Si Tú Supieras

"Si Tú Supieras" ("If You Knew") is a song written by Kike Santander and performed by Mexican recording artist Alejandro Fernández. It was co-produced by Santander and Emilio Estefan and was released as the first single from Me Estoy Enamorando by Sony Music Mexico on 18 August 1997. The song is a bolero-pop ballad with ranchera influences and portrays the singer yearning for his lover to know how much she means to him. A music video was made for the track and was used as the main theme for the Mexican telenovela María Isabel.

"Si Tú Supieras"
Single by Alejandro Fernández
from the album Me Estoy Enamorando
Released	18 August 1997 (1997-08-18)
Studio	Crescent Moon Studio (Miami, Florida)
Genre	Bolero
Length	4:04
Label	Sony Music Mexico
Songwriter(s)	Kike Santander
Producer(s)	Kike Santander Emilio Estefan
Alejandro Fernández singles chronology
"Es la Mujer" (1997) "Si Tú Supieras" (1997) "En El Jardín" (1997)
Music video
"Si Tú Supieras" on YouTube

It reached the top of the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States and spent a total of six weeks at this position. The recording led to Fernández winning the Lo Nuestro Award for Pop Song of the Year and the Eres awards for Best Song and Best Musical Theme in 1998 while Santander received the BMI Latin Award for Song of the Year in 1999. "Si Tú Supieras" has been covered by other artists including Tony Vega, Manuel Mijares, Noel Schajris, and Chamin Correa. Vega's version peaked at number five on the Hot Latin Songs chart in the US.

Background and composition

Since 1992 Alejandro Fernández established his music career as a ranchera singer like his father, iconic ranchera singer, Vicente Fernández. His previous albums, Alejandro Fernández (1992), Piel De Niña (1993), Grandes Éxitos a la Manera de Alejandro Fernández (1994), Que Seas Muy Feliz (1995), and Muy Dentro de Mi Corazón (1996), helped solidify Fernández as a ranchera singer.^[1] Although his last album, Muy Dentro de Mi Corazón, was a success, Fernández did not want to simply record another ranchera album. "If I had released another album of just rancheras, people would have just expected the same thing, and then they would have begun to judge me by that one [musical] theme", Fernández explained. He also noted bolero's popularity on radio stations and cited his waning radio airplay. After listening to Mi Tierra by Gloria Estefan, Fernández sought Estefan's husband Emilio Estefan to have him produced Fernández's next album. After hearing Fernández's proposal, Emilio Estefan agreed on the idea to produce the album.^[2] Recording took place at Estefan's Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, Florida.^[3]

"Si Tú Supieras", along with the other tracks in the album, is a bolero-pop ballad song with ranchera influences.^[5] It was written by Colombian songwriter Kike Santander and co-produced by Santander and Estefan. In the lyrics, the protagonist yearns for his love interest to understand how much he loves her.^[6] The song was featured as the opening theme for the Mexican telenovela María Isabel.^[7] Fernández performed the song live during his promotional tour for Me Estoy Enamorando.^[8] A live version of "Si Tú Supieras" was included on the album Confidencias Reales: En Vivo Desde el Teatro Real (2014).^[9] The track was also added to the compilation albums 15 Años de Éxitos (2007) and Más Romantico Que Nunca: Sus Grandes Éxitos Romanticos (2010).^[10][11]

Reception

"Si Tú Supieras" was released on 18 August 1997.^[12] In the United States, it debuted at number five on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on the week of 20 September 1997.^[13] It reached number one on the chart, replacing "La Venia Bendita" by Marco Antonio Solís, and spent five weeks on top of this chart until it was succeeded by Cristian Castro's song "Lo Mejor de Mí.^[14] It later reached number one again on the week of 3 January 1998 and was succeeded by Fernández and Gloria Estefan's song "En El Jardín".^[15] The track also reached on top of the Latin Pop Songs chart where it spent two weeks in this position.^[16] "Si Tú Supieras" ended 1998 as the second best-performing Latin song of the year in the US.^[17] In November 1999, "Si Tú Supieras" was labeled as one of the "hottest tracks" for Sony Discos in a list including the most successful songs released by the label since the launching of the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart in 1986.^[18] In 2016, "Si Tú Supieras" ranked number three on Billboard's Greatest of All Time Hot Latin Songs chart.^[19]

Knight Ridder music critic Howard Cohen called it a "mellow" song.^[4] Eliseo Cardona of El Nuevo Herald highlighted "Si Tú Supieras" as one of the boleros where Fernández performs with "intensity and passion".^[20] At the 10th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards in 1998, it won the award Pop Song of the Year.^[21] At the 1998 Premios Eres, it won the awards for Best Song and Best Musical Theme (for its usage on María Isabel).^[22] "Si Tú Supieras" also led to Santander receiving the BMI Latin Award for Song of the Year in 1999.^[23]

Music video

The music video begins with Fernández watching a video in his house which shows him and his childhood friend on a movie projector screen when they were younger. He then proceeds to go on a double date with his friend in a café and meet each other's lover. His friend's lover becomes infatuated with Fernández and the two become enamored with each other. Although the relationship between the two grows, Fernández realizes that it would only hurt his childhood friend and decides to break away from her.^[24]

Cover versions

In 1998, Puerto Rican salsa singer Tony Vega covered "Si Tú Supieras" on his album Hoy Quiero Cantarte.^[25] It was released as a single for the album and peaked at number five on the Hot Latin Songs chart.^[26][27] Mexican recording artist Manuel Mijares recorded his version of the song on his album Vivir Así (2009).^[28] Argentine-Mexican singer Noel Schajris covered the track on his album Grandes Canciones (2011). AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien criticized Schajris for choosing to "play it safe with perfunctory covers of drippy romantic ballads" with "Si Tú Supieras" being cited as one of the examples.^[29] Mexican guitarist Chamin Correa performed an instrumental version on his album Cuerdas Amor Y Guitarra, Vol. 2 (1997).^[30]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[31] 1 US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[32] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[33] 12 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[33] 13 Chart (1998) Position US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[17] 2 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[17] 5 All-time charts Chart (2021) Position US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[34] 4

Personnel

Credits adapted from the Me Estoy Enamorando liner notes.^[6]

• Alejandro Fernández – vocals
• Kike Santander – songwriting and arranger
• René Toledo – twelve-string guitar
• Luis Enrique – percussion
• Archie Peña – maracas and drums

See also

• Billboard Top Latin Songs Year-End Chart
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Tracks of 1997
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Tracks of 1998
• List of Billboard Latin Pop Airplay number ones of 1997

References

1. Burr, Ramiro (7 July 2007). "Alejandro Fernández Heir Apparent". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 27. Nielsen Business Media. pp. 44, 46, 56, 58. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
2. Burr, Ramiro (11 April 1998). "Alejandro Turns Pop". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 15. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. LMQ-16, 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
3. Tarradell, Mario (5 October 1997). "Fernandez: Pop goes the ranchera singer". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo Corporation.
4. Cohen, Howard (31 October 1997). "Process Froth From Peach Union". Press-Telegram. Digital First Media.
5. "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 41. Nielsen Business Media. 11 October 1997. p. 83. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
6. Fernández, Alejandro (1997). Me Estoy Enamorando (CD liner). Miami, Florida: Sony Music Entertainment Mexico. p. 2. CDF-82446/2-486138. Si tú supieras, cómo te ansía cada espacio de mi cuerpo [...] Ven, entrégame tu amor para calmar este dolor de no tenerte
7. "Alejandro Fernández recordó los tiempos de la novela 'María Isabel' en la piel de Choché". Teletica (in Spanish). 25 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
8. Lechner, Enresto (16 December 1997). "Fernandez Mixes Old With the New". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
9. "Confidencias Reales: En Vivo Desde el Teatro Real – Alejandro Fernández". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
10. "15 Anos de Exitos – Alejandro Fernández". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
11. "Más Romantico Que Nunca: Sus Grandes Éxitos Romanticos – Alejandro Fernández". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
12. Hernandez, Mary (17 August 1997). "Se quita el sombrero". El Norte (in Spanish). p. 1. Y como muestra, desde manana se escuchara en la radio el tema "Si tu Supieras", que interpreta el hijo de Vicente, y que a la vez sirve de presentacion musical en la telenovela Maria Isabel.
13. "Hop Latin Songs: The Week of September 20, 1997". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 20 September 1997. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
14. "Hot Latin Songs – 1997 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
15. "Hot Latin Songs – 1998 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
16. "Latin Pop Songs – 1997 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
17. "1998: The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. Prometheus Global Media. 26 December 1998. p. YE-66, 70. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
18. Mayfield, Geoff (20 November 1999). "Charting Sony Discos' Success". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 47. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 74. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
19. Mendizabal, Amaya (19 October 2016). "30 Years of Hot Latin Songs: Enrique Iglesias Top Artist, Romeo Santos' 'Propuesta Indecente' Top Song". Billboard. Prometheus Global media. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
20. Cardona, Eliseo (10 October 1997). "Lo Que Suena". El Nuevo Herald (in Spanish). The McClatchy Company.
21. "Lo Nuestro – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
22. Barquero, Christopher (18 April 1998). "De músicos y actores". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 April 2013.
23. "Los Premios Latinos de BMI Latin 1999". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 26. Prometheus Global Media. 26 June 1999. p. 33. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
24. Padilla, Alejandro Gonzalez (director) (1997). Alejandro Fernández – Si Tú Supieras (Music video) (in Spanish). Sony Music Entertainment Mexico. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
25. "Hoy Quiero Cantarte – Tony Vega". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
26. Lannert, John (9 May 1998). "Latin Notas". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 19. p. 53. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
27. "Tony Vega – Chart history: Hot Latin Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
28. Leggett, Steve. "Vivir Así – Mijares". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
29. O'Brien, Jon. "Grandes Canciones – Noel Schajris". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
30. ""Cuerdas, amor y guitarra": Nuevo disco de Chamín Correa". El Informador (in Spanish). 29 December 1997. p. 9-D.
31. "Alejandro Fernández Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
32. "Alejandro Fernández Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
33. "1997: The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. Prometheus Global Media. 27 December 1997. p. YE-57, 59. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
34. "Greatest Of All Time Hot Latin Songs Chart". Billboard. 2021. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.