"Somos Nada" () is a song recorded by American singer
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
for her ninth studio and second Spanish-language album, ''
Aguilera'' (2022). It was written by Aguilera,
Federico Vindver
Federico Vindver (born 18 August 1982) is an Argentine record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer based in Los Angeles, California.
Vindver has worked with several artists including, Kanye West, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Ed ...
,
Mario Domm
Mario Alberto Domínguez Zarzar (born 22 January 1977), known as Mario Domm, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and record producer. A founding member of the pop rock band Camila, he has won four Latin Grammy Awards; four ''Billboard'' Awards; ...
,
Sharlene Taulé
Sharlene Taulé Ponciano (born May 11, 1991) better known as Sharlene, is a Dominican singer and actress.
Early life
Taulé studied singing with María Remola and Nadia Nicola, and performed in New York at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Ins ...
, and was produced by
Rafa Arcaute
Rafael Arcaute, known as Rafa Arcaute, is an Argentine songwriter, record producer and recording engineer. He has worked with several Latin American artists including Luis Alberto Spinetta, Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas, Calle 13, Aterciope ...
and Vindver, co-produced Afo Verde and
Jean Rodríguez
Jean Carlos Rodríguez López-Cepero (born December 10, 1980), also known as Jean, is a Puerto Rican singer, the younger brother of Luis Fonsi. Rodríguez has released a handful of solo albums and mixtapes, hitting number one on ''Billboard'' L ...
as a vocal producer. The song was released through
Sony Music Latin as the album's second single on November 18, 2021. The song is featured on the album's first part, ''
La Fuerza
''La Fuerza'' () is the debut solo and Spanish-language extended play (EP) by American singer Christina Aguilera. It was released through Sony Music Latin on January 21, 2022 as the first part of her ninth studio and second Spanish-language alb ...
'' ().
"Somos Nada" is a slow tempo, stripped-down
ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
, featuring only Aguilera's vocals over a piano instrumental. Its lyrical content contrast the rest of ''La Fuerza'', as it is one of the most vulnerable moments on the album. According to Aguilera, the song is about embracing "the contrast of vulnerability and strength. The journey within oneself." The song received positive reviews from critics, who named it one of Aguilera's
signature songs. A music video was released on November 19, 2021.
Background and composition
"Somos Nada" is a "stripped-down piano-led nostalgic ballad that puts her deep, powerful tone at the forefront".
The track was called a "signature" Aguilera song where she "delivers a raw and emotional performance".
The song is about the search for love in the face of emptiness and flying on "glass wings". "Somos Nada" taps into emptiness, the universal theme of vulnerability and inner strength, courage and independence, faith in one's own abilities, taking risks in the face of difficulties.
In the song, Aguilera sings about overcoming obstacles and trying to not lose faith in love.
According to
The Recording Academy
The Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; abbreviated NARAS) is an American learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is famous for its Grammy Aw ...
, the song explores "how someone can simultaneously be your everything and nothing".
The song is written in the key of
A minor
A minor is a minor scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has no flats and no sharps. Its relative major is C major and its parallel major is A major.
The A natural minor scale is:
:
Changes ...
, with a moderately slow
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
of 50 beats per minute.
Aguilera's vocals span from C
3 to D
5.
Release and music video
"Somos Nada" was released on November 18, 2021. Its music video was directed by Alexandre Moore, and was shot alongside the music video for "
Pa Mis Muchachas
"Pa Mis Muchachas" () is a song recorded by American singers Christina Aguilera, Becky G and Argentine rapper and singer Nicki Nicole featuring Argentine singer Nathy Peluso for the former's ninth studio and second Spanish-language album '' Aguil ...
" in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. It continues the visual story line that began with "Pa Mis Muchachas" where Aguilera found out her lover and business partner is betraying her, and finishing him off. The story line was continued in the music video for "
Santo".
Critical reception
"Somos Nada" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Neil Z. Yeung from
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
believed that the "piano-backed ballad sits alongside its most heart-rending siblings on ''
Stripped
Stripped may refer to:
Music
* "Stripped" (song), by Depeche Mode, 1986
* ''Stripped'' (Christina Aguilera album) or the title song, 2002
* ''Stripped'' (Daniel Ash album), 2014
* ''Stripped'' (Macy Gray album), 2016
* ''Stripped'' (Pretty Ma ...
''"
guilera's fourth studio album Aldo Magallanes of a daily newspaper ''
El Siglo de Torreón
EL, El or el may refer to:
Religion
* El (deity), a Semitic word for "God"
People
* EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer
* El DeBarge, music artist
* El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American ...
'' called Aguilera's vocal performance "powerful" and noted that it "brings the lyrics to life in a way that only she knows how". According to the critic, the singer's voice perfectly captures "Somos Nada's" "depth, vulnerability, and intensity".
''
Rolling Stone en Español'' commented that "Aguilera dares to take risks with 'Somos Nada', her new song". Pip Ellwood-Hughes, a journalist for ''Entertainment Focus'', said the song was "strong" and significantly different from ''La Fuerzas previous single, "
Pa Mis Muchachas
"Pa Mis Muchachas" () is a song recorded by American singers Christina Aguilera, Becky G and Argentine rapper and singer Nicki Nicole featuring Argentine singer Nathy Peluso for the former's ninth studio and second Spanish-language album '' Aguil ...
". Lucas Villa from ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' said: "Aguilera weathers the elements and heartbreak to find her inner strength to move on". Writing for ''NEIU Independent'', Enrique Cerros opined that "Aguilera is at her best when she can showcase her
mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano or mezzo (; ; meaning "half soprano") is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A below middle C ...
vocals without heavy, distracting beats", and "'Somos Nada' does exactly that".
Live performances and cover versions
Aguilera performed at the
22nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards on November 18, 2021. She performed "Somos Nada" with
Julio Reyes Copello
Julio Reyes Copello (born April 26, 1969) is a Colombian producer, songwriter and record engineer. Throughout his career he has worked with various artists such as Jennifer López, Marc Anthony, Thalía, Chayanne, Kany García, Alejandro Sanz, P ...
on the piano, before performing the album's previous single,"Pa' Mis Muchachas" alongside
Becky G
Rebbeca Marie Gomez (born March 2, 1997), known professionally as Becky G, is an American singer and actress. She first gained recognition in 2011 when she began posting videos of herself covering popular songs online. One of her videos caught t ...
,
Nathy Peluso
Natalia Peluso (born 12 January 1995), known professionally as Nathy Peluso (), is an Argentinian singer, songwriter, dancer and pedagogue. Born in Argentina, and raised in Spain, Peluso became interested in the performing arts at an early age, ...
and
Nicki Nicole
Nicole Denise Cucco (born 25 August 2000, known professionally as Nicki Nicole) is an Argentine rapper and singer. Born and raised in Rosario, Santa Fe, she gained popularity with her singles "Wapo Traketero", " Colocao", " Mamichula", and "Mal ...
. She also performed "Somos Nada" during her set at World AIDS Day Concert LA Revival on December 1, 2021. On December 7, Aguilera was honored with the first-ever Music Icon award at the
47th People's Choice Awards and performed a medley of hits, as well as "Somos Nada".
In July 2022, Dania González made a cover of the song on
the eleventh season of ''
La Voz
Media United States
* ''La Voz Hispana de Virginia'', a magazine
* ''La Voz de Houston'', a newspaper
* ''La Voz'' (Phoenix), a newspaper
* ''La Voz'', a publication in New York's Hudson Valley owned by Bard College
Other media
* ''La Voz ...
'', a Mexican singing competition television series.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from
Spotify
Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...
,
and from the liner notes of ''La Fuerza'':
* Lead vocals – Christina Aguilera
* Producers – Rafa Arcaute, Federico Vindver
* Composers – Aguilera, Federico Vindver, Mario Domm, Sharlene Taulé
* Co-producer – Afo Verde
* Vocal producer – Jean Rodríguez
Charts
References
{{authority control
2021 songs
2021 singles
2020s ballads
Christina Aguilera songs
Pop ballads
Sony Music Latin singles
Songs written by Christina Aguilera
Songs written by Mario Domm
Spanish-language songs
Songs written by Federico Vindver
pl:Somos nada