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Drama Queen is the seventh studio album by Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-songwriter Ivy Queen and was released on July 13, 2010 by Machete Music. The album was composed by Ivy, alongside the help of various composers, producers, and artists including Hiram Cruz, Francisco Saldaña, Marcos Masis among others. The album was produced by Luny Tunes, Noriega, Tainy, Lenny Santos, DJ Blass and Keko Musik. It featured collaborations with Franco "El Gorilla", De La Ghetto, Frank Reyes, and Wisin & Yandel.

On August 10, 2010, an deluxe edition of Drama Queen was released in a two-disc CD/DVD set. It featured the same collaborations with Wisin & Yandel, De La Ghetto, Frank Reyes, and Franco "El Gorilla" adding Jadiel to the list. It includes 16 tracks total adding 3 new tracks and three videos; two of which are music videos. The last one is the Behind The Scenes of the "La Vida Es Así" music video shoot. On iTunes there is a digital book that comes with the album if you purchase the album.

Selling 3000 units in its first week, the album peaked at No. 163 on the Billboard 200, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Rhythm chart. It also peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Rap Albums. Drama Queen received a Latin Grammy nomination for the Best Urban Music Album at the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards, as well as two nominatations at the 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

The album spawned two singles. The first,"La Vida Es Así" was released to iTunes on May 11, 2010. There are two versions to the song a reggaetón version and bachata version, both were released to radios simultaneously; however only the reggaeton version charted. The second single "Amor Puro" was released to iTunes on May 19, 2010. "Amor Puro" never charted on any of the Billboard charts.

Background

Drama Queen is the seventh studio album released by Ivy Queen, and it marks the first studio album released under the label Machete Music. Ivy Queen was signed to the label in April 2010, while the label was celebrating its 5th year anniversary. Ivy Queen was previously with the label Sony International Records where she released her debut studio album En Mi Imperio (1997), and The Original Rude Girl (1998), She would then make a series of jumps between labels starting with Diva (2003) under Real Music Inc. Then, Universal Latino with the recording and production of Real in 2004. She would then switch to Univision to release two more studio albums, Flashback (2005) and Sentimiento (2007). Unlike, Drama Queen or any other of Ivy Queen's albums, Sentimiento (2007) showed a different side of Ivy Queen that no one had seen before. With the divorce of her husband a year earlier she was beginning to grow as not only a artist but as a person as well. Drama Queen is the first album where Ivy wasn't in a relationship, and she says that affected the album a lot. When asked about the drama between the release of Sentimiento and Drama Queen, by Latina magazine, Ivy had this to say:

"I’m single. For the first time in my life, I’m really experiencing what that’s like because I used to always feel the need to be in a relationship; I didn’t like being alone. But this time I’m realizing that people come into your life for a season, and my last relationship served its purpose. I can’t sit here and cry about it, because it ended right where it should have. A lot of that stuff is on the album."

Recording and production

Recording for Drama Queen took place at Mas Flow Studios in Carolina, Puerto Rico between 2008 and mid-2010. A studio owned by reggaeton production moguls Luny Tunes. The album was produced by reggaeton production duo Luny Tunes, Noriega, Tainy, Lenny Santos, DJ Blass and Keko Musik, with Keko Musik producing the majority of the tracks. Ivy Queen has worked with Luny Tunes, Noriega, Tainy, Lenny Santos and DJ Blass in the past for the production of songs but this marks the first album where Keko Musik has worked with Ivy Queen. Collaborations include Wisin & Yandel on "Acercate" (English: Get Closer), Frank Reys on "Cosas De La Vida" (English: Things of Life), Franco "El Gorilla" on "Jungle", De La Ghetto on "De La Calle" (English: From The Street) and Jadiel on "Amor A Primera Vista" (English: Love At First Sight).

Release and promotion

Promoted by "The Machete Music Tour 2010", Drama Queen was released on July 13, 2010 and sold 3000 units in its first week. It peaked at No. 163 on the Billboard 200. Debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Latin albums charts. Drama Queen also peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Rhythm charts. The album also peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Rap Albums chart. It received a Latin Grammy nomination for the Best Urban Music Album at the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards, as well as two nominatations at the 2011 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The deluxe edition was released on August 10, 2010 and featured the hit single Dime from 2008, as well as the original two singles.

Singles

The lead single "La Vida Es Así" was released to iTunes on May 11, 2010 and the music video was shot on May 17, 2010 in Miami and premiered on mun2 on June 22, 2010 and VEVO on June 28, 2010. The music video was directed by Marlon Pena. The song has two versions; reggaeton and bachata. The reggaetón version peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Latin Songs chart, No. 7 on the Tropical Songs chart, and No. 10 on the Latin Pop Songs charts. The bachata version never charted. The a cappella of "La Vida Es Asi" was sent to both Tainy and Keko Musik for production, having Ivy Queen pick the one she like the most to be included on th album. The Keko Musik version was later released as a pre-order bonus track for Drama Queen on iTunes. The second single "Amor Puro" was released to iTunes on May 19, 2010 and the music video was shot on September 28 in Miami, Florida, and premiered on VEVO on November 30, 2010. It was directed by Marlon Pena. "Amor Puro" never charted on any of the Billboard charts.

Composition

Music and themes

Drama Queen takes reggaeton to a whole new level with the mixture of ballads, mid- and uptempos and reggaeton dembows. It has been described as an album where R&B meets reggaeton and it is the first time Ivy Queen experiments with the genre. The songs on the album tell two side of the Queen, the original "hard" Ivy Queen and the "sentimental" Ivy Queen. The textures on "Drama Queen" vary from tropical bachata to R&B, rap and reggaeton.

Song structure and lyrical content

"Listen To My Drama" returns to Ivy Queen's roots, reflected on En Mi Imperio (1997) and The Original Rude Girl (1998) where freestyle rapping marked the Queen's name. "...15 years and I'm still going strong..." as reflected in the lyrics, unlike most of the songs on the album, the track talks about Ivy Queen herself; describing how long shes been in the business and how she will never be beaten. It makes use of bass instrumentation and is not a reggaeton track as most of the album. "Te Voy A Recordar" (English: I'm Going To Make You Remember), is a reggaeton dembow basic. It is instrumentally complete with screeching guitars and the reggaeton classic: a dembow beat. "...I'm going to make your remember I am a Queen...", lyrically, the song features Ivy talking about how she will make her ex-boyfriend realize that she is a queen and shouldn't be played with. "Me Quiere" (English: They Like Me) also, a dembow beat, has been described as a freestyle rap with a reggaeton beat to back her up. A reggaeton drum background and uses of a piano, it talks about how people want her and that her ex-boyfriend wont be the last to have her. "De La Calle" (English: From The Street) is a R&B power ballad, that talks about the love between two people with Ivy Queen and De La Ghetto collaborating for the first time ever.

"Amor Puro" (English: Pure Love) is a mixture of R&B and reggaeton. It makes uses of the dembow drum machine, synthesizers, and a paino. Lyrically is speaks about what pure and real love is. "I Do", is a midtempo pop and R&B power ballad. Built on a handclapped rhythm, it makes use of R&B keyboards with out the mixture of reggaeton. Lyrically, the songs is a message to men and women saying to the women that if your man loves you let him come home; and to the men if you love her, run and get her. "Acércate" (English: Get Closer) features male vocals by Wisin & Yandel, a dembow drum machine, minor key tonality and synthesizers. The song has Ivy Queen and Wisin & Yandel describing the conditions that have to be met if two people are going to be in a relationship. It was priased for the addition of Wisin & Yandel, and the catchy hook.

"La Vida Es Así" is mainly reggaeton track that makes uses of R&B effects. The lyrics talk about how the way life is, that she found out he was cheating on her, and that she isn't going to take his "crap" anymore.

"Cuando" (English: When) is a downtempo pop and R&B ballad. Built on a hand clapped and snapping rhythm, it makes uses of a drum machine, synthesizers, and a piano. "...When there is no one to fight with anymore, when there is no reason to get out of bed anymore..." the song features Ivy Queen talking about what happens when a relationship ends and the effects it has on the two people afterwards."Cosas De La Vida" is a tropical bachata ballad that makes uses of the bongo, guitar, and the electric bass guitar. It features Ivy Queen and Frank Reyes talking about the things in life. "Cansada" (English: Tired) is a R&B and reggaeton power ballad. It makes uses the dembow drum machine, synthesizers, and a piano. The talks about how Ivy Queen is tired of the things that her ex-husband did and that she is going to leave him. "Jungle" features reggaeton beats scattered with the added sound effects of glass breaking and fire. Making uses of the dembow drum machine, a violin, a piano, and synthesizers. It features added vocals by Franco "El Gorilla"

"Aya Aya" is a conventional dembow beat flanked by the sounds of a sitar, influenced by Arabic music. It talks to a man, who is Ivy Queen's apparent "crush". "Amor A Primera Vista" (English: Love At First Sight) is also a tropical bachata ballad that makes uses of the bongo, guitar, electric bass guitar, and piano. Jadiel surfaces around the 1:17 mark, and the two talk about how love can good and at the same time bad to someone. "Dime" (English: Tell Me)is a uptembo bachata ballad. It makes uses of the a reggaeton drum machine, the bongo, a guitar, violin, bass instrumentation, and synthesizers. "...Tell Me, tell me, how to, my love, how to get you out of my mind, out of my heart, out of my soul, if you don't want to leave..." it features Ivy Queen talking about a ex relationship and how she is suppose get it off her mind if her ex doesn't want to leave just yet.

Critical reception

The album received generally positive reviews many noting the two sides of Ivy Queen, where some songs are brutal and fierce and others are loving and nice. David Jefferies of Allmusic gave the album a 3.5 of 5 stars... "...a standard issue effort from "La Reina del Reggaeton," The beats are familiar as reggaeton drum machines meet R&B keyboards and the Queen, commanding attention on every track with a stern yet sexy delivery. You can check the furious "La Vida Es Asi" or the uplifting "Amor Puro" for instant proof." Ayala Ben-Yehuda of Billboard said "...the set presents a more diverse range of musical styles, from bachata to R&B to even a poppy ballad ("Cuando") without leaving the area of reggaeton." The album has been described by music critics as having moods that are aggressive, confident, sexy, and spicy while stile maintaining a calm, bright, energetic, and passionate feeling.

Track listing

Personnel

The following credits are adpated from Allmusic.

• Martha I. Pesante - Composer, Vocals, Primary Artist
• Rafael Castillo - Composer
• Jose Cotto - Mixer
• Hiram Cruz - Composer
• Patricai De León - Model
• Vladimir Felix - Composer
• Ariel Hernandez - Peinado
• Mariano Lumbi - Wardrobe
• Mad Music - Composer
• Marcos Masis - Composer, Producer
• Ramon Luis Otero - Composer
• Franko El Gorilla - Vocals
• Frank Reyes - Composer, Vocals
• Francisco Saldaña - Composer
• Levy Santos - Composer
• Luis Francisco Cortes Torres - Composer
• Wisin & Yandel - Composer, Vocals
• Luny Tunes - Producer
• Keko Musik - Producer

Deluxe edition

The following credits are adapted from Allmusic.

• Rafael Castillo - Composer
• Urbani Mota Cedeno - Composer, Producer
• Jose Cotto - Mixer
• Hiram Cruz - Composer
• Patricai De León - Model
• Luis Febo - Composer
• Vladimir Felix - Composer
• Ramon Gonzolez - Composer
• Ariel Hernandez - Peinado
• Mariano Lumbi - Wardrobe
• Mad Music - Composer
• Miguel Marquez - Composer
• Marcos Masis - Composer, Producer
• Michael Monserrate - Composer, Producer
• Machete Music - Record label
• Martha I. Pesante - Composer, Vocals, Primary Artist
• Ramon Luis Otero - Composer
• Franko El Gorilla - Vocals
• Frank Reyes - Composer, Vocals
• Francisco Saldaña - Composer
• Levy Santos - Composer
• Luny Tunes - Producer
• Luis Francisco Cortes Torres - Composer
• Wisin & Yandel - Composer, Vocals

Charts

References

1. ^ "Drama Queen (Ivy Queen)". Machete Music. 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2012-06-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Cite error: The named reference "cduniverse" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
2. "En Mi Imperio". Sony. 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2012-06-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
3. "Ivy Queen on Relationship Drama and Ruling Reggaeton". Latina Magazine. 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2012-06-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
4. ^ "Ivy Queen, "Drama Queen"". Billboard. 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2012-06-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
5. "Ivy Queen - Drama Queen CD". Machete Music. 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-06-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
6. "Experience A Machete Music Premiere "La Vida Es Asi"". Machete Music. 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2010-06-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
7. "Ivy Queen to file the music video for her new single Amor Puro, Sept. 28, 2010". Machete Music. 2010-09-27. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
8. "Ivy Queen - Amor Puro Music Video". Machete Music. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
9. "Ivy Queen's reggaeton rhymes depict "How Life Is"". Billboard. 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2012-06-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
10. ^ "Drama Queen". Almusic. 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2012-06-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Allmusic" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
11. "Ivy Queen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
12. "Ivy Queen Chart History (Top Latin Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
13. "Ivy Queen Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
14. "Year-End Charts: Latin Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-12-05.

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• Ivy Queen albums
• Spanish-language albums
• Reggaeton albums
• Machete Music albums