Maps of Music

Colores (2020)

Where the lyrics of Colores take you, and where it was really made.

Every track but one has a music video, and the one left out is the song named after the Spanish word for rainbow.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Colores: fourth solo studio album and fifth overall by Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin
Released 19 March 2020 through Universal Latin
Produced by Sky Rompiendo
Preceded by the singles "Blanco", "Morado" and "Rojo"; "Rojo" came out on the same day as the pre-order
"Amarillo" released as the fourth single on the album's release day
Each song except "Arcoiris" has a music video directed by Colin Tilley

Central concept is colors: each track is named after a color
"Arcoiris" is the exception, the Spanish term for rainbow
Balvin worked with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami on the music videos, the album and single artworks
Murakami's flowers feature prominently in the artwork
American clothing brand Guess released a capsule collection inspired by the album
The album was announced at the end of January 2020

Born José Álvaro Osorio Balvín on 7 May 1985 in Medellín, Colombia, into an upper-middle-class family of Spanish and Syrian descent.
Grew up on rock acts such as Metallica and Nirvana and was drawn to reggaeton after listening to Daddy Yankee.
Moved to the United States at 17 to study English, living in Oklahoma and New York before returning to Medellín.
Adopted the stage name J Balvin "El Negocio" at 19 and began a career in music with his DJ and business partner David Rivera Mazo.

Breakthrough came in 2014 with "6 AM" featuring Farruko, which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.
"Ginza" and "Ay Vamos" followed; "Ay Vamos" became the first reggaeton song to exceed one billion views on YouTube.
The 2017 single "Mi Gente" with Willy William topped the Spotify Global Top 50, and its Beyoncé remix became his first US top-ten single.
"I Like It" with Cardi B and Bad Bunny became his first number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Released albums including Energia, Vibras, Colores, José and Rayo, and the joint album Oasis with Bad Bunny.
Became the first Latino to headline Coachella, Tomorrowland and Lollapalooza.

Sold 35 million records worldwide and won multiple Latin Grammy and Billboard Latin Music Awards.
Guinness World Records recognized him as a leader of a second-generation reggaeton revolution.

Critics gave Colores generally positive reviews
The Guardian's Alexis Petridis gave three out of five stars, saying the album is not interested in standing out by startling the listener and instead offers a universal brand of pop smarts in profusion
Rolling Stone's Suzy Exposito gave three and a half out of five stars, calling it a sophisticated show of Balvin's sonic palette across 10 pigment-themed tracks
AllMusic's Thom Jurek said there is not much lyrical substance but the album works as a party record that draws listeners inside and outside urban music
Consequence of Sound's Lucas Villa said the album highlights the evolution and future of reggaeton
Pitchfork's Jenzia Burgos called the album earnest but slightly indulgent and compared its visually focused work to albums by Pharrell Williams and Kanye West
Clash's Ramy Abou-Setta called it one of Balvin's strongest projects to date and said it stays true to the reggaeton roots he built on

Debuted at number 32 on the US Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart, with first week sales of 24,000
Peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200
Won the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Album at the 2020 Latin Grammy Awards

"Amarillo" contains a sample of "Angela", written and performed by Saïan Supa Crew
The video for "Rojo" tells a story similar to the 1990 film Ghost
Takashi Murakami's flowers appear across the artwork of the album and its singles
Guess built a capsule collection around the album
In France the album reached number 36 on the album chart