Gran City Pop is the ninth studio album by Mexican singer Paulina Rubio, released by Universal Latino on June 23, 2009. The pop album expanded the Rubio's stylistic palette by combining elements of genres such as rock, ranchera, hip-hop, Eurodisco and arena rock, and she became more involved in songwriting and creative elaboration, extracting influences from various dance-pop-based genres including electropop, synth-pop and eighties British pop.
In 2008, Rubio began working again with Argentinian music producer Cachorro López, who served as the executive producer of her previous album Ananda (2006). The two collaborated with various producers and writers on the album, including Lester Méndez, Mario Domm, Noel Schajris, Gianmarco and Fernando Osorio. Rubio also collaborated again with Colombian songwriter Estéfano after six years, and other songwriters and producers with whom she previously collaborated such as Coti, Chris Rodriguez and Fernando Montesinos.
Gran City Pop received acclaimed reviews from music critics, many of whom complimented it as a return fresh sounds, and received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. In Mexico, Gran City Pop peaked at number two on the Mexican Albums Chart, and was certified gold by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON). In the United States, the album debuted at number forty-four on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of over 9,400 copies, while it debuted at number two on the Top Latin Albums chart and number one on the Latin Pop Albums chart. Additionally, it sold 100,000 copies in United States, and manage to sell 400,000 copies worldwide.
Three singles were released from Gran City Pop. The lead single, "Causa Y Efecto", peaked at number one in the United States Latin charts, Mexico general chart and Spain airplay chart. Subsequent single "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes" also was a success in Latin America, and "Algo De Ti" generally underperformed on the charts, but the music video was a hit in the television. To further promote the album, Rubio embarked on the Gran City Pop Tour in 2009.
Background and production Following take a sabbatical year, Rubio released her eighth studio album, Ananda, in September 2006. Slated to be released as Rubio's comeback album, Ananda was certified twice times platinum in the United States after it atop at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. In Spain, the album peaked at number two on the Spanish Albums Chart and was eventually certified double platinum, becoming her second best-selling album in that territory, after Paulina (2000). Critical reception towards Ananda was favourable, many critics felt it a transition to pop-rock sound, acknowledging Rubio's mature perceptions.
In November 2007, Universal Music announced Rubio's "started recording her next album in her [home]studio in Miami (Florida) which she plans to release in the fall of 2008" She had recently finished her Amor Luz y Sonido tour, so she had already written some songs. During American television and radio host Larry King's 75th birthday charity party, Rubio announced: "I've been recording with Estéfano, Cachorro López for many months ... They are my songs and Coti's, it's rock & roll, pop music, rancheras and those songs that touch your heart at a time when I am very much in love, very full, trying to put down roots." Until then, the production had features compositions by Estéfano, Los Rabanes, Jeremías, Noel Schajris, Gian Marco Zignago, Lester Méndez, and Mario Domm. Paulina prepared her album with her own songs with the help of Coti, who had a big influence in the writing of the album. Speaking to a Mexican radio program, she said that the new material presented many changes. She explained: "[...] at the same time I remain very loyal to my music; my rancheras, boleros, and simple rhythms like the songs we used to listen to as children". She also added: "This new production will have songs by Mario Domm, the leader of Camila, and Estéfano, but there are some songs of mine with Coti; it's an album to get out the child within us".
On December 8, 2008, Rubio performed at the opening of Teleton México to raise funds for the benefit of the Teleton Centers for Children with Different Abilities. She sing a pop-rock version of "Solo Le Pido A Dios", originally performed by Argentine folk rock musician León Gieco. At that time, Universal Music was already preparing the release of the first single, but it was delayed by Rubio's decision because "[I] thought I had finished the album and a person I love very much told me that it was not finished." Rubio explained "the album improved a lot from June to December . I wrote more songs and when I had 34 love letters, because that's what I call them [the songs], I chose 10 again and went back to redoing verses."
Since Rubio was during those months traveling around the world, especially going to and from Miami, Mexico and Madrid, most of the songs he wrote while giving concerts. She was very inspired by these three cities during the songwriting process.
Music and concept The standard edition of Gran City Pop is thirty five minutes long, consisting of 10 tracks, while the deluxe adds bonus songs for different editions. A special edition was released on February 17, 2010, exclusively in Spain. This included remixes of "Causa Y Efecto" and "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes"
Concept
The album was formed around the conceptual city of "Gran City Pop", created by Rubio and represented through the album's accompanying marketing and music videos. It is an utopic and "enormous city" where Rubio explore through "one vision, some of the life and musical experiences lived during the last years in many cities of the world." She was inspired by the cities of Mexico City, Miami and Madrid for the fictional city name, same cities were the albums was recording.
Gran City Pop is a mix of places, cultures and desires. Rubio describes it as a city "very earthy and very organic where everything is an amalgam; a mixture that allows to unite instead of divide", where borders do not exist; is a place "where people speak Spanglish, where freedom reigns and where love prospers and there is no violence". The metropolis exudes a smell of tequila, roses and red wine. In Gran City Pop, human rights are the fundamental pillar of the social system. There is no hate, no racism, no homophobia. Same-sex marriage is considered to be a human right. Its inhabitants "enjoy literature, music, gastronomy, friendship, family, sunsets and full moons."
In the album's booklet, journalist and writer Boris Izaguirre details how Rubio returns stepping "on the asphalt" of Gran City Pop. He describes her as a "rock soul" who manages to "unite all its bridges, combine its colors and savor its mixes "with the city to which he returns once more. Izaguirre makes the city of Gran City Pop visible with "skyscrapers of multiple colors", some of its streets are called México, Madrid, Miami, Mar y Mirar, which contain a "show of emotions, lights, dreams and hopes", where a mixture of places such as Maya, Hollywood, Bollywood, New York, London, Buenos Aires and Paris. He also cites the cultural influence of Julio Cortázar, Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, and Frida Kahlo. In his review of the album from Club Fonograma, Carlos Reyes described Rubio as "a hippy in the fancy pop city she aims to create", and acknowledged that Gran City Pop "not a very enchanting city, but it's got mayor with plenty of personality to win the popular vote."
Composition The album highlights to "upbeat sound". with Rubio sounding "like she's having a blast on every song, even the ones that are about the pitfalls of love." She revealed that the songs "reflect the moment she is living and her growth as a person." Like her previous records, contains many different genres of music. Gran City Pop is an "eclectic" album, including pop rock, dance-pop, electropop and Latin pop-styles with 80s-influenced beats such as synth-pop, British pop and city pop. Much of the album discusses principle of karma, spirituality, fantasy, magic and illusion, all from the perspective of love.
Gran City Pop opens with "Causa y Efecto", a big-beat pop song propelled by sampled Gary Glitter's beat "Rock and Roll", which deals with the concepts of karma and causality. The second track "La Danza del Escorpión" was described as a "pungent club anthem" that sticks to distinctives Rubio's Latin guitar riffs. Lyrically it is about a "scorned love" where Rubio alludes to the popular legend of the scorpion and the fire that, when stung with its own sting, ends up poisoning itself. "Enséñame" is a romantic electro-pop and synth-pop song with guitars by Fernando Perdomo. It received positive reviews, but its lyrics were criticized for being cliché. The song was compared to works by the New Order. "Melodía De Tu Alma" is a pop ballad song that provides a glimpse into Rubio's love life with then husband Nicolás "Colate" Vallejo Nájera, recounting her wishes to start a family. The lyrics alluding to the popular concept of soulmate, while sonically it incorporates classical and rock music instrumentation. "Más Que Amigo" is a rhythmic pop song about love and friendship.
Opening as radio station, the feminist anthem "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes" is hybrid ranchera/hip-hop Latin pop song. Features a "boom-bap" beat and instrumentation similar to that of Tejano music, Rubio "half-raps, half-sings about how flowers and toys [from a man] won't earn her love". It was met with critical acclaim by most music critics, and was declared to be one of the high points tracks on the album. "Amanecí Sin Ti" is a reggae-style and alternative pop song with acoustic guitars, drums, bass, organs, and keyboards. The song channels a stream of overcoming, in which the narrator claims to feel better after a failed relationship. The eighth track, "Algo De Ti", is a pop and electro-disco song with sampled strings rubbing against hard synth lines. The track opens with hazy sirens using a sound effects, with Rubio's whispery and melodious vocals contrast dance-pop beat. Over a ticking arrangement of keyboards, violins, cello, and harp harmonies, the song depicts feeling of living inside a vicious circle of a relationship destined to fail. It was compared to works by Lady Gaga. "A Contraluz" is a dance-pop and electronic track with Rubio whispering away as she moves on and ends the song. Rubio sings about deciding to end a romance without drama in the tenth track, "Escaleras de Arena". It is a pop rock, and arena tune, with hushed tambourine, guitar riffs, drums, and piano, that talks about "a relationship that ends" and the "disappointment of love" but from an optimistic point of view.
Artwork Spanish design team Pon un Diseñador Gráfico en tu Vida were responsible for the artwork of Gran City Pop. For the album illustration, Paulina Rubio wears an "exotic" purple sequinned mini-dress with a sweetheart neckline, from the Armand Basi One Spring-Summer 2009 line. She completes her outfit with gold platform shoes with fringed bracelet signed by Christian Louboutin; and fingerless gloves. In it, she pretends to be singing, while clutching a silver microphone with a base. Rubio has his eyes closed with an expression of peace and happiness, while covering his half face with a purple "futuristic" face shield style cap. Behind her, a blue daytime sky and visible clouds; buildings; and the sea, reflecting the blue sky are shown. This is a shot of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, one of the cities inspired by "Gran City Pop".