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Ayer y hoy, titled A Festa Vai Começar in the Brazilian version, is the nineteenth studio album (the second in Portuguese) by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1985 by RCA Records.[1][2] The album features members Ricky Martin, Robby Rosa, Charlie Massó, Roy Rosselló, and Raymond Acevedo.[3]
| Ayer y Hoy/A Festa Vai Começar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Recorded | 1984 / 1985 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 35:26 | |||
| Label | Padosa, RCA Victor, RCA Ariola | |||
| Producer | Edgardo Díaz | |||
| Menudo chronology | ||||
| ||||
Spanish singles include: "La fiesta va a empezar,"[4] and "Acercate,"[5] while the Brazilian version produced the singles: "Viva! Bravo!"[6] and "Vem Por Favor."[7]
The album was commercially successful, appearing on record charts in countries such as Brazil and United States.
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The album was recorded in Spain and Puerto Rico, under the direction of Menudo's creator, Edgardo Díaz.[8] The production and most of the compositions were done by Carlos Villa and Alejandro Monroy, two Spaniards men who always guided the group musically.[8][9] In an interview about the album, Villa said: "The most amazing thing is that in these compositions the boys manage to give a magical touch, unique to youth."[9] Alejandro Monroy, on the other hand, considered the work to be "the face of the boys. Just as the fans expect in terms of rhythm, themes, and balance. However, the final word will always be theirs."[9]
One of the songs on the album, titled "Marcelo," was recorded as a tribute to a homeless boy from Brazil, whom the artists met during their tour in the country.[10] According to member Roy: "One afternoon, we decided to take a group of boys, who were wandering the streets of Brazil with nowhere to go when night came, to our hotel (...) Among the group was Marcelo, and he won the affection of all of us."[10]
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To promote the album, the group visited Brazil to begin a tour featuring songs from the album and new choreographies for the tracks.[11] Singer Ricky Martin said in an interview at the time: "Brazil fascinates me. That’s why being here again is a pleasure. I really enjoyed recording the new album 'A Festa Vai Começar,' with lyrics in Portuguese, and it’s with the same joy that my companions and I are doing this show. Our band and the new songs are successful. The Brazilian audience is very 'caliente' and motivates us more and more to present the best of our music."[11]
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| New Sunday Times | Mixed[12] |
| Correio Braziliense | Desfavorable[1] |
The reviews from music critics were mixed and unfavorable.
The journalist from Correio Braziliense stated that despite the addition of a new member, Ramon, the album does not bring anything new.[1] According to him, this happens because: "the producers, composers, and perhaps even the musicians are the same as always, and the songs are merely rushed versions of the same ones they sing in other languages".[1]
R. S. Murthy, from the New Sunday Times, wrote that although Menudo presents a Latin pop with influences of funk and soul and sounds surprisingly mature for the age of the members, the songs are very reminiscent of other songs and styles, which takes away from the album's authenticity.[13]
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The Spanish version of the album reached number nineteen on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart,[14] while A Festa Vai Começar reached number five on the Brazilian chart surveyed by Nelson Oliveira Pesquisa e Estudo de Mercado (Nopem).[12]
According to the newspaper La Opinion, the song "Viva! Bravo!" reached number 5 on the music chart in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia.[15]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocalist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "La Fiesta Va A Empezar" | Alejandro Monroy, Carlos Villa | Robby Rosa | 3:42 |
| 2. | "Acércate" | A. Monroy, C. Villa | Charlie Massó | 4:26 |
| 3. | "Aventureros" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, Mary Lynne M. Pagán | Raymond Acevedo | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Marcelo" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, Edgardo Diaz | Robby Rosa | 3:41 |
| 5. | "Me Siento Bien Con Mis Amigos" | A. Monroy, C. Villa | Ricky Martin and Raymond Acevedo | 2:56 |
| 6. | "Viva! Bravo!" | A. Monroy, C. Villa | Charlie Massó | 2:50 |
| 7. | "Pañuelo Blanco Americano" | A. Monroy, C. Villa | Raymond Acevedo | 3:04 |
| 8. | "Soy Tuyo" | A. Monroy, C. Villa | Robby Rosa | 4:00 |
| 9. | "En San Juan Me Enamoré" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, E. Diaz | Raymond Acevedo | 4:00 |
| 10. | "Alegra Esa Cara" | A. Monroy, C. Villa | Roy Rosselló | 3:00 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocalist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Festa Vai Começar" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Colla | Robby Rosa | 4:21 |
| 2. | "Vem, Por Favor" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Moore | Raymond Acevedo | 2:52 |
| 3. | "Aventureiros" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, M. L. Pagán, vers. C. Colla | Raymond Acevedo | 3:04 |
| 4. | "Marcelo" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, E. Díaz, vers. C. Colla | Robby Rosa | 3:43 |
| 5. | "Me Sinto Bem Com Meus Amigos" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Colla | Ricky Martin and Raymond Acevedo | 3:57 |
| 6. | "Viva! Bravo!" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Colla | Charlie Massó | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Bandeira Sul-Americana" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Colla | Raymond Acevedo | 3:45 |
| 8. | "Quero Ter Teu Amor" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Colla | Robby Rosa | 3:04 |
| 9. | "Em San Juan Me Apaixonei" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Colla | Charlie Massó | 4:05 |
| 10. | "Alegra Essa Cara" | A. Monroy, C. Villa, vers. C. Colla | Roy Rosselló | 2:59 |
| Total length: | 35:21 | |||
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- Ayer y Hoy
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Latin Pop Albums (Billboard)[16] | 19 |
- A Festa Vai Começar
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