Lopez’s “A.K.A.” Lands Atop Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

And then there were three for Jennifer Lopez…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress and returning American Idol judge’s eighth studio album A.K.A. has landed atop Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with 33,000 copies sold in the week ending June 22, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

A.K.A.’s debut at the summit marks her third No. 1 on the chart (and eighth top 10).

Lopez previously ruled with J.Lo in 2001, her best-selling album to date (3.8 million), and J to the L-O! The Remixes in 2002.

Simultaneously, Lopez boasts two titles on the Billboard Hot 100: Pitbull‘s official FIFA World Cup song “We Are One (Ole Ola),” on which she and Brazilian pop star Claudia Leitte are featured (No. 85), and her new set’s second single “First Love,” which debuts at No. 87.

Pitbull Kicks Off a Night of Latin Performances at the Billboard Music Awards

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

This year’s Billboard Music Awards had a decidedly Latino feel… Not only did Jennifer Lopez become the first Hispanic artist (and woman) to win the coveted Icon Award, but the show featured several high-octane performances from Latino musicians, including Pitbull.

The 33-year-old Cuban-American rap superstar, joined by la Lopez and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte, kicked off the night with an energetic performance of their new single ‘We Are One (Ole Ola),” the official 2014 FIFA World Cup anthem.

Pitbull kicked off the perforamnce with several scantily clad dancers backing him up, then kicked it over to Lopez, whose gold-fringed outfit sparkled in the lights. Leitte finished out the song.

No surprise, the performance featured strong soccer imagery as this year’s World Cup is right around the corner.

Pitbull, Lopez and Leitte will perform the song at the World Cup opening ceremony in Sao Paulo.

But Pitbull wasn’t the only one to perform a soccer-themed song…

Ricky Martin brought a little life to the BBMAs by performing “Vida,” one of the 2014 FIFA World Cup theme songs.

The upbeat track was written by fellow Puerto Rican singer Elijah King, as part of Sony’s “Supersong” 2014 World Cup song contest.

Looking stylish in all black amongst his team of white-clad dancers, Martin tore through the soccer-themed banger, shouting out its stadium-worthy cries of ole! In between, he showed off some dance moves of his own, leaving little doubt that he’s still livin’ la vida loca.

This isn’t the first time Martin has performed a track for the World Cup. His song for the 1998 competition, “La Copa de La Vida” (The Cup of Life),” propelled him into the global spotlight, taking off after he performed it on the Grammys. It charted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, and reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Jennifer Lopez, meantime, proved why she’s a living icon…

The “I Luh Ya Papi” singer returned to the BBMA stage once again, this time to debut her new single “First Love,” the latest track from her upcoming album A.K.A.

JLo not only looked haute in a one-shoulder, sparkly black jumpsuit, but she belted out the tune with gusto and showed the world just how well she can dance.

Last but certainly not least, Shakira performed her latest single “Empire.”

The Colombian singer and The Voice coach lit up the Billboard Music Awards stage with a sizzling rendition of the latest single from her recently released self-titled album.

Dressed in a sheer, sparkling dress and thigh high black boots, Shakira stalked the stage complete with a cathedral-like stage set and flames blasting on stage behind her.

By song’s end she had walked into the audience chanting the song’s luminescent refrain “and the stars made love to the universe,” pausing before a blast of steam with the mic stand held high above her head.

Lopez Feted with Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is not only an American Idol judge… She’s also an American icon…

The 44-year-old singer/actress and current judge on Fox’s reality singing competition received the 2014 Icon Award at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards, which were broadcast live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“You continue to break down barriers and inspire girls,” Rihanna said in a video montage, which included other noted artists, including Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, Pitbull and Taylor Swift, sharing their thoughts on la Lopez and her remarkable career.

Before accepting the award from presenters, Ricky Martin and Iggy Azalea, Lopez took the stage for the second time in the night to offer a live debut performance of “First Love,” the second single from her upcoming album A.K.A.

Lopez kept the audience on her feet as she stepped back onto the stage to receive the Icon Award. “Oh my God! What the heck?” Lopez said as she held the award. “Music has always been my first love.”

She continued to thank God, her fans, family, friends, management (Benny Medina), Latinos (“para mi gente“) and wished for the “little ones” who were watching from home to follow their dreams.

Lopez is the first women to receive the BBMA accolade. Past winners of the Icon Award include Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder and Prince.

Earlier in the night, Lopez took the stage with long-time collaborator and friend Pitbull and Claudia Lette, to premiere the official anthem of this year’s FIFA World Cup, “We Are One (Ole Ola).”

Shakira Releases the Official English & Spanish Music Videos for “Dare (La La La)”

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira’s hips don’t lie, nor do they take a break, in her latest music video…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer and The Voice coach has released the official clip for her latest single “Dare (La La La),” which finds Shakira playing “truth or dare on the dancefloor.”

Shakira really does look like she’s having a blast in the new video, which was directed by Rihanna’s frequent collaborator Anthony Mandler and shot in outdoor locations in Lisbon.

Dressed in a haute black dress with a bondage-inspired top and flowing skirt, Shakira proves she’s got the moves like Jagger.

The video premiered Tuesday in both English and Spanish versions on Vevo.

Close to end of the 3-minute video, Shakira lets loose with a crowd dressed in Carnaval costumes.

The easy breezy EDM track with a no brainer chorus – the third single from her self-titled album – is destined to make a splash during the long, hot summer.

Another version of “Dare (La La La)” is slated for the upcoming 2014 World Cup. “La La La (Brasil 2014)” will be included on the official FIFA World Cup album “One Love, One Rhythm” due May 12, competing against Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez’s “We Are One(Ole, Ola)” and other anthems for the title of this year’s biggest global anthem.

Pitbull Releases Official World Cup Song “We Are One (Ole, Ola),” feat. Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Ole. Ola! Pitbull has released “We Are One (Ole, Ola),” his easy, breezy World Cup song.

The 33-year-old Cuban American rap superstar’s new track – the official FIFA song for the upcoming World Cup – was released Tuesday in advance of the official FIFA 2014 World Cup Brazil album.

“We Are One,” which includes a whistling melody and stadium chants, features Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte.

Acoustic guitar sets up a beachy backdrop for “We Are One” before Pitbull launches into some easy motivational rhymes to a marching dance beat. J.Lo comes in with a more aggressive run, peppered with a few words in Portuguese, and Leitte’s muscular vocals briefly demonstrate why she is one of Brazil’s most popular singers.

“Show the world where you’re from, show the world we are one,” goes the chorus.

Pitbull, Lopez and Leitte will perform the song at the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo. A video shot in South Florida is set to debut later this month.

The track is the first single on the 17-song album, which will be released on May 12, exactly a month before the tournament kicks off.

Shakira, Ricky Martin, Sergio Mendes, The Isley Brothers and Baha Men are included on the list of Brazilian and international artists who perform on 17 tracks.

One Love, One Rhythm, the World Cup album, released on FIFA partner Sony Music Entertainment‘s RCA Records, will also include the official anthem, “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find A Way).”

Carlos Santana, Avicii and Alexandre Pires are set to perform that theme at the World Cup closing ceremonies in Rio on July 13.

Buyers who pre-order the album now on iTunes receive a free download of “We Are One.”

‘One Love, One Rhythm: The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Album’ Tracklisting:

1. Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte – We Are One (Ole Ola) (The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup TM Song)
2. Santana & Wyclef feat. Avicii & Alexandre Pires – Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find A Way) (The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup TM Anthem)
3. Arlindo Cruz – Tatu Bom De Bola (The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup TM Mascot Song)}
4. Ricky Martin – Vida (Spanglish Version)
5. David Correy – The World Is Ours
6. Psirico – Lepo Lepo
7. Sérgio Mendes & Carlinhos Brown – One Nation
8. Shakira – La La La (Brazil 2014) feat. Carlinhos Brown
9. The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing (Studio Rio Version)
10. Bebel Gilberto and Lang Lang – Tico Tico
11. Adelén – Olé (Stadium Anthem Mix)
12. Magic! – This Is Our Time (Agora e’a nossa horra)
13. Baha Men – Night & Day (Carnival Mix)
14. Rodrigo Alexey feat. Preta Gil – Go, Gol

Shakira Lands Atop Billboard’s Social Media Chart

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is No. 1 with a bullet on the social media charts…

The 36-year-old Colombian superstar singer and returning The Voice coach has reached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Social 50 chart.

Shakira jumped 5-1 to take the pole position. It’s her first time at No. 1 since Feb. 9, 2013, and only her second week atop the chart.

Shakira surged to the top of the heap after sharing another photo of her baby on January 25. That image garnered an astounding 2.1 million post-likes and a similar video got very quick real viewers.

In addition, the “Loca” singer released the Spanish version of her new single with Rihanna, “Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte,” to VEVO on January 22.

The “Nunca” audio post on VEVO has received more than 1 million views, and a successful promotional post on Facebook led to a 250% spike in weekly fan acquisition on the platform.

But Shakira isn’t the only Hispanic artist to make the Top 10…

Pitbull, who earned extensive press this week when it was announced that his track “We Are One (Ole Ola)” was selected as the official song for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, comes in at No. 5.

The track, which hasn’t been released, features Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian singer Claudie Leitte.

Pitbull’s boost in the Social 50 rankings is also complemented by Austin Mahone (47-40), who released his new single “MMM Yeah,” which features the 33-year-old Cuban American rap superstar. Overall, Pitbull ascends with a 132% increase in mentions on Twitter, a 7% rise in Facebook conversation, which leads to 928,000 new fans added overall (up 28% from the previous frame).

The Social 50 ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, VEVO, Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, Wikipedia, Myspace and Instagram. The chart’s methodology blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with artist page views, song plays and reactions as measured by music analytics company Next Big Sound.

Pitbull to Record Official World Cup Song with J.Lo and Claudia Leitte

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is officially becoming one with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte this World Cup season.

FIFA and Sony Music have named “We Are One (Ole Ola)” by the 33-year-old Cuban American rap superstar, featuring J.Lo and Brazilian singer Leitte, as the official song for the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament, which gets underway on June 12 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The track will be released by Sony in the coming months and performed at the World Cup opening ceremony. A video for “We Are One (Ole Ola)” is also being planned.

“I truly believe that this great game and the power of music will help unify us,” Pitbull said during an official announcement Thursday at the Macarena Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. “Because we are best when we are one.”

FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke emphasized the participation of Leitte, a well-known Brazilian pop singer and judge on The Voice Brasil.

“FIFA and Sony Music are extremely excited to share the impressive talent of Claudia Leitte with the world alongside such internationally celebrated artists as Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez,” Valcke said. “In my many visits to this country I’ve seen and heard a lot about the great Brazilian music tradition and it gives me great pleasure to see a Brazilian artist at the heart of this song. I’m sure, like me, millions of football and music fans all over the world will be eagerly awaiting the song’s release.”

Leitte said she was looking forward to dancing samba with Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez.

Pitbull’s latest single “Timber” featuring Ke$ha is currently the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where the Miami rapper holds a career total of nine top 10s and two No. 1s.

He and Lopez have recorded three previous collaborations, most recently “Live it Up,” a single from JLo’s upcoming album. 2011’s “On The Floor” spent three weeks in the top ten.

Pitbull has sold 2,827,000 albums to date in the U.S., according to SoundScan. Like JLo, he is reportedly preparing a new album for release this year.

Although further details on the song are yet to be revealed, it can be expected to include English, Spanish and Portuguese lyrics, and, particularly given Pitbull’s track record of global hits, will likely be a goal for the artists, FIFA and FIFA partner Sony.

The last FIFA World Cup song, 2010’s “Waka Waka” by Shakira with South African group Freshly Ground, has sold 1,7400,000 digital downloads to date. This week it is No. 2 on the Latin Digital Songs chart, where it spent 42 weeks at No. 1. The video has been viewed almost 600 million times on YouTube.

“We Are One” could be the third World Cup hit by Latin stars. In addition to Shakira’s smash, Ricky Martin’s “The Cup of Life” (La Copa de la Vida) for the 1998 World cup in France took the bilingual singer to international stardom when the song went to No. 1 in seven countries. Martin’s performance of the song on the Grammy Awards kick-started the so-called Latin pop explosion, essentially paving the way into the mainstream for bilingual Latin artists.

Martin will also record a song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup album, chosen via a Sony-sponsored Supersong contest. The contest allowed aspiring songwriters in countries around the world to upload a recording of their own World Cup song. Submissions are now closed, and finalists are to be announced soon on the Supersong website.

Coca-Cola kicked off World Cup fever last September with its official 2014 song, “The World is Ours,” sung in English by former The X-Factor contestant David Correy.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: We Are One (Ole Ola)