La Vida... Es Un Ratico

Album history

Juanes has stated that the album is to be completed in Spanish and has a "very Colombian" sound to it. Juanes co-produced this record, working with a two-time Academy Award-winning producer, Gustavo Santaolalla. It has been said that the album has typical Colombian sounds, such as the "guasca," "vallenato," and "cumbia."

When choosing the name for this record, Juanes was inspired by a conversation he had with his mother, who told him to "Not worry, because life is just a moment." Following what that phrase means, Juanes thought of creating an album remembering that life passes you by in a blink of an eye and concentrating more on his family and beloved beings.

The first single "Me Enamora" was released on September 3, 2007 to the media and online stores, such as iTunes and reached number one in 19 countries. The second single is "Gotas de Agua Dulce".

This album won the Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Album; and the lead single "Me Enamora" also received three awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video. At the Grammy Awards of 2009 this album won for Best Pop Latin Album.

This album was reissued on September 15, 2008 with three new songs and eight tracks recorded live on his tour in the United States and Europe. The special edition will include also a DVD with new footage from Juanes' tour and the music videos the three singles released already. The confirmed new tracks for this re-edition are: "Falsas Palabras" (recorded with Gustavo Santaolalla in late 2007) and "Odio Por Amor" (the first single from this revamped edition).

Track listing

Standard Edition

1. No Creo en el Jamás – 3:32
2. Clase de Amor – 3:53
3. Me Enamora – 3:14
4. Hoy Me Voy – 3:23
5. La Vida es un Ratico – 4:05
6. Gotas de Agua Dulce – 3:11
7. La Mejor Parte de Mí – 3:42
8. Minas Piedras – 4:05
9. Tú y Yo – 4:26
10. Báilala – 3:31
11. Difícil – 4:01
12. Tres – 3:25
13. Bandera de Manos – 4:06

Bonus tracks

14. "Bandera de Manos"
15. "La Camisa Negra" (Australian Edition)
16. "Falsas Palabras" (iTunes Pre-Order)
17. "Dove Le Pietre Sono Mine (Minas Piedras)" (featuring Negrita) Italian Re-Release
18. "Me Enamora" (Full Phatt Remix) Japan Re-Release
19. "Tres" (Full Phatt Remix) Japan Re-Release

2008 re-release

1. "Odio Por Amor"
2. "Falsas Palabras"
3. "No Creo en el Jamás"
4. "Clase de Amor"
5. "Me Enamora"
6. "Hoy Me Voy"
7. "La Vida es un Ratico"
8. "Gotas de Agua Dulce"
9. "La Mejor Parte de Mí"
10. "Minas Piedras" (featuring Andrés Calamaro)
11. "Tú y Yo"
12. "Báilala"
13. "Difícil"
14. "Tres"
15. "Bandera de Manos" (featuring Campino)
16. "Bandera de Manos"
17. "Hoy Me Voy" (featuring Colbie Caillat)
18. "Bailala (Remix Dance)

DVD track listing

1. Juanes: A musical journey (Director's Cut)
2. Behind the cameras of "Me Enamora"
3. La Vida... Es Un Ratico (interview with Juanes)

Musicians

Guitar/Voice/Keyboards: Juanes

Drums: Victor Indrizzo

Bass: Fernando "Toby" Tobón

Drums and Accordion: Chelito de Castro

Percussion: Felipe Alzate

Personnel

Produced by: Gustavo Santaolalla and Juanes

Associate producer: Anibal Kerpel

Executive producer: Adrian Sosa

Recorded at: Las Montañas de Medellín, Colombia, La Casa and Henson Studios

Engineer at "Las Montañas de Medellín": Juanes

Engineer at "La Casa": Anibal Kerpel

Engineer at "Henson": Thom Russo

Engineer for Andres Calamaro vocals: Jorge Da Silva at Ion Studios.

Strings recorded at: Track Record, North Hollywood by Steve Churchyard

Strings arranged, orchestrated and conducted by David Campbell

Mixing at: Hit Factory by Thom Russo

Mastering: Tom Baker at Prevision Mastering

Design: Eduardo Chavarín and Luis Díaz

Graphic production: Carolina Larrea and Eduardi Chavarín

Photography: www.raulhiguera.com

Cover: René Shenduda

Chart performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling about 47,000 copies in its first week. It had sold over 112,000 copies as of December 5, 2007.