"Libertad" ''(
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
: Freedom)'' is a song by
Puerto Rican recording artist
A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...
Ivy Queen
Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez (born March 4, 1972), known professionally as Ivy Queen, is a Puerto Rican singer, rapper, songwriter, and actress. She is considered one of the pioneers of the reggaeton genre, commonly referred to as the Qu ...
, from her fifth studio album, ''
Flashback'' (2005). It was composed by Queen, produced by
Rafi Mercenario
Rafy Mercenario is a Puerto Rican reggaeton producer. He has produced hits for several artists including Daddy Yankee, Don Omar and Ivy Queen. He has released compilation albums, including a collaboration with fellow producer DJ Nelson, ''The Ki ...
, and released as the second out of three singles from the album via Airplay in 2005. It was later released as promotional single in 2006. It is one of four new tracks from the album produced by Mercenario, the most requested producer in reggaetón at the time. A promotional single was released in 2006 featuring two separate remixes, the instrumental of those remixes and the a cappella.
It is a reggaeton song taking influence from
hip hop. Becoming a success in the Latin market, the song reached number thirteen on the
''Billboard'' Latin Songs chart, number twelve on the
''Billboard'' Tropical Airplay chart and number nine on the
''Billboard'' Latin Rhythm Airplay chart. It was also included on Queen's first
extended play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. (EP) entitled ''
e5''. Ivy Queen also performed the song as a part of the set of her
2008 World Tour which was held from the
José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum
The Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (English language, English: ''José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico'') is the biggest indoor arena in Puerto Rico dedicated to entertainment. It is located at the Milla de Oro, Golden Mile ...
known as the
Coliseum of Puerto Rico
The Colosseum ( ; it, Colosseo ) is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world t ...
in
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan (, , ; Spanish for "Saint John") is the capital city and most populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2020 census, it is the 57th-largest city under the jur ...
.
Background
Following the failed commercial success of Queen's first two studio albums, Queen was dropped from the
Sony
, commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
label and took a hiatus from her musical career in 1999.
Returning to the music industry with her third studio album, ''
Diva
Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is clo ...
'', which was highly anticipated and acclaimed and later recognized as a factor in reggaeton's mainstream exposure in 2004 along with
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (born February 3, 1976), known professionally as Daddy Yankee, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, composer, and actor. Known as the " King of Reggaetón" by music critics and fans alike, he is the artist who coined ...
's ''
Barrio Fino
''Barrio Fino'' (; en, "Fine 'Hood") is the third studio album by Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee, released on July 13, 2004, in the United States by V.I. Music and El Cartel Records and internationally by Machete Music and Polydor Records. R ...
'' and
Tego Calderon Tego may refer to:
* Tego (toego), Bhutanese clothing
*Tego film, an adhesive sheet used in the manufacture of waterproof plywood
*Tego Calderón
Tegui Calderón Rosario (born February 1, 1972) is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer and actor. He bega ...
's ''
El Enemy de los Guasíbiri
''El Enemy de los Guasíbiri'' is the first compilation album by Tego Calderón. The album is considered to be an important factor to reggaeton's mainstream exposure in 2004 alongside Daddy Yankee's '' Barrio Fino'' and Ivy Queen's ''Diva''.Carn ...
'', after being certified Platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
.
[Carney Smith, Jessie]
of African American Popular Culture''
ABC-CLIO, 2010, p. 1199. She then began working on her fourth studio album ''Real''. It too was a commercial success, to a lesser extent, despite initially being Queen's debut full-length English-language studio album.
She then embarked on the "Reggaeton Tour 2004" which also featured other artist including
Aldo Ranks
Aldo Vargas, known by his stage name Aldo Ranks, is a Panamanian musician of reggae en Español. From 1992 to 1998, he was the most outstanding and youngest rapper in Panama, supported by producers such as El Chombo and DJ Pablito on albums such ...
and
La Factoria
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
* "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...
in various South American countries including
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
where she performed songs such as "
Papi Te Quiero
"Papi Te Quiero" ''(English: Daddy I Love You)'' is a song by Puerto Rican reggaetón recording artist Ivy Queen, from the platinum edition of her third studio album, ''Diva'' (2003). It was composed by Queen and her then husband Gran Omar, produ ...
" and "Tu No Puedes" in promotion of the album.
This was her first tour in South America which began in 2004 and lead into 2005.
In June 2005,
Ivy Queen
Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez (born March 4, 1972), known professionally as Ivy Queen, is a Puerto Rican singer, rapper, songwriter, and actress. She is considered one of the pioneers of the reggaeton genre, commonly referred to as the Qu ...
partnered with co-founder of Perfect Image Records, José Guadalupe to form
Filtro Musik
Ivy Queen Musa Sound Corporation (formerly known as Filtro Musik and later Drama Records) is a multi-genre record label founded by Ivy Queen and José Guadalupe in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2005 with the release of Ivy Queen's fifth studio album ' ...
.
This stemmed from Guadalupe parting ways with the other co-founder of Perfect Image Anthony Pérez who in turn would launch his own label The Roof Records.
Filtro Musik's concept initially stemmed from its name which means filter in English.
"I've been in this industry 15 years, and we have the ability to filter and pick the best" said Guadalupe.
In the coming year,
Univision
Univision () is an American Spanish-language free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the Latino public and includes ...
signed the label to licensing plan to release the album in September 2005. As a result, "this ensured that the album was positioned in Latin and mainstream accounts that would normally not carry Latin product." Ivy Queen was previously married to fellow reggaeton artist Omar Navarro, known by his stage name Gran Omar.
They were divorced in 2005 shortly before the release of ''Flashback'', which influenced the composition of the album.
She denied ever having found him in the act of
adultery
Adultery (from Latin ''adulterium'') is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal ...
, while claiming that if she had found Navarro with another woman, she'd be in La Vega Alta, a prison for women in
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
.
She also denied rumors that she had physically assaulted the woman she caught with Navarro.
She stated they had not lived with each other for two months citing the "extensive travels of her husband and his workload of being a producer" as being causes to the end of the nine-year marriage.
Composition
"Libertad" was written by Queen herself and produced by
Rafi Mercenario
Rafy Mercenario is a Puerto Rican reggaeton producer. He has produced hits for several artists including Daddy Yankee, Don Omar and Ivy Queen. He has released compilation albums, including a collaboration with fellow producer DJ Nelson, ''The Ki ...
, the most requested producer in reggaetón at the time.
It was the last of the four new tracks on the album produced by Mercenario, the others being the lead single "
Cuéntale", "Marroneo", and the "reggaetón-ed up twist" on
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
's classic "
Si Una Vez
"Si Una Vez" ( en, If I Once) is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). It was written by Pete Astudillo and produced by Selena's brother-producer A.B. Quintanilla. "Si Una Vez ...
".
Being was composed in
minor key
In Western music, the adjectives major and minor may describe a chord, scale, or key. As such, composition, movement, section, or phrase may be referred to by its key, including whether that key is major or minor.
Intervals
Some intervals may ...
, It features danceable grooves, synthetic instrumentation and synthesizers as she takes influences from Afro-Latin music. Queen appears infuriated in the lyrics where she asks a former lover "who the hell am I so that you may play with my heart. This has finished. Go look for another idiotic stupid woman. I'm going to the club with a miniskirt to celebrate my freedom."
Track listing
*Album Version
#"Libertad" —
*Extended Play (EP)
#"
Cuéntale" —
#"Libertad" —
#"
Te He Querido, Te He Llorado
"Te He Querido, Te He Llorado" (English: "I Have Loved You, I Have Cried For You") is a song by Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican reggaeton, reggaetón recording artist Ivy Queen, from her fifth studio album, ''Flashback (Ivy Queen album), Flashb ...
" —
#"
Quiero Bailar" —
#"
Quiero Saber" —
*Live Version
#"Libertad" (Coliseum of Puerto Rico) —
*Promo Single
#"Libertad"
(Bones Remix) —
#"Libertad" (Instrumental)
(Bones Remix) —
#"Libertad"
(Hip Hop) —
#"Libertad" (Instrumental)
(Hip Hop) —
#"Libertad"
(A Capella) —
Credits and personnel
*Album Version
**Composer: Martha Ivelisse Pesante
**Producer: Rafi Mercenario
**Audio Production: Rafi Mercenario
*Extended Play (EP)
**Composer: Martha Ivelisse Pesante
**Producer: Rafi Mercenario
**Audio Production: Rafi Mercenario
*Promo Single
**Composer: Martha Ivelisse Pesante
(All tracks)
**Producer: Bones
(Tracks 1-2)
**Producer(s): Jose "2Ton" Batista & Raul Cela (R.CLA)
(Tracks 3-4)
**Audio Production: Rafi Mercenario
(Track 5)
**Mixing: Jose "2 Ton" Batista at Lobo Recording Studios in
Deer Park, New York
Deer Park is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Babylon, in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 27,745 at the 2010 census.
History
Deer Park is located in the pine barrens in th ...
*Live Version
**Mixing Engineer: Arnaldo Santo "Naldo" & Miguel Pequero
**Musical Director: Miguel Márquez "Escobar"
**Bass: José Aponte
**Guitar: Juan C. Rodríguez
**Keyboards: Andres Arroyo "Zoprano"
**Drums: Antonio Alonso "Papito"
**Percussion: Omar Soto "Pooh"
**Chorus 1: Julio Cartagena "Corbata"
**Chorus 2: Zulma Oviedo
**Chorus 3: Orlando Rosario "Orlandito"
**DJ: David Montañez "DJ Davey"
**Sound: Comco Audio
**Sound Engineer Monitors: Ryan Vargas
**Sound Engineer FOH: Manuel Comulada
Charts
"Libertad" peaked at number thirteen of the
''Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs chart for the week of April 6, 2006. On the
''Billboard'' Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, the song peaked at number nine for the week of April 1, 2006 becoming the twenty-eighth best performing Latin Rhythm single of 2006. On the
''Billboard'' Latin Tropical Airplay chart, the song peaked at number twelve for the week of March 25, 2006.
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
{{Ivy Queen singles
2005 singles
2006 singles
Ivy Queen songs
Spanish-language songs
Songs written by Ivy Queen
Song recordings produced by Rafy Mercenario
Songs with feminist themes
Univision Music Group singles