La Negra Tiene Tumbao

Recording and production

Producer Sergio George was hired to produce more traditional tracks for the album. 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.

Release and promotion

The album was released on 2 October 2001 by Sony Discos. Sony Discos rereleased the album on 30 October 2001. On 23 July 2002, the album was rereleased with a bonus track remix of "La Negra Tiene Tumbao".

Musical composition

The lead single, first track, and title track, "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" combines elements of salsa music, reggae music and hip hop music. The song's title translates to "The Black Woman has Style" or "The Black Woman has Attitude". The song was composed in minor key and incorporates the use of vocal call and response.

Chart performance

After her 2002 tour of Europe, the album re-entered the Billboard Latin Albums chart at number thirty-seven for the week of 3 August 2002. It also reentered the Billboard Tropical Albums chart at number six.

Following Cruz's death in July 2003, La Negra Tiene Tumbao reentered the Billboard Latin Albums chart at number eight, for the week of 2 August 2003. It also reentered the Billboard Tropical Albums chart at number two, behind Cruz's own Hits Mix (2002).

Critical reception

Allmusic's Sharon Witmer awarded the album four out of five stars, providing a positive review of the album. She claimed the recording to have "mesmerzing" rhythms as well as "warm and zesty" music. Witmer complimented "La Negra Tiene Tumbao", calling it the "CD's biggest draw". She ended her review by stating "From start to finish, the CD swings, as the electrifying and indefatigable Celia Cruz proves once again that being young is a state of mind." According to Billboard magazine's Leila Cobo, "La Negra Tiene Tumbao", "with its mid-section rap became the blueprint—to this day—for a bust of recordings featuring much younger acts." The song has been considered one of Cruz's last hits before her death in July 2003.

The song received nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2002. The parent album won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album. It was nominated for Album of the Year. The song was also nominated Tropical Song of the Year at the 2003 Lo Nuestro Awards, eventually losing to Cruz's own "La Vida Es Un Carnaval". It received a nomination for Best "Party Starter" at the 2004 Premios Juventud. "La Vida Es Un Carnaval" was also nominated in the same category. In 2016, the song was awarded Television Theme Song of the Year, for the television program Celia, at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards.

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