Vendetta (Ivy Queen album)

Vendetta: The Project
Studio album by Ivy Queen
Released 3 February 2015
Recorded September 2013—October 2014
Genre
Length 123:24
Language Spanish
Label Siente Music
Producer
Ivy Queen chronology

Musa
(2012)		 Vendetta
(2015)
Singles from Vendetta
  1. "Soy Libre"
    Released: 9 December 2014
  2. "Vamos A Guerrear"
    Released: 9 December 2014
  3. "Nací Para Amarte"
    Released: 9 December 2014
  4. "Vendetta"
    Released: 9 December 2014


Vendetta: The Project (English: Revenge: The Project), also known simply as Vendetta, is the ninth studio album by Puerto Rican reggaetón singer-songwriter Ivy Queen, released on 3 February 2015. An extended play version of the album was released on 9 December 2014. The studio album version was originally announced for a release in February 2014,[1] and later some time in 2014.[2]

The extended play version of the album, entitled Vendetta: First Round, includes the first four singles from the 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.[3][4]

The album is composed of four separate simultaneously released albums, in the genres of urban, hip hop, bachata and salsa. Each releases contains eight songs musically devoted to the specific genre. The urban releases features Farruko, J Alvarez, Jowell & Randy and J King & Maximan, the hip hop release features Vico C, Fat Joe, Ñengo Flow and MC Ceja, the salsa release features Tito Rojas, Andy Montañez and Luisito Carrión, while the bachata release features Óptimo.[5]

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.[6][7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10][11] Following the birth of her first biological child,[12][13][14][15] Queen then announced that she would embark on a U.S. tour entitled the "Viva Puerto Rico Tour".[16] 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.[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 and helping Queen regain control of her musical career.[22] The album is to have collaborations with Jowell & Randy, Tempo, De La Ghetto, Ñengo Flow, and MC Ceja. It is also to have a rerecording of "Ángel Caído" from her 2004 studio effort, Real and a cover of Celia Cruz's "Quimbara" and "Bemba Colorá".[23]

The dancehall "Nací Para Amarte", a collaboration with duo Jowell & Randy follows, at track number twenty. 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.[24] 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.[25] The lead single, the merengue, "Soy Libre", appears as the twenty-second 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.[26] "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.[27]

Release and promotion

Main article: Vendetta: First Round

The extended play version of the album includes the first four singles from the 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.[28][29]

It was released on 9 December 2014 by Siente Music.[30] Upon its release, it managed to debut at number thirty on the Billboard Latin Albums chart and number five on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Albums chart for the week of 27 December 2014.[31][32]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic[33]

According to Allmusic's David Jefferies, the album is Queen’s response to the "male chauvinists within the music industry". He called the message and presentation "epic", while claiming the genre separations to be "interesting listen". However, he chose the collection release as a whole, "as it presents the Queen’s angry and awesome return in total". He gave Vendetta: The Project of four out of five stars, while the individual releases each received a rating of three and a half out of five stars.[33] On the salsa release, Jefferies selected "De Pronto Desperte", "Un Hombre Bueno", "Se Me Vuelve A Olvidar" and the tribute to Celia Cruz as the stand out tracks.[34] On the bachata release, he selected "No Soy Aquella", "Mas Feliz Asi" and "Por Un Descuido".[35] On the hip hop release, Jefferies selected "Vamos A Guerrear", the title track, "I Don’t Know" and "Dime A Mi Quien". [36] On the urban release, he selected "Sacude & Levantate", "Te Sirvo De Abrigo", "Naci Para Amarte" and "Soy Libre", while naming "Vamos A Guerrear", "Vendetta", "Naci Para Amarte" and "Soy Libre" as the key tracks from the album.[37]

Tracklisting

Vendetta: The Complete Collection[38]
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "De Pronto Desperté"  Martha Pesante, Jorge Guadalupe, Mikey Perfecto, Miguel Soto  4:32
2. "Yare" (featuring Luisito Carrion)Pesante, Luisito Carrion  5:23
3. "Un Hombre Bueno"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Perfecto, Soto  3:52
4. "Ella Me Hizo Deseo" (featuring Tito Rojas)Pesante, Julio Rojas, Gustavo Marquez  4:47
5. "Se Me Vuelve A Olvidar"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Perfecto, Soto  4:03
6. "Tributo A Celia: Quimbara/Bemba Colorá (Medley)"  Junior Cepeda, José Fumero  3:41
7. "Dime Si Valió La Pena"  Pesante, Guadalupe  4:06
8. "Casi Te Envidio" (featuring Andy Montañez)Pesante, Andrés Montanez, Francisco Cepedo, Francisco Martinez  6:14
9. "No Haz Podido"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Gabriel Gomez  4:08
10. "Dónde"  Pesante, Edwin Perez, Pedro PolancoEdwin "EZP" Perez 3:40
11. "Ojo Ajeno"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez  3:06
12. "No Soy Aquella"  Pesante, Perez, Polanco  3:50
13. "Dime La Verdad"  Pesante, Perez, PolancoEdwin "EZP" Perez 2:57
14. "Más Feliz Así"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez  3:09
15. "A Dónde Va"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Gomez  3:36
16. "Por Un Descuido" (featuring Óptimo)Pesante, Guadalupe, Alixandro Sánchez, Rogelito Santos, Carlos Casillas, Carlos Bermudez  4:06
17. "Sacude & Levantate"  Pesante, Lenny Medina, Ahmed Barroso, Joey MontanaLenny Medina, Ahmed Barroso 4:09
18. "Te Sirvo De Abrigo" (featuring Farruko)Pesante, Guadalupe, Jesus Benitez, Carlos Reyes, Edgar Vargas, Xavier VargasMambo Kingz 3:24
19. "Imborrable" (featuring J Alvarez)   3:50
20. "Nací Para Amarte" (featuring Jowell & Randy)Pesante, Joel Muñoz, Randy Ortiz, Migúel de JesúsMilliano Music 4:17
21. "Sola"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Vargas, VargasMambo Kingz 4:01
22. "Soy Libre"  Pesante, Guadalupe, O'Nell Lopez, Nelson DíazDJ Nelson, O'Nell Flow 3:42
23. "Sin Mi"  Pesante, Guadalupe Hiram CruzKeko Musik 3:07
24. "Quiere Castigo" (featuring J-King & Maximan)Pesante, Cruz, Jaime Borges, Héctor PadillaKeko Musik 3:38
25. "To My Brothers"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Paul Irrizary  3:22
26. "Vamos A Guerrear" (featuring Ñengo Flow)Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, Edwin VázquezEcho 3:46
27. "Vendetta"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary, George LadkaniEcho, Ladkani Beats 3:04
28. "Me Acuerdo" (featuring Vico C)   4:35
29. "Lo Vamos A Danzar"     3:12
30. "I Don't Know" (featuring MC Ceja)   3:09
31. "Dime A Mi Quién" (featuring Fat Joe)   3:04
32. "Ver Tu Fin"  Pesante, Guadalupe, Irrizary  3:51
Total length:
 123:24

Charts

Weekly charts

Vendetta: Salsa

Chart (2015) Peak
Position
US Tropical Albums (Billboard)[43] 17

Vendetta: Bachata

Chart (2015) Peak
Position
US Tropical Albums (Billboard)[43] 6

Vendetta: Hip Hop

Chart (2015) Peak
Position
US Latin Rhythm Albums (Billboard)[44] 9

Vendetta: Urban

Chart (2015) Peak
Position
US Latin Rhythm Albums (Billboard)[44] 8

References

  1. ↑ Tirado, Frances (25 September 2013). "En paz Jorge "Goguito" Guadalupe con Ivy Queen". Primera Hora (in Spanish). GFR Media LLC. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Tirado, Frances (28 February 2014). "Ivy Queen está agradecida con la comunidad gay". Primera Hora. GFR Media, LLC. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Vendetta "First Round" (CD/DVD) - Walmart.com". Walmart. Walmart Stores, Inc. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Vendetta: First Round CD Album". CDUniverse. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ivy Queen launches 4 simultaneous discs: salsa, bachata, hip hop and urban". Fox News Latino. Fox News Network. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Chart History: Latin Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Chart History: Latin Rhythm Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ivy Queen presenta su video "Peligro de Extinción"". El Nuevo Día. El Día Incorporated. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Reggeatonera Ivy Queen vuelve a los escenarios". Martinoticias (in Spanish). 14 January 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Ivy Queen está de regreso con su nueva producción "Vendetta". Ondacero. Ondacero, LLC. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Reggaeton Star Reveals She's Expecting Her First Child". The Huffington Post. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  13. ↑ Castillo, Amaris (11 June 2013). "Ivy Queen is Pregnant!". Latina. Latina Media Ventures. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "¡Ivy Queen ya es mamá!". Univision Musica (in Spanish). Univision Communications. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Ivy Queen "Viva Puerto Rico" Equality For All Gay Tour". Miami Herald. Miami Herald Media Company. January 28, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Ivy Queen de gira por discotecas gay". HTV (in Spanish). Time Warner. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 9 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. ↑ "Ivy Queen rinde homenaje a Celia Cruz en su nuevo material". Uforia Musica. Univision Communications. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "Nací Para Amarte (Feat. Jowell & Randy) - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "Vendetta - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "Soy Libre - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "Vamos A Guerrear (Feat. Ñengo Flow) - Ivy Queen on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  28. ↑ "Vendetta "First Round" (CD/DVD) - Walmart.com". Walmart. Walmart Stores, Inc. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "Ivy Queen - Vendetta: First Round CD Album". CDUniverse. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Amazon.com: Ivy Queen: Vendetta: First Round". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  31. ↑ "Top Latin Albums: Dec 27, 2014 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "Latin Rhythm Albums: Dec 27, 2014 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Vendetta: The Project - Ivy Queen : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "Vendetta: Salsa - Ivy Queen : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  35. ↑ "Vendetta: Bachata - Ivy Queen : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  36. ↑ "Vendetta: Hip Hop - Ivy Queen : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  37. ↑ "Vendetta: Urban - Ivy Queen : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  38. ↑ "Vendetta: The Complete Collection - CD - Best Buy". Best Buy. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  39. ↑ "Vendetta: Salsa - CD - Best Buy". Best Buy. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  40. ↑ "Vendetta: Bachata - CD - Best Buy". Best Buy. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  41. ↑ "Vendetta: Urban - CD - Best Buy". Best Buy. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  42. ↑ "Vendetta: Hip Hop - CD - Best Buy". Best Buy. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Tropical Music: Albums: February, 21, 2015: Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Latin Rhythm Albums: February, 21, 2015: Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.