Mi Tierra

Mi Tierra (My Homeland) is the third studio album by Cuban-American recording artist Gloria Estefan, released on June 22, 1993, by Epic Records. Produced by husband Emilio Estefan, it is a Spanish-language album and pays homage to her Cuban roots. The album features Cuban musical genres, including boleros, danzón and son music. Recorded at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida, Mi Tierra features notable Latin musicians such as Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Cachao López, Chamin Correa and Paquito D'Rivera.

Mi Tierra
Black-and-white image of a woman sitting at a table in a nightclub
Studio album by
Gloria Estefan
ReleasedJune 22, 1993 (1993-06-22)
Recorded1992–1993
StudioCrescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida
Genre
[1]
Length55:18
LanguageSpanish
LabelEpic
Producer
Gloria Estefan chronology
Greatest Hits
(1992)		 Mi Tierra
(1993)		 Christmas Through Your Eyes
(1993)
Singles from Mi Tierra
  1. "Mi Tierra"
    Released: June 1993
  2. "Con Los Años Que Me Quedan/If We Were Lovers"
    Released: August/September 1993
  3. "Tradición"
    Released: October 1993
  4. "¡Sí Señor!..."
    Released: October 1993
  5. "Montuno"
    Released: December 1993
  6. "Mi Buen Amor"
    Released: January 1994
  7. "Ayer"
    Released: May 1994

The album was an international success, selling over five million copies worldwide. In the United States it was the first record to reach number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, spending 58 weeks at #1 (longest running #1 album on the chart ever).[2] It also peaked at number twenty-seven on the Billboard 200 chart. Mi Tierra has sold over one million copies in the US and Spain. The album received favorable reviews from critics, who praised the album's production, songs and Estefan's vocals. Its success won the singer a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album. Mi Tierra spawned seven singles: "Mi Tierra", "Con Los Años Que Me Quedan", "Tradición", "Montuno", "¡Sí Señor!...", "Mi Buen Amor" and "Ayer".

Background

Gloria Estefan had wanted to record a Spanish-language album reflecting her Cuban heritage since the beginning of her musical career.[3] Before recording in English, Estefan and her band performed at Latin nightclubs;[4] she also remembered her grandmother teaching her old Cuban songs. Music had an important role in Estefan's family; her paternal grandmother was a poet, and an uncle played the flute in a salsa band.[3] The singer's desire to record an album in Spanish was also influenced by her son, Nayib; she wanted him to recognize his Cuban heritage.[4]

Recording and production

Mi Tierra was produced by Estefan's husband, Emilio Estefan, and fellow Miami Sound Machine members Clay Ostwald and Jorge Casas.[5] It features notable Latin musicians, including Nestor Torres, Cachao López, Paquito Hechavarría, Chamin Correa, Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Luis Enrique and Tito Puente.[6] Additional performers include Sheila E. and the London Symphony Orchestra.[6][7] The album was recorded at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.[8] Celia Cruz was invited to perform, but was unable to do so because of her touring schedule.[3] The album's cover features Estefan in a black-and-white photo at a Havana nightclub before the Cuban Revolution.[9]

Musical style and songs

The opening track on the album, "Con los Años Que Me Quedan" ("With the Years I Have Left"), is a Cuban bolero song. Three other bolero tracks on Mi Tierra are "Mi Buen Amor" ("My True Love"), "Volverás" ("You'll Be Back"), and "Hablas de Mí" ("You're Talking About Me").[5][10] The title track details the passion of Estefan's homeland in a salsa arrangement.[5] In "Ayer" ("Yesterday") the singer finds a flower given to her by a lover and yearns for him to return, since life is short. Its music combines bolero and son music.[11] "No Hay Mal Que Por Bien No Venga" ("Out of All Bad, Some Good Things Come") is a danzón recalling a brief love affair.[5]

"¡Sí Señor" ("Yes Sir!") is another son track featured on the album.[6] The bolero "Volverás" was later covered by Mexican recording artist Alejandro Fernández on his album Me Estoy Enamorando (1997), also produced by Emilio Estefan.[12] "Montuno" takes its name from the musical genre of the same name.[13] "Hablemos El Mismo Idioma" ("Let's Speak The Same Language") is an anthem, reaching out to other Spanish-speaking groups, telling them that since they speak the same language they should leave their differences behind.[14] The album closes with "Tradición" ("Traditional"), which is performed as a guaguancó.[5]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Chicago Tribune[15]
Entertainment Weekly(favorable)[16]
Music Week[17]
Orlando Sentinel[13]
Sun-Sentinel(favorable)[5]

Jose F. Promis of AllMusic awarded the album four stars out of five, calling it "one of [Estefan's] most satisfying."[14] Mi Tierra was "a breezy, sunny album with moments of melancholy," and "one of her most consistent albums to date."[14] Achy Obejas of the Chicago Tribune gave the album four out of four stars, praised it as "dispensing with the brash sound of more contemporary salsa" and lauded Emilio Estefan for the album's production.[15] Anne Hurley of Entertainment Weekly said that Mi Tierra "will whirl you through an intoxicating landscape of traditional Cuban rhythms and aromatic flavors," and applauded the guest musicians on the album.[16]

Parry Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel gave Mi Tierra four out of five stars, commending the album as "uncompromising, offering up songs and arrangements firmly rooted in Cuban traditions."[13] He compared it to Estefan's earlier recordings with the Miami Sound Machine, including her musical style and songwriting: "She ditches the synths and employs the London Symphony Orchestra's strings to graceful effect...abandoning melodrama for real color and emotional shading."[13] John Lannert described Mi Tierra for the Sun-Sentinel as "Estefan's Latin 'unplugged' album" and her "most satisfying effort to date."[5]

Accolades

At the 36th Grammy Awards, Mi Tierra was the Best Tropical Latin Album.[18] At the 6th Lo Nuestro Awards Estefan received two awards in the tropical category, for Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.[19] The singer was Female Artist of the Year at the first Billboard Latin Music Awards, and Mi Tierra was Album of the Year in the tropical-salsa category.[7] At the 1994 Spanish Ondas Awards, Mi Tierra was the Best International Album and Estefan the Best International Artist. It was recognized as the best-selling Latin album of the year with a 1993–94 NARM Best Seller Award.[20] In 2015, Billboard listed Mi Tierra as one of the Essential Latin Albums of Past 50 Year stating that "Through son, she transports us to a magical place in the '50s where time stood still on her beloved island".[21]

Commercial performance

Album

In the United States, Mi Tierra peaked at number twenty-seven on the Billboard 200 chart.[22] It was the first number-one album on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, established when it was released.[23] The album spent a total of fifty-eight weeks atop the chart, until it was displaced by Selena's album Amor Prohibido the week of June 11, 1994.[24] It was more successful on the Billboard Tropical Albums chart, where it spent ninety-one weeks on top.[25] Mi Tierra debuted at number one on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart the week of July 10, 1993, but it was removed from the chart following week since it did not meet its criteria.[26]

Mi Tierra ended 1994 as the best-selling Latin album of the year in the United States.[27] The album was certified 16× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America by Latin standards, for shipments of 1.6 million copies in the U.S.[28] As of October 2017, it sold 1,232,000 copies in the U.S., making it the sixth bestselling Latin album in the country.[29] According to Billboard, most purchasers did not speak Spanish.[30] In Latin America, the album was certified double platinum in Argentina and triple platinum in Mexico.[31][32] It sold over 30,000 copies in Chile.[33]

In Europe, Mi Tierra peaked at number fifty-nine in Germany,[34] number nine in the Netherlands,[35] number one in Spain,[36] number twenty-five in Switzerland and number eleven in the United Kingdom.[37] The album was certified 10× platinum in Spain (for shipping one million copies) and certified gold in Switzerland.[38][39] It also sold 200,000 in England.[40] Mi Tierra was the 60th-best-selling album of the 1990s,[41] and sold over five million copies worldwide (four million outside the U.S.).[40]

Singles

"Mi Tierra" was the first single released from the album. In the United States, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and number five on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[42] In Europe, the song peaked at number seventy-seven on the Media Control charts in Germany, twenty-seventh on the Mega Single Top 100 chart in Netherlands and thirty-sixth on the UK Singles Chart.[43][44][45] The second single, "Con Los Años Que Me Quedan", also reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States.[46] An English version, "If We Were Lovers", was released as a single and peaked at number forty on the UK Singles Chart.[47] The third single, "Tradición", reached number one the Hot Dance Clubs chart in the United States.[48]

"Montuno" was the fourth single released from the album, peaking at number fifty-five on the UK Singles chart.[49] The fifth single, "¡Sí Señor!..." peaked at number forty-four on the Mega Single Top 100 chart in the Netherlands.[50] The sixth, "Mi Buen Amor", reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States.[51] The last single released from the album was "Ayer", which peaked at number five on the Hot Latin Songs chart.[52]

Track listing
  • Official translations provided by Allmusic and by Gloria Estefan on the Mi Tierra liner notes.[8][14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Con Los Años Que Me Quedan (With the Years That I Have Left)"
4:36
2."Mi Tierra (My Homeland)"
4:38
3."Ayer (Yesterday)"Juanito R. Marquez5:17
4."Mi Buen Amor (My True Love)"
  • Estefan
  • Estéfano
3:50
5."Tus Ojos (Your Eyes)"
  • Estefan, Jr.
  • Estéfano
4:11
6."No Hay Mal Que por Bien No Venga (Out of All Bad, Some Good Things Come)"
5:28
7."¡Sí Señor!... (Yes Sir, It's "My S-O-N")"Juanito R. Marquez4:40
8."Volverás (You'll Be Back)"
  • Estefan
  • Rafael Ferro
3:55
9."Montuno"Marquez4:57
10."Hablemos El Mismo Idioma (Let's Speak The Same Language)"
  • Estefan, Jr.
  • Estefan
4:45
11."Hablas de Mí (You're Talking About Me)"Jorge Luis Piloto3:40
12."Tradición (Tradition)"Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr.5:21

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic and the Mi Tierra liner notes.[8][53]

Performers
  • Randy Barlow – arranger, trumpet, background vocals
  • Rafael "Felo" Barrio – timbales
  • Cachao – arranger, bajo sexto, bass guitar
  • Jorge Casas – arranger, bajo sexto, bass guitar, background vocals, twelve-string guitar, producer, très
  • Alejandro Correa, Alfredo Correa – background vocals
  • Chamin Correa – guitar, requinto, background vocals
  • Paquito D'Rivera – saxophone
  • Luis Enrique – bass guitar, percussion, timbales
  • Emilio Estefan Jr. – arranger, producer
  • Gloria Estefan – arranger, background vocals, lead vocals
  • Estéfano – arranger
  • Nelson González – bass guitar, percussion, très
  • Paquito Hechavarría – piano
  • Sebastian Krys
  • London Symphony Orchestra – strings
  • Juanito Márquez – guitar
  • Teddy Mulet – arranger, trombone, trumpet, background vocals
  • Alfredo Oliva – viola
  • Jorge Orbon, Robert Basso, Max Teppich, Alexander Prilutchi – violin
  • Clay Ostwald – arranger, piano, producer, timbales
  • Rafael Padilla – bass, percussion
  • Tito Puente – congas, timbales
  • Cheíto Quinonez – trumpet, background vocals
  • Serena Radaelli – estilista
  • Roberto Luis Rodriguez, Arturo Sandoval – trumpet
  • Jon Secada – background vocals
  • Sheila E. – congas, timbales
  • Jorge Sicre – cello
  • Debbie Spring – charango, cuerda, viola, violin
  • Néstor Torres – flute

Technical
  • Mike Couzzi – mixing
  • Nancy Donald – art direction
  • Charles Dye – engineer
  • Pablo Flores – mixing
  • Geoff Foster – assistant
  • Noel Harris – assistant
  • Mark Krieg – assistant
  • Patrice Wilkinson Levinsohn – engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Frank Miret – engineer
  • Lance Phillips – assistant
  • Phil Ramone – mixing
  • Andrew Roshberg – assistant
  • Eric Schilling – engineer, mixing
  • Ron Taylor – engineer
  • Alberto Tolot – photography
  • Francesca Tolot – make-Up
  • Christine Wilson – design
  • Javier Vacas – assistant

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[31] 2× Platinum 120,000^
Chile — 30,000[63]
Mexico (AMPROFON)[32] 3× Platinum 800,000[40]
Netherlands (NVPI)[64] Platinum 100,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[39] 10× Platinum 1,000,000[40]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[38] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom — 200,000[65]
United States (RIAA)[28] 16× Platinum (Latin) 1,232,000[29]
Summaries
Worldwide — 5,200,000[lower-alpha 1]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Notes
  1. According to Billboard magazine, Mi Tierra sold over 1,2 million copies in the US[29] and another 4 million in the rest of the world.[40]

References
  1. Lannert, John (June 20, 1993). "Disc Satisfying, Convincing". Sun-Sentinel. Tribune Company. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  2. "In Honor of Hispanic Heritage, Here Are The 20 Longest-Leading No. 1s on the Top Latin Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  3. Lopetegui, Ernesto (June 22, 1993). "Q&A With Gloria Estefan : 'Mi Tierra': Paying Tribute to Her Roots". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  4. Herrmann, Brenda (June 24, 1993). "'Mi Tierra' Gloria Estefan Draws Inspiration From The Heritage Of Her Cuban Roots". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  5. Lannert, John (June 20, 1993). "Disc Satisfying, Convincing". Sun-Sentinel. Tribune Company. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  6. Morales, Ed (2003). The Latin Beat: The Rhythms And Roots Of Latin Music From Bossa Nova To Salsa And Beyond. De Capo. p. 153. ISBN 9780786730209. gloria estefan mi tierra luis enrique cachao.
  7. Lannert, John (May 21, 1994). "First Latin Music Awards Recognize Range of Talent". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 32. Prometheus Global Media. p. LM-52. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  8. Mi Tierra (CD liner). Gloria Estefan. United States: Epic. 1993. EK 53807.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Shiner, Lo (July 22, 1993). "Gloria Estefan calls new album of Cuban music 'labor of love'". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Journal Communications. p. 106. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  10. Alberola, Rafael (2008). What a wonderful world (Qué mundo tan maravilloso) (in Spanish). Editorial Club Universitario. p. 53. ISBN 9788484546474.
  11. Flórez, Mercedes (2006). Mujeres, espacio y poder (in Spanish). ArCiBel Editores. p. 237. ISBN 9788493450823.
  12. "Me Estoy Enamorando — Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  13. Gettelman, Peter (July 9, 1993). "Gloria Estefan". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  14. Promis, Jose. "Mi Tierra — Review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  15. Obejas, Achy (September 23, 1993). "Tempo Recordings". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  16. Hurley, Anne (June 25, 1993). "Mi Tierra Review". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  17. Jones, Alan (June 26, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 11. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  18. "The 36th Annual Grammy Awards : And the Grammy Goes to . . . Winners According to Category". Los Angeles Times. March 2, 1994. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  19. "Lo Nuestro 1994  — Historia de Premio lo Nuestro". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. 1994. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  20. Llewellyn, Howard (April 9, 1994). "Estefan Tops 'Un Año De Rock'". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 15. Prometheus Global Media. pp. 42, 47. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  21. "Latin Music: Essential Latin Albums of Past 50 Years". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  22. "Gloria Estefan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  23. Lannert, John (July 10, 1993). "Latin Notas". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 26. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  24. "Top Latin Albums  — Week of June 11, 1994". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 11, 1994. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  25. "Tropical Songs  — Week of April 1, 1995". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. April 1, 1995. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  26. "Latina Pop Albums  — Week of July 10, 1993". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 11, 1993. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  27. "1994: The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52. Prometheus Global Media. December 24, 1994. p. YE-77, 80. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  28. "American album certifications – Gloria Estefan – Mi Tierra". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  29. Estevez, Marjua (October 17, 2017). "The Top 25 Biggest Selling Latin Albums of the Last 25 Years: Selena, Shakira & More". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  30. Cobo, Leila (July 28, 2007). "Gloria Gets Her Roots Back". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 30. Prometheus Global Media. p. 23. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  31. "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  32. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved April 5, 2011. Type Gloria Estefan in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Mi Tierra Combatir in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  33. Lannert, John (December 10, 1994). "Record Biz Tries To Warm A Chilly Market". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 50. Prometheus Global Media. p. 70. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  34. "Gloria Estefan – Mi Tierra". Media Control Charts (in German). Phononet GmbH. July 8, 1993. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
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  36. "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 33. Prometheus Global Media. August 14, 1993. p. 40. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
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  38. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Gloria Estefan; 'Mi Tierra')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  39. "Spanish album certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 5, 2011. Select Álbumes under "Categoría", select 2004 under "Año". Select 23 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
  40. Cobo, Leila (October 11, 2003). "Language nor a barrier for Estefan's albums". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 41. Prometheus Global Media. p. 30. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  41. Dodd, Peter (2004). 100 best selling albums of the 90s. Amber Books. p. 13. ISBN 9781904687139.
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  44. "Dutchcharts.nl — Gloria Estefan — Mi Tierra" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  45. "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  46. "Con Los Años Que Me Queden — Gloria Estefan". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  47. "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  48. "Tradición — Gloria Estefan". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  49. "The Official Charts Company;— Gloria Estefan — Montuno". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  50. "Dutchcharts.nl — Gloria Estefan — ¡Sí Señor!..." (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  51. "Mi Buen Amor — Gloria Estefan". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  52. "Gloria Estefan Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  53. Mi Tierra — Credits at AllMusic. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  54. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 95.
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  57. [{{{url}}} "{{{title}}}"]. Retrieved June 2, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  58. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1993". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  59. "LOS 50 TÍTULOS CON MAYORES VENTAS EN LAS LISTAS DE VENTAS DE AFYVE EN 1993" (PDF) (in Spanish). Anuarios SGAE. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  60. "The Year in Music: 1993 - Top Hot Latin Tracks". Billboard. December 25, 1993. p. YE-56. ISSN 0006-2510.
  61. "1995: The Year in Music". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 23, 1995. p. YE-68.
  62. "1996: The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. Prometheus Global Media. December 28, 1996. p. YE-63, 80. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  63. "Chile's Warm-up". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 10, 1994. pp. 70–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  64. "Dutch album certifications – Gloria Estefan – Mi Tierra" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved November 12, 2018. Enter Mi Tierra in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2000 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  65. Leila Cobo (October 11, 2003). Language nor a barrier for Estefan's albums. Retrieved October 27, 2021 – via Google Books.
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