Me Estoy Enamorando (album)

Background

Since 1992 Alejandro Fernández established his music career as a ranchera singer like his father, the iconic ranchera singer, Vicente Fernández. His previous albums, Alejandro Fernández (1992), Piel De Niña (1993), Grandes Éxitos a la Manera de Alejandro Fernández (1994), Que Seas Muy Feliz (1995), and Muy Dentro de Mi Corazón (1996), helped solidify his reputation as a ranchera singer. Although his last album, Muy Dentro de Mi Corazón, was a success, Fernández did not want to simply record another ranchera album. "If I had released another album of just rancheras, people would have just expected the same thing, and then they would have begun to judge me by that one [musical] theme", Fernández explained. He also noted bolero's popularity on radio stations, and cited his waning radio airplay as another reason to change. After listening to Mi Tierra by Gloria Estefan, Fernández sought out her husband Emilio to ask him to produce his next album. After hearing Fernández's proposal, Emilio Estefan agreed to produce the album.

Fernández's father disapproved of him recording a pop album. "It got to the point where we didn't even talk anymore. He put this great distance between us", Fernández recalled. After hearing the final mix of the album, Vicente Fernández retracted his disapproval and enjoyed the recording. Me Estoy Enamorando was recorded at the Estefans' Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.

Musical style and themes

Me Estoy Enamorando is composed of ten tracks which consists of ballads, boleros, and rancheras. Six of the songs were written and composed by Emilio Estefan Jr.'s partner Kike Santander. Maria Jimena Muñoz, Roberto D. Blades, and Rafael Ferro also contributed to the album's songwriting. In addition to the blend of ranchera and pop ballads, the recording also features guest musicians Luis Enrique on the percussion, the London Symphony Orchestra playing the string arrangements, and mariachi guitarist David (Tachi) Mora-Arriaga on the track "Como el Sol y El Trigo". The album uses Estefan's "touch" of "lush, juggling mariachi band trumpets and 'vihuela' guitar" as well as maracas and percussion.

Lyrically, the songs on the album involve "falling in love", [and are] "a soundtrack for seduction". "Yo Nací Para Amarte" deals with a "meaty declaration of undying love" where the singer "admits that his love goes beyond reason". "No Sé Olvidar" conveys "both the thrill and the terror of love's powerful addiction". "Como el Sol y el Trigo" likens the singer's lost love to "his life as the sun is to a wheat field". The final track "Promesa" involves a man describing "the joy in trying to be the best man he can be, to be worthy of her". Fernández also covers Gloria Estefan's "Volverás" from her album Mi Tierra. Estefan herself makes a guest appearance on the duet track "En El Jardín", a "glorious ballad on the moment love is born".

Singles and promotion

"Si Tú Supieras" was released as the album's first single in August 1997. It became his first number one single on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States (US) spending six weeks in that position. The second single, "En El Jardín," was the second number-one song from the album and spent two weeks on top of the Hot Latin Songs chart. Its third and fourth singles, "No Sé Olvidar" and "Yo Nací Para Amarte," also reached number one on the same chart holding that position for eight and five weeks respectively. The title track and "Como El Sol y El Trigo" were released as promo singles in Mexico and Spain respectively. Music videos were made for "Si Tú Supieras", "En El Jardín", and "No Sé Olvidar".

To promote Me Estoy Enamorando, Fernández launched his first solo tour performing in Argentina, Central America, Mexico, and the US. He also performed at the 1998 Viña del Mar festival in Chile. His set list consisted of rancheras from his past recordings, several tracks from Me Estoy Enamorando, and a Spanish-language rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way". Fernández was accompanied by a 15-piece mariachi band for his ranchera performances. Reviewing his concert at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles Times editor Ernesto Lechner felt that Fernández "seemed to suffer from the same malady that affects most modern Mexican pop stars", citing "Si Tú Supieras" and "No Sé Olvidar" as "unnervingly soulless". Alejandro Riera of the Chicago Tribune commented that Fernández has "one mean set of pipes" and "used that voice to successfully seduce just about everybody in his mostly female audience". Riera also noted that unlike his father, Vicente, who sings "the tequila-drenched songs of unrequited love", Alejandro "praises the power that women hold over men. He sees them as superior beings even when he takes on the persona of the disdained lover." Laura Emerick wrote a mixed review of his performance at the Rosement Theatre. She felt that even though Fernández is focused on being independent from his father, "young Alejandro remains a pony, not a stylistic stallion like his father. He lacks the vocal finesse and stage presence that make Vicente such a galvanizing force." She observed that the mariachi band "looked bored". Emerick however praised his ranchera tunes.

Critical reception and accolades

On its release, Me Estoy Enamorando was met with positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic editor Terry Jenkins gave the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, calling it a "fine romantic record". An editor for Billboard magazine noted that the recording sports "a daring blend of bolero/pop/ranchera sounds". Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News felt that Fernández's vocals "caresse... every song on Me Estoy Enamorando" and praised his delivery. Taradell also complimented the production commenting that the recording "benefits from Mr. Estefan Jr's hallmark production: uncluttered, bright, easy on the ears" as well as Santander's songwriting. On the title track, he compared Fernández to Mexican ranchera singer Javier Solís: " Like Solis, Fernandez can whisper soft and compassionate requests for requited love, and belt out tortured sobs of pain while still retaining a macho posture that says, 'Yes, I'm crying, but I'm not giving up'."

Knight Ridder music critic Howard Cohen gave the album four out of four stars lauding Fernández's vocals and Estefan Jr.'s production. Ramiro Burr's review for the San Antonio Express-News praised the "blend of pop balladry with ranchera rhythms and traditional instruments that elevates this CD". He felt that Fernández "conveys a wealth of emotion in his songs" and called "En El Jardín" a "glorious ballad". Eliseo Cardona of El Nuevo Herald lauded Santander's compositions and called Fernández a "first-rate interpreter who knows how to give a poetic edge to everything that goes through his throat".

At the 40th Annual Grammy Awards in 1998, Me Estoy Enamorando was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance but lost to Romances by Luis Miguel. At the 10th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards in the same year, Fernández won the awards for Pop Album of the Year, Pop Song of the Year for "Si Tú Supieras", Pop Male Artist of the Year, and Regional Mexican Male Artist of the Year. At the 1998 Premios Eres in Mexico, Fernández won four awards including: Best Popular Singer, Best Disc (for the album), Best Song (for "Si Tú Supieras"), and Best Theme Song. At the 1999 Premios Gardel in Argentina, the recording garnered him the award for Best New Artist.

Commercial performance

In the United States Me Estoy Enamorando debuted at number three on the Billboard Top Latin Albums the week of 11 October 1997. It peaked on top of the chart nine weeks later succeeding Contra la Corriente by Marc Anthony. The album remained in this position for eleven weeks until it was displaced by Ricky Martin's album Vuelve. It later returned to this position the week of 6 June 1998 for one week. The recording also reached number one on the Latin Pop Albums (where it spent a total of sixteen weeks on top of this chart), and peaked at number 125 on the Billboard 200 chart. It ended 1998 as the bestselling Latin album of the year in the US. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipping one million copies. By November 1997, the recording had sold over 310,000 copies in the US and 530,000 copies in Mexico. In Argentina, the album sold 110,000 and was certified platinum by CAPIF after shipping 60,000 copies. As of 2011, in Spain, Me Estoy Enamorando had sold over 70,000 copies and over 2.2 million copies had been sold worldwide.

Personnel

Adapted from Me Estoy Enamornado liner notes