MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends

2011 live album by Los Tigres del Norte

MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends

Live album by

Los Tigres del Norte

Released| May 24, 2011
Recorded| February 8, 2011 at the Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, California
Genre| Norteño
Language| Spanish
Label| Fonovisa
Producer| Gustavo Borner, Los Tigres del Norte[1]
Los Tigres del Norte chronology
| La Granja
(2009)  | MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends
(2011)  | Realidades
(2014)

|
|

Singles from  MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends

1. "Golpes en el Corazón"
Released: April 19, 2011
2. "La Jaula de Oro"
Released: August 15, 2011
3. "América"
Released: October 20, 2011

MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends is a live album by Regional Mexican band Los Tigres del Norte. It was recorded before a live audience at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2011 and released by Fonovisa Records on May 24, 2011.[1] The album includes featured performances by Andrés Calamaro, Calle 13, Zack de la Rocha, Juanes, Paulina Rubio and Diego Torres.

The album became a commercial success peaking at the top of the Mexican Albums Chart, entering the top five on the Billboard Top Latin Albums in the United States, and also being the twenty-third number 1 album by the band in the Regional Mexican Albums chart. It was certified Diamond+Gold by the Mexican Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. To promote the album, Los Tigres del Norte released "Golpes en el Corazón", first included in their album El Ejemplo (1995), and re-recorded for the live album with fellow Mexican singer Paulina Rubio. "La Jaula de Oro" (featuring Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes) and "América" (featuring René Pérez of the band Calle 13), were released as second and third singles, respectively.

Hailed as the first MTV Unplugged recording for the Regional Mexican genre and as a significant release for the Mexican music scene, the album earned a Latin Grammy Award for Best Norteño Album at the 12th Latin Grammy Awards, and a Grammy Award for Best Banda or Norteño Album.

## Background

[edit]

In December 2010, Jason Lipshutz of Billboard magazine reported that Los Tigres del Norte was set to record a MTV Unplugged album for MTV Tr3s. The album was to be taped in the first quarter of 2011, and would feature special guests including Juanes, Calle 13, Andrés Calamaro and Zack de la Rocha.[2] By February 2011, it was announced that Paulina Rubio and Diego Torres would join the band for the album recording session.[3] For the band this presented a unique opportunity to re-invent their music and share the stage with talented performers.[3] "When MTV invited us to record the show, we were a little tense, this was something different for us because Unplugged albums on MTV are usually recorded by artists from different genres from us," the band said about the recording.[1] Jesús Lara of MTV Tr3s called the production "historic", since the band has been culturally a part of the life of the Hispanic community in Mexico and the US.[3]

## Recording, repertoire and release

[edit]

Los Tigres del Norte "Golpes en el Corazón" (2011)

A sample of "Golpes en el Corazón", a remake of the 1995 song which features Paulina Rubio with an orchestra arrangement.

* * *

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Los Tigres del Norte recorded their performance on February 8, 2011, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. Invitations to the event were issued to fans through MTV's website starting January 27, 2011.[4] The audience waited four hours before the show started.[5] In preparation to the show, the band sent a list of their songs to the featured performers and asked them to choose the song that better fit their own repertoire.[6] The band performed twenty songs during the show, releasing only twelve on the standard edition of the album, and thirteen on the deluxe version.[7][8]

The first song was "Jefe de Jefes", followed by "Camelia La Texana", "Señor Locutor", "Contrabando y Traición" and "Cuestión Olvidada".[5] When the band started to play "Mi Curiosidad" and "Una Camioneta Gris", Jorge Hernandez, the band lead member, asked the audience to clap their hands. Paulina Rubio was the first guest to appear and perform "Golpes en el Corazón", with an orchestral arrangement written by Marcelo Wilson.[5] Diego Torres joined afterwards to share lead vocals on "Mi Buena Suerte". "La Puerta Negra", "Prisión de Amor" and "Lágrimas del Corazón" followed.[5]

The band and Andrés Calamaro recorded two tracks: "La Mesa del Rincón" and "Quiero Volar Contigo", the former to the rhythm of tango (with three violins and a cello), and for the latter, Calamaro played marimba and changed the original rhythm of the song to cha-cha-cha.[7] This performance had to be re-taped since there was a technical failure.[5] Zack de la Rocha performed "Somos Más Americanos", while Juanes played guitar on "La Jaula de Oro", a song he had to "rehearse many times".[5] De la Rocha recorded his part twice, incorporating more Spanish lyrics on the second take.[7] Juanes and De la Rocha were the only featured performers selected for their work for immigration rights in the United States, a social cause important to the band.[6] The final song recorded was "América"; the band shared the stage with Calle 13 who, by request of their lead member René Pérez, changed the instrumentation, quickened the tempo and added trumpets and violins.[5][6] The costumes the band wore on the show were donated to the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles after the show.[5]

## Singles

[edit]

The new recorded version of the song "Golpes en el Corazón", featuring Paulina Rubio, was selected as the first single from the album and was released on April 19, 2011.[9] The original version of the track can be found on the Tigres' studio album El Ejemplo (1995). Upon release it peaked at number 2 in the Billboard Top Latin Songs.[10][11] The version featuring Rubio was named "one of the most pleasant songs" included on MTV Unplugged by About.com.[12] The Los Angeles Times referred to it as a "sea of lush Latin pop", with Rubio sounding like Julieta Venegas in a "parallel universe".[13] This version became very successful in Mexico, peaking atop the Monitor Latino general charts and the Mexican Airplay Chart from Billboard International.[14][15] The track also reached number 39 on the Billboard Top Latin Songs,[11] number 31 on the Regional/Mexican Airplay,[16] and was the first song by the band to appear on the Latin Pop Airplay chart, reaching number 29.[17] At the 12th Latin Grammy Awards, the song received a nomination for Record of the Year, losing to Calle 13's "Latinoamérica".[18][19] Rubio joined the band at the Latin Grammy ceremony to perform the song.[20]

"La Jaula de Oro" was selected as the second single from the album. The track, recognized as one of the band's signature songs, features Colombian singer Juanes performing and playing guitar and was named "one of the best tracks and guest performances in the whole album" by About.com.[12] With this release the record label sought to reach a younger audience for Los Tigres del Norte.[21] "América" was the third single released which reached number five on the Monitor Latino general chart.[22]

## Critical reception and accolades

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
About.com[12]|
Allmusic[23]|
Los Angeles Times[13]|

An advance copy of the performance was sent to the media a few days before the first showing on MTV Tr3s. Spanish news agency EFE announced that the band was celebrating "Latino pride more vigorously than ever."[24] Another positive review came from the Los Angeles Times, which awarded the album three out of four stars.[13] At the review, the newspaper named the album "one of the most anticipated Latin albums of the year", highlighting that it is the first MTV Unplugged album of the Regional-Mexican genre.[13] They also praised the band for their performance on the first track, "Jefe de Jefes". About the guest performances by Andrés Calamaro, Juanes and Diego Torres, stated that they were "intriguing".[13] Carlos Quintana of About.com hailed the show as an important music event for the Latin music, emphasizing that this recording would allow Regional-Mexican music to gain new audiences around the world.[12] Allmusic reviewer Mariano Prunes named bassist Hernán Hernández, the "musical heart of the band", especially when joining Zack de la Rocha, playing the riff of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name". He also praised "América" for the participation of Calle 13 with their "razor-sharp rap" intervention. Prunes also stated that MTV Unplugged would get Los Tigres a deserved recognition outside their own community.[23] The participation by De La Rocha was also subject of a negative review by Oscar Barajas of The Young Folks. Barajas noted that De La Rocha sounded "out of place" on "Somos Mas Americanos", trying to turn the track into a rendition of his own song "Bulls on Parade".[25] Barajas also was critical of the song selection, but eventually lauded the album for being "lean and mean", with a musical urgency almost comparable to the Ramones.[25]

MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends earned the Latin Grammy Award for Best Norteño Album at the 2011 ceremony.[26] The album also was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Banda or Norteño Album at the 54th Grammy Awards,[27] and the awards for Best Popular Album and Best Norteño Album at the Mexican Premios Oye!.[28]

## Track listing

[edit]

This track listing adapted from the liner notes.[1]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Jefe de Jefes"| Teodoro Bello| 3:24
2.| "Contrabando y Traición"| Angel González| 3:52
3.| "Golpes en el Corazón" (featuring Paulina Rubio)| Víctor Valencia| 4:41
4.| "La Manzanita"| Tomás Gutiérrez| 3:09
5.| "Mi Buena Suerte" (featuring Diego Torres)| Enrique Franco| 3:41
6.| "Lágrimas del Corazón"| Rafael Rubio| 4:09
7.| "La Puerta Negra"| Ramón Gutiérrez| 4:29
8.| "La Mesa del Rincón" (featuring Andrés Calamaro)| Bello| 5:07
9.| "Quiero Volar Contigo" (featuring Andrés Calamaro)| Jesse Armenta| 3:50
10.| "Somos Más Americanos" (featuring Zack de la Rocha)| Enrique Valencia| 4:10
11.| "La Jaula de Oro" (featuring Juanes)| Franco| 3:02
12.| "América" (featuring Calle 13)| Franco, René Pérez, Rafael Arcaute, Eduardo Cabra| 4:42

iTunes Store (Deluxe edition)No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

13.| "La Camioneta Gris"| Rubén Villarreal| 3:05

DVD track listingNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Intro"|  | 0:33
2.| "Jefe de Jefes"| Teodoro Bello| 3:29
3.| "Contrabando y Traición"| Angel González| 4:09
4.| "Golpes en el Corazón" (featuring Paulina Rubio)| Víctor Valencia| 5:11
5.| "La Manzanita"| Tomás Gutiérrez| 3:16
6.| "Mi Buena Suerte" (featuring Diego Torres)| Enrique Franco| 4:04
7.| "Lágrimas del Corazón"| Rafael Rubio| 4:17
8.| "La Puerta Negra"| Ramón Gutiérrez| 4:41
9.| "La Mesa del Rincón" (featuring Andrés Calamaro)| Bello| 5:24
10.| "Quiero Volar Contigo" (featuring Andrés Calamaro)| Jesse Armenta| 3:59
11.| "Somos Más Americanos" (featuring Zack de la Rocha)| Enrique Valencia| 4:54
12.| "La Jaula de Oro" (featuring Juanes)| Franco| 3:41
13.| "América" (featuring Calle 13)| Franco, René Pérez, Rafael Arcaute, Eduardo Cabra| 4:43
14.| "Credits"|  | 1:10
15.| "Interviews"|  | 5:28

## Commercial performance

[edit]

The album debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, behind Maná's Drama y Luz and Prince Royce's self-titled debut album.[29] MTV Unplugged became the band's twenty-third number 1 album in the Regional Mexican Albums chart.[30] In the Mexican Albums Chart the album debuted at number 92,[31] before jumping to number 2, behind Lady Gaga's Born This Way.[32] The following week the album surpassed Gaga's set and peaked at number 1 in Mexico and also reached the top of the charts in Colombia.[33] The album spent seventeen consecutive weeks at the top of the Mexican chart, received a Diamond+Gold certification by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas and ended the year as the best-selling album of 2011 in Mexico.[34][35][36] The album was certified gold in Colombia by the Asociación Colombiana de Productores de Fonogramas.[37]

## Charts and certifications

[edit]

### Charts

[edit]

| Chart (2011)  | Peak
position

|

Colombian Albums Chart[33] | 1
Mexican Albums Chart[32] | 1
Spanish Albums Chart[38] | 94
US Billboard Top Latin Albums[39] | 3
US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums[39] | 1
US Billboard 200[39] | 134

### Certifications

[edit]

| Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Colombia[37] | Gold  |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[40] | Diamond+Gold  | 330,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

### Year-end charts

[edit]

Chart (2011)  | Position

|

Mexican Albums Chart[36] | 1
US Billboard Latin Albums[41] | 23
US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums[42] | 6
Chart (2012)  | Position

|

Mexican Albums Chart[43] | 63
US Billboard Latin Albums[44] | 56

## Personnel

[edit]

* Los Tigres del Norte – main performers, producers, vocals
* Gustavo Borner – producer, recording engineer, mixing, mastering
* Ezequiel Alara – musical director, piano
* Miguel Ramirez – percussion
* Karl Perazzo – percussion
* Enzo Villparedes – trumpet
* Arturo Solar – trumpet
* Roberto Incelli – sax
* Humbero Ruiz – trombone
* Edwin Blas – trombone
* Peter Kent – violin
* Sharon Jackson – violin
* Jessica VanVelzen – viola
* Giovanna Clayton – cello
* Ricky Perry – graphic design

Source:[1]

## See also

[edit]

* Mexico portal
* Latin music portal

* 2011 in Latin music
* List of number-one albums of 2011 (Mexico)
* Music of Mexico

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Los Tigres del Norte — Tr3s Presents MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends (CD liner notes). Fonovisa Records. 2011.
2. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (December 16, 2010). "Billboard Bits: Usher Talks Kicky Fan, Miles Davis Biopic News". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
3. ^ a b c "Paulina Rubio cantará en Unplugged de Los Tigres del Norte" (in Spanish). Terra Networks México. February 2, 2011. Archived from the original on February 21, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
4. ^ "Tr3s presents MTV UNPLUGGED: Los Tigres Del Norte & Friends". MTV Tr3s. MTV Networks. January 27, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Estrada, Norma Alicia (February 9, 2011). "Los Tigres del Norte y sus amigos rugen en grabación de MTV Unplugged" (in Spanish). Terra Networks México. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
6. ^ a b c Cobo, Leila (June 17, 2011). "Los Tigres del Norte Q&A: On Going 'Unplugged,' Narcocorridos, & Being Rock Stars". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
7. ^ a b c "Los Tigres del Norte grabaron su MTV Unplugged" (in Spanish). AOL. February 10, 2011. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
8. ^ "Tr3s Presents MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends (Deluxe Edition)". iTunes. May 22, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
9. ^ "Lanzan los Tigres del Norte tema con Pau Rubio". Uno Noticias. Microsoft. April 19, 2011. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
10. ^ "El Ejemplo — Los Tigres del Norte — Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
11. ^ a b "Los Tigres del Norte — Chart History — Latin Songs". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
12. ^ a b c d Quintana, Carlos (May 31, 2011). "'MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends' Boosts Regional Mexican Music". About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
13. ^ a b c d e "Album review: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends' 'MTV Unplugged'". Los Angeles Times. May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
14. ^ "Mantiene dueto de Los Tigres del Norte y Paulina Rubio éxito radial". Excélsior (in Spanish). Freedom Communications, Inc. August 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
15. ^ "Mexico Airplay". May 5, 2012. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012.
16. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte — Chart History — Regional Mexican". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
17. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte — Chart History — Latin Pop Songs". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
18. ^ "Latin Grammys: The complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
19. ^ Aguila, Justino (November 10, 2011). "Latin Grammys: Calle 13 Makes History in Star-Studded Night". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
20. ^ Cobo, Leila (November 10, 2011). "2011 Latin Grammys: 10 Things You Didn't See". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
21. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte meten a Juanes en 'La Jaula de Oro'" (in Spanish). Terra Networks. August 15, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
22. ^ "Top 20 General". December 5, 2011. Archived from the original on December 9, 2011.
23. ^ a b Prunes, Mariano. "MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends: Album Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
24. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte's passion on display in "MTV Unplugged" recording". Fox News Network. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
25. ^ a b Barajas, Oscar (December 19, 2011). "Music Review: MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres Del Norte & Friends". The Young Folks. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
26. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte darán otro Latin GRAMMY a Calle 13". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications, Inc. November 11, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
27. ^ Ward, Kate (February 13, 2012). "Grammys 2012: The full list of winners". Entertainment Weekly. Time, Inc. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
28. ^ "Premio Oye 2012: Boletin de Prensa Nominados" (PDF). Premios Oye! (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de la Música en México. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
29. ^ Cobo, Leila (June 2, 2011). "Marc Anthony, Los Tigres del Norte Top Latin Chart Debuts". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
30. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte – Chart History". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
31. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte - MTV Unplugged (album)". Hung Medien. June 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
32. ^ a b "Mexican Charts: Albums - 21/2011". Hung Medien. June 11, 2011. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
33. ^ a b "MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte & Friends". Prodiscos. EntertainmentStore. June 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
34. ^ "Premian a Los Tigres del Norte". Universal Music Magazine. November 11, 2012. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
35. ^ "Semana Del 21 al 27 de Noviembre del 2011" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2011.
36. ^ a b "Top 100 Mexico – Los Más Vendidos 2011" (PDF). Top 100 Mexico. Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
37. ^ a b "Los Tigres del Norte reciben disco de oro en Colombia". CM&. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
38. ^ "Los Tigres del Norte - MTV Unplugged (album)". Spanish Charts. Hung Medien. 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
39. ^ a b c "MTV Unplugged Los Tigres Del Norte..." Billboard. Rovi Corporation. June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
40. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Los Tigres del Norte in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Tr3s Presents MTV Unplugged Los Tigres del Norte and Friends in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
41. ^ "2011 Year End Charts – Latin Albums – 21–30". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
42. ^ "2011 Year End Charts – Regional Mexican Albums". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
43. ^ "Top 100 Mexico – Los Más Vendidos 2012" (PDF). Top 100 Mexico. Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
44. ^ "2012 Year End Charts – Latin Albums – 21–30". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 14, 2012.

* v
* t
* e

Los Tigres del Norte

Studio albums|

* Jaula de oro (1984)
* Gracias!... América... Sin Fronteras (1987)
* El Ejemplo (1995)
* Jefe de Jefes (1997)
* Uniendo Fronteras (2001)
* La Reina del Sur (2002)
* Pacto de Sangre (2004)
* Raíces (2008)

Live albums|

* Tu Noche con Los Tigres del Norte (2008)
* MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends (2011)

* v
* t
* e

MTV series albums

Amp|

* Amp
* Amp 2

The Grind|

* MTV Grind 1

Party to Go|

* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10
* Platinum Mix
* '98
* '99
* 2000
* Remixed

MTV Unplugged|

* 10,000 Maniacs
* A-ha
* Bryan Adams
* Alice in Chains
* Arrested Development
* Aterciopelados
* Babyface
* Tony Bennett
* Biffy Clyro
* Björk (audio)
* Café Tacuba
* Mariah Carey
* Charlie Brown Jr.
* Eric Clapton
* The Corrs
* Dashboard Confessional
* Bob Dylan
* Cássia Eller
* Florence and the Machine
* Liam Gallagher
* Gang of Youths
* Lauryn Hill
* Jay-Z
* Juanes
* Alicia Keys
* Kiss
* Korn
* La Ley
* Legião Urbana
* Maná
* Mando Diao
* Ricky Martin
* Maxwell
* Paul McCartney
* Shawn Mendes
* Alanis Morissette
* Nirvana
* Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
* Os Paralamas do Sucesso
* Pearl Jam
* Katy Perry
* O Rappa
* R.E.M. (video)
* Alejandro Sanz
* Shakira
* Soda Stereo
* Bruce Springsteen
* Staind
* Rod Stewart
* Thirty Seconds to Mars
* Los Tigres del Norte
* Titãs
* Diego Torres
* Los Tres
* El Tri
* Julieta Venegas
* Hitomi Yaida (audio)
* Neil Young
* Zoé

MTV ao Vivo|

* Daniela Mercury
* Nando Reis e Os Infernais
* Skank
* Titãs

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