Ni una Sola Palabra
"Ni Una Sola Palabra" (English: "Not A Single Word") is a song recorded by Mexican singer Paulina Rubio for her eighth studio album Ananda (2006). It was released as the lead single from the album on July 23, 2006, by Universal Music. The song was written by Xabier San Martín, keyboardist and composer from Spanish pop band La Oreja de Van Gogh, and produced by Cachorro López. It is a pop rock song with synth-pop and new wave elements.
"Ni Una Sola Palabra" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Paulina Rubio | ||||
from the album Ananda | ||||
Released | July 23, 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2005 | |||
Studio | Ananda Studios (Miami, Florida) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | Universal Latino | |||
Songwriter(s) | Xabier San Martín from La Oreja de Van Gogh | |||
Producer(s) | Cachorro López | |||
Paulina Rubio singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Ni Una Sola Palabra" on YouTube |
Before its official release, the track leaked onto the internet, which prompted Rubio's team to release the song officially. "Ni Una Sola Palabra" had different release formats with a number of remixes and versions. Music critics praised the track's production, catchiness and fresh, and compared it with Rubio's first releases. It became a commercial success, peaking at number-one on the record charts of major markets, including Billboard's charts Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Songs. In the latter, "Ni Una Sola Palabra" became Rubio's third and final single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also included in many critic lists for Rubio's top singles and is often ranked as one of the best Latin songs of the 2000s.
Its accompanying music video, directed by Paul Boyd, portrayed Rubio as a superhero who saves her alter ego. In order to promote its parent album, Rubio performed "Ni Una Sola Palabra" at The Jay Leno Show and at the 2007 Latin Billboard Music Awards the following year, where it was won in the category of Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year Female. Additionally, the song has been a regular staple in the set list of five of Rubio's concert tours, the first being the Amor, Luz y Sonido Tour (2007–2008).
Background
"Ni Una Sola Palabra" was written by Xabier San Martín, keyboardist and songwriter from Spanish pop band La Oreja de Van Gogh, who written the song under the title "Ni Versos, Ni Miradas" for the album El Viaje de Copperpot (2000) by the band. However, the La Oreja de Van Gogh's vocalist, Amaia Montero, rejected it because she considered that the album was already complete at that time.[1] San Martín re-wrote the song and made it available to Sony Music Publishing for other artists to record. When he got the opportunity to work with Rubio, he made two versions of the song: a "superelectronic" one and another demo for her to adapt to her style. Rubio chose the more "light" and organic version, which contained acoustic guitar and drums, and decided to record it. "She definitely fell in love with the song, said she wanted to make it her own and moved on.", says San Martín.[2]
Release
In July 2006, an incomplete snippet demo of the song leaked onto the internet. It was circulated through fan websites and illegal music download sites. Rubio's team released the song days before to the planned official released. Universal Music Records initially targeted the single to be released to radio in August 2006, but it was advance to July 22, 2006, to contemporary hit radio, and July 24, worldwide,[3][4] with the commercial release for the CD single and digital download taking place on August 15, becoming Rubio's first digital single after fans petitioned for a legal way to obtain it prior to the album hitting stores.
Upon release, Rubio commented about the song,
"'Ni Una Sola Palabra' is a song that captivated me from the first time I heard it, the lyrics, the rhythm... I can relate to it completely. In the process of its recording and production, it shone right from the beginning... I am very happy to be able to hand out something that I am very proud of. I love it!".[5]
Critical reception
El Nuevo Siglo's staff wrote that "Ni Una Sola Palabra" shows a Rubio more "fresh and evolved, totally organic".[6]
Chart performance
"Ni Una Sola Palabra" debuted on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart at number four on 2 September 2006, while the song jump number thirty-five to number two on Latin Pop Airplay chart, in the same week.[7] The song went on to become a huge success peaking at #1 on both the Hot Latin Tracks and Latin Pop Airplay charts for several weeks. It has also managed to chart at #98 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming her third song to chart there. As of December 11, 2009, "Ni Una Sola Palabra" ranked as the 59th song of the last ten years in the Top Latin Songs Chart from Latin Billboard.
The song was chart-topping radio airplay in España, Chile, Perú y Centroamérica, while reached in the top five in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Paraguay y Bolivia.[8]
According to the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores in Spain, "Ni Una Sola Palabra" became one of the ten songs with the highest rotation on the radio and with the most acceptance in discos, bars and disco-pubs in 2007.[9] It also became one of the ten best-selling songs on ¡Tunes from that same country.[10]
Music video
The music video for "Ni Una Sola Palabra" was filmed on July 28, 2006,[11] at a building that houses The City of Hope in downtown Los Angeles, California, with additional scenes later being filmed on July 29, 2006, in the same location, for a total of 15 hours. It was directed by Paul Boyd, who work with Rubio for the first time, and produced by Todd Young. A week after filming, the entrepreneur and music executive Steven Gottlieb wrote from the website VideoStatic "Since it's all about action and not words, this video will feature the Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio fighting crime on various rooftops in downtown Los Angeles".[12] The video features Rubio's alter ego Pauwer Woman as superhero, whose habitat includes the skyscrapers. During the video feature her Pomeranian dog, Miranda (since 2001's "Yo No Soy Esa Mujer"). The music video premiered on Univision's Despierta América and Primer Impacto on September 5, 2006.[13] As of December, 2021, the music video of "Ni Una Sola Palabra" has over 100 million views on YouTube.
Synopsis and reception
The video begins with Paupower Woman watching from a skyscraper and guarding the city from the criminals and villains. She wears a gold-clad outfit that includes a golden cape, bracelets, gadgets and golden platform shoes sophisticated technology. The superheroine stops to look at an ordinary Rubio alter-ego walking on a deserted street in the night light while sucking on a lollipop, wearing fringed camisole and a jeans. Paupower Woman observes that the young girl is being chased by four men aboard a car, and she come down from the skyscraper to help her. When the ordinary Rubio takes shelter in a parking lot, the criminals surround her and try to kidnap her. Then, Paupower Woman begins to fight against them with her out-of-body powers. The video concludes with Rubio making the "silence sign" on the initial skyscraper, and feeding her pet Miranda.[14]
In retrospect, the staff of El Heraldo de México noted that the superheroine's wardrobe honors her nickname "The Golden Girl", also and from a less superficial approach, noted that in the video "as a heroine who imparts justice and puts men in their place who want to take advantage of women, [music video is] a revelation for the time", which further strengthens her work as a feminist artist.[15]
Paul Boyd alternate video
Paul Boyd leaked an alternative version of the video online on he official website, and included new scenes, which featured Rubio strutting in similar scenes to official video but light of day. The final scene show the superheroine Paupower Woman and the ordinary girl Rubio (alter ego) kissing.[16]
Live performances
Rubio first performed "Ni Una Sola Palabra" at the Malaga Summer 2006, a concert special that aired in MTV Spain on August 12, 2006.[17] A performance of the song at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno premiered on September when begin promotional Ananda in America; she sing live with a golden microphone and was surrounded with her musicians and two choristers. Also performed it on the music television show CD USA. On December 12, Rubio performed the song and the English version of "Miénteme Una Vez Más" ("Beautiful Lie") at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway to honor laureates Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. She played with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and become in the first Mexican artist to performed in a Nobel Prize concert.[18] Three days later, she returned to Spain to perform at Los Premios 40 Principales 2006. She performed the song descending from the roof of the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid, all dressed in gold, very much in the style of Barbarella.[19]
During the Cadena Dial Awards, held on February 27, 2007, in Spain, Rubio performed the song and received an award as one of the "ambassadors of music in Spanish"; she dressed in a tight silver glitter dress signed by Roberto Cavalli.[20] On April 26 Rubio opened the fourteenth edition of the Latin Billboard Music Awards in Coral Gables, Florida by performing the song with the violin arrangements of "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles. She also performed the song "Nena" with Miguel Bosé and received two awards for Best Female Latin Pop Album and Best Female Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year.[21] In September 2007, during the Argentina leg of her Amor, Luz y Sonido Tour, she performed on the finale of the second season of the talent show Latin American Idol, where she performed "Ni Una Sola Palabra" and "Nada Puede Cambiarme".[22]
Other versions
On March 20, 2007, Rubio released a new remix titled "Ni Una Sola Palabra (Belanova Remix)" from the Ananda's deluxe edition, based an electronic arrangement. The term "Belanova" in the title refers to the Mexican pop band. The remix was positively reviewed by music critics, who described it as "electronic sheen" and dance-leaning than the original version.[23] Two versions ("pasito duranguense" and "norteño") of regional Mexican genre were released to impact the Hispanic audience in the United States. The versions reached number four on the Billboard Regional Mexican Songs chart.
Legacy and culture impact
"Ni Una Sola Palabra" is considered to be one of the best songs of Rubio's career. According to the musical section of the Spanish tabloid Diario AS, the song is considered one of Rubio's songs from the 2000s that marked a resounding success in Spain.[24] Chilean poet and journalist Jorge Montealegre from the book 'Wurlitzer: Cantantes en la Memoria Chilena' opined that it is "the best song of the Mexican popstar." In their publication, he cited the poet Héctor Hernández Montecinos, who used the phrase from the song: "Ni una sola palabra, ni gestos, ni miradas" in his poetic work 'La Divina Revelación', praising the poetic lyrical composition of the title.[25]
In 2021, Mexican edition Elle Magazine noted that the song was "the unexpected anthem of the snowfall in Madrid" after popularity and the viral video where people sang the song while enjoying the unexpected snowfall at Puerta del Sol. The impact was more evident in Latin America, where Rubio was a trending topic and the social media and media marked her as a cultural legacy.[26] That same year, the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León approved the publication of a book compiled by writer Elma Correa entitled "Ni una sola palabra", which portrays Rubio as a sui generis of pop culture.[27]
Cover versions
The song was covered on the 2007 Catalonia TV show El Club by Televisió de Catalunya, in a Spanish singer Roger Mas Catalan-inspired performance acoustic renamed "Ni Una Sola Paraula".[28] It was included in his EP Cançons Estranyes (2010).[29] Finland dance-pop group Unelmavävyt recorded a Finnish-language cover of "Ni Una Sola Palabra", renamed "Kanssas kävelen rantaa" for their album, Lauluja Tytöistä Ja Pojista (2011).[30] Spanish musician Yorch covered the song with "more electric and darker overtones than the festive pop of the original" on a promotional single.[31]
Track listings and formats
- US / Europe CD single[32]
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" – 3:55
- US Maxi-CD[33]
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" (Album Version) – 3:55
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" (Pasito Duranguense version) – 3:46
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" (Norteña version) – 3:25
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" (Don Candiani Reggaton Remix) Feat. Trebol Clan – 3:16
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" (Nico Prosen B.A. mix) – 4:55
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" (DJ Hessler In Da House Extended Version) – 7:49
- "Ni Una Sola Palabra" (DJ Hessler In Da House Radio Mix) – 3:42
Personnel
The following people contributed to "Ni Una Sola Palabra":[34]
- Paulina Rubio – lead vocals
- Xabier San Martín Beldarrían - songwriting, all instruments
- Cachorro López — production, backing vocals, vocal production
- Peter Mokran - mixing, additional engineering
- Sebastian Schon - bass (vocal), backing vocals
- Juan Abalos - mastering
- Recorded at Ananda Studios in Di Lido Island, Florida
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Finland | — | 3,946[51] |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[53] | 3× Platinum | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mexico | July 22, 2006 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Universal | [3] |
Various | July 24, 2006 | [4] | |||
Russia | September 20, 2006 | [39] |
See also
References
Citations
- Guerra, Anita (4 June 2021). "Cinco curiosidades de La Oreja de Van Gogh: su grito de guerra, la conexión con Paulina Rubio..." (in Spanish). Cadena 100. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- López, Juanra (17 June 2021). "Xabi San Martín: "Paulina Rubio es muy cariñosa y muy leal con su gente"" (in Spanish). Vanitatis. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio: "Ni Una Sola Palabra"" (in Spanish). Los 40 Principales (México). 24 July 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio ya no dice "Ni una sola palabra"". adonis.com.mx (in Spanish). 22 July 2006. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio: "Ni Una Sola Palabra"" (in Spanish). Los 40 Principales (Mexico). 24 July 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- "Paulina estrena "Ni una sola palabra"" (in Spanish). Nuevo Siglo. 8 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- "Latin Billboard (charts)". Billboard. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio lanza al mercado su nuevo disco llamado 'Ananda'" (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- "Paquito Chocolatero arrasa". El País. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- "Las 10 canciones y discos más vendidos de 2006 en iTunes". 20minutos.es. 20 Minutos. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- Ananda Deluxe (DVD material). Paulina Rubio. Universal Music Latino. 2007. 8614-00.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "SHOT: Paulina Rubio - Paul Boyd, director". VideoStatic. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- "Paulina estrena "Ni una sola palabra"" (in Spanish). Nuevo Siglo. 8 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- "Ananda de Paulina Rubio al detalle" (in Spanish). 18 August 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- "Paulina Rubio: Los 5 looks más atrevidos que la convirtieron en la reina del pop en México" (in Spanish). El Heraldo de México. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- "Paulina Rubio - Ni Una Sola Palabra". Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio triunfa en MTV Málaga Summer 2006". cronica.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio le da el toque mexicano al Premio Nobel" (in Spanish). Los 40 Principales. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- "El Canto del Loco, gran ganador de los Premios Principales 2006". El País (in Spanish). 16 December 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- Baragaño, Techu (28 February 2007). "Cadena Dial reúne a los embajadores de la música en castellano". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio y Miguel Bosé iluminan los Premios Billboard de Música Latina" (in Spanish). El Mundo. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- Madirgal, Alejandro. "Ameniza Paulina Rubio final de Latin American Idol" (in Spanish). El Universal. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- Villa, Lucas (16 September 2020). "Hispanic Heritage 2020: The Beat Goes On With 11 Iconic Remixes". Billboard. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- Lovera, María (17 June 2020). "'Y yo sigo aquí' y otras canciones de Paulina Rubio que marcaron los 2000". as.com. Diario AS. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- Iturra, Jorge Montealegre (January 2018). Wurlitzer: Cantantes en la memoria chilena. ISBN 9789569985447. Retrieved 25 January 2021 – via Books Google.
- "Paulina Rubio se convierte en el himno inesperado de la nevada en Madrid". elle.mx. Elle Magazine (México). 11 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- Maristain, Mónica (30 November 2021). "Zeth Arellano, una de las participantes de la voz coral que retrata a Paulina Rubio" (in Spanish). Monica Maristain. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- "TV3 - El Club - Roger Mas: "Ni una sola paraula"". TV3 (Official Channel YouTube). Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Cançons Estranyes - EP". music.apple.com. Apple. January 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Unelmavävyt on ¡Tunes". /music.apple.com. Apple. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Yorch nos deja sin 'Ni una sola palabra'" (in Spanish). Sevilla Disonante. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- "Paulina Rubio – Ni Una Sola Palabra Europe CD single". Discogs. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- "Paulina Rubio – Ni Una Sola Palabra Maxi CD USA". Discogs. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- Ni Una Sola Palabra (CD Single liner notes). Universal Music. July 2006.
- "Las canciones más populares". Lincoln Journal Star. February 22, 2007. p. 40. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Las Diez Canciones Más Populares". Lincoln Journal Star. January 25, 2007. p. 48. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "PAULINA RUBIO - Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- "Latauslista 30/2007". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- "Charts Position - Paulina Rubio". Tophit. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
- "Charts - Singles - Hot Latin Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
- "Charts - Singles - Latin Pop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
- "PAULINA RUBIO - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- "PAULINA RUBIO - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- "PAULINA RUBIO - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- "Paulina Rubio Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
- "Las Diez Canciones Más Populares". Lincoln Journal Star. January 11, 2007. p. 48. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Record Report Top Latino". Record Report. August 17, 2006. Archived from the original on August 14, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- "Hot Latin Songs: Year End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- "Hot Latin Songs: Year End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- "Hot Latin Songs: Year End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- "Myydyimmät ulkomaiset singlet vuonna 2007" (in Finnish). YLE. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- "Hot Latin Songs: Year End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- "Bisbal, Dover, Paulina Rubio y Ricky Martin, los más vendedores en el mundo digital". promusicae.es. Promusicae. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
Bibliography
- Montealegre Iturra, Jorge (2018). Wurlitzer: Cantantes en la memoria chilena. Canopus Editorial Digital. ISBN 978-956-99-8544-7.
- Correa, Elma (2021). Antología de cuento: Ni una sola palabra. Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. ISBN 978-607-27-1565-3.