Como Ama Una Mujer is Jennifer Lopez' first Spanish-language album, so expectations were quite high, but I can be very short on this album. It's not my cup of tea.
Lopez has often changed styles, and from the mainstream latino sound of "Let's Get Loud" and the pop of "Love Don't Cost a Thing" to the r&b of "Control Myself", she's always maintained a high standard. Not the originality, but the quality of the product were what made J-Lo famous.
But honestly, you can't take this album seriously, it's one cheesy ballad after another. Lopez is screaming for your attention, in vain. Synthisizer violins and cheap sound effects are working so hard on your sentiment, it's almost funny.
Is it the bad influence of hubbie Marc Anthony? Has she been listening too much to latino tearjerkers like Marco Antonio Solis, Chayanne, Sin Bandera, or even to Céline Dion? Fact is, all those artist do a better job at singing ballads - both in originality and quality (that says a lot, doesn't it?).
One exception that might be called funky: "Te Voy A Querer", rescued by the drums and the pleasant guitar riff.
If you're into clichés and banalities, have a soft spot for tacky lyrics, and don't mind enduring the horrible music: buy this album. If you're into real latin music: please don't. You'll probably hear these songs more than you'd like on the radio anyway.
Article comments
1 - Oscar
I liked the album. I have all of JLo's albums and usually just like one song on them. On this album however I like more than one song. I like all of them except for the title track Como ama una mujer. That sucks. Overall though it was a good album. I actually replayed the album multiple times. My sisters who cannot stand Jennifer Lopez actually said she is better in spanish and should stick to it. I agree.
But can't wait to hear what she comes out with on her english album.
2 - Chapin
Hey Oscar,
Well, music is always something very personal! I hope I haven't offended you with my opinion :)
3 - Sebastian Caine
If it's not your cup of tea, why bother and throw dirt on it when you don't have a clue what it's all about? Bet you can't even cough in Spanish ... I can understand the need of unbiassed view on one's album, but this is just too much. I own this album and I am bloody PROUD of it.
Even so, I wouldn't scream at the world how amazing this album is, because it isn't, for the world. It's for fans. It's how it should be. It's spanish. It's beautiful. And IF you ARE a J.LO fan, or LIKE spanish culture, yu DO buy this. Otherwise, you don't have to bother.
So I think this preview wasn't so unbiassed after all ...
SC
4 - Chapin
*tosiendo*
Hi Sebastian,
If you'd check out my other reviews here at BlogCritics, or my personal blog, you'll see I have a well-informed opinion. I think this album has more to do with Céline Dion than with Latino culture (Spanish culture, as you put it, is something completely different). I agree very much that this is an album for fans - that's why I don't recommend it to people that are looking for some good latin music.
5 - Charlie
I heard the new English album is sick, she's totally changed it up...
6 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Chapin - Don't worry my friend. There are way too many people on this here board that stick up for mediocrity. But, that's basically the music industry, nowadays. J-Lo NEVER came out with an album that wasn't studio magic. She's not a musician, so how is she supposed to come out with a Spanish album that not only has integrity but doesn't sound like one of the many other lame & shallow Spanish pop albums already out there?
7 - arger.
latin music is diverse. why are you trying to just make it one thing? i think the music on CAUM does fill a latin music genre. at the same time, she is doing her own thing, if you will. its not really being done anymore and mainstream latin pop artists are doing something quite different.
the lyrics are the most mature she's ever had. granted she worked with other writers, producers,etc. but she chose to do that and its her project. so, it reflects well on her. it her tightest album thematically. the london symphony orchestra on 4 tracks? c'mon. i think this album, for me, in her career, is similar to what ray of light was for madonna's in a lot of ways. i'm a fan and i'm latino and i love it. that doesn't mean i don't think non-fan and/or non-latinos wouldn't be able to appreciate it.
8 - Chapin
Hi arger, thanks for your nuanced and well-formed opinion on this album.
I'd like to react on one thing though: what Lopez is doing in this album, is as a matter of fact being done a lot these days. Check out this chart: if you're latino I'm sure you can imagine the top 15 songs, including J-Lo, sound very much alike (with few exceptions).
Also, if "mature" equals "dull", you're right about the lyrics. She would never get away with texts like those in English.
9 - g ortiz
aw come on she deserves better.. she put her heart and soul in this record and you hear that
10 - adonai
Jennifer Lopez's First Spanish-Language Album is an Instant #1 on the Billboard Latin Chart Como Ama Una Mujer Breaks Records with Highest Sales for an Artist's Debut Spanish-Language Album
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jennifer Lopez recently said that her first ever Spanish language album Como Ama Una Mujer was a longtime dream for her to accomplish. And today her beloved project storms the Billboard Latin chart nailing the #1 spot in its first week while also making a remarkable #10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. She also makes history with the highest sales of a Spanish album debut, inclusive of English and Latin artists.
With this chart-topping debut, Jennifer joins an elite number of only five artists to ever land in the top ten with Spanish-language albums; they include Shakira, Maná, Don Omar and Selena. In addition, Como Ama Una Mujer sold more in one week digitally than any other Spanish-language release ever. Early chart numbers from overseas show amazing debuts in non-Spanish speaking countries like Switzerland (#1), Italy (#2) and Germany (#4).
11 - Chapin
Adonai - that's a little optimistic, isn't it? She only sold 49,000 copies, including pre-sale. That's poor for a mainstream artist.
Also, you'll see here that Billboard is the ONLY professional music critic that gave J-Lo a good review.
Other sources:
"Ventas no aman a Lopez" (well-nuanced article)
"Lopez Hits Career Slump"
The overseas numbers are amazing indeed. I've got nothing to contest them ;)
In any case, this is good news for Lopez: she said this project is really hers, she's proud of it, and she doesn't care about critics, sales numbers or chart positions.
12 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Keep up the Good Work, Chapin...
"she said this project is really hers, she's proud of it, and she doesn't care about critics, sales numbers or chart positions."
Isn't that what real musicians do anyways? Does she want a medal?
Isn't that what usually leads record labels & passionate music fans to find these talented bands/artists?
And if it was "Her Project" why does she need writers to collaborate with in order to produce her own music?
13 - Contessa
I am a fan of Jennifer Lopez but I must be honest in saying that being given the title of the "Most Influential Latino", and with the massive marketing campaign CAUM received, she should have sold much more than 49,000 her 1st week, but I believe many are turned off by the fact that she decides to reconnect to her roots, ONLY after marrying Marc Anthony, because if this was such a "passion project" of Jennifer's, she would have put this album out a long time ago with or without Marc Anthony.
I also do not believe that is ALL her own voice on the CD, because she has been lipsyncing "Que Hiciste" when she has performed, and that may hinder her from really promoting and giving "live" performances the way she should, but Jennifer is smart enough to be appearing on American Idol this week to coach the contestants and perform, and that will automatically boost her record sales without her having to give all the live performances that most recording artists are required to do when they have albums out.
14 - adonai
chapin - what i posted up there ^ isnt a review ,its real news,its been all over hispanic gossip shows that she broke records on sales and the album is a succes,remember that is a 'SPANISH ALBUM' SPANISH,S-P-A-N-I-S-H you get it? Non-hispanic media is saying its a flop already because theyre comparing it to english albums sales and chart position. tell me how often do you see spanish albums in the top 10 places? and its #1 i repeat #1 in top latin albulms "Latin" as in spanish.
15 - Bonnie
"Como Ama Una Mujer Breaks Records with Highest Sales for an Artist's Debut Spanish-Language Album"
Of course her debut Spanish album would break records because she's Jennifer Lopez, not an unknown Hispanic artist just coming out. This is of no surprise, and is to be expected because she already has her own built-in fan base and her Latino, as well as her devoted English fans could not wait for her to release this CD and would have supported it no matter what language it was in. I feel a record breaking debut is not unusual for a star of Jennifer Lopez's magnitude.
16 - Chapin
Thanks for your comments everyone.
Adonai, as I said before, it depends on what your point of view is. Hispanic gossip shows swallow the EMI/Billboard press release without criticism, not mentioning the 49,000 copies are way less than expected. More reliable sources (and not only English-language media, but also Hispanic media like VivirLatino and Latin American newspapers) light the news from both sides.
A quick Google News search shows all 6 articles on "Como Ama Una Mujer" sales as pretty negative.
Anyway, I'm not discussing the sales numbers anymore, let's talk music please.
17 - arger.
some of those latino site may be regurgitating the english/mainstream media. i don't know how anyone with common sense and intelligence can call it a flop when it is a spanish/non-mainstream album (for all intents and purposes). it was no. 10 on a mainstream, english chart. that is huge!!! and no. on the latin and latin pop album charts. reviews are one things. sales quite another. they do not necessarily go hand-in-hand. sometimes the greatest reviewed projects do not translate into sales. only 4 other spanish albums have made a top 10 debut on the billboard 200. i don't think billboard or epic is making that statistic up.
18 - arger.
this was my response to chapin on vivirlatino.com's review. chapin quoted the billboard article. (what i don't get is that is seems like your accusing billboard of making up data or falsifying numbers.)
this is ludicrous to me. it's no. 10 on a mainstream english chart. this is not a mainstream, english album. it posted higher than many english debut cds (macy gray, anyone?). 10 is damn good for a spanish album on a mainstream, english chart. i don't see how people expected to do much more. its no. 1 on both billboard's hot latin, and latin album charts. i don't believe hits daily double keeps latin chart numbers. and only 1 of 5 other spanish albums to chart in the top 10.
it's funny when someone is this successful in their overall careers. everything is measured against their previous success. any new artist would kill for a no. 10 spot. and they would be helmed as a success.
19 - Chapin
Arger, calm down man, you made your point. Now let's all have a beer and watch the game. Or talk about the music on this album for a change.
20 - arger.
sure. i'll calm down and take a drink. if you're buying. also: how do i get my own blog on this badboy?
21 - P@tul3k@
well i agree with the writter, sin bandera and chayanne ect, they do a better job at singing ballads.=D and that's because they wright their own lyrics and produced their own songs =D
sin bandera rocks!!!!!
22 - mzaboroski
i love this cd - i wish she would quit recording with marc anthony and try something with luis miguel.
23 - Jennifer Lopes MP3 Fan
atin music is diverse. why are you trying to just make it one thing? i think the music on CAUM does fill a latin music genre. at the same time, she is doing her own thing, if you will. its not really being done anymore and mainstream latin pop artists are doing something quite different.
the lyrics are the most mature she's ever had. granted she worked with other writers, producers,etc. but she chose to do that and its her project. so, it reflects well on her. it her tightest album thematically. the london symphony orchestra on 4 tracks? c'mon. i think this album, for me, in her career, is similar to what ray of light was for madonna's in a lot of ways. i'm a fan and i'm latino and i love it. that doesn't mean i don't think non-fan and/or non-latinos wouldn't be able to appreciate it.
24 - arger.
Why did you copy my post Jennifer Lopes MP3 Fan?