Ríe y Llora

In 2001, Cruz released her fifty-ninth album, La Negra Tiene Tumbao. The album featured a top ten single, in its title track as well as another relatively successful single, "Hay Que Empezar Otra Vez".[3] "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" peaked at number thirty on the Billboard Latin Songs chart and number four on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart.[3] It received nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2002.[4][5] The album won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album.[6] It was nominated for Album of the Year.[4]

In December 2002,[7] Cruz was sidelined by a brain tumor.[8] In early 2003,[9] following a partially successful surgery to remove the tumor, Cruz returned to the studio to record Regalo del Alma,[8] weeks after the operation.[10] Cruz later died on 16 July 2003 of brain cancer,[11][12][13] at the age of 77.[8] Cruz asked that the song be the lead single for the album, "as it was the song in which she identified with."[14] "Ríe y Llora" was the final song recorded before her death.[14]

The song was composed in minor key tonality with joyful lyrics and catchy hooks. It features the use of a piano, brass horn ensemble and prominent percussion. It takes influence from Afro-Latin music.[15] The song experiments in pop balladry, accompanied by the use of an electric guitar.[16] According to a biography of Cruz, the song "is about laughing and crying. Cruz reminds her listeners to live their lives fully and enjoy every moment."[17] Cuban writer Jose Quiroga claimed the song to be "an appeal to live for the moment, and to understand that forgiveness is not forgetting, but rather the possibility of remembering without pain."[18] He opined that the song was appropriately titled.[18] The song is sequel to the songwriter's previous collaboration on Cruz's "La Negra Tiene Tumbao". The label wanted a new "La Negra Tiene Tumbao".[19]

The song received an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers award for Tropical Song of the Year.[20] At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2004, the song won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song.[21] At the ceremony, Regalo del Alma was awarded the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album.[22] It also received the Grammy Award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards.[23] At the 2004 Latin Billboard Music Awards, the song received a nomination for "Tropical Airplay Track of the Year by a Female Artist".[24] "Rie y Llora" was awarded Best Latin Dance Song at the 19th Annual International Dance Music Awards.[25] It is considered one of Cruz's most significant songs.[26] According to the Spanish-language newspaper, El Pais, the song helped relieve the "nostalgia" caused by Cruz's death.[27] The song was covered by Raul Bier and Pablo Delvillar on the tribute album Tributo a Celia Cruz: Bachata Con Azucar (2003),[28] by Maruja on her debut studio album Azuca! (2005),[29]

• List of number-one Billboard Hot Tropical Songs of 2003