Colores
Colores (English: Colors) is the fourth[1] solo studio album by Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin, released on 19 March 2020 through Universal Latin.[2] The album was produced by Sky Rompiendo.[3] It was preceded by the singles "Blanco", "Morado" and "Rojo", with the latter being released the same day as the album pre-order. Each song on the album will receive a music video directed by Colin Tilley.[4] "Amarillo" was released as the fourth single off Colores the same day as the album's release.[5][6] At the 2020 Latin Grammy Awards, the album won the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Album.[7]
Colores | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 19 March 2020 | |||
Genre | Reggaeton | |||
Length | 28:52 | |||
Language |
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Label | Universal Latin | |||
Producer | Sky Rompiendo | |||
J Balvin chronology | ||||
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Singles from Colores | ||||
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Background
The album's central concept is colors, with each track named after a color (except "Arcoiris", the Spanish term for rainbow).[4] Balvin collaborated with the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for the music videos and album and single artworks, which notably feature Murakami's flowers, as well as American clothing brand Guess on a capsule collection inspired by the album.[8]
The album was announced at the end of January 2020.[9]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 72/100[10] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [11] |
Clash | 8/10[12] |
Consequence of Sound | B[13] |
The Guardian | [14] |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10[15] |
Rolling Stone (US) | [16] |
Tom Hull – on the Web | B+ ()[17] |
Colores received generally positive reviews from critics. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian gave the album three out of five stars and stated that Colores "isn’t really interested in standing out by startling the listener, or reeling them in with novelty, but what Colores does have in profusion is a universal brand of pop smarts".[14] Suzy Exposito of Rolling Stone awarded the album three and a half out of five stars, writing "Don’t let the Crayola motif fool you: Spanning 10 pigment-themed tracks, Colores is a sophisticated show of Balvin’s sonic palette".[16] Thom Jurek of Allmusic said of the album, "There isn't much lyrical substance on Colores, and there doesn't need to be. It's a party record whose lyric flows are effortless and laid-back enough -- a Balvin trademark -- to attract listeners inside and outside musica urbano's big tent. The album's brevity adds depth and dimension to its direct, seductive, welcoming mix and garish presentation."[11]
Lucas Villa of Consequence of Sound wrote of the album, "The brushstrokes he paints as a purveyor of perreo pop might not be as broad, but they’re far-reaching in highlighting the evolution and future of reggaeton music. Balvin remains a power player in the globalization of the #LatinoGang, and Colores continues to showcase his colorful flow and spirit as a beacon in the movement".[13] Jenzia Burgos of Pitchfork called the album "earnest" but "slightly indulgent" and compared the visually-focused work to albums by Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, saying, "Now with his own seat at the table, J Balvin will no doubt sigue rompiendo."[15] Ramy Abou-Setta of Clash called Colores "one of J Balvin’s strongest projects to date", and opined that the album "stays true to the reggaeton roots that J Balvin has built upon during the years of his influence on the Latino music scene. An energetic and vibrant project, that is exactly what the music scene needed in such an uncertain time".[12]
Commercial reception
His single "Blanco" was certified Gold in Spain.[18]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Amarillo" |
| 2:37 | |
2. | "Azul" |
|
| 3:25 |
3. | "Rojo" |
|
| 2:30 |
4. | "Rosa" |
| 3:09 | |
5. | "Morado" |
| Sky Rompiendo | 3:20 |
6. | "Verde" (with Sky Rompiendo) |
|
| 2:22 |
7. | "Negro" |
|
| 3:02 |
8. | "Gris" |
| Sky Rompiendo | 2:56 |
9. | "Arcoiris" (featuring Mr Eazi) |
|
| 3:06 |
10. | "Blanco" |
|
| 2:25 |
Total length: | 28:52 |
Notes
- ^[v] signifies a vocal producer
- In the initial announcement of the track list, "Rosa" was listed as "Rosado".[19]
Sample credits
- "Amarillo" contains a sample of "Angela", as written and performed by Saïan Supa Crew.[20]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Mexico (AMPROFON)[37] | Gold | 30,000^ |
Chile (IFPI Chile)[38] | 3× Platinum | 30,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[39] | Gold | 20,000 |
United States (RIAA)[40] | 3× Platinum (Latin) | 180,000 |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- "Escucha 'Colores', el cuarto álbum de estudio de J Balvin". Latido Music. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- "Colores by J Balvin". Amazon Music. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- Shaffer, Claire (31 January 2020). "J Balvin Sets March Release for New Album 'Colores'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- Cobo, Leila (27 February 2020). "J Balvin's Plan to Become Music's Next Billionaire". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- Atad, Corey (20 March 2020). "J Balvin Drops New Album And Music Video For 'Amarillo'". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- Fernández, Noemi (18 March 2020). "J Balvin cambia de color y nos da un adelanto de "Amarillo"". Los 40 (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- https://www.grammy.com/latin-grammys/news/j-balvin-wins-best-urban-music-album-colores-2020-latin-grammys. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - Sawyer, Jonathan (26 February 2020). "J Balvin's New GUESS Collection Is Inspired by His Upcoming Album". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (31 January 2020). "J Balvin Announces New Album Colores". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- "Metacritic Review". Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- Jurek, Thom. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- Abou-Setta, Ramy (20 March 2020). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- Villa, Lucas (19 March 2020). "Album Review: J Balvin Remains One of Reggaeton's Most Vibrant Characters on Colores". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- Petridis, Alexis (19 March 2020). "J Balvin: Colores review – with this much style, who needs substance?". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- Burgos, Jenzia (27 March 2020). "J Balvin: Colores Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- Exposito, Suzy (20 March 2020). "J Balvin Nuances His Cosmopolitan Reggaeton Sound on 'Colores'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- Hull, Tom (14 September 2020). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- "J Balvin se pone "Morado" en su último single". ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- @AppleMusic (27 February 2020). "The official tracklist for @JBALVIN's #Colores is here" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 February 2020 – via Twitter.
- "J.Balvin tease son nouveau morceau qui sample "Angela" du Saïan Supa Crew". Le Mouv. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "Austriancharts.at – J Balvin – Colores" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – J Balvin – Colores" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – J Balvin – Colores" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- "J Balvin Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – J Balvin – Colores" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- "Lescharts.com – J Balvin – Colores". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – J Balvin – Colores" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- "Italiancharts.com – J Balvin – Colores". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- "AMRPOFON Top Album - Semanal (del 20 al 26 de marzo de 2020)" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Portuguesecharts.com – J Balvin – Colores". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- "Spanishcharts.com – J Balvin – Colores". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- "Swedishcharts.com – J Balvin – Colores". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – J Balvin – Colores". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- "J Balvin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "J Balvin Chart History (Top Latin Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Top Latin Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type J Balvin in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Colores in the box under TÍTULO
- "J BALVIN RECIBE 3 X DISCO DE PLATINO EN CHILE POR SU NUEVO DISCO" (in Spanish). Radio Carolina. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- "Spanish album certifications – J Balvin – Colores". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- "American album certifications – J Balvin – Colores". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 13 August 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click Type, then select Latin, then click SEARCH.