"Limbo" is a song by Puerto Rican reggaeton recording artist Daddy Yankee from his sixth studio album Prestige (2012). It was produced by MadMusick, the duo of Giencarlos Rivera, and Jonathan Rivera, in partnership with Luny Tunes. The music video features ZumbaUnderground dancers Stephanie Hartgraves and Megan Phillips, Oceanside Ca. It was composed by Ramon Ayala, Elizier Palacios, Giencarlos Rivera, Jonathan Rivera, Francisco Saldaña and released as the fourth single from the album, following the commercial successes of "Ven Conmigo", "Lovumba" and "Pasarela". An official remix with Puerto Rican-duo Wisin & Yandel as well as a Spanglish version of the song were also later released. The song appears in dance games Just Dance 2014 and Zumba Fitness: World Party.
Composition "Limbo" was written specially for Zumba Fitness demonstrating "the dance fitness' company's now-towering presence in the Latin music industry." It was composed by Ramon Ayala, Elizier Palacios, Giencarlos Rivera, Jonathan Rivera and Francisco Saldaña. According to Yankee, he wanted "Limbo to invite the imagination, ignite creativity, to step away from the norm and bring something completely different."
Release and chart performance The official remix with Puerto Rican-duo Wisin & Yandel was released on February 19, 2013. A Spanglish version was also released on April 1, 2013. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Latin Songs and Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart, currently spending thirteen weeks at number one on the latter. It also reached the number three spot on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart. Internationally, The song also reached number three in Colombia, number 183 in France, number 33 in Switzerland, and number 19 and eight on Venezuela's Top 100 and Top Latino charts respectively. In Italy, "Limbo" was certified platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry, denoting sales exceeding 30,000 units. Daddy Yankee performed "Limbo" as the opening of the 2013 Latin Billboard Awards surrounded by "performers pounding skyscraper-size drums". It won the Billboard Latin Music Award for Latin Rhythm Airplay Song of the Year at the ceremony in 2014.
Music video The music video was released on October 27, 2012 and as of October 2024, has over 1.3 billion views on YouTube. It was directed by Jessy Terrero and filmed at the Centro Ceremonial Otomí in Temoaya, Mexico. Terrero has also worked with Wisin & Yandel, Paulina Rubio, Leona Lewis and 50 Cent among others. The video features "girls dancing in front of temple ruins and popping out of muddy waters" while an "exotic fantasyland" is depicted. Model Natalia Subtil, choreographer Danielle Polanco and the Zumba Fitness instructor Gina Grant participate in the video amongst independent dance enthusiast Stephanie Hartgraves.
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts Chart (2012–2013)PeakpositionArgentina Hot 100 (AV Music)4Colombia (National-Report)2Mexican Pop Airplay (Billboard)43Peru Airplay (UNIMPRO)4US Heatseekers Songs (Billboard)22US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)15Venezuela Top Latino (Record Report)1
Year-end charts +Annual chart rankings for "Limbo"Chart (2013)RankItaly (FIMI)73US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)2US Latin Airplay Songs (Billboard)2US Latin Digital Songs (Billboard)4US Latin Streaming Songs (Billboard)16US Latin Pop Airplay Songs (Billboard)1US Tropical Airplay Songs (Billboard)39Chart (2014)PeakpositionUS Latin Digital Songs (Billboard)14US Latin Streaming Songs (Billboard)13Chart (2015)PeakpositionUS Latin Digital Songs (Billboard)19US Latin Streaming Songs (Billboard)23
Decade-end charts Chart (2010–2019) Position US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard) 17
All-time charts Chart (2021)PositionUS Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)46
Sales and certifications
See also List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Songs of 2013 List of Billboard Latin Rhythm Airplay number ones of 2013
References