No Podrás

For the song by Olga Tañón, see Sobrevivir.
"No Podrás"
Single by Cristian Castro
from the album Agua Nueva
Released 1992
Recorded 1992
Genre Latin pop
Length 4:02
Label Melody, Fonovisa
Writer(s) Alejandro Zepeda, Peter Skrabak
Producer(s) Alejandro Zepeda
Cristian Castro singles chronology
"No Podrás"
(1992)		 "Solo Dame una Noche"
(1993)
Music sample
"No Podrás"
A 24 second sample of No Podrás by Cristian Castro.

"No Podrás" (English: "You Can't") is a song written and composed by Alejandro Zepeda and Peter Skrabak, originally recorded by Mexican recording artist Cristian Castro. Lyrically, the song describes the end of a relationship between two lovers where the protagonist tells the lover that she will not forget how much he loved her. The song was released by Fonovisa Records as the lead single from Castro's debut studio album Agua Nueva (1992). It peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. It was well received by music critics, despite negative reception of its parent album.

In 1994, Dominican merengue musician Fernando Villalona covered the song on his album El Niño Mimado. His version of the song peaked at number thirty-two on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs.

Background

Cristian Castro rose to fame at age five when he began his acting career with his mother, famous actress and singer, Verónica Castro. His first role was on the telenovela El Derecho de Nacer (1981).[1] At age seven, he became the lead singer of his band Cristian y los Pollitos (Cristian and the Little Roosters) and performed live on the TV show Siempre en Domingo. At age fourteen, he formed rock band Los Demonios Deliciosos (The Delicious Demons) whom he performed with for two years. After his departure from the band, Castro became a presenter at the annual OTI Festival where he performed the song "16 Diciembres" ("16 Decembers").[1]

Castro could not afford to record a studio album with his own finances. His friend, Alejandro Zepeda, resolved this problem by selling Castro's personal belongings, including his car.[2] As a result, Castro recorded his first album, Agua Nueva, produced by Zepeda and released by Fonovisa Records.[2] In 2012, Castro recorded a live version of "No Podrás" with new arrangements by Matt Rolling and produced Aureo Baqueiro and features fellow Mexican singer Benny Ibarra. This version was included on his second live album En Primera Fila: Día 2 in 2014.[3]

Music and lyrics

"No Podrás" was written and composed by Alejandro Zepeda and Peter Skrabak.[4] Lyrically, the song describes the end of a relationship between two lovers where the protagonist tells the lover that she will not forget how much he loved her.[5] As with the other songs in the album, "No Podrás" was recorded and produced in California and promoted by Televisa.[6]

Release and reception

"No Podrás" debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on the week of July 25, 1992.[7] The song climbed to the top ten on the week of August 29, 1992 and peaked at number three two weeks later.[8][8] To promote the song, a music video was made for "No Podrás" which shows Castro performing the song for a live audience.[9] The song also reached number one on the hit parade chart in Mexico City.[10]

An editor of Caretas magazine, while giving Agua Nueva a negative review, felt that "No Podrás" was "excellent work" and remarked that the other songs in the album did not come close to its quality.[6] An editor of Cromos magazine praised the lyrics of the song and said "it was the most beautiful song I have heard".[11] On the review of the Castro's compilation album Esenciales: The Ultimate Collection, Heather Phares of Allmusic commented that "No Podrás" had a "slinky" feel.[12]

Formats and track listings

7" promo[13]
No. Title Length
1. "No Podrás"   4:02
No Podras Remixes[14]
No. Title Length
1. "No Podrás (Radio Mix)"    
2. "No Podrás (Club Mix)"    

Weekly charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[15] 3

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Allmusic.[16]

Fernando Villalona version

"No Podrás"
Single by Fernando Villalona
from the album El Nino Mimado
Released 1994
Genre Merengue
Length 5:04
Label Camino
Producer(s) Fernando Villalona
Fernando Villalona singles chronology
"No Podrás"
(1994)		 "Corazón Salvaje"
(1994)

In 1994, Dominican merengue musician Fernando Villalona covered the song on his album, El Nino Mimado and released it as the album's first single.[17] His version peaked at number 32 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.[18] In 1997, it appeared on his compilation album Historia de Una Vida. Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic considered the song to be "one of his finest" in his career.[19]

Weekly charts

Chart (1994) Peak
position
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[18] 32

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic.[20]

  • Fernando Villalona – Arranger, Composer, Executive Producer, Mixing, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
  • Angel Cornielle – Bass
  • Pavin Cornielle – Bass
  • Arturo Sanquintin – Congas
  • Jose Contreras – Guira, Tamboura
  • Martin Villalona – Mixing, Producer, Trombone, Vocals (Background)
  • Papo Cadena – Saxophone
  • Aramis Villalona – Vocals (Background)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Biografía de Cristian Castro" (in Spanish). CMTV Argentina. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Biografía de Cristian Castro". Itematika. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  3. ↑ "ristian Castro lanza nuevo álbum 'En primera fila día 2'". l Informador (in Spanish). 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
  4. ↑ "Agua Nueva – Cristian Castro: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  5. ↑ "Letra de No Podrás – Cristian Castro" (in Spanish). Coveralia. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Cristian – Agua Nueva". Caretas: ilustración peruana (Empresa Editora Caretas S. A) (1218–1225): 92. 1992.
  7. ↑ "No Podrás — Week of July 25, 1992". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992-07-25.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "No Podrás — Week of August 29, 1992". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1992-08-29.
  9. ↑ "Nunca Voy a Olvidarte... los Exitos (DVD) — Cristian Castro: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  10. ↑ "Las 20 más populares". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 1992-09-12. p. 48.
  11. ↑ "Un compact dic" (3922–3926). Cromos. 1993.
  12. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Esenciales: The Ultimate Collection — Cristian Castro: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  13. ↑ No Podrás (Mexico CD single liner notes). Cristian Castro. Fonovisa. 1992. PE-4990.
  14. ↑ No Podrás Remixes (Colombia CD single liner notes). Cristian Castro. Fonovisa. 1993. RH-0030.
  15. ↑ "Cristian Castro Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Latin Songs for Cristian Castro. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  16. ↑ "Agua Nueva — Cristian Castro: Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  17. ↑ "El Nino Mimado — Fernando Vilalona: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Fernando Villalona Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Latin Songs for Fernando Villalona. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  19. ↑ Erlwine, Stephen. "Historia de Una Vida — Fernando Vilalona: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  20. ↑ "El Nino Mimado — Fernando Villalona: Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-12-30.