Guapa

''Guapa'' (Spanish for ''Beautiful'' or ''Cute'') is the fourth studio album released on April 25, 2006, by Spanish Pop rock band La Oreja de Van Gogh. On December 5, 2006, ''Más Guapa'' was released exclusively in Spain and Mexico.MixUp Music Stores in Mexico
/ref> Two months later, on February 13, 2007, the album was also released in Chile. ''Más Guapa'' includes a second disc of previously unreleased material from the ''Guapa'' sessions, as well as from recording sessions of previous albums. The album won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Album By a Duo or Group. ''Guapa'' is the band's last album with Amaia Montero as lead singer.

Recording

The album's composition began in February 2005. By November of that year, there were already 18 tracks that would probably be in the final album. It was recorded in London, England in Abbey Road Studios from December 2-23, 2005. In January 2006, they began re-recording in Madrid and reporters from TV channel Cuatro were present throughout to later publish a report regarding the album. In spite of the group's desire that a report not be made, a DVD was included in certain versions of Guapa.

The album was produced with Nigel Walker. Its publication coincides with the 10th anniversary of the group's existence. Guapa contains thirteen songs that mix the band's typical pop with reggae, ranchera, a bit of bossa nova, some sounds from the 60's and 70's, a few techno arrangements and recollections of American music. In this CD the artistic maturity of the group becomes apparent in their lyrics as well as their melodies with songs like ''Noche'' (Night), ''Muñeca de trapo'', (Rag Doll), and ''Perdida'' (Lost).

Release

''Guapa'' was the most anticipated album of 2006 in Spain. Originally, the release was set for March 28, 2006; however, technical problems with a machine in Du Manoir made the premiere be on April 25, 2006. When "Muñeca de Trapo" was released as the lead single in Spanish radio station Los 40, it was quite a success.

Two days before its official release, telephone company Movistar offered a Sony Ericson phone with the full album and the "Muñeca de Trapo" video preloaded in the device, causing the album to leak before its official release.

By December 2006, the album already had already been certified seven times seven Platinum. ''Guapa'' won the Latin Grammy of 2006 as best pop album by a group or duo.

As soon as the album was out in the market, the band began its promotion in North and South America, appearing in almost every Spanish-speaking country. This tour through the Americas made the album sell about a million copies there, making themselves enter countries they had not entered before.

This great success in America, along with the sales in Spain which went beyond 560,000 made ''Guapa'' the third most sold album in the history of the band, with about 1,500,000 copies sold.

By the end of the tour, the band had over 6,000,000 copies sold in total all around the world. The album remained for over 30 weeks in the Top 10 CD's sold in Spain, 10 of which, although not consecutive, made it No. 1.

A new edition of ''Guapa'' was released, under the title ''Más Guapa'', which included a bonus CD featuring unreleased recordings from the album sessions. "En mi lado del sofá" was released as its single. In 2007, "Dulce Locura" and "Muñeca de Trapo" were recorded in Italian, and released in a new edition exclusive for that country, but all promotion was halted due to Amaia Montero's unexpected departure.

Album title

For past albums, La Oreja de Van Gogh have presented esoteric and lengthy titles such as ''El viaje de Copperpot'' and ''Lo que te conté mientras te hacías la dormida'

When asked what inspired the minimalism of ''Guapa'' during an online chat session hosted by '' El Mundo (Spain), elmundo.es'', the band revealed that the title is an abbreviation of their to-date longest album title:
:''Guapa es la historia de quien no se da por vencido en el maravilloso viaje de encontrarse a uno mismo, de quien acepta cumplir años y seguir teniendo miedos, de quien llena la almohada de inseguridades pero al levantarse siempre hace la cama, de quien sonríe de verdad y como antes: sin darse cuenta, de quien consigue que lo que quiere y lo que le apetece hagan las paces, de quien hace del tiempo un aliado sigiloso que, cada mañana y frente al espejo del alma, le hará sentirse cada vez un poco más guapa.''

Translation:

''Guapa is the story of one who doesn't give up in the wonderful journey of finding oneself, who accepts to be years older and to continue to have fears, who fills the pillow with insecurities, but upon awakening always makes the bed, who smiles truthfully and like before: without realizing so, who is able to reach a compromise between what she loves and what she wants, of who makes of time a quiet ally who, every morning before the mirror of the soul, will make herself feel every time a bit prettier.''

The title is a spiritual affirmation printed on the album's back cove

Track listings

* "Coronel" was mistakenly titled as "Flash"

Personnel

Performing

* La Oreja de Van Gogh
** Amaia Montero – singing, vocals, backing vocals
** Xabi San Martín – keyboards, piano, backing vocals
** Pablo Benegas – guitar
** Álvaro Fuentes – bass
** Haritz Garde – percussion

Technical

* La Oreja de Van Gogh – record production, audio mixing
* Nigel Walker – record production, audio mixing
* Leon Zervos – audio mastering
* Bori Alarcón – technical production
* Rudolf Hernández – technical production
* Carlos Hernández – technical production
* B. Oberhagemann – record production
* Bernard Cocoignac – technical production
* Marie Claire – technical production
* Margarita Pérez – technical production
* Paco Pérez – technical production

Design

* Rafa Sañudo – graphic design
* Montse Velando – photography
* Ray – illustrations

Charts

Album

Sales and certifications

List of albums containing a hidden track

References

*
Encuentro digital con La Oreja de Van Gogh
, '' El Mundo (Spain), elmundo.es'', September 6, 2006. Accessed September 16, 2007.
*
La Oreja de Van Gogh reúne a 10.000 personas en el Estadio Olímpico de Barcelona
, ''elmundo.es'', July 3, 2003. Accessed September 16, 2007
Information about the album from the band's official website

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2006 albums
La Oreja de Van Gogh albums
Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group with Vocals