"Elegí" (transl. "I Chose") is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro, American singer Dalex and Puerto Rican singer Lenny Tavárez, featuring Panamanian producer Dímelo Flow. It was written by Dalex, Isac Ortiz, Alejandro, Borris, Tavárez, Slow Mike, Ramses Iván Herrera Soto, Joshua Javier Méndez, and Dímelo Flow, while the production was handled by Dímelo Flow. The song was released for digital download and streaming as a single by Sony Music Latin on March 26, 2020. A Spanish language reggaeton song, with elements of R&B and electronic music, it is about two people who have intense sexual chemistry and reconnect after having the "best night ever".
"Elegí" received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its musical arrangements and the singer's vocal mix. It was commercially successful, reaching the top 10 in seven countries, such as Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico. The song has received several certifications, including Latin platinum in the United States. An accompanying music video, released simultaneously with the song, was filmed in Miami Beach and directed by Gustavo Camacho.
A remix of "Elegí" featuring Puerto Rican singer Farruko, Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA, Panamanian singer Sech, and American singer Justin Quiles, was released on August 27, 2020, as the second single from Alejandro's debut studio album Afrodisíaco (2020). The remix received positive reviews from music critics, who highlighted its added "spice" and "sensuality". An accompanying music video, directed by Camacho, was released simultaneously with the remix. It depicts each of the artists performing on an individual stage, where they share intimacy with their respective partners.
Background and release
On March 13, 2020, Rauw Alejandro teased a collaboration on Twitter: "Rauw ft. ??????? 🤔".[1]Dalex replied to his tweet with a part of the song's lyrics, "Yo no te elegí mi cama fue quien brego ahy".[2] On March 25, Alejandro shared a video of himself listening to a snippet of the track and announced that it would be released that week.[3] "Elegí" by Alejandro, Dalex, and Lenny Tavárez featuring Dímelo Flow was released for digital download and streaming by Sony Music Latin on March 26, 2020.[4]
Musically, "Elegí" is a Spanish language reggaeton song, with elements of R&B and electronic music.[5][6][7] The song was written by Dalex, Isac Ortiz, Alejandro, Borris, Tavárez, Slow Mike, Ramses Iván Herrera Soto, Joshua Javier Méndez, and Dímelo Flow. Its production was handled by Dímelo Flow,[8] and the track runs for a total of 3 minutes and 17 seconds.[4] Lyrically, "Elegí" which translates to "I Chose" in English, is about two people who have intense sexual chemistry and reconnect after having the "best night ever".[9]
Critical reception
Man Hoh Tang Serradell from Revista Young España gave "Elegí" a positive review, noting its fusion of reggaeton and electronic rhythms, and stated that it "captures our attention with its seductive musical arrangements". He continued complimenting the singers as "talented" and described their vocal mix as "delightful".[7] In 2022, Happy FM staff listed the track among Tavárez's five collaborations with which the artist has made history, saying that it "stands out for being very melodic" and "his verses add a lot of energy and sensuality" to the song.[6]
Commercial performance
"Elegí" debuted and peaked at number 12 on the US BillboardLatin Digital Song Sales chart on September 12, 2020, becoming Alejandro's sixth entry on the chart,[10] Dalex's third,[11] Tavárez's fourth,[12] and Dímelo Flow's second.[13] In May 2020, the song was certified Latin platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for track-equivalent sales of over 60,000 units in the United States.[14]
In Spain's official weekly chart, the song debuted at number 34 on April 5, 2020. It subsequently peaked at number 26 on May 31, 2020, and spent 22 consecutive weeks on the chart. It was later certified platinum by the Productores de Música de España (PROMUSICAE), for track-equivalent sales of over 40,000 units in the country.[15] In Latin America, "Elegí" reached the top 10 in Argentina,[16] Colombia,[17] Dominican Republic,[18] Mexico,[19] Paraguay,[20] Peru,[21] and Uruguay.[22] In Mexico, the song was certified diamond + 2× platinum by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON), for track-equivalent sales of over 420,000 units.[23]
Promotion
Music video
A screenshot from the music video, depicting Alejandro and Tavárez dancing in the street.
An accompanying music video was released simultaneously with the song. The visual was produced by Dímelo Flow and directed by Venezuelan director Gustavo Camacho,[24] who had also directed the videos for Alejandro's previous singles "Fantasías" and "Fantasías (Remix)".[25][26] The video was filmed in Miami Beach and depicts Art Deco architecture, as well as the friendship between the four artists.[7] It has received over 300 million views on YouTube.[27]
On August 26, 2020, Alejandro teased a remix of "Elegí" on Twitter, tweeting "ELEGI REMIX 🤯".[29] The following day, he released the remix version featuring Puerto Rican singer Farruko, Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA, Panamanian singer Sech, and American singer Justin Quiles, as the second single from his debut studio album Afrodisíaco (2020).[30] Anuel AA, Andy Bauza, Farruko, Cristian Andrés Salazar, Frank Miami, Quiles, and Sech joined the original version's lyricists to write the remix version.[31] Anuel AA verse references his 2018 song "Amanece".[9] The version runs for a total of 5 minutes and 23 seconds.[30]
Critical reception
Upon release, "Elegí (Remix)" was met with positive reviews from music critics. In her review for Billboard, Jessica Roiz stated that Anuel AA, Farruko, Sech, and Quiles, add "more spice and sensuality" to the song.[9] An author of El Comercio described the production as "epic",[32] while El Vocero staff named the artists "some of the most popular performers of the reggaeton genre".[33]
Commercial performance
"Elegí (Remix)" failed to match the commercial success of its original version. The remix debuted and peaked at number 61 on Spain's official weekly chart on the chart issue dated September 6, 2020. In Paraguay, it reached number 91 on SGP's monthly chart in November 2020.[34]
Music video
A screenshot from the music video, depicting Alejandro flirting with a woman.
An accompanying music video was released simultaneously with the song. The visual was produced by Mastermind Entertainment and directed by Gustavo Camacho. It depicts each of the artists performing on an individual stage, where they share intimacy with their respective partners. An author of El Comercio labeled it "an artistic representation of the message of sensuality and romanticism within the song".[32]
^Rauw Alejandro [@rauwalejandro] (August 26, 2020). "Elegi Remix 🤯" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023 – via Twitter.
