Ayer (Luis Miguel song)

"Ayer"
Single by Luis Miguel
from the album Aries
Released17 May 1993 (1993-05-17)
RecordedJune 1992 – May 1993[1]
Studio
Length3:25
LabelWEA Latina
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Rudy Pérez
Producer(s)
  • Luis Miguel
  • Kiko Cibrian
Luis Miguel singles chronology
"América, América"
(1992) 		"Ayer"
(1993) 		"Hasta Que Me Olvides"
(1993)
Music video
"Ayer" on YouTube

"Ayer" (transl. "Yesterday")[2] is a song by Mexican singer Luis Miguel from his ninth studio album, Aries (1993). Miguel and Kiko Cibrian handled the song's production. It was released as the album's lead single on 17 May 1993 by WEA Latina. It is a Spanish-language adaptation of David Foster's instrumental "All That My Heart Can Hold" with lyrics written by Rudy Pérez. A sentimental ballad, the song conveys the singer's pride and pain of his frustrated dreams. Three music videos for the song were filmed at the Longoria Mansion in Mexico City and were nominated for Video of the Year at the Premio Lo Nuestro 1994. The ballad received positive reactions from music critics who favorably compared it to the ballads of his previous studio album, Romance (1991).

"Ayer" was nominated in the category of Pop Song of the Year at the 1994 Lo Nuestro Awards and was a recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Latin Award in 1994 under the pop/ballad category. Commercially, it became Miguel's eighth number one song on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States and was the sixth best-performing Latin song of 1993 in the country. The song was covered by Mexican entertainer Diego Boneta for the soundtrack of Luis Miguel: The Series (2018).

Background and composition

[edit]

In 1991 Miguel released his eighth studio album Romance, a collection of classic boleros, the oldest of which originated in the 1940s. The album, which was produced by Armando Manzanero and arranged by Bebu Silvetti,[3] was a commercial success in Latin America and sold over seven million copies worldwide.[4][5] It revived interest in the bolero genre and was the first record by a Spanish-speaking artist to be certified gold in Brazil, Taiwan and the United States.[5] In spite of the album's success, Miguel did not want to release a follow-up record that was similar to Romance.[6] When asked why he chose not to record more boleros, he replied, "I wanted to try my music, just forgetting a little bit about those boleros that everyone knows."[7] The singer began working with the composers for the album a year before recording in a studio in 1992; in Miguel's words, he wanted to "discuss the works, the themes, and melodies; ... The creation of an album has to be part of me or else I would not be able to interpret it, or sing in it."[8]

On 24 August 1992, Mexican newspaper El Siglo de Torreón reported that Miguel had begun collaborating with David Foster and Juan Carlos Calderón on some compositions, along with English-speaking composers, and selecting cover versions for the album.[9] Due to difficulty finding a suitable producer for the record, the singer decided to co-produce it with his long-time associate Kiko Cibrian.[7] He also received assistance from Cuban composer Rudy Pérez who composed four of the tracks for Aries (1993), including "Ayer".[10] "Ayer" is a Spanish-language adaptation of Foster and Jeremy Lubbock's instrumental "All That My Heart Can Hold" from the former's 1986 self-titled album.[6][11][12] It is a sentimental ballad that "conveys pride and pain" of frustrating dreams.[13][14]

Promotion and reception

[edit]

"Ayer" was released as the lead single from Aries by WEA Latina on 17 May 1993 throughout Latin America.[15] Three music videos for the song were released and directed by Benny Corral, Rubén Galindo and Gustavo Garzón, respectively, and filmed at the Longoria Mansion in Mexico City.[2][16] According to La Prensa de Antonio's Diana Raquel, the videos take one "through the delicate aspects of a rainy night, as well as the marked eroticism of a couple loving each other intensely".[14] They were nominated in the category of Video of the Year at the 6th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards in 1994,[17] which was presented to "Sabor, Sabor" by Rosario Flores.[18] The visuals were also nominated Latin Clip of the Year at the 1993 Billboard Music Video Awards,[19] but ultimately lost to "Sentir" by Jon Secada.[20] The song was included on the set list for the Aries Tour (1993-94).[21]

In her review of the album, the Chicago Tribune's Achy Obejas highlighted as one of the record's "luxuriantly slow narratives of love lost".[22] Mario Tarradell of the Miami Herald called the song a "sweeping ballad" and noted it has the "longing love song feel, filled with crescendos and soft moment, and lush orchestrations".[2] The San Antonio Express-News reviewer Ramiro Burr characterized the song as a "lush ballad sung by Miguel in his stylistic romantic swagger that simultaneously conveys pride and pain".[13] Billboard reviewer Paul Verna called "Ayer" a "perfect transition track from Romance".[23] Similarly, John Lannert wrote for the Sun-Sentinel that the track was comparable to Romance's "sparse lyrical muse and smooth musical backdrop".[24] Diana Raquel of La Prensa de San Antonio praised its "incredible, wonderful and complete instrumentation, from keyboards to violins, cellos, percussion, and all the necessary personnel (without skimping) so that the tune sounds in style".[25]

"Ayer" was nominated in the category of Pop Song of the Year at the 1994 Lo Nuestro Awards but ultimately lost to "Nunca Voy a Olvidarte" by Cristian Castro.[17][18] It was recognized as one of the best-performing songs of the year at the ASCAP Latin Awards under the pop/ballad category in 1994 as well as the inaugural BMI Latin Awards in the same year.[26][27] Commercially, "Ayer" became Miguel's eighth number one song on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the US.[28] It was the sixth best-performing Latin song of 1993 in the country.[29] In 2021, Mexican entertainer Diego Boneta covered "Ayer" on the soundtrack for the second season of Luis Miguel: The Series (2018).[30]

Personnel

[edit]

Adapted from the Ayer liner notes:[1]

Performance credits

  • Randy Kerber – keyboards, arranger
  • Harvey Mason – drums
  • Kiko Cibrian – guitar
  • Freddie Washington Jr. – bass
  • The Hollywood String Ensemble – orchestra
  • Ezra Kliger – concertmaster, violin
  • Paul C. Shure – violin
  • Shari Zippert – violin
  • Roman Volodarsky – violin
  • Barbara J. Porter – violin
  • Vladimir Polimatidi – violin
  • Cordon H. Marron – violin
  • Charles H. Everett – violin
  • Norman J. Hughes – violin
  • Joel Derouin – violin
  • Sid Page – violin
  • Linda Rose – violin
  • R.F. Peterson – violin
  • John J. Wittenberg – violin
  • Leslie J. Woodbury – violin
  • Endre Granat – violin
  • Alexander Horvath – violin
  • Israel Baker – violin
  • Herschel P. Wiserenita Koven – viola
  • Raymond J. Tisher II – viola
  • James J. Ross – viola
  • John T. Acevedo – viola
  • Cynthia Morrow – viola
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Daniel W. Smith – cello
  • Nancy Stein – cello
  • Roger Lebow – cello
  • Steve G. Edelman – contrabass
  • Jon C. Clarke – English horn, oboe
  • Joseph Meyer – French horn
  • Calvin Smith – French horn
  • Michael A. Englander – percussion

Technical credits

  • Luis Miguel – producer
  • Kiko Cibrian – co-producer
  • Rudy Pérez – co-producer in the voice recording
  • Mauricio Abaroa – executive producer
  • Julio Saenz – executive producer
  • Benny Faccone – engineer, mixing
  • Jim Champagne – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Noel Hazen – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Alfredo Gatica – artistic coordination
  • Ezra Kliger – production coordination
  • Jose Quintana – production coordination
  • Carlos Somonte – photography
  • Cartel Diseñadores – design

Charts

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Ayer (CD liner). Luis Miguel. México: WEA Latina. 1993. pp. 1–2. 4509 92853-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b c Tarradell, Mario (18 June 1993). "Record Review". Miami Herald. p. 17G. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Romance – Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Dimes y Diretes". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 12 October 1992. p. 51. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b Candelaria, Cordelia; Garcia, Peter; Adalma, Arturo (2004). Encyclopedia of Latino popular culture. Vol. 2. Westport, United States: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 551–552. ISBN 9780313322150. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b Burr, Ramiro (11 July 1993). "Luis Miguel meets his challenges". San Antonio Express-News.
  7. ^ a b Lannert, John (3 July 1993). "Luis Miguel Returns With An R&B Flavor". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 27. pp. 1, 72. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ^ Burr, Ramiro (17 June 1993). "Tejano pop star croons 2nd album". Austin American-Statesman.
  9. ^ "Hit Parade". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 24 August 1992. p. 50. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  10. ^ Promis, Jose F. "Aries – Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  11. ^ du Lac, J. Freedom (31 August 2007). "Rudy Perez's two romance languages: Spanish, music". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  12. ^ Viglione, Joe. "David Foster – David Foster Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  13. ^ a b Burr, Ramiro (16 June 1993). "Luis Miguel's latest due out Tuesday". San Antonio Express-News. p. 3.
  14. ^ a b Raquel, Diana (24 June 1993). "Aquí y allá". La Prensa de San Antonio (in Spanish). p. 28. ProQuest 368665571. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2022 – via ProQuest. Este video te lleva a lo delicado de una noche lluviosa, como hasta al erotismo marcado de una pareja amándose intensamente.
  15. ^ Lannert, John (22 May 1993). "Luis Miguel Sets New Single, Album". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 21. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Dimes y diretes". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 22 June 1993. p. 38. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  17. ^ a b Burr, Ramiro (1 May 1994). "Miguel, Guerra top awards nominees". San Antonio Express-News.
  18. ^ a b "Lo Nuestro – Historia" (in Spanish). Univision. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Soul Asylum, Stone Temple Pilots, Gren Jelly, RuPaul Lead Billboard Music Video Awards Nominees" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 42. 16 October 1993. p. 83. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Soul Asylum Vid a 'Runaway' Success" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 47. 20 November 1993. p. 23. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  21. ^ Tarradell, Mario (21 June 1993). "Mexican Heartthrob Knows How to Make the Women Scream". Miami Herald. p. 1C. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  22. ^ Obejas, Achy (11 August 1994). "Luis Miguel Aries". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  23. ^ Verna, Paul (3 July 1993). "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 27. p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  24. ^ Lannert, John (18 June 1993). "Luis Miguel Cross Over in the Language of Love". Sun-Sentinel. ProQuest 388855529. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  25. ^ Raquel, Diana (27 May 1993). "Aqui y alla". La Prensa de San Antonio (in Spanish). p. 24. ProQuest 368591029. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  26. ^ "The Second Annual El Premio ASCAP". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 28. 9 July 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  27. ^ "Los Premios Latinos de BMI" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 12. 19 March 1994. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Luis Miguel Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  29. ^ a b "1993: The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52. 25 December 1993. p. YE-58. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  30. ^ "Ya está disponible la banda sonora de la segunda temporada de 'Luis Miguel, la serie'" (in European Spanish). Sony Music España. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Canciones Que Mexico Canta". Notitas Musicales. July 1993.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ayer_(Luis_Miguel_song)&oldid=1245086279"