Maria Jose's Amante de lo ajeno (2009): A Masterpiece of Latin Pop Music
Amante de lo ajeno (2009): Maria Jose's Musical Journey from Pop Star to Diva
Maria Jose is a Mexican singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of the pop group Kabah in the 1990s. After the group disbanded in 2005, she embarked on a solo career and released her self-titled debut album in 2007. However, the album did not achieve the success that she expected and she parted ways with her record label Warner Music.
Maria Jose – Amante de lo ajeno (2009)
In 2009, she returned with a new album titled Amante de lo ajeno (Lover of Other People's Things), which was an independent release produced by Italian hitmaker Loris Ceroni. The album was a tribute to the Mexican pop divas of the 1980s, featuring covers of songs originally performed by artists such as Daniela Romo, Ana Gabriel, Lucía Méndez, Rocío Banquells, and others. The album was a huge success, reaching number 2 on the Mexican album charts and earning a gold certification for selling over 50,000 copies.
Amante de lo ajeno is considered by many fans and critics as Maria Jose's best album to date, as it showcases her powerful vocals and charisma, as well as her versatility and respect for the musical legacy of her country. In this article, we will explore how Maria Jose transformed herself from a pop star to a diva with Amante de lo ajeno.
The Transformation of Maria Jose
Maria Jose started her musical career as a member of Kabah, a pop group that was formed in 1992 and became one of the most popular and successful acts of the 1990s in Mexico and Latin America. The group was known for their catchy songs, colorful outfits, and energetic performances. Maria Jose was one of the lead singers of the group, along with Federica Quijano and Sergio O'Farrill.
Kabah released six studio albums between 1994 and 2004, selling over four million copies worldwide. Some of their most famous songs include La Calle de las Sirenas (The Street of the Mermaids), Vive (Live), Al Pasar (As Time Goes By), Mai Mai (Never Never), Amor por Amor (Love for Love), and La Vida que Va (The Life that Goes). The group also collaborated with other artists such as OV7, Magneto, Mercurio, Jeans, and Fey.
In 2005, Kabah announced their farewell tour and their last album titled El Pop (The Pop), which was a compilation of their greatest hits. The group disbanded after their final concert in Mexico City on December 10th, 2005. Maria Jose decided to pursue a solo career and signed a contract with Warner Music.
In 2007, she released her self-titled debut album, which was produced by Aureo Baqueiro, who had worked with artists such as Sin Bandera, Natalia Lafourcade, Ha*Ash, and others. The album featured 11 original songs written by Baqueiro and other industry songwriters. The album was a pop-rock record that aimed to showcase Maria Jose's vocal abilities and personality.
However, the album did not achieve the expected success and only reached number 39 on the Mexican album charts. The album spawned three singles: Quien Eres Tu (Who Are You), Me Equivoque (I Was Wrong), and Un Nuevo Amor (A New Love). The singles had moderate airplay on radio and TV, but did not become major hits. Maria Jose also faced some criticism for her image change, as she adopted a more mature and sexy look that contrasted with her previous style.
Maria Jose was disappointed with the results of her debut album and felt that Warner Music did not support her enough. She also felt that she did not have enough creative control over her music and image. She decided to end her contract with Warner Music and look for other options.
In 2009, she found a new opportunity with Sei Track Musica, an independent label that was part of Grupo CIE, one of the largest entertainment companies in Mexico. She also found a new producer in Loris Ceroni, an Italian producer who had worked with other Latin pop artists such as Paty Cantú, Alejandra Guzmán, Kalimba, Natalia Lafourcade, and others.
Together, they came up with the idea of making a cover album that would pay homage to the Mexican pop divas of the 1980s. Maria Jose chose songs that she liked and that represented an important part of her musical influences. She also chose songs that she could reinterpret with her own style and personality.
The result was Amante de lo ajeno (Lover of Other People's Things), an album that marked a turning point in Maria Jose's career. The album was a success both commercially and critically, reaching number 2 on the Mexican album charts and earning a gold certification for selling over 50,000 copies. The album also received positive reviews from fans and critics who praised Maria Jose's vocals, charisma, versatility, and respect for the musical legacy of her country.
The album also launched Maria Jose's career as a solo artist in other markets such as Spain
The Reception of Amante de lo ajeno
The reception of Amante de lo ajeno was very positive, both commercially and critically. The album sold over 50,000 copies in Mexico, earning a gold certification from AMPROFON. The album also reached number 2 on the Mexican album charts, only behind Luis Miguel's Complices. The album also had a good performance in other markets such as Spain, where it reached number 18 on the Spanish album charts.
The album also received positive reviews from fans and critics who praised Maria Jose's vocals, charisma, versatility, and respect for the musical legacy of her country. Some of the reviews are:
\"Maria Jose proves that she is not only a great singer, but also a great interpreter who can give new life to classic songs with her own style and personality.\" - El Universal
\"Amante de lo ajeno is a tribute to the Mexican pop divas of the 1980s, but also a tribute to Maria Jose's talent and versatility. She manages to reinterpret these songs with elegance, emotion, and power.\" - Ritmoson Latino
\"Maria Jose shows her maturity and growth as a solo artist with Amante de lo ajeno, an album that honors the musical memory of her country and that showcases her powerful vocals and charisma.\" - People en Español
\"Amante de lo ajeno is a successful cover album that demonstrates Maria Jose's vocal abilities and personality. She sings with passion and conviction, making these songs her own.\" - Billboard
The Singles of Amante de lo ajeno
The singles of Amante de lo ajeno were also very successful, reaching high positions on the Mexican radio charts and becoming popular among the public. The singles were:
No Soy Una Señora: This was the lead single and the most successful one. It reached number 1 on the Mexican radio charts and number 3 on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart. It also received a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2010.