Released December 1990 Recorded 1990 Length 4:09 | Format CD single, 7" Genre Latin rap, hip hop | |
Label Interscope/Randy's Records | ||
"Rico Suave" is a 1990 single by Ecuadorian rapper and singer Gerardo. It appeared on his 1991 album Mo' Ritmo. The track peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of April 13, 1991, and reached number 2 on the Hot Rap Singles chart a week earlier. In the song, the narrator tells of his luck with women and his lady-loving lifestyle.
Contents
The song ranks number 100 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s and number 9 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders. It also ranked at number 37 on Blender's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever".
The song contains samples of "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" by James Brown and "Chamo Candela" by Venezuelan tropical/dance pop group Daiquiri.
Maxi-CD single
- "Rico Suave" (Spanglish version) – 3:29
- "Rico Suave" (Mo' Ritmo dance version) – 7:15
- "Rico Suave" (all Spanish version) – 4:17
12" single
- "Rico Suave" (Spanglish version) – 4:09
- "Rico Suave" (The More English Edit) – 3:29
- "Rico Suave" (Mo' Ritmo dance version) – 7:15
- "Rico Suave" (Spanish version) – 4:17
Remix single
- "Rico Suave" – 4:09
- "Rico Suave" (Spanish version) – 4:17
- "Rico Suave" (Instrumental Energize Mix) – 4:09
Music video
The video for the single features Gerardo and several male back-up dancers dancing in a sexual way. Gerardo wears an open leather jacket, revealing his naked torso. The backup dancers wear white T-shirts under their oversized suit jackets.
The video's intro consists of the singer and two back-up dancers squatting in front of a skyscraper with their backs to the camera. Near the end of the video, Gerardo takes his jacket off.
The bilingual version of the video also details Gerardo's encounter with his date's parents, who appear less than thrilled with Gerardo.
The video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video and Best New Artist.
Gerardo's real-life father played his girlfriend's father in the video.
Parodies
"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody entitled "Taco Grande" about a man who visits a Mexican restaurant, featuring Cheech Marin speaking rapid Spanish in the bridge. It was released on his 1992 album Off the Deep End. This parody uses the English language more than Spanish.
Saturday Night Live featured a skit showing "one-hit wonder" artists of the past. Among them was Gerardo (portrayed by Horatio Sanz) who addressed himself as "Rico Suave" as if it were his real name.
A Pinky and the Brain episode featured a plotline in which the Brain created a new alter-ego for Pinky, "Pinky Suavo" to hypnotize the world.