Fuerte (song)

"Fuerte" (English: "Strong") is a Latin pop song by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado featuring Spanish flamenco artist Concha Buika, from her fourth studio album, Mi Plan (2009). It was written by Furtado, James Bryan and Alex Cuba, while production and arrangements were handled by Salaam Remi.

"Fuerte"
Promotional single by Nelly Furtado featuring Concha Buika
from the album Mi Plan
Recorded	Instrument Zoo (Miami, Florida, United States) Casa Limón Studios (Madrid, Spain)
Genre	Latin pop, R&B, techno, flamenco
Length	3:24
Label	Nelstar Entertainment Universal Music Latino
Songwriter(s)	Nelly Furtado, Alex Cuba, James Bryan
Producer(s)	Salaam Remi

No official date was set for the release of the song. However, a promotional remix album was sent to clubs and has charted on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, where it peaked at number three. Most critics called the song a standout track from Mi Plan and have praised Concha Buika's appearance on the song. A music video has been released for the song.

Background and writing

"Fuerte" was written by Nelly Furtado, Alex Cuba and James Bryan, and produced by hip hop producer Salaam Remi.[1] It is a Latin pop song with influences of techno and flamenco music and it "fuses the Latin sound with an '80s vibe", according to Mayer Nissim, of Digital Spy.[2][3] It was recorded by Ryan Evans at Instrument Zoo studios in Miami, Florida, and Casa Limón Studios in Madrid Spain. It was mixed by Franklin Socorro at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, California.[1]

Reception

Jaime Gill, a writer for Yahoo! Music UK, claimed that "Fuerte" is "by far the best and most convincing" song from the album. The writer noted the appearance of Concha Buika, calling the collaboration "the album's most exciting."[4] Digital Spy's Mayer Nissim expressed a similar sentiment, saying that the song "boasts great backing vocals from flamenco singer Concha Buika".[2] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly called "Fuerte" a "Timba-lite groove" and expressed that it is the only "decent" song on the album.[5]

In August 2010, "Fuerte" debuted on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart at number 37.[6] The following week, it ascended up the chart from number 37 to number 13.[7] On its eighth week on the chart, it landed into the top ten at number six.[8] It eventually peaked at number three, where it stayed for three consecutive weeks until it began descending down the chart.[9] The song landed at number 81 on the US Billboard 2010 year-end Top 105 Club chart.[10]

Music video

Furtado and Concha Buika in the music video for "Fuerte".

The music video for "Fuerte" was directed by Richard Bernardin, Robacho Buika and Aaron A.[11] The music video has been released by Nelstar Entertainment to Apple's iTunes Store on October 22, 2010.[12] The video was also made available on VEVO on October 22, 2010.

Synopsis

In the video, Furtado is shown in various elegant dresses wandering around a lavishly decorated house before descending into its indoor swimming pool as the chorus begins. During the second and third choruses, Concha Buika also features, though appearing separately from Furtado, standing at the bottom of a staircase in a more modern-day building.

Track listing

• Remix CD promo – Promotional only[13]

1. "Fuerte" (Cajjmere Wray Hot Sweat Edit) — 3:03
2. "Fuerte" (Cajjmere Wray Hot Sweat Mix) — 8:06
3. "Fuerte" (Cajjmere Wray Spanglish Club Mix) — 7:51
4. "Fuerte" (Cajjmere Wray Spanglish Edit) — 3:07
5. "Fuerte" (Twisted Dee Club Mix) — 8:38
6. "Fuerte" (Twisted Dee Dubstrumental) — 7:08
7. "Fuerte" (Twisted Dee Electro-Tribe Mix) — 9:09
8. "Fuerte" (Twisted Dee Radio Edit) — 4:14
9. "Fuerte" (Massi and DeLeon Sunset Blvd Mixshow) — 5:02
10. "Fuerte" (Massi and DeLeon Sunset Blvd Mix) — 7:38

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Mi Plan liner notes.[1]

Production

Salaam Remi – producer, arrangements, keyboards, drums Staybent Krunk-A-Delic – guitar Vincent Henry – guitar

Franklin Emmanuel Soccoro – engineering, recording, mixing Ryan Evans – engineering, recording Javier Limón – guitar solo

Recording

• Recorded at Instrumental Zoo, Miami, Florida, and Casa Limón Studio, Madrid, Spain
• Mixed at Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, California

Charts

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Czech Republic (IFPI)[14]	47
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[15]	3

References

1. (2009) Album notes for Mi Plan by Nelly Furtado [CD liner notes]. Nelstar Entertainment, Inc; Miami Beach, FL.
2. Nissim, Mayer (Posted: September 13, 2009) "Nelly Furtado - 'Mi Plan' - Music Review". Digital Spy. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
3. Pareles, Jon (Posted: September 13, 2009) "CRITICS’ CHOICE New CDs - Nelly Furtado - Mi Plan". The New York Times. December 9, 2009.
4. (Posted: September 21, 2009) Jaime Gill, "Nelly Furtado Mi Plan Album Review, New album reviews and latest album releases on Yahoo! Music". Uk.launch.yahoo.com. December 29, 2010.
5. (Posted: September 16, 2009) Leah Greenblatt, "Mi Plan | Music". EW.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
6. "Top 50 Club Chart - August 2010". The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
7. "Top 50 Club Chart - September 2010". The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
8. "Dance/Club Play Songs — Week of September 04, 2010". Nielson Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
9. "Dance/Club Play Songs — Week of October 2, 2010". Nielson Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
10. "Top 105 Club Chart - 2010 Year End". The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
11. "Mi Plan Remixes: Nelly Furtado". Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine Granda Entertainment, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
12. "Fuerte (Original English Version) by Nelly Furtado & Concha Buika". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
13. (Posted: June 22, 2010) Mix Latino: Nelly Furtado - Fuerte - Remixes CD PROMO Archived 2010-07-09 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10-11-2010.
14. Czech Republic Singles Chart
15. Fuerte - Nelly Furtado Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 10-11-2010.