"Que Alguien Me Diga" (Someone Tell Me) is a song by Puerto Rican singer Gilberto Santa Rosa from his 12th studio album, Expresión (1999). It was written by Omar Alfanno with José Lugo and the artist handling its production. It is a salsa track in which the singer is searching for unconditional love. Santa Rosa would later record a ballad version. An accompanying music video features the singer in a dark room surrounded by female musicians. Both versions of the song received airplay on Latin radio stations.

"Que Alguien Me Diga"
Song by Gilberto Santa Rosa
from the album Expresión
Released1999
GenreSalsa
Length4:50 (salsa version)
4:09 (ballad version)
LabelSony Discos
Songwriter(s)Omar Alfanno
Producer(s)
  • José Lugo
  • Gilberto Santa Rosa
Music video
"Que Alguien Me Diga" on YouTube

Commercially, it topped the Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Tropical Airplay charts in the United States. It was nominated Song of the Year at the 2000 El Premio de la Gente as well as Tropical/Salsa Track of the Year at the 8th Annual Latin Billboard Music Awards in 2001. It was recognized as Salsa Song of the Year at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Latin Awards. "Que Alguien Me Diga" has been covered by Lucero and in English as "Can Someone Tell Me" by Son by Four.

Background and composition edit

In 1999, Gilberto Santa Rosa released his 12th studio album, Expresión, an album which the artist described as a combination of "classic salsa with a mix of modern sounds".[1] The album was produced by José Lugo and the artist himself.[2] Several composers contributed to the album's songwriting, including Omar Alfanno, who penned the track "Que Alguien Me Diga".[3] Lyrically, the song deals with a man "who's searching for unconditional love".[4] Santa Rosa would later record a ballad version of the song which was included in the reissue of the album.[5]

Promotion and reception edit

An accompanying music video was filmed and features the artist sitting in a dark room with female violinists and celloists playing.[6] An editor for Latin Style magazine wrote that both "Déjate Querer" and "Que Alguien Me Diga" are "certainly on their way to becoming the favorites from this CD".[7] Jessica Roiz listed "Que Alguien Me Diga" as one of the artist's best salsa songs.[4] At the 8th Annual Latin Billboard Music Awards in 2001, "Que Alguien Me Diga" was nominated in the categories of Hot Latin Song of the Year and Tropical/Salsa Track of the Year but ultimately lost both to "A Puro Dolor" by Son by Four.[8] It also received a nomination at the 2000 El Premio de la Gente in the category of Song of the Year but again lost to "A Puro Dolor".[9][10] At the 2001 ASCAP Latin Music Awards, it was recognized as Salsa Song of the Year.[11] Commercially, it became Santa Rosa's first number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and peaked at number seven on the Latin Pop Airplay chart in the US.[12][13] It also became his fourth number one on the Tropical Airplay chart and was the second best-performing Latin song in the country.[14][15] Billboard editor John Lannert noted the song benefited from being recorded in both versions on radio stations.[5]

The song was covered by Mexican singer Lucero as a mariachi tune on her studio album, Un Nuevo Amor (2002), where it was released as its lead single.[16] It was adapted in English as "Can Someone Tell Me" by Son by Four on their studio album Purest of Pain (2000).[17] The group's former lead singer Ángel López would then cover "Que Alguien Me Diga" on his studio album Historias de Amor, a collection of songs Alfanno had previously composed.[18] The song, along with the rest of the album, was arranged and produced by Alfanno.[19][20]

Charts edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Dominguez, Robert (August 1, 1999). "Gilberto Santa Rosa". New York Daily News. pp. Viva New York 36, 37. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Expresión – Gilberto Santa Rosa | Credits |". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  3. ^ Estévez, Jr., José A. "Gilberto Santa Rosa – Expresión Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Roiz, Jessica (August 21, 2019). "Gilberto Santa Rosa's Most Timeless Salsa Songs, From 'Conteo Regresivo' to 'La Agarro Bajando'". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Lannert, John (March 11, 2000). "Latin Notas". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 11. p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  6. ^ Santa Rosa, Gilberto. Que Alguien Me Diga (online video) (in Spanish). YouTube. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Gilberto Santa Rosa Returns with Expresión". Latin Style: 56. 1999.
  8. ^ Cobo, Leila (April 28, 2001). "Billboard Awards Recognize The Best In Latin Music". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 17. p. 56. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  9. ^ "Premiarán su ritmo". Reforma (in Spanish). Notimex. October 18, 2000. p. 5. ProQuest 310577597. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "Son by Four, Mana and Chayanne Among Winners At Ritmo Latino Music Awards – El Premio De La Gente" (Press release). Telemundo. October 20, 2000. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  11. ^ "El Premio ASCAP Awards Arturo Sandoval, Songwriter Omar Alfanno". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 21. May 19, 2001. p. 50. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Gilberto Santa Rosa Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Gilberto Santa Rosa Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Gilberto Santa Rosa Chart History (Tropical Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "The Year in Music: 2000". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. pp. YE-74, 78. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  16. ^ Cobo, Leila (March 30, 2002). "Billboard". Latin Notas. 114 (13). Nielsen Business Media: 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  17. ^ García, Juan Carlos (October 11, 2000). "Buscan el exito 'A Puro Dolor'". Reforma (in Spanish). p. 13. ProQuest 310625999. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Historias de Amor – Angel Lopez | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  19. ^ Cobo, Leila (April 16, 2010). "Songwriter Omar Alfanno launches hits project". Reuters. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  20. ^ Barraza, Yanina (December 4, 2009). "Inicia su gira en Panamá". Crítica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  21. ^ "2009 Decade End Charts". Billboard. December 27, 2009. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  22. ^ "Best of the 2000s: Tropical Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2020.