"Cuba Libre" | ||||
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Single by Gloria Estefan | ||||
from the album Gloria! | ||||
Released | November 9, 1998 (Europe) | |||
Recorded | 1997–1998 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:38 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Gloria Estefan singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Cuba Libre" on YouTube |
"Cuba Libre" ("Free Cuba") is a 1998 song by American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released as the third single from her eighth studio album, Gloria!. It is a dance-pop song which was included on the album in two versions: English and Spanish. The song is one of the three only Spanish-language tracks, alongside " Oye!" and " Corazón prohibido". It represents a homage to Estefan's homeland, Cuba. [1] "Cuba Libre" was written and composed by Gloria Estefan, along with Emilio Estefan Jr. and Kike Santander. [2]
Ben Wener from Beaver County Times noted the "bouncing Afro-Cuban flourishes" of the track in his review of gloria!. [3] The Daily Vault's Alfredo Narvaez wrote that "Cuba Libre" is about "the feelings many of the expatriates of that island feel - hoping for a day that they'll be able to return home." [4] Chuck Eddy from Entertainment Weekly named the song as "ominously undulating", adding that it "reach[es] for the skies like a missile-crisis fiesta thrown by Donna Summer." [5] Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle called it "an ode to Estefan's birthplace". [6] Victoria Segal from NME stated that the singer "sparkles with diva potential", "tenderly singing of her homeland". [7] Larry Flick from Vibe applauded the song, as well as " Oye!", by stating that they "have a ferocious new energy and a vocal spark that Estefan hasn't previously displayed." [8]
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Cuba Libre".
Europe CD Maxi single (666691 2)
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
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Spain ( AFYVE) | 3 |