Hits Mix
Remix album by
Celia Cruz
Released5 November 2002
GenreDance · Latin pop
Length41:47
LabelSony Discos
ProducerSergio George
Celia Cruz chronology
La Negra Tiene Tumbao
(2001) 		Hits Mix
(2002) 		Regalo del Alma
(2003)
Singles from Hits Mix
  1. "Gotta Get Down"
    Released: November 2002
  2. "Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)"
    Released: 2003

Hits Mix is the first remix album by Cuban recording artist Celia Cruz. It featured two singles, a Spanglish remix version of "La Negra Tiene Tumbao", entitled "Gotta Get Down" and a dance remix of "Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)".

Upon release, the album peaked at number 106 on the Billboard 200, number two on the Billboard Latin Albums chart, and number one on the Billboard Tropical Albums chart. It became the best-selling Tropical album of 2003. It was also the ninth best-selling Latin album of 2003.

Recording and production

Producer Sergio George was hired to produce more traditional tracks for Cruz's fifty-ninth album, La Negra Tiene Tumbao (2001). However, George wanted to try something different. According to George, he played a demo version of "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" for Cruz, "not knowing how she would respond, and that was the song that she most reacted to". "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" was the last song completed for the album.[1]

Musical composition

The original version of "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" combines elements of salsa music, reggae music and hip hop music.[2] The song's title translates to "The Black Woman has Style" or "The Black Woman has Attitude".[3] The song was composed in minor key and incorporates the use of vocal call and response.[4]

"Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)" was originally performed by American singer Gloria Gaynor. It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris.[5] Cruz originally covered the song in Spanish on her 2000 album, Siempre Vivire (I Will Always Live).[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]

An editor for Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars, insisting that the album contains "pumped-up remixes of favorites from previous releases." The reviewer claimed that Cruz alternates from "swooping, but not showy, melodic moves to rhythmic rapid-fire pronouncements" on the release. According to the reviewer, "Cruz starts what feels like a dance party headed towards the wee hours."[7]

At the 2004 Latin Billboard Music Awards, the album was awarded the Greatest Hits Album of the Year Award. In the same category, Cruz was also nominated for Exitos Eternos (2003).[8] Her 2004 album Regalo del Alma was awarded Tropical Album of the Year in the female category. Cobo predicted that the album should and would win the award.[9] In the same category, Cruz was also nominated with Exitos Eternos and Hits Mix, also becoming the Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year.[10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."La Negra Tiene Tumbao" (DJ Fluid Remix)Sergio George · Fernando Osorio03:50
2."La Sopa" (Remix)Emilio Estefan · Rafeal Ortiz03:40
3."Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)" (Azucar Para Ti Remix)Dino Fekaris · Freddie Perren · Oscar Gomez04:20
4."La Vida Es Un Carnaval" (Reggae Latino Mix)Victor Daniel04:42
5."Que Le Den Candela" (Dance Mix)Jorge Piloto04:30
6."Hay Que Empezar Otra Vez" (Reggae Latino Mix)Daniel04:25
7."Oye Como Va" (Latin Trance Mix)Tito Puente04:18
8."Azúcar Negra" (Sarli's Azúcar Negra Remix)Mario Diaz03:35
9."Sazón" (Sarli's Sazón Remix)Estefan · Gloria Estefan04:32
10."Gotta Get Down (La Negra Tiene Tumbao)" (Spanglish Remix)George · Osorio03:48

Charts

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] 2× Platinum (Latin) 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ Cobo, Leila (7 December 2002). "Latin Notas: Still Cruzin". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  2. ^ Mendible, Myra (3 June 2010). From Bananas to Buttocks: The Latina Body in Popular Film and Culture. University of Texas Press. p. 97. ISBN 9780292778498. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  3. ^ Gardner, Abigail (16 March 2016). Rock On": Women, Ageing, and Popular Music. Routledge. p. 61. ISBN 9781317189107. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  4. ^ "La Negra Tiene Tumbao - Celia Cruz on Pandora Internet Radio". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  5. ^ "'I Will Survive': Radio 4 celebrates the enduring success of Gloria Gaynor's classic song". British Broadcasting Corporation. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Siempre Vivire - Celia Cruz: Songs, Revoews, Credits: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Hits Mix - Celia Cruz: Songs, Reviews, Credits: Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  8. ^ Cobo, Leila (21 February 2004). "Billboard Latin Music Award Finalists". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. ^ Cobo, Leila (4 September 2004). "And The Winner Is..." Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Latin Music's Brightest Stars Honored at the 2004 Billboard Latin Music Awards". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. 29 April 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Top 200 Albums: Aug 16, 2003 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 16 August 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Latin Albums: Aug 16, 2003 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 16 August 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Tropical Music Albums: Aug 16, 2003 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 16 August 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Year In Music: Top Latin Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 27 December 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Year In Music: Top Tropical Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 27 December 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  16. ^ "American album certifications – Celia Cruz – Hits Mix". Recording Industry Association of America.
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