Reencuentro (Álvaro Torres song)

"Reencuentro" (transl. "Reunion"), also known as "Patria Querida" (transl. "Beloved Homeland"), is a song performed by Salvadoran singer-songwriter Álvaro Torres featuring Puerto Rican-Colombian band Barrio Boyzz. It was produced by Álvaro Torres and Víctor Torres,[1] recorded in 1994[2] in Entourage Studios, North Hollywood, CA,[3] and was released on Torres' album Reencuentro in 1995. The song samples the traditional Central America melody of the "Torito Pinto dance". "Reencuentro" is a patriotic song, since it expresses the impediment for distance and the yearning to return to the country where one belongs.[1]

"Reencuentro"
Single by Álvaro Torres feat. Barrio Boyzz
from the album Reencuentro
LanguageSpanish
English titleReunion
Released1995 (1995)
Recorded1994
StudioEntourage Studios (North Hollywood, CA)
Genre
Length4:59
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Álvaro Torres
Producer(s)
  • Álvaro Torres
  • Víctor Torres
Álvaro Torres singles chronology
"Contigo Sí"
(1994)		 "Reencuentro"
(1995)		 "Al Acecho"
(1995)
Music video
"Reencuentro" on YouTube

In April 1995, the song was a success in Latin America and the United States, reaching the position 11 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart and number 3 in the Latin Pop Airplay chart.[4][5] The music video was nominated in Lo Nuestro Awards in the category "Video of the year".[6][7] It was recognized as one of the best-performing songs of the year at the 1996 BMI Latin Awards.[8] "Reencuentro" was also included in the 1996 album Voces Unidas, a project made for the Olympic Games "Atlanta 1996".

Composition and lyrics

"Reencuentro" was written and composed by Álvaro Torres, being described as a mid-tempo pop ballad. The song is composed in the key of C major and follows the chord progression of C–Em–F–Am–Dm–G7–Em–Am–G–C–F–Dm–G7 in the verses, while in the chorus changes to C–Em–Dm–G7–F–G–F–Dm–G7.[9]

Torres said "[it's] a song I wrote for my beloved homeland, El Salvador, but at the same time, it has the advantage that [...] every inmigrant [can] make it theirs, because it is the sentiment proper of an inmigrant".[10]

The song begins with the traditional melody of the "Torito Pinto dance" performed with a flute. In the first verse Torres's voice is heard accompanied by background stringed instruments; then comes the drums and the voices of Barrio Boyzz, which remain throughout the rest of the verse until the chorus. In the second verse, Torres's voice returns, keeping only his voice until the choir, then entering Barrio Boyzz repeating the chorus until the end of the song.

"Reencuentro" talks about nostalgia and the joy of meeting again in the country where it comes from, also recognizing the suffering that the country has passed through the years, due to wars and violence.[1]

Music video

The music video for "Reencuentro" was recorded in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, alongside with Barrio Boyzz.[11] The clip begins showing settlers of an old town and children playing, then Torres is shown singing the beginning of the song. Then, Barrio Boyzz appears performing the song, while exchanging images of old people, children playing, violists, a room with candles, and people holding crosses. Finally, Barrio Boyzz and Torres sing together the song along with all the villagers.

In 1995, the music video was nominated in Lo Nuestro Awards in the category "Video of the Year", but lost to Luis Miguel's "La Media Vuelta".[6][7]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Reencuentro liner notes.[12][13]

Vocals

Musicians

Production

  • Álvaro Torres – production
  • Victor Sanchez – production, mixing
  • Teresa Caffin – production assistance, engineering assistance
  • Cappy Japngie – engineering assistance
  • Terri Wong – engineering assistance

Recording

Charts
Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Hot Latin Tracks (Billboard)[4] 11
US Latin Airplay (Billboard)[14] 11
US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[5] 3
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gollark: Which one is "3"?
gollark: "GTech™ orbital bee laser #73 is good. Every man who owns an apiometer sees it."
gollark: It could be referring to something from a previous sentence actually.
gollark: Let me retrieve my Zig imploder.

References
  1. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (11 March 1995). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  2. "Album Lo Esencial De..., Alvaro Torres | Qobuz: download and streaming in high quality". Qobuz. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  3. "Reencuentro - Alvaro Torres | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  4. "Alvaro Torres (Hot Latin Tracks)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. "Alvaro Torres (Latin Pop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  6. "Lo Nuestro – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  7. Burr, Ramiro (7 May 1995). "La Diferenzia, La Mafia and the late Selena are among the finalists for the upcoming Premio Lo Nuestro Awards". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation.
  8. "Los Premios Latinos de BMI Latin Awards". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 50 4 May 1996. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  9. "REENCUENTRO, Alvaro Torres: Acordes". La Cuerda. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  10. "Alvaro Torres Entrevista en De Extremo a Extremo". Grupo TelemicroHD. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  11. Patria Querida Detras de Camaras, imágenes inéditas., retrieved 31 December 2019
  12. Reencuentro (CD album liner notes). Álvaro Torres. EMI Records. 1995. Back cover.CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  13. "Reencuentro - Alvaro Torres | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  14. "Alvaro Torres (Latin Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
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