Dime (Ivy Queen song)

Background and composition

After the success of her 2007 effort Sentimiento, which would be certified Platinum by the United States Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Ivy Queen embarked on recording a live album at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, the biggest indoor arena dedicated to entertainment in Puerto Rico. The live album, later known as Ivy Queen 2008 World Tour LIVE!, feature performances of songs from previously released albums including Diva (2003), Real (2004), Flashback (2005) and Sentimiento. "Dime" was featured on the album as the intro and closing tracks and was not performed on the setlist of the tour; According to Queen, she and her management decided to include it on the album as a "gift".

"Dime" was written by Ivy Queen herself. It was produced by the Puerto Rican reggaetón production duo Monserrate & DJ Urba who also co-wrote the song. The album version is a blend of reggaetón and bachata known as bachaton or bachateo, a musical movement in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico which combines bachata melodies and reggaeton style beats, lyrics, rapping, and disc jockeying. Ivy Queen described the song as being "a sentimiental subject where we fused bachata and urban rhythms. While reviewing the song "Peligro de Extinción", Jonathan Bogart called "Dime" the "prettiest single" Ivy Queen had ever released.

Release and chart performance

"Dime" was released in August 2008 as the lead single off the album. A bachata version was also recorded and included on the album. Both versions of the song were serviced to Latin radio. On the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, the song debuted at #43 on the week of September 20, 2008 and peaked at #8 on the week of December 6, 2008. On the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart, the song debuted at #38 on the week of November 15, 2008 and peaked at #33 on the week of December 13, 2008. On the Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay chart, the song debuted at #33 on the week of October 4, 2008 and peaked at #4, moving eight positions form #12 the week prior, on the week of December 6, 2008. Songs in which withheld "Dime" from the number-one position were "No Me Doy Por Vencido" by Luis Fonsi, "Amor Inmortal" by Chayanne and "Como Duele" by Ricardo Arjona respectively. On the Billboard Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, the song debuted at #22 on the week of August 30, 2008. It reached #1 for the week of October 11, 2008 becoming her first number-one single, replacing "Síguelo" by Wisin & Yandel and was later succeeded by R.K.M & Ken-Y for "Te Regalo Amores" eight weeks later. It remained at the number two spot for four weeks before again regaining the number one spot for the week of December 20, 2008. It led to Queen becoming the first female to top the chart.

Track listing

Music video

The music video for "Dime" was filmed at the Museum of Trains in Miami, Florida on August 25, 2008. It was directed by Marlon Peña who has also directed videos for "Te He Querido, Te He Llorado" and "Que Lloren". Filiming began at 6:00am and was finalized by 11:00pm. In the music video, Queen is dressed up as Marilyn Monroe. The music video was based highly on the 1970s and featured a retro and vintage look. As of October 2016, "Dime", (which was posted on December 15, 2009, a year after it was filmed) has over twenty-one million views on video-sharing website YouTube.

The music video begins with Ivy Queen driving a black beamer in a train station. Queen is then seen standing outside of her car as the song begins. Queen is then seen among dancers that perform bachata in the train station. She then rides on the train in the area between to train cars. Passengers can then be seen arriving and obtaining tickets at a ticket booth. Queen's lover in the music video gets a ticket as well. He sits on a bench appearing to be waiting for someone, glancing at his watch. He gets up and leaves for the train. Back up dancers continue to perform as Queen sings on a microphone as bystanders walk past them. Before entering the train, her lover looks around a last time handing the attendant his ticket. Queen then walks around looking her him bumping in to others. She consults the attendant who directs her in the wrong direction, however she enters the train anyways failing to give him her ticket. Queen moves between train cars as she looks desperately for her lover. As the song ends, he pulls out a picture of Queen. He then goes to restroom as Queen sits down a seat over. He returns and they sit back to back unaware of the circumstances.

Billboard Latin Music Awards

The Billboard Latin Music Awards are awarded annually by Billboard magazine in the United States. At the 2009 Latin Billboard Music Awards, "Dime" was awarded Hot Latin Song of the Year, Female and Tropical Airplay Song of the Year, Female. It was also nominated for Latin Rhythm Airplay Song of the Year, Solo, which was won by Flex and "Te Quiero".

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards

The ASCAP Awards are awarded annually by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in the United States. "Dime" was awarded Urban Song of the Year at the 17th Annual ASCAP Latin Music Awards.

Broadcast Music, Inc. Awards

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) annually hosts award shows that honor the songwriters, composers and music publishers of the year's most-performed songs in the BMI catalog. At the 2010, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Awards, the song was awarded Award-Winning Song.