Cuba Libre (Gloria Estefan song)

"Cuba Libre" ("Free Cuba") is a 1998 song by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released as the third single from her eighth studio album, Gloria!. It is a dance-pop song which was included on the album in two versions: English and Spanish. The song is one of the three only Spanish-language tracks, alongside "Oye!" and "Corazón prohibido". It represents a homage to Estefan's homeland, Cuba.[1] "Cuba Libre" was written and composed by Gloria Estefan, along with Emilio Estefan Jr. and Kike Santander.[2]

"Cuba Libre"
Single by Gloria Estefan
from the album Gloria!
ReleasedNovember 9, 1998 (Europe)
Recorded1997–1998
Genre
Length4:38
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Gloria Estefan singles chronology
"Oye!"
(1998)		 "Cuba Libre"
(1998)		 "Don't Let This Moment End"
(1998)
Music video
"Cuba Libre" on YouTube

Critical reception

Ben Wener from Beaver County Times noted the "bouncing Afro-Cuban flourishes" of the track in his review of gloria!.[3] The Daily Vault's Alfredo Narvaez wrote that "Cuba Libre" is about "the feelings many of the expatriates of that island feel - hoping for a day that they'll be able to return home."[4] Chuck Eddy from Entertainment Weekly named the song as "ominously undulating", adding that it "reach[es] for the skies like a missile-crisis fiesta thrown by Donna Summer."[5] Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle called it "an ode to Estefan's birthplace".[6] Victoria Segal from NME stated that the singer "sparkles with diva potential", "tenderly singing of her homeland".[7] Larry Flick from Vibe applauded the song, as well as "Oye!", by stating that they "have a ferocious new energy and a vocal spark that Estefan hasn't previously displayed."[8]

Track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Cuba Libre".

Europe CD Maxi single (666691 2)

  1. "Cuba Libre" (Spanish Version)
  2. "Cuba Libre" (English Version)
  3. "Bailando Megamix"

Charts
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Spain (AFYVE) 3

References
  1. Richie Unterberger; Samb Hicks; Jennifer Dempsey (1999). Music USA: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. p. 146. ISBN 9781858284217. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Gloria! - Gloria Estefan". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  3. "Estefan's new release a career turning point". Beaver County Times. 10 June 1998. p. 30. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. "Gloria Estefan - Gloria!". The Daily Vault. 2 March 1999. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  5. Chuck, Eddy (5 June 1998). "Gloria! Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  6. Guerra, Joey (31 May 1998). "Playing the dance card /Estefan should swirl to new heights with `gloria!'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  7. Segal, Victoria. "GLORIA ESTEFAN – Gloria!". NME. Archived from the original on 2000-10-16. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  8. Flick, Larry (July 1998). "Gloria Estefan "Gloria!"". Vibe. Vol. 6, no. 5. Vibe Media Group. p. 186. ISSN 1070-4701.
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