"Amiga Mía" (transl. "Female friend of mine") is a song by Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz from his fifth studio album, Más (1997). WEA Latina released it as the album's fourth single in the same year. The song was written by Sanz and produced by Miguel Angel Arenas and Emanuele Ruffinengo. The rock ballad carries a message of unrequited love and was inspired by a close friend of Sanz. The song received positive reactions from music critics who regarded it as one of his best songs. A music video for "Amiga Mía" features the artist performing on top of a building while the townspeople watch and his love interest leaves with her fiancé.
A 28-second sample of "Amiga Mía". Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News describes it as a ballad that "mix smooth melodies, his powderkeg singing style, flamenco guitar riffs and percussive beats that give the tunes an exotic feel".[1]
Since the release of his first album with WEA Latina, Viviendo Deprisa (1991), Alejandro Sanz has a maintained popular following in his native Spain.[2] The album, along with its follow-ups, Si Tú Me Miras (1993), Básico (1994), and 3 (1995), were successful in the country having been certified multi-platinum.[2] The tracks in the records are characterized as romantic ballads.[2][3] On 12 July 1997, Sanz announced that he had finished recording his next project, Más, which was recorded and mixed in Italy under the direction of Emanuelle Ruffinengo and Miguel Angel Arenas, who handled its production.[4][5] The album was recorded at Excalibur in Milan, Plastic in Rome, Sintonia and Red Led in Madrid, Spain and was released on 9 September 1997.[6] Sanz penned over 30 compositions, of which ten made it to the final release including "Amiga Mía".[7]
"Amiga Mía" is a rock ballad that "treatises on loneliness, regrets and misery."[8][9] The song narrates "the sad story of a person who was fixed on someone who did not correspond to his love". The composition was inspired by the experience of his close friend, Irene Chamorro, who was in love with Spanish musician Antonio Flores.[10] Musically, it is accompanied by a flamenco guitar riff and "percussive beats".[1] In the lyrics, he chants: "Amiga mía, lo sé, sólo vives por él que lo sabe también, pero él no te ve como yo" ("My friend, I know you only live for him, and he knows it too, but he doesn't see you like I do").[10]
Promotion and reception
"Amiga Mía" was released as the fourth single from Más in 1997.[11][12] The music video for the song has Sanz singing on top of a building to a woman he loves as the townspeople watch and ends with the woman walking away with her fiancé.[13] "Amiga Mía" was included on the artist's compilation albums Grandes Éxitos 1991–2004 (2004) and Colección Definitiva (2011).[14][15]El Norte critic Devorah Davis regarded it as one of the album's two "sweeping ballads" along with "Y, ¿Si Fuera Ella?".[9] Tarradell praised Sanz's "powderkeg" vocals and felt the instruments gave it an "exotic feel".[1] The track was listed as one of the best Sanz's song by Esquire and Los 40.[16][17]
The track was recognized as one of the best-performing songs of the year at the 1999 BMI Latin Awards.[18] Commercially, "Amiga Mía" became the singer's first number one on the BillboardLatin Pop Airplay chart and peaked at number two on the Hot Latin Songs chart in the US.[19][20]
Spanish singer Natalia Jiménezcovered "Amiga Mía" on the album, ¿Y Si Fueran Ellas? (2013),[31] a collection of Sanz's songs recorded by female artists.[32] Puerto Rican artist Joe King recorded a salsa version of the track on his disc, Corazón Partío (1999),[33] which AllMusic's Eugene Chadbourne described as "friendly if possessive".[34] King's rendition peaked at number 33 and 16 on the Hot Latin Songs and Tropical Airplay charts, respectively.[35][36] As part of the Latin Recording Academy tribute to Sanz, who was presented with the Person of the Year accolade in 2017, Puerto Rican musician Luis Fonsi performed "Amiga Mía" live where he was accompanied by a violin section.[37]
^Burr, Ramiro (3 January 1999). "Sanz, Nek New Faces on Scene". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Communications. p. 4H. Though he leans toward power pop ballads with occasional loads of heavy guitars, Sanz also is at home in the screecher rock mode, especially on 'Corazon Partio' and 'Amiga Mia', treatises on loneliness, regrets and misery.
^Amiga Mía (CD Single) (Media notes). Alejandro Sanz. Spain: WEA. 1997. PR CD 954.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^El Concierto Tour Más 98 (Media notes). Alejandro Sanz. Spain: Warner Music Vision. 1998. 3984 24605 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Corazón Partío (Media notes). Joe King. United States: Musart. 1999. CDEI-2173.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
