Pausa (EP)

Pausa (Spanish for 'Pause', stylised in all caps) is the first extended play by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on May 28, 2020, through Sony Latin. Pausa is the first studio release by Martin since his 2015 studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar. Originally planned as a full-length album, Martin changed the concept following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and his experience with panic attacks. He split the album into two EP's, Pausa which consists of slower songs and ballads and Play which is set to include more up-tempo songs; the latter is set to be released in September. Pausa features six songs, out of which, five are collaborations with Sting, Carla Morrison, Pedro Capó and Bad Bunny among others.

Pausa
EP by Ricky Martin
Released	May 28, 2020 (2020-05-28)
Recorded	2019–2020
Studio	Barcelona Dominican Republic Los Angeles Miami New York Paris Puerto Rico
Length	21:05
Language	Spanish
Label	Sony Latin
Producer	Julio Reyes Copello Nicolas "Na 'vi" de la Espriella Alejandro Jimenez Demian Jimenez Ricky Martin Montana George Noriega Natalia Ramírez Raül Refree Residente Jean Rodríguez Trooko
Ricky Martin chronology
Esencial (2018) Pausa (2020) Play[1] (2020)
Singles from Pausa
"Cántalo" Released: November 12, 2019 "Tiburones" Released: January 23, 2020

Background and development

In 2015 Martin released his tenth studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar.[2] The album spawned four singles, including the international hit, "La Mordidita"; it became Martin's twenty-sixth top ten hit on the US Hot Latin Songs chart[3] making him the fourth artist with the most top tens in the history of the chart.[3] At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, A Quien Quiera Escuchar won the award for Best Latin Pop Album.[4] In 2016, Martin released, "Vente Pa' Ca", a collaboration with Colombian singer Maluma. It became Martin's 16th number-one single on the US Latin Airplay chart[5] and topped the charts in eight other countries. Two years later, he released another collaboration, "Fiebre", featuring Wisin & Yandel;[6] it received a platinum certification (Latin) from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for moving over 60,000 units in the US.[7]

I think it is a time when the world is asking us – the cosmos, God, as you want to see it – is asking us to pause and go home. So I see it, I am an artist and this is my defense mechanism.

— Martin explaining the idea and concept for Pausa.[8]

In January 2020, Martin announced the release of his eleventh studio album, initially titled Movimiento. The record was supposed to be inspired by Puerto Rico's recent history including Hurricane Maria in 2017, the 2019 political protests and the 2019–20 earthquakes.[9] However, following the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Martin started experiencing panic attacks, "I spent two weeks with a poker face so my family wouldn't be affected, but finally I was able to raise my head and say ‘eh, something very good has to come out of this, get creative.’ And I started making music and it was my medicine, honestly, because I really felt like I was gasping for air."[10] Subsequently, he contacted his label, Sony, and decided to split the album in two extended plays, Pausa and Play. Martin described the former as more "chill" and "relaxed", while the latter will consist of more upbeat songs. Pausa was released on May 28, 2020, while Play is slated for a September release.[1] Martin's husband, Jwan Yosef, shot the artwork for Pausa; it features the singer's naked back.[11]

Recording and composition

Pausa consists of six songs, out of which, five are collaborations.[8] Musicians featured on the EP include, English singer Sting, Mexican singer-songwriter Carla Morrison, Spain Romani flamenco singer Diego el Cigala and Puerto Rican artists Pedro Capó, Residente and Bad Bunny.[1] Martin's sound engineer Enrique Larreal, based in New York, helped record the material with the other artists being based in London, Paris, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, "My engineer was able to create a system where everyone — my producer in Miami, me in L.A. — had a sharp, immaculate audiovisual experience. I can be recording and literally see in my laptop the movement he is making in his console table in New York."[10] Inspired by the singer's fears, insecurities, and panic moments he experienced during quarantine, Griselda Flores of Billboard described the lyrics as "introspective", "poignant" and "melancholic".[1]

English singer and musician Sting sings on the opening track, "Simple".

Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny is one of the featured artists on "Cántalo".

The EP opens with "Simple" a collaboration with Sting, described by Flores as "simple yet forceful and grand". Martin contacted Sting who accepted the duet-offer and decided to sing in Spanish, "I [Martin] called him [Sting] stepping out of my comfort zone because I don't really like asking people and he said yes, to send him whatever I had and he liked what I sent him. It's a dream come true."[1] "Recuerdo", the collaboration with Morrison, is an emotional song with "heart-wrenching" lyrics. According to Martin, the song came out of a rough moment and sadness he and Morisson were experiencing when they wrote it.[1] Elias Leight of Rolling Stone, regarding "Recuerdo", wrote that the singers showcase "complementary vocal styles"; Morrison has more "light and lilting", while Martin opts for a "creamier, more forceful approach".[6]

"Cae de Una", a duet with Capó, has an "infectious" beat, with a light melodic tune and "heartbreak" lyrical content. "Quiéreme" is a "flamenco-tinged" pop song and was co-produced by Spanish musician Raül Refree in Barcelona. Refree turned the melody to "an explosion of sounds" on which Martin and Cigala trade "dramatic and powerful vocals".[1] "Tiburones" is an emotional ballad co-written by Pablo Preciado and Oscar Hernandez. It contains deep lyrics that advocate for peace, love, unity, and acceptance.[12] "Cántalo" is the only exception on the album tempo-wise[8] and features a variety of genres including salsa, reggaeton and trap. It is based on the original master of Hector Lavoe's 1974 song, "Mi Gente".[13] A collaboration with Residente and Bad Bunny, it was inspired by the #RickyRenuncia movement (a campaign against former Puerto Rican governor, Ricardo Rosselló) and includes lyrics like, "Nobody stops us today/ Not even with elephant soothing/ Money, although abundant, it is not worth."[1]

Singles

"Cántalo" was released as the first single from Pausa on November 12, 2019. Its artwork was inspired by the protest posters issued in Puerto Rico during the riots that demanded the resignation of Roselló.[14] Commercially, it reached number 35 on the US Hot Latin Songs chart[15] and was certified Latin gold by the RIAA, for moving over 30,000 units in the country.[7] Martin alongside Residente and Bad Bunny performed "Cántalo" at the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards held on November 14, 2019 in Las Vegas.[13]

"Tiburones" was released on January 23, 2020, as the second single from the EP.[16] It became Martin's 49th entry on US Hot Latin Songs charts, where it peaked at number 34 in May 2020.[17] With this feat, he became the first and only artist in history to enter the chart in five different decades.[18] "Tiburones" also became the singer's 50th entry on the Latin Pop Airplay.[19] It peaked at number nine and became Martin's 38th top-ten single on the chart.[20] Additionally, topped the Monitor Latino singles chart in Puerto Rico.[21] Kacho Lopez filmed the music video for the song in Puerto Rico. According to Martin, "Both the song and the video embody all the emotions, energy and feel, which are emblematic of when we come together as people."[12] Martin performed the song at the Lo Nuestro Awards on February 20, 2020.[22] An official remix of "Tiburones", featuring singer Farruko, was released on April 10, 2020.[23]

Track listing

• Credits adapted from Apple Music[24] and Tidal.[25]

Pausa track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Simple" (with Sting)	Ricky Martin Danay Suárez Alberto Lozada Algarín Ender Zambrano Gordon Sumner	Montana Martin Jean Rodríguez^[a]	3:35
2.	"Recuerdo" (with Carla Morrison)	Carla Patricia Morrison Flores Alejandro Jimenez Demian Jimenez Chiara Stroia	A. Jimenez D. Jimenez Rodríguez^[a]	3:52
3.	"Cae de Una" (with Pedro Capó)	Pedro Capó Gabriel Edgar González Pérez Martin	Julio Reyes Copello Nicolas "Na 'vi" de la Espriella George Noriega^[a] Rodríguez^[a]	3:39
4.	"Quiéreme" (with Diego el Cigala)	Martin Algarín Beatriz Luengo Yotuel Romero	Montana Raül Refree Rodríguez^[a]	3:06
5.	"Tiburones"	Oscar Hernández Pablo Preciado	Copello Rodríguez^[a] Natalia Ramírez^[a]	3:14
6.	"Cántalo" (with Residente and Bad Bunny)	Martin Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio René Pérez Suárez Rubén Blades Johnny Pacheco	Residente Trooko Rodríguez^[a]	3:39
Total length:				21:05

Orbital Audio/Acoustics Version[26]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Simple" (headphone mix) (with Sting)	3:34
2.	"Recuerdo" (headphone mix) (with Carla Morrison)	3:52
3.	"Cae de Una" (headphone mix) (with Pedro Capó)	3:42
4.	"Quiéreme" (headphone mix) (with Diego el Cigala)	3:03
5.	"Tiburones" (headphone mix)	3:15
6.	"Cántalo" (headphone mix) (with Residente and Bad Bunny)	3:38
7.	"Mi Sangre" (headphone mix) (featuring Neha Mahajan)	3:30
Total length:		24:34

Notes

• ^{^a} signifies a vocal producer

Personnel

Credits for Pausa adapted from Tidal.[25]

• Ricky Martin – composer, executive producer, producer, writer, vocals
• Alberto Lozada Algarín – composer, producer, writer
• Ender Zambrano – composer, writer
• Sting – composer, writer, vocals
• Carla Patricia Morrison Flores – writer, vocals
• Alejandro Jimenez – composer, recording engineer, vocal producer, writer
• Demian Jimenez – composer, writer
• Chiara Stroia – composer
• Jean Rodríguez – vocal producer
• Pedro Capó – composer, vocals, writer
• Gabriel Edgar "Rec808" González Pérez – composer, guitar, recording engineer, writer
• Julio Reyes Copello – keyboards, performance arranger, programmer, producer, recording engineer
• Nicolas "Na 'vi" de la Espriella – keyboards, performance arranger, programmer, producer, recording engineer
• George Noriega – vocal producer
• Beatriz Luengo – composer, writer
• Yotuel Romero – composer, writer
• Diego el Cigala – vocals
• Raül Refree – acoustic guitar, programmer, producer, recording engineer, synthesizer,
• Oscar Hernández – writer
• Pablo Preciado – writer
• Natalia Ramírez – vocal producer
• Benito Antonio "Bad Bunny" Martínez Ocasio – vocals, writer
• René "Residente" Pérez – composer, producer, vocals, writer
• Danay Suárez – background vocals, composer, writer
• Rubén Blades – writer
• Johnny Pacheco – writer
• Trooko – producer, recording engineer
• Amber Rubi Urena – A&R coordinator
• Mireille Bravo – A&R coordinator
• Oriana Hidalgo – A&R coordinator
• Isabel De Jesús – A&R director
• Rafa Arcaute – A&R director, recording engineer
• José Ricardo Lugo – bass
• Carlos Valencia – cello
• Jorge Laboy – guitar
• Felipe Tichauer – mastering engineer
• Gustavo Celis – mixing engineer
• Richard Bravo – percussion
• Héctor Iván Rosao – recording engineer
• Karlo Floreso – violin
• Bart Schoudelo – vocal engineer
• Christian J. Pérez – vocal engineer
• Donal Hodgson – vocal engineer
• Enrique Larreal – recording engineer, vocal engineer
• Francisco "Paco" Aldonado – assistant engineer
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing engineer
• Ela Taubert – background vocals, percussion
• Natalia Schlesinger – background vocals, percussion, recording engineer
• Daniel Uribe – guitar, recording engineer
• Nicolás Ramírez – percussion, recording engineer
• Yamil Otero – viola
• Alen Saucedo – vocal engineer
• Alberto Sánchez – vocal engineer
• Karina Pagán – A&R coordinator
• Matt Tuggle – assistant engineer
• Dan Warner – guitar
• Gene Grimaldi – mastering engineer
• Trevor Muzzy – mixing engineer
• Carlos Fernando López – performance arranger, recording engineer
• Manuela López Lambuley – violloncelo
• Carmela Ramírez – background vocals
• Rubén Blades – background vocals
• Tito Allen – background vocals
• Ted Jensen – mastering engineer
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing engineer
• Leo Genovese – piano
• Luis Quintero – timbales
• Rey Alejandre – trombone

Charts

Chart performance for Pausa

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[27]	79[28]
US Latin Pop Albums (Billboard)[29]	8

Release history

Release formats for Pausa

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
United States	May 28, 2020	Digital download streaming	Sony Music Latin	[30]
Various	May 29, 2020			[31]

References

1. Flores, Griselda (May 28, 2020). "Ricky Martin Drops Surprise EP 'Pausa': Here's Every Collaboration Featured". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
2. "Ricky Martin - A Quien Quiera Escuchar". Amazon.com. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
3. Mendizabal, Amaya (August 12, 2015). "Ricky Martin Scores 26th Top 10 Hit on Hot Latin Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
4. "Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List". Billboard. February 15, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
5. Mendizabal, Amaya (October 6, 2016). "Ricky Martin Nets 16th Latin Airplay No. 1 With 'Vente Pa' Ca' Featuring Maluma". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
6. Leight, Elias (May 28, 2020). "Ricky Martin Releases New 'Pausa' EP; Hear 'Recuerdo' With Carla Morrison". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
7. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
8. Huston-Crespo, Marysabel E (May 29, 2020). "Ricky Martin sorprende con "Pausa", un EP en el que muestra su lado más vulnerable durante la cuarentena" (in Spanish). CNN en Español. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
9. Lee, Tionah (January 29, 2020). "Ricky Martin Reveals his Upcoming Album 'Movimiento' is for Puerto Rico". ¡Hola!. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
10. Sigal Ratner-Arias (May 29, 2020). "Ricky Martin makes 'Pausa' to channel newly found anxiety". ABC News. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
11. "Ricky Martin Releases New EP 'Pausa'". Republic TV. May 30, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
12. Fernandez, Suzette (January 23, 2020). "Ricky Martin Proclaims Peace With Powerful Ballad 'Tiburones': Watch the Video". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
13. Leight, Elias (November 14, 2019). "Ricky Martin, Residente, Bad Bunny Fuse Salsa and Trap at Latin Grammys". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
14. Fernandez, Suzette (November 12, 2019). "How To Listen Ricky Martin's 'Cántalo' with Residente & Bad Bunny". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
15. "Ricky Martin Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
16. "Tiburones - Single by Ricky Martin". Apple Music. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
17. "Billboard Hot Latin Songs". Billboard. May 12, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
18. "Ricky Martin debuts 'Tiburones (Remix)' quarantine video". Houston Chronicle. May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
19. "Ricky Martin Tiburones Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
20. "Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee Unite Atop Latin Airplay Chart With 'Muévelo'". Billboard. April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
21. "Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
22. "Nicky Jam, Ricky Martin and More Added to Premio Lo Nuestro 2020 Lineup: See the Full List". Billboard. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
23. "Tiburones (Remix) – Single by Ricky Martin & Farruko". Apple Music. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
24. "Pausa – EP by Ricky Martin". Apple Music. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
25. "Credits / PAUSA / Ricky Martin". Tidal. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
26. https://music.apple.com/us/album/pausa-orbital-audio-acoustics-version/1525609207
27. "Spanishcharts.com – Ricky Martin – Pausa". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
28. "Spanish Charts". Retrieved July 28, 2020.
29. "Ricky Martin Chart History (Latin Pop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
30. "Pausa by Ricky Martin". Amazon.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
31. • "Pausa von Ricky Martin" (in German). Amazon.com (DE). Retrieved June 8, 2020.
    • "Pausa de Ricky Martin" (in French). Amazon.com (FR). Retrieved June 8, 2020.
    • "Pausa di Ricky Martin" (in Italian). Amazon.com (IT). Retrieved June 8, 2020.
    • "Pausa de Ricky Martin" (in Spanish). Amazon.com (ES). Retrieved June 8, 2020.