Rezo (song)

"Rezo" (English: "I Pray") is a song by Puerto Rican entertainer Carlos Ponce from his 1998 eponymous debut album. The song was co-written by Ponce and Freddy Piñero, Jr. with productions being handled by Emilio Estefan and Kike Santander. It was released as the lead single from the album on May 12, 1998. A pop and tropical power ballad with a gospel chorus, the singer leads a prayer for a woman he desires. A remix of the track was also included in the album. The song received positive reactions from three music journalists.

"Rezo"
Single by Carlos Ponce
from the album Carlos Ponce
ReleasedMay 12, 1998 (1998-05-12)
StudioCrescent Moon Studios
Miami, Florida
Genre
Length4:28 (album version)
3:36 (single version)
LabelEMI Latin
Songwriter(s)
  • Carlos Ponce
  • Freddy Piñero, Jr.
Producer(s)
Carlos Ponce singles chronology
"Rezo"
(1998)		 "Decir Adiós"
(1998)

The song was a recipient of a Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Latin Award in 2000. Commercially, it topped the charts in all the Spanish-speaking countries of Central America as well as the Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Airplay charts in the United States. It also reached number four and three in Colombia and the Mexican ballads charts, respectively. A music video for "Rezo" was filmed and features Mexican model Barbara Coppel. It was nominated in the category of Video of the Year at the 11th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards in 1999.

Background and composition

Carlos Ponce began his entertainment career as a soap opera actor and played lead roles on Guadalupe (1993) and Sentimientos Ajenos (1996).[1][2] Ponce also hosted the Spanish-language variety show Control on Univision for three years, which earned him two Ace Awards for Outstanding Host in 1996 and 1997.[2] Ponce had expressed interesting in singing and had asked requested Cuban musician Emilio Estefan to produce his album. "For eight years, I'd been telling Emilio, 'One day, I'll bring you my musical proposal'", Ponce recalled.[3] When Ponce made an appearance Spanish-language talk show El show de Cristina, he was asked to sing. The following day, he received calls from record labels asking Ponce to sign on to their company.[4] Ponce chose to record with EMI Latin citing the label's lack of Latin male balladeers. EMI Latin president José Behar approached Estefan to work with Ponce on the record, which the latter agreed to after listening to the artist's performance. Ponce explained that he wanted to collaborate with Estefan to help him potentially crossover to the English-language market.[3]

Ponce's self-titled debut album was eventually released on May 19, 1998, which AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes as an "engaging, if formulaic, collection of Latin pop".[5] Estefan and Kike Santander handled the record's productions and recording took place at the Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.[5][6] One of the four pop sentimental ballads he composed for the album was "Rezo",[6] which was co-written with Freddy Piñero, Jr. and inspired by a poem Ponce once wrote.[7] A "percussive" tropical ballad with a "pop-meets-gospel anthem",[8] A "tale of reticent love",[7] Ponce leads a prayer in which he promises a woman that he desires that she will see "what is it like to live" when she is with him.[9] The song's gospel chorus is performed by students from the Escuela Libre de Música.[10] A club remix of the track was also included on the album.[5]

Promotion and reception

"Rezo" as released as the album's lead single on May 12, 1998.[11] Ponce performed the song live on Sábado Gigante,[12] the "Concert of the Century" at the Miami Arena, and on the promotional tour for the album.[13] Ponce also sung an unplugged Spanglish version on the Live with Regis and Kathie Lee show.[14] The Miami Herald critic Leila Cobo called the track a "crowd-pleaser".[3] Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News stated that "Rezo" is "one of those undeniable songs" and admired Ponce's "passionate" baritone.[8] Writing for the Houston Chronicle, Joey Guerra felt that the track "achieves a genuine sweetness in ballad form" and that its chorus gives it a "soulful flavor".[7] Guerra also complimented the song's remix which he described as "slick".[7] It was acknowledged as an award-winning song at the 2000 BMI Latin Awards.[15] A music video for "Rezo" was filmed which Cobo considered to be "sexy" and features Mexican model Barbara Coppel;[3][16] it was nominated in the category of Video of the Year at the 11th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards,[17] but lost to "Esperanza" by Enrique Iglesias.[18]

Commercially, the song topped the charts in the Spanish-speaking countries of Central America.[19][20][21][22][23] It was a top-five hit in Colombia and on the Mexican ballads chart.[24][25] In the US, "Rezo" debuted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on the week of June 13, 1998.[26] The single reached on top of the chart three weeks later, succeeding "Suavemente" by Elvis Crespo. It spent three consecutive weeks in this position before being replaced by Alejandro Fernández's song "Yo Nací Para Amarte".[27] The track also reached the top of the Latin Pop Airplay chart where it spent a total of eight weeks in this position, tying with Fernández's "No Sé Olvidar" as the longest-leading number song of the year.[28]

Charts

Formats and track listings

Spanish promotional single[32]

  1. Rezo (radio remix) – 4:18
  2. Rezo (extended club remix) – 7:47
  3. Rezo (dub mix) – 5:43

Spanish promotional single[33]

  1. "Rezo" – 3:36

See also

References
  1. Bonacich, Drago. "Carlos Ponce Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  2. "International Award Winning Actor Carlos Ponce to Release Debut Album". Business Wire (in Spanish). May 21, 1998. p. 1.
  3. Cobo, Leila (June 28, 1998). "Latin Singer Debuts with Eclectic Mix". Miami Herald. p. 61. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  4. Flores, Marth E (July 9, 1998). "Charismatic actor has voice to match". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 37.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Carlos Ponce – Carlos Ponce | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  6. Burr, Ramiro (March 22, 1998). "Latin Notes: Hall of Fame Spot to Add to Ranchera King's Honors". San Antonio Express-News. p. 5J.
  7. Guerra, Joey (June 28, 1998). "Recordings". Houston Chronicle. p. 6.
  8. Tarradell, Mario (August 6, 1998). "Pouncing on the Charts Carlos Ponce Worked Hard for Sudden Success". Dallas Morning News. p. 5C. 'Rezo' is one of those undeniable songs. A percussive tropical ballad, the tune, penned by Ponce, erupts into a pop-meets-gospel anthem anchored by the singer's passionate baritone.
  9. "Carlos Ponce demuestra que también sabe cantar". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). March 31, 1998. p. 34. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  10. Rivera, Manuel Ernesto (June 19, 1998). "Carlos Ponce el nuevo idolo de la balada". El Diario La Prensa (in Spanish). p. 31.
  11. "Carlos Ponce debuta como cantante". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). May 12, 1998. p. 32. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  12. "Carlos Ponce se lanza de cantante en Miami". Palabra (in Spanish). May 30, 1998. p. 5.
  13. Cobo, Leila (June 12, 1998). "Star-studded Latino Lineup Poised to Thrill". Miami Herald. p. 29G. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  14. Guerra, Joey (September 15, 1998). "Latin singer Carlos Ponce Skyrockets to Stardom". Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
  15. "BMI Honors Top Latin Writers and Publishers". Broadcast Music, Inc. May 1, 2000. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  16. Coco Diva (October 2021). "Que Buen Chal". El Norte.
  17. "¿Quiénes se llevarán esta noche el Premio Lo Nuestro "99?". Panamá América (in Spanish). Grupo Epasa. May 6, 1999. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  18. "Lo Nuestro – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  19. "Chris Duran en los primeros lugares de popularidad en Centroamérica". El Siglo de Torreón. August 28, 1998. p. 93. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  20. "Carlos Ponce mantiene liderato en Centroamérica". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). August 9, 1998. p. 125. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  21. "Domina listas de popularidad". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). July 15, 1998. p. 45.
  22. "Carlos Ponce vuelve a los primeros lugares de populardiad". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). September 14, 1998. p. 87. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  23. "Carlos Ponce: En la cima de popularidad". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). July 27, 1998. p. 38. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  24. "Shakira ocupa primeros lugares de popularidad en Colombia". El Siglo de Torreón. October 20, 1998. p. 61. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  25. "Listas de Popularidad". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). September 1, 1998. p. 62. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  26. "Hot Latin Songs: The Week of June 13, 1998". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 13, 1998. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  27. "Hot Latin Songs – 1998 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  28. Lannert, John (January 9, 1999). "Latin Notas". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 2. Nielsen Business Media. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  29. "Carlos Ponce Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  30. "Carlos Ponce Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  31. "1998: The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-66. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  32. Rezo – Remix (Media notes). Carlos Ponce. Spain: EMI Latin. 1998. PE 98067.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. Rezo (CD Single) (Media notes). Carlos Ponce. United States: EMI Latin. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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