"No Quiero Na' Regala'o" is a song by Puerto Rican

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: ...

band

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican salsa orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, it was often considered Puerto Rico's most successful musical group. The ...

from their studio album ''De Punta a Punta'' (1971). Written by Perín Vasquez, it deals with the singer not wanting love merely out of pity. The song was covered by Puerto Rican singer

Gilberto Santa Rosa Gilberto Santa Rosa Cortés, nicknamed "El Caballero de la Salsa" (The Gentleman of Salsa) (born August 21, 1962), is a Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero. He is a six time Grammy Award winner and has sold over three million ...

on his tenth studio album ''

Esencia ''Esencia (Essence)'' is the tenth studio album recorded by Puerto Rican salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa released on November 15, 1996. It was nominated for Best Tropical/Salsa Album at the 9th Lo Nuestro Awards. Track listing This informati ...

'' (1996).

Production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stati ...

of Santa Rosa's version was co-handled by the artist and José Lugo. The cover version was positively reviewed by critics, who called it catchy and danceable. In the United States, "No Quiero Na' Regala'o" reached number 10 on the '' Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs chart and topped the

Tropical Airplay The Tropical Airplay chart (formerly known as Tropical/Salsa and Tropical Songs) is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine introduced in 1994. The first number-one song on the chart was " Quien Eres Tu" by Luis Enrique. Originally, ra ...

chart, spending three weeks in the position.

Background and composition

"No Quiero Na' Regala'o" was written by Perín Vasquez and originally performed by Puerto Rican

band

on their studio album ''De Punta a Punta'' (1971). A salsa song, it is a "ego-driven theme about not wanting pity when seeking true love". In 1996,

, an avid fan of the band, covered the song on his tenth studio album, ''

''. It was his first studio album to not feature his backup band since he became a solo artist ten years prior. Santa Rosa stated that he did no longer wanted to maintain an administrative role and felt like a true musician after relinquishing his position as a bandleader. The song was produced by Santa Rosa, along with José Lugo.

Promotion and reception

"No Quiero Na' Regala'o" was released as the

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...

from ''Esencia'' in 1996. Critic Ramiro Burr wrote for the ''

Fort Worth Star-Telegram The ''Fort Worth Star-Telegram'' is an American daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and Tarrant County, the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. It is owned by The McClatchy Company. History In May 1905, Amon G. Carter ...

'' that despite the sadness of the lyrics, he felt the "bright cracking horns produce a wildly festive mood" and regarded it as "instantly danceable". ''

La Prensa de San Antonio 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 ...

'' editor Diana Raquel called it a "very catchy and danceable rhythm" song and said that it brought to mind Santa Rosa's time as a member of Willie Rosario's band. Eliseo Cardona of Miami-based ''

El Nuevo Herald ''El Nuevo Herald'' is a newspaper published daily in Spanish in Southeast Florida, United States. Its headquarters is in Doral. ''El Nuevo Heralds sister paper is the '' Miami Herald'', also produced by the McClatchy Company. About ''el Nuevo ...

'' described it as the song in which Santa Rosa has "full command of his resources" on the album with its "delicious ''

pregón Pregón, a Spanish word meaning ''announcement'' or ''street-seller's cry'', has a particular meaning in both Cuban music and Latin American music in general. It can be translated as ''a song based on a street-seller's cry'' or ''a street-seller' ...

es''". In the United States, "No Quiero Na' Regala'o" reached number 10 on the '' Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs chart and topped the

chart, spending three weeks in the spot. On the year-end charts, it ended 1997 ranked number 13 on the Tropical Airplay chart.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References