Un Poco de Amor

"Un Poco de Amor" (English: "A Little Bit of Love") is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, taken from her third studio album Pies Descalzos. It was released on May 16, 1996, by Sony Music and Columbia Records as the fourth single from the album. The song was written and produced by Shakira and Luis Fernando Ochoa. "Un Poco de Amor" is a Latin pop song that incorporates reggae elements. Lyrically, it states that Shakira is waiting to find someone who loves her.

For other uses, see Un Poco de Amor (disambiguation).

"Un Poco de Amor"
Single by Shakira
from the album Pies Descalzos
ReleasedMay 16, 1996 (1996-05-16)
Recorded1995
Genre
Length4:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Shakira
  • Luis Fernando Ochoa
Producer(s)
  • Shakira
  • Luis Fernando Ochoa
Shakira singles chronology
"Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos"
(1996)		 "Un Poco de Amor"
(1996)		 "Antología"
(1997)
Music video
"Un Poco de Amor" on YouTube

Upon its release, "Un Poco de Amor" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who recognized it as a stand-out track from Pies Descalzos. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs component charts. While less successful than its preceding singles, its performance continued to aid its parent album in becoming her breakthrough record, which eventually attained platinum certifications in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and the United States.

A Portuguese-language translation of the track titled "Um Pouco de Amor" appeared on Shakira's first remix album The Remixes in 1997. The song has additionally been performed during two of her concert tours to date.

Background and composition

Shakira released her first official studio album Pies Descalzos in 1995 by Sony Music and Columbia Records. Assuming a prominent position in its production, she co-wrote and co-produced each of the eleven tracks included on the record. Serviced as the fourth single from the project, "Un Poco de Amor" saw additional songwriting and production from Luis Fernando Ochoa.[1] The track is heavily influenced by Latin pop elements, and additionally incorporates reggae styles.[2] Lyrically, it states that Shakira is waiting to find someone who loves her.[3] It became her first track to include phrases in English, performed by the uncredited Colombian reggae singer Howard Glasford.[4]

The accompanying music video for "Un Poco de Amor" was directed by Gustavo Garzón.[5] The clip depicts a black-haired and red-haired Shakira dancing with Glasford, in addition to members of various ethnic groups.[6] The music video received a Billboard Latin Music Award for Pop Video of the Year.[7] A Portuguese version of the song, entitled "Um Pouco de Amor", was included in Shakira's 1997 remix album The Remixes.[8]

Reception

Upon its release, "Un Poco de Amor" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who recognized it as a stand-out track from Pies Descalzos. Carlos Quintana of About.com complimented the track for its reggae influences, and placed it among his personal favorites from the record.[9] Similarly, Jose F. Promis from Allmusic praised it for being a "dancehall-lite" track, going on to select the song as an "Allmusic Pick".[10] The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs and Latin Songs component charts.[11] While less successful than its preceding singles, its performance continued to aid its parent album in becoming her breakthrough record, which eventually attained platinum certifications in Argentina,[12] Brazil,[13] and the United States.[14] Pies Descalzos was also awarded the "Diamond Prism" award in Colombia.[15]

In 1996, "Un Poco de Amor" was included in the reissue of Pies Descalzos, titled Colección de Oro.[16] In 2002, it was featured as the third track for Shakira's first greatest hits album Grandes Éxitos.[17] Its appearance in both records was complimented as being reminiscent of her rise to prominence.[16][17]

Live performances

Shakira has performed "Un Poco de Amor" during two of her concert tours thus far. She first performed the track in Mexico City during her Tour Pies Descalzos, which ran from 1996 through 1997.[18] It was also included during the Tour of the Mongoose, held in support of her third studio album Laundry Service. The song was notably absent from her Tour Anfibio, Oral Fixation Tour, The Sun Comes Out World Tour, and El Dorado World Tour.[19]

Track listing
Mexican Promo CD[20]
  1. "Un Poco De Amor"
  2. "Un Poco De Amor" (Memes Dancehall Posse Mix)
  3. "Un Poco De Amor" (The Extended Dancehall 12)
  4. "Un Poco De Amor" (Memes Jazz Experience)
  5. "Un Poco De Amor" (Instrumental)

Charts
Chart (1996) Peak
position
US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[11] 11
Venezuela (UPI)[21] 4

References
  1. Pies Descalzos (Media notes). Shakira. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. 1996. Retrieved June 7, 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. "Shakira Bio". MTV Artists. Viacom. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  3. "Shakira - Un Poco de Amor Lyrics". Metrolyrics. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved June 7, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "Shakira Feat Howard Glasford". Last.fm. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  5. "Un Poco De Amor - Video by Shakira". Myspace. 2 June 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  6. "SHakira - Un Poco de Amor". YouTube. April 6, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  7. Lannert, John (May 3, 1997). "The Winners Are..." Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 18. Prometheus Global Media. p. LMQ-12. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  8. "iTunes - Music - The Remixes by Shakira". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. October 21, 1997. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  9. Carlos Quintana. "Shakira – 'Pies Descalzos' CD Review". About.com. IAC. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  10. Jose F. Promis. "Pies Descalzos - Shakira". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  11. "Shakira - Chart history". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  12. "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  13. "Brazilian certifications – Shakira" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  14. "American album certifications – Shakira – Pies Descalzos". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  15. "Shakira Inc" (in Spanish). Semana. June 16, 1997. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  16. Colección de Oro (Media notes). Shakira. Sony Music. Columbia Records. 1996. Retrieved June 7, 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Grandes Éxitos (Media notes). Shakira. Sony Music. Columbia Records. 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Ximena Diego (2002-01-10). Shakira: Woman Full of Grace. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 70. ISBN 0743216687. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  19. "Shakira Tour Statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  20. "Shakira - Un Poco De Amor (Remixes) (CD)". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  21. "Discos populares en Latinoamérica". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). May 18, 1996.
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