her career."^[12]

Music and lyrics

	"Let's Get Loud" (1999) A twenty-four second sample of "Let's Get Loud", a salsa song originally written for Gloria Estefan. Estefan felt as if the song was too similar to her previous material and passed the song to Lopez.
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"Let's Get Loud" was originally written for Gloria Estefan, but she felt as if the song was too similar to her previous recordings. She then passed the song to Lopez, stating that she would have "more fun with it" and would put "a new spin" on it.^[3] "Let's Get Loud" was written by Estefan and Kike Santander, who also arranged and co-produced the song alongside Emilio Estefan Jr.. Javier Garza and Marcelo Anez recorded Lopez's vocals for the song at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida. Pablo Flores mixed the song at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.^[13]

Reception

Commercial performance

"Let's Get Loud" debuted on the Australian Singles chart at number 49 the week ending August 20, 2000.^[14] On the week ending November 12, 2000, the song reached its peak at number nine and stayed there for five consecutive weeks.^[14] In Austria, the song debuted at number 35 on the week ending July 9, 2000 and reached its peak of eleven August 20, 2000.^[15] "Let's Get Loud" fared better on Italy and Netherlands. On the former, it debuted at number twelve the week ending June 22, 2000 and reached its peak at number six the following week, managing to stay inside the top ten for five consecutive weeks before dropping of the chart.^[16] On the latter, it reached number three, becoming the highest peak of the song in all music markets.^[17] In the United States, the song became, after "No Me Ames", the second single from On the 6 that failed to chart inside the US Billboard Hot 100. The song, however, appeared at number 39 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.^[18] "Let's Get Loud" later appeared at number 25 on the Australian year-end charts of 2000.^[19] It has sold 413,000 digital downloads.^[20]

Critical response and accolades

Lopez performing "Let's Get Loud" on her Dance Again World Tour in Paris, France 2012.

Mario Tarradell from The Dallas Morning News complimented the Latin flavor in the song, writing "Jennifer Lopez wastes no time asserting her Latina heritage: "Let's Get Loud," a cut from the actress—turned—singer's debut album, On the 6, opens with a sassy declaration – '¡Ya Jenny llego, presente!'"^[21] Heather Phares from Allmusic, on her review of On the 6 gave a positive review of the song, stating that "'Let's Get Loud' have a fiery, soulful sound more in keeping with Lopez's public persona."^[22] Michael Paoletta from Billboard, commented that the song's remixes "deliver the goods in a variety of ways", further explaining that the Kung Pow "ups the ante" with the Castle Hills Club mix, considering that it "overflows with diva attitude and Latin/pop sensibilities."^[23] Richard Torres from Newsday gave a negative review of the song, stating that it was a "total misfire" and that "Lopez simply doesn't supply enough oomph to drive this salsa-injected tune. She's far too feathery where she should truly get down."^[2] At the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001, Lopez earned her second consecutive nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording (having been nominated for "Waiting For Tonight" in 2000).^[24][25]

Promotion

The song's music video was directed by Jeffrey Doe and filmed live at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Lopez wears a silver party dress with white boots in the video.^[26] On October 23, 2007, while pregnant, Lopez performed the song on the 5th season of the United States version of Dancing with the Stars. She performed the song at the San Remo Music Festival festival in 2010. Autistic young students at a Staten Island, New York school listened to "Let's Get Loud" every day, learning the dance moves and lyrics. The school wrote a letter to Lopez asking for an autograph or picture—instead Lopez showed up for the student's graduation for live performance of the song.^[27]

Formats and track listings

Charts

Credits and personnel

Recording

• Recorded and mixed at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of On the 6.^[13]

Release history

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics