Sol, Arena y Mar

In 1997, Luis Miguel released his twelfth studio album Romances, the third record in his Romance series on which he covers classic Latin American boleros.[2] It sold over 4.5 million copies and won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance in 1998.[3][4] To promote Romances, he embarked on a tour of the United States, Latin America, and Spain lasting over a year.[5] By 1998, Miguel was considered the most popular Latin artist internationally and his albums had sold over 35 million copies worldwide.[6] Miguel began a relationship with American singer Mariah Carey the following year.[7] After an absence of two years on the music scene, Miguel announced on 19 July 1999 that he would release a new album by September. On the same day, he also released the album's first single "Sol, Arena y Mar".[7] Four versions of the single were released which includes the album version and three remixes done by Danny Saber.[8] He said the upcoming album would be a return to pop as opposed to the bolero cover versions he had recorded on the Romance series. He also denied rumors that he was planning to record a duet with Carey.[9] The album's final title, Amarte Es un Placer was announced on 17 August 1999.[10]

Miguel confirmed that it was the first album where he was more involved in the tracks' composition. In addition to Miguel co-writing several of the record's tracks, he was assisted by other composers including Armando Manzanero, Juan Carlos Calderón, and Arturo Perez.[1][9] Recording took place at the A&M Studios, Cello Studios, Ocean Way Recording, Watersound, and the Record Plant in Hollywood, California with Miguel handling the production himself.[11][12]

"Sol, Arena y Mar" is a horn-driven pop track with jazz influences which describes the "pain of separation" of a love that "disappeared as quickly as the foam at the seashore".[8][13] It was composed by Miguel, Arturo Perez, Francisco Loyo, and Salo Loyo.[14] The song's lyrics was rumored to have been based on Miguel's previous relationship with Daisy Fuentes.[10] A live version of "Sol, Arena y Mar" was included on the album Vivo (2000).[15] The track was also added to the compilation album Grandes Éxitos (2005).[16]

"Sol, Arena y Mar" was met with mixed reviews by music critics. AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis felt the horn arrangements gave the song a "jazzy, sophisticated, adult-leaning feel."[14] John Lannert of Billboard was unimpressed with the track calling it a "vapid, uptempo number about a downtrodden affair" and criticized its "weary arrangements and uninspired musicianship".[17] Houston Chronicle critic Joey Guerra chided the tune as a "tepid mix of blaring horns and uninspired lyrics".[12] Newsday editor Richard Torres stated that Miguel's vocals "provides perfect counterpoint to the peppy horn arrangement" on the song.[18] Leila Cobo of the Miami Herald editor noted that "Sol, Arena y Mar" was similar to the uptempo tracks from Aries.[6]

The Dallas Morning News critic Mario Tarradell called "Sol, Arena y Mar" a "guilty pleasure" and found it to be the "most reminiscent of the catchy fare on 1993's wonderful Aries".[13] Ernesto Lechner wrote for the Los Angeles Times that the song lacks "the sophistication that defines most pop today".[19] Ramiro Burr of the San Antonio Express-News praised the track stating that the "sensuous horns are marvelous, the sweeping vocal harmonies enticing, but it's Luis Miguel's piercing tenor that grabs you" [8] "Sol, Arena y Mar" was recognized as one of the best-performing Latin songs of the year at the 2001 BMI Latin Awards.[20]

In the United States, "Sol, Arena y Mar" debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on the week of 21 August 1999.[21] It peaked at number three on the chart two weeks later.[22][23] The track also peaked at number two on the Latin Pop Songs chart with the number one position being held by Ricky Martin's song "Bella".[24][25] In Spain, the remix version of the track peaked at number two,[26] and was the 20th best selling CD-Single of 1999.[27] The song reached number one in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.[28] The single was sold over 50,000 copies the first day of its release, and two million almost two months after.[29][10]

CD Single[30]

1. "Sol, Arena y Mar" (radio version) – 3:19
2. "Sol, Arena y Mar" (club remix) – 4:34
3. "Sol, Arena y Mar" (club remix - instrumental) – 4:34
4. "Sol, Arena y Mar" (Danny Saber remix) – 4:23

Credits adapted from the Amarte Es un Placer liner notes.[11]

• Luis Miguel – producer, lyrics, vocals
• Francisco Loyo – music, arrangement
• Salo Loyo – music
• Arturo Perez – lyrics
• Jerry Hey – brass arrangement