"Let's Get Loud" is a song by American singer
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and businesswoman. Lopez is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers of her time, credited with breaking ...
from her 1999 debut studio album, ''
On the 6''. Originally written by the song's co-writer
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Estefan (; ; born September 1, 1957) is an American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is an eight-time Grammy Awards, Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of t ...
for herself, she felt as if the song was too similar to her previous material and passed it onto Lopez. Estefan, who co-wrote the song alongside
Kike Santander, stated that Lopez would have "more fun with it" and would put "a new spin" on it. "Let's Get Loud" is regarded as Lopez's
signature song
A signature (; from , "to sign") is a depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. Signatures are often, but not always, handwritten or styliz ...
.
Estefan eventually released her own version of the song in 2011 as a bonus track on the deluxe
Target edition of her album ''
Miss Little Havana''.
"Let's Get Loud" charted worldwide, reaching the top ten in five European countries, including number one in Hungary. Although not released in the United States, it charted on the US ''Billboard''
Hot Dance Club Songs
The Dance Club Songs (also known as National Disco Action, Hot Dance/Disco Club Play, and Hot Dance Club Play) was a chart published weekly between 1976 and 2020 by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. It used club disc jockeys set list ...
. The song received positive critical response and at the
43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001, Lopez earned her second consecutive nomination for the
Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording (formerly known as Best Dance Recording) is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists f ...
. An accompanying
music video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
directed by Jeffrey Doe was filmed live at the
1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was the third edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the world championship for List of women's national association football teams, women's national association football, soccer teams. It was hosted as well as ...
.
Background
After a series of co-starring film roles, Lopez received her big break in 1996, when she was cast to play the title role in ''
Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer-songwriter. Known as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Tejano Music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most cel ...
'', a biopic of the late American singer-songwriter
Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer-songwriter. Known as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Tejano Music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most cel ...
.
[Stated on '' Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004] In the film, Selena's real voice is used for the musical sequences, but Lopez would nonetheless sing the lyrics during the scenes instead of lip syncing. When asked by an interview if ''Selena'' inspired her to launch a music career, Lopez stated: "I really, really became inspired, because I started my career in musical theater on stage. So doing the movie just reminded me of how much I missed singing, dancing, and the like..." After filming Selena, Lopez was "really feeling
erLatin roots" and cut a
demo in Spanish. Lopez's manager then sent the song, entitled "Vivir Sin Ti", to
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment (SME), commonly known as Sony Music, is an American multinational music company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation. It is the recording division of Sony Music Group, with the other half being the ...
's
Work Records, who showed an interest in signing Lopez.
Tommy Mottola, the head of the label suggested to her that she sing in English instead. She complied and began recording her debut studio album ''
On the 6''. During production of the ''On the 6'', Lopez was aware of the fact that she received her recording contract on the premise of her looks and having an already established name in the entertainment industry, and wanted to prove that she had musical talent. Prior to the debut of her music, critics wondered why she would take the risk of launching a music career. It was noted that: "If the album was a flop, not only would it embarrass Lopez, but it might even damage her career."
Music and lyrics
"Let's Get Loud" was originally written by
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Estefan (; ; born September 1, 1957) is an American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is an eight-time Grammy Awards, Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of t ...
, but she felt as if the song was too similar to her previous recordings. She then passed the song to Lopez, stating that she would have "more fun with it" and would put "a new spin" on it.
[ "Let's Get Loud" was written by Estefan and Kike Santander, who also arranged and co-produced the song alongside Emilio Estefan Jr. Javier Garza and Marcelo Anez recorded Lopez's vocals for the song at Crescent Moon Studios in ]Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
. Pablo Flores mixed the song also at Crescent Moon Studios.
Critical reception and accolades
Mario Tarradell from ''The Dallas Morning News'' complimented the Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
flavor in the song, writing "Jennifer Lopez wastes no time asserting her Latina heritage: "Let's Get Loud," a cut from the actress—turned—singer's debut album, ''On the 6'', opens with a sassy declaration – '¡Ya Jenny llego, presente!'" Heather Phares from AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, on her review of ''On the 6'' gave a positive review of the song, stating that "'Let's Get Loud' have a fiery, soulful sound more in keeping with Lopez's public persona." Michael Paoletta from ''Billboard'', commented that the song's remixes "deliver the goods in a variety of ways", further explaining that the Kung Pow "ups the ante" with the Castle Hills Club mix, considering that it "overflows with diva attitude and Latin/pop sensibilities." Richard Torres from ''Newsday'' gave a negative review of the song, stating that it was a "total misfire" and that "Lopez simply doesn't supply enough oomph to drive this salsa-injected tune. She's far too feathery where she should truly get down." At the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001, Lopez earned her second consecutive nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording (formerly known as Best Dance Recording) is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists f ...
(having been nominated for " Waiting for Tonight" in 2000).
Chart performance
"Let's Get Loud" debuted on the Australian Singles chart at number 49 the week ending August 20, 2000. On the week ending November 12, 2000, the song reached its peak at number nine and stayed there for five consecutive weeks. In Austria, the song debuted at number 35 on the week ending July 9, 2000, and reached its peak of eleven August 20, 2000. "Let's Get Loud" fared better on Italy and Netherlands. On the former, it debuted at number twelve the week ending June 22, 2000, and reached its peak at number six the following week, managing to stay inside the top ten for five consecutive weeks before dropping of the chart. On the latter, it reached number three, becoming the highest peak of the song in all music markets.
Not released as a single in the US, the song still appeared at number 39 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play
The Dance Club Songs (also known as National Disco Action, Hot Dance/Disco Club Play, and Hot Dance Club Play) was a chart published weekly between 1976 and 2020 by ''Billboard'' magazine. It used club disc jockeys set lists to determine the mos ...
chart. "Let's Get Loud" later appeared at number 25 on the Australian year-end charts of 2000. It has sold 413,000 digital downloads in the United States as of 2013.
Live performances
The song's music video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
was directed by Jeffrey Doe and filmed live at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was the third edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the world championship for List of women's national association football teams, women's national association football, soccer teams. It was hosted as well as ...
at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commerci ...
. Lopez wears a silver party dress with white boots in the video. On October 23, 2007, while pregnant, Lopez performed the song on the 5th season of the United States version of ''Dancing with the Stars''. She performed the song at the San Remo Music Festival in 2010. Autistic young students at a Staten Island, New York
Staten Island ( ) is the southernmost of the boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County and situated at the southernmost point of New York (state), New York. The borough is separated from the ad ...
, school listened to "Let's Get Loud" every day, learning the dance moves and lyrics. The school wrote a letter to Lopez asking for an autograph or picture—instead Lopez showed up for the student's graduation for live performance of the song.
Lopez performed "Let's Get Loud" as part of her 2012 Dance Again World Tour. She emerged on-stage wearing a tuxedo with pink ruffles while playing a bongo, before transitioning into "Let's Get Loud". During the performance, her dancers ripped off the tuxedo to reveal a black-laced body suit. The song was included on the set list for her Las Vegas residency, All I Have, which commenced in January 2016. Lopez performed "Let's Get Loud" on the series finale
A series finale is the final installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. It may also refer to a final theatrical sequel, the last part of a television miniseries, the last installment of a literary series, ...
of ''American Idol'' on April 7, 2016, alongside her single " Ain't Your Mama".
On February 2, 2020, the song was performed by Lopez with her child, Emme Muñiz, as well as Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977) is a Colombian singer-songwriter. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Latin Music", she has had a Cultural impact of Shakira, significant impact on the ...
, during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show.
Formats and track listings
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''On the 6''.
Recording
*Recorded and mixed at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
.
Personnel
*Executive producer(s) – Emilio Estefan Jr.
*Producer(s) – Emilio Estefan Jr., Kike Santander
*Arrangements – Kike Santander
*Background vocals – Donna Allen, Betty Wright
*Piano – Paquito Hechavarría
*Programming – Lester Mendez
*Percussion – Edwin Bonilla
*Trumpet
The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...
s – Randall Barlow, Douglas Michels
*Trombone
The trombone (, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...
– Hernán "Teddy" Mulet
*Saxophone
The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to p ...
– Kenny Anderson
* Recording engineer(s) – Javier Garza, Marcelo Anez
*Mixing engineer
A mixing engineer (or simply mix engineer) is responsible for combining ("mixing") different sonic elements of an auditory piece into a complete rendition (also known as "final mix" or "mixdown"), whether in music, film, or any other content of a ...
(s) – Pablo Flores
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
{{authority control
1999 songs
2000 singles
Columbia Records singles
FIFA Women's World Cup songs
Jennifer Lopez songs
Number-one singles in Hungary
Song recordings produced by Emilio Estefan
Songs written by Gloria Estefan
Songs written by Kike Santander