#1 Alert!
Gold Record Alert!
Song#: 3447
Date: 03/12/1988
Debut: 63
Peak: 1 (2 weeks)
Weeks: 23
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Pop Bits: Estefan and MSM's album Let It Loose became a gold seller just a few months after its release in '87 thanks to three Pop chart singles that included two Top 10s. The LP initially peaked at #16, but it would eventually make a turnaround to become the group's first Top 10 (#6) thanks to the big success of this fourth single. The ballad, written by Estefan, would take off and become the band's first Pop #1. It would also be their third AC #1 spending three weeks in the top position. The single sold well enough to become their third to go gold. By May the LP would turn platinum and in August it would be certified 2x platinum.
ReduxReview: This was another lovely song penned by Estefan. She was developing a real knack at writing pop/AC ballads and that kind of both helped and hurt her when she fully went solo following Let It Loose. She would score three Top 10s as a solo act with two of them getting to #1. All of them were ballads. Two of her upbeat singles would make the Top 20, but she didn't write either of them. One was a new song by outside writers while the other was a remake. Her hit ballads kind of began to paint her into a corner that she had a hard time breaking out of. Still, she had a terrific run on the charts and this ballad was one of her best. It was also unusual in that it didn't really have a chorus. It was more like a series of verses that flowed together. The opening title line was more or less the only hook. Then the song ended with a guitar solo that was nearly a minute long. Both things were not common for a pop single, but the song was so well-written that it didn't matter and Estefan was rewarded with her first #1.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: As Estefan's charting days began to wane in the 2000s, she branched out into another profession. She became an author of children's books. Based on her pet bulldog Noelle, Estefan wrote The Magical Mysterious Adventures of Noelle the Bulldog. Published in 2005, the book was accompanied by a CD that contained a new song from Estefan called "Noelle's Song (Been Wishin')." The book did well enough to call for a sequel and in 2006 Estefan wrote Noelle's Treasure Tale. Once again, Estefan recorded a song that was included with the book titled "See with Your Heart." Both books were issued in English and Spanish. Later in 2008, Estefan and her husband Emilio would write a cookbook titled Estefan Kitchen. It featured traditional Cuban recipes some of which came from their Miami restaurant Bongo's Cuban Cafe. Bongo's would also have locations elsewhere like in Orlando's Downtown Disney, now Disney Springs. It seems most Bongo's have closed, but the Estefan's stayed in the restaurant business with their new venture Estefan Kitchen located in Orlando's Margaritaville Resort.
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