"Esclavo y amo" (English: "Slave and master") is a song written by Mexican songwriter José Vaca Flores[1] and originally recorded by Ranchera singer Javier Solís for his 1962 album El Peor De Los Caminos[2] and also released as a single in 1962 alongside El loco.[3] The song, which was Vaca Flores' first hit as a songwriter and also became one of Solis' most emblematic songs, would eventually become a standard of the Mexican popular repertoire.
| "Esclavo y amo" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Javier Solís | |
| from the album El Peor De Los Caminos | |
| Released | 1962 |
| Genre | Bolero ranchero [es], Bolero moruno [es] |
| Length | 2:57 |
| Label | CBS |
| Songwriter(s) | José Vaca Flores |
The lyrics are about a man who is deeply infatuated with a woman, who makes him feel both "slave and master of the universe".
Los Pasteles Verdes version
edit| "Esclavo y amo" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Los Pasteles Verdes | |
| from the album Vol. II | |
| Released | 1975 |
| Genre | Bolero, Balada grupera |
| Length | 3:25 |
| Label | Discos GAS |
| Songwriter(s) | José Vaca Flores |
In 1975, Peruvian group Los Pasteles Verdes covered "Esclavo y amo", which was released as a single from their second studio album Vol. II. Their version, which departs from the mariachi instrumentation of the original Javier Solis' version and instead has a more psychedelic[4] style typical of 70s Latin romantic groups, re-popularized the song in Mexico, where it topped the airplay charts in 1976.
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 1[5] |
Pepe Aguilar version
edit| "Esclavo y amo" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Pepe Aguilar | |
| from the album Lo Grande de los Grandes | |
| Released | 2000 |
| Genre | Bolero ranchero [es], Bolero moruno [es] |
| Length | 3:17 |
| Label | Musart Records |
| Songwriter(s) | José Vaca Flores |
In 2000, Mexican singer Pepe Aguilar covered the song for his album "Lo Grande de los Grandes". His version, which was also released as a single and features a mariachi instrumentation more reminiscent of Javier Solís' original version, was one of the winners of the 2002 BMI Latin Awards.[6]
Chart performance
edit| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot Latin Tracks | 14
|
[7] |
| Billboard Latin Airplay | 14
| |
| Billboard Latin Pop Airplay | 13
| |
| Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay | 25
|
Other versions
editThe song has also been recorded by artists such as Vicente Fernández, Manoella Torres, Lupillo Rivera, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Leo Dan and Amanda Miguel, among others.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Fallece José Vaca Flores, autor del tema "Esclavo y amo"". Excelsior. NOTIMEX. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Javier Solís – El Peor De Los Caminos – Discogs". Discogs. 1974. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Javier Solís – Esclavo Y Amo / El Loco – Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ Lechner, Ernesto (29 March 2022). "Adrian Quesada's New Trip: Reviving the Magic of 'Boleros Psicodélicos'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Billboard "Hits of the World"" (PDF). 14 February 1976. p. 50. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "BMI Honors Top Latin Songwriters, Publishers at 9th Annual Awards Ceremony". BMI. 7 May 2002. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Pepe Aguilar Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Esclavo y amo – Javier Solís Cover Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2022.