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Íconos (2010)

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

Marc Anthony's tenth studio album is a set of covers of Latin ballads, yet its lead single was first written and recorded by José Luis Perales, not by Anthony.

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Album story

Overview

• Íconos (English: Icons) is Marc Anthony's tenth studio album and his eighth Spanish album
• The album covers Latin ballads from the past
• It is the second Latin pop album by Marc Anthony after Amar Sin Mentiras
• First released on May 14, 2010 in Europe through Ariola Records
• Released on May 25 in the US and UK through Sony Latin
• Columbia Records is also listed as a label for the US market
• Produced by Anthony himself and Julio Reyes
• Eight cover versions and two previously unreleased songs composed by Julio Reyes
• Covers by José José, Juan Gabriel, Roberto Carlos, La Mafia and José Luis Perales

Background

• The lead single "Y Cómo Es Él" was first recorded and written by José Luis Perales
• The single was revealed on April 8, 2010 and released as a digital download on April 12, 2010 through Sony Music
• The second single "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" is a song from Mexican singer Juan Gabriel
• This was Anthony's second cover of a Juan Gabriel song, after his cover of "Hasta Que Te Conocí"
• Anthony explained the tribute concept as honoring artists who were daring at the time they recorded these songs

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born Marco Antonio Muñiz on September 16, 1968 in Manhattan, New York City, to Puerto Rican parents.
• Raised in East Harlem (Spanish Harlem); youngest of eight children; raised Catholic.
• Learned to sing in Spanish and English under his father Felipe, a professional guitarist.
• Influenced by José Feliciano, Air Supply, Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, and Tito Puente.

Career

• Started as a session vocalist for freestyle and New York house acts, then wrote and sang backing for Menudo and the Latin Rascals.
• Shifted from freestyle to salsa after 1992, blending in R&B and urban influences.
• Signed with Ralph Mercado's RMM Records; the Spanish-language debut Otra Nota (1993) launched his salsa career.
• Released English-language self-titled album (1999) with the US Top 5 single "I Need to Know"; it was certified triple platinum.
• Known as the top-selling salsa artist of all time; has won four Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, and 29 Lo Nuestro Awards.
• Has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide as of 2014.
• Acted in films including Carlito's Way, Man on Fire, and El Cantante (2007).

Reception

At release

• Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic gave the album a mixed review
• He praised Marc Anthony's vocals and called the album first-rate
• He criticized Anthony for the lack of originality since Amar Sin Mentiras
• On the single "Y Cómo Es Él", Birchmeier noted that Anthony's passion for the album is evident
• His conclusion was that the album offers quality material even if it does not give fans something new
• The review is the only critical assessment of the album in the source material
• The album is treated as a tribute record built on covers rather than new songwriting
• The mixed verdict balances praise for the performances against doubts about originality

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Anthony said singing "El Triste" showed the magnitude of José José's voice and phrasing
• "El Triste" got media attention and publicity but was not released as a single
• The album's lead single was first written and recorded by José Luis Perales
• Anthony covered Juan Gabriel's songs twice across his career, counting this album's second single
• Anthony chose covers of songs he felt were daring for their time

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

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