Vendetta: First Round

Vendetta: First Round
EP by Ivy Queen
Released 9 December 2014
Recorded September 2013—October 2014
Genre
Length 14:54
Language Spanish
Label Siente Music
Producer

Vendetta: First Round (English: Revenge: First Round) is the second extended play by Puerto Rican reggaetón singer-songwriter Ivy Queen. It was released on 9 December 2014 by Siente Music.[1]

The EP includes the first four singles from the main album: "Soy Libre", "Vamos A Guerrear", "Naci Para Amarte", and the title track "Vendetta", on disc one. Disc two features a DVD with the music videos to these songs as well as a forty-five minute documentary of the making of the album.[2][3]

Background

In August 2012, Queen released her eighth studio album, Musa. The album peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Latin Albums chart and number two on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Albums chart.[4][5] Upon its release, the album remained within the five best-selling albums of the urban genre, in the United States and Puerto Rico, according to SoundScan monitoring services of the recognized measurement firm Nielsen.[6] However, it was the lowest first week sales for Queen since the release of her fourth studio album Real in 2004. It still, however, managed to receive a Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Urban Music Album at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2013.[7]

It was announced in September 2013, that Queen had changed management and returned with Jorge "Goguito" Guadalupe, president and co-founder of Filtro Musik, to release her ninth studio album, entitled Vendetta.[8][9] Following the birth of her first biological child,[10][11][12][13] Queen then announced that she would embark on a U.S. tour entitled the "Viva Puerto Rico Tour".[14] The tour, launched on 29 January 2014, included performances at various gay clubs in cities of the United States and Puerto Rico, such as New York, Orlando, Miami, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Ponce.[15] The studio album version was originally announced for a release in February 2014,[16] and later some time in 2014.[17]

Recorded material and composition

The album is being recorded in a mobile studio, in which Queen records in between family trips and tour stops.[18][19] According to Queen, she named the album Vendetta, because of the sexism she received from concert promoters and businessmen due to the fact that she was impregnated.[20] According to Queen, lyrically, the album will speak about war, among other topics.[21] The album is claimed to be an effort by Queen to regain control of her musical career.[22]

The lead single, the merengue, "Soy Libre", appears as the first track on the album. It was composed in major key tonality and contains lead vocals performed by Queen and group back-up vocals. It features simple harmonic progressions, a brass-horn ensemble, prominent percussion, synthesizers, techno synths and accordion or bandoneon playing. The track was extensively produced by DJ Nelson and O'Nell Flow.[23] "Vamos A Guerrear", a collaboration with Ñengo Flow, was composed in minor key tonality. It features synthetic instrumentation and ambient synthesizers, being extensively produced by Echo. Lyrically, the song contains story-telling lyrics and emotional vocals performed by Queen and Flow.[24] The dancehall "Nací Para Amarte", a collaboration with duo Jowell & Randy follows, at track number three. The song was composed in major key tonality, with individual verses being delivered by the trio, and group vocals performed during the chorus. Taking influences from reggae, the song was extensively produced by Milliano Music.[25] The title track, "Vendetta", appears as the closing track. It was composed in minor key tonality and features emotional vocals and story-telling lyrics. It features extensive production by Echo and Ladkani Beats. Musically, the song contains synthetic instrumentation, techno synths, and synthesizers.[26]

Track listing

Vendetta: First Round CD & DVD — Disc One
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Soy Libre"  Martha Pesante, O'Nell Lopez, Nelson DíazO'Nell Flow, DJ Nelson 3:41
2. "Vamos A Guerrear" (featuring Ñengo Flow)Pesante, Edwin Vázquez, Paul Irrizary, Jorge GuadalupeEcho 3:46
3. "Nací Para Amarte" (featuring Jowell & Randy)Pesante, Jorge Erazo, Joel Muñoz, Randy Ortiz, Migúel de JesúsMilliano Music 4:17
4. "Vendetta"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Izzirary, George LadkaniLadkani Beats 3:05
Total length:
 14:54

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Top Latin Albums (Billboard)[27] 33
US Latin Rhythm Albums (Billboard)[28] 5

References

  1. ↑ "Amazon.com: Ivy Queen: Vendetta: First Round". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Vendetta "First Round" (CD/DVD) - Walmart.com". Walmart. Walmart Stores, Inc. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Vendetta: First Round CD Album". CDUniverse. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Chart History: Latin Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Chart History: Latin Rhythm Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Ivy Queen presenta su video "Peligro de Extinción"". El Nuevo Día. El Día Incorporated. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Nominees of the 14th Annual Latin Grammy Awards". The Latin Grammy Awards. The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Reggeatonera Ivy Queen vuelve a los escenarios". Martinoticias (in Spanish). 14 January 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Ivy Queen está de regreso con su nueva producción "Vendetta". Ondacero. Ondacero, LLC. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Reggaeton Star Reveals She's Expecting Her First Child". The Huffington Post. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Castillo, Amaris (11 June 2013). "Ivy Queen is Pregnant!". Latina. Latina Media Ventures. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Hansen, Lena (11 June 2013). "Ivy Queen está embarazada: "Estoy feliz; siempre quise ser madre". People En Español (in Spanish). Time Inc. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "¡Ivy Queen ya es mamá!". Univision Musica (in Spanish). Univision Communications. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Ivy Queen "Viva Puerto Rico" Equality For All Gay Tour". Miami Herald. Miami Herald Media Company. January 28, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Ivy Queen de gira por discotecas gay". HTV (in Spanish). Time Warner. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  16. ↑ Tirado, Frances (25 September 2013). "En paz Jorge "Goguito" Guadalupe con Ivy Queen". Primera Hora (in Spanish). GFR Media LLC. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Tirado, Frances (28 February 2014). "Ivy Queen está agradecida con la comunidad gay". Primera Hora. GFR Media, LLC. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "Músic: Ivy Queen regresa a la tarima con gira gay "Viva Puerto Rico". Diario Las Américas (in Spanish). Dario Las Américas. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  19. ↑ Marrero-Rodríguez, Rosalina (20 December 2013). "Ivy Queen no quiso establecer el vínculo de la lactancia". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). GFR Media, LLC. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  20. ↑ Guerra, Joey (29 January 2014). "Reggaetón star, new mom, Ivy Queen remains fierce". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Newspapers, LLC. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ivy Queen vuelve a los escenarios tras su maternidad". Impacto. Impacto Latin News. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Noticias: Ivy Queen volverá a la escena musical con el album "Vendetta". Oxigeno. Prisa Radio. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  23. ↑ "Soy Libre - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "Vamos A Guerrear (Feat. Ñengo Flow) - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "Nací Para Amarte (Feat. Jowell & Randy) - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "Vendetta - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "Ivy Queen Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Latin Albums for Ivy Queen. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "Latin Rhythm Albums 2012-11-03". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 19 November 2014.