Simplemente Amigos
| "Simplemente Amigos" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Simplemente Amigos" ("Just Friends") is a ballad written and performed by Mexican singer-songwriter Ana Gabriel. It was produced by Mariano Pérez and was released on June 22, 1988 as the second single from her studio album Tierra de Nadie. The song became Gabriel's second number-one single in the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart after "Ay Amor" in 1988.[1] The success of the song led its parent album to its peak at number one in the Billboard Latin Pop Albums and approximate sales of six million units in Latin America.[2][3]
"Simplemente Amigos" is one of Gabriel's signature songs and one of the most covered songs, aside from being named her first smash hit.[4] The song title was later used in a compilation album featuring songs by Gabriel and fellow Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel.[5]
Chart performance
The song debuted in the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart at number 36 in the week of May 20, 1989, climbing to the top ten two weeks later.[6] "Simplemente Amigos" peaked at number-one on September 2, 1989, on its sixteenth week, holding this position for two consecutive weeks,[7] replacing "Baila Mi Rumba" by José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma" and being replaced by Gloria Estefan with "Si Voy a Perderte". It ranked seventh in the Hot Latin Tracks Year-End Chart of 1989 and spent 29 weeks within the Top 40 in the United States. It also reached number one the Guatemalan Spanish Charts in the country.[8]
Cover versions
"Simplemente Amigos" is one of the most covered songs on Gabriel's repertoire. Banda Preciosa de Durango, Keyla Caballero, Calor del Norte, David Cedeno, Cumbia Na Na Na, Los Grey's, Grupo Secreto, Grupo Super T, Gary Hobbs, Iris, JC y Su Banda Duranguense, Junior Klan, Mónica, Nadia, Emilio Navaira, Quadra, Bienvenido Rodríguez, Oscar Rubio y su Banda Canela, Son de Azúcar and Violento have recorded versions of the song.[9] Mexican singer Myriam also did her version of the track and included it on her album Simplemente Amigos — a Tribute album to Ana Gabriel. This album peaked at number 1 in the Mexican Albums Chart[10] and received a gold certification in México for sales over 300,000 copies.[11]
References
- ^ "Ana Gabriel — Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Macromedia Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ "Tierra de Nadie — Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Macromedia Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ AMPROFON. "Los 100 Discos Más Vendidos de la Década de los 80s" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ "Ana Gabriel — Biography". Allmusic. Macromedia Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ "Las Gabriel... Simplemente Amigos — Juan Gabriel and Ana Gabriel". Allmusic. Macromedia Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ "Simplemente Amigos — Week of June 3, 1989". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1989-06-03. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ "Simplemente Amigos — Week of September 2, 1989". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1989-05-27. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ "Los Super Favoritos". Crónica (in Spanish) (68–69, 71–80). Guatemala City, Guatemala: Anahté, S.A: 52. 1989.
- ^ "Simplemente Amigos — Performers". Allmusic. Macromedia Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-01. [dead link]
- ^ "Simplemente Amigos — Myriam". LesCharts.com. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ "Simplemente Amigos — Myriam — Mexican Certification". Amprofon.com. Retrieved 2009-09-01.