Courtesy of Q-Zone Records
Canciones Del Corazón (Songs of the Heart) is the debut album by Ramón El Rey, a Mexican-American singer from Corpus Christi, Texas. The album was released in May by Q-Zone Records, a label founded by Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the father of the late Tejano superstar Selena. Quintanilla also produced the album, which features ten classic songs from the Mexican and Latin American repertoire, performed by Ramón with his distinctive voice and style.
The album opens with “Paloma Querida” (Beloved Dove), a romantic ranchera song written by José Alfredo Jiménez, one of the most influential composers of Mexican music. Ramón delivers a heartfelt rendition of the song, accompanied by a traditional mariachi ensemble. The song sets the tone for the rest of the album, which showcases Ramón’s passion and versatility as a singer.
The second track is “Que No Me Faltes Tu” (Don’t You Fail Me), a pop ballad written by Marco Antonio Solís, another renowned Mexican singer-songwriter. The song expresses the longing and devotion of a lover who cannot live without his partner. Ramón sings with emotion and sincerity, backed by a smooth arrangement of keyboards, guitars, and drums.
The third track is “La Retirada” (The Retreat), a dramatic bolero song written by José Ángel Espinoza “Ferrusquilla”, a legendary actor and composer from Sinaloa. The song tells the story of a man who decides to leave his lover after realizing that she does not love him anymore. Ramón conveys the pain and bitterness of the narrator, supported by a lush orchestration of strings, horns, and percussion.
The fourth track is “Contigo Aprendi” (With You I Learned), a tender bolero song written by Armando Manzanero, one of the most prolific and respected composers of Latin romantic music. The song expresses the gratitude and admiration of a lover who has learned to appreciate life and love thanks to his partner. Ramón sings with elegance and grace, accompanied by a soft piano and guitar.
The fifth track is “El Sentimental” (The Sentimental One), an upbeat cumbia song written by A.B. Quintanilla III, Ramón’s cousin, and Selena’s brother. The song is a tribute to Ramón’s father, Ramiro El Rey, who was also a singer and musician. The song celebrates his legacy and influence on Ramón’s musical career. Ramón sings with joy and energy, joined by a lively band of accordion, bass, drums, and percussion.
The sixth track is “Que Te Vaya Bien” (I Hope You Do Well), a pop-rock song written by Rudy Pérez, one of the most successful producers and songwriters in Latin music. The song is a farewell message to a former lover who has moved on with someone else. Ramón sings with maturity and confidence, backed by a catchy arrangement of electric guitars, keyboards, and drums.
The seventh track is “Como Me Haces Falta” (How I Miss You), a melancholic ballad written by Marco Antonio Solís. The song expresses the nostalgia and sadness of a lover who misses his partner after their breakup. Ramón sings with depth and emotion, accompanied by a poignant piano and guitar.
The eighth track is “Solamente Una Vez” (Only Once), a classic bolero song written by Agustín Lara, one of the most influential composers of Mexican music. The song declares that one can only truly love once in life. Ramón sings with elegance and passion, supported by a beautiful orchestration of strings, horns, and harp.
The ninth track is “Las Ciudades” (The Cities), an upbeat ranchera song written by José Alfredo Jiménez. The song describes the different cities that the narrator has visited in his travels, but none of them compare to his hometown. Ramón sings with enthusiasm and charisma, accompanied by a festive mariachi ensemble.
The tenth and final track is “Por Un Amor” (For A Love), another classic ranchera song written by Gilberto Parra Paz. The song tells the story of a man who suffers for a love that he cannot have. Ramón sings with intensity and emotion, backed by a powerful mariachi ensemble.
Canciones Del Corazón is an impressive debut album by Ramón El Rey, who proves to be a talented and versatile singer with a bright future ahead of him. The album pays homage to some of the greatest songs and composers of Mexican and Latin American music while showcasing Ramón’s own personality and style. The album is a must-have for fans of romantic music and Tejano culture.
The album is available at q-productions.com and all digital music platforms.
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