The Best Thing About Me Is You

"The Best Thing About Me Is You" is a song by the Puerto Rican recording artist Ricky Martin, taken from his ninth studio album, Música + Alma + Sexo (2011). It was digitally released as the lead single from the album on November 2, 2010. The song had earlier premiered on radio's Ryan Seacrest show. The original English version of the song features singer Joss Stone, while its Spanish version, "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú", replaces Stone's vocals with Natalia Jiménez.^[1] "The Best Thing About Me Is You" was later featured on three of Martin's compilations: Greatest Hits (2011), Playlist: The Very Best of Ricky Martin (2012) and Greatest Hits: Souvenir Edition (2013).

"The Best Thing About Me Is You / Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú"
Single by Ricky Martin featuring Joss Stone or Natalia Jiménez
from the album Música + Alma + Sexo
Released	November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02)
Recorded	Miami
Genre	Latin pop reggae
Length	3:36
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Eric Bazilian Claudia Brant Andreas Carlsson Desmond Child Ricky Martin
Producer(s)	Desmond Child
Ricky Martin singles chronology
"Non siamo soli" (2007) "The Best Thing About Me Is You / Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" (2010) "Más" (2011)
Joss Stone singles chronology
"Free Me" (2009) "The Best Thing About Me is You" (2010) "While You're Out Looking for Sugar" (2012)
Natalia Jimenez singles chronology
"Me Dueles" (2009) "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" (2010) "Por ser tu mujer" (2011)
Music video
"The Best Thing About Me Is You" "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" on YouTube

Background and composition

In a Billboard interview, Martin described the track: "I told Desmond -- and I'm not making comparisons -- but "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is great. That's how this song came to be. From being in a very cool place in my life."^[2] The song combines the reggae rhythms with Latin and pop in the music and lyrics by Claudia Brant, Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson, Eric Bazilian and Ricky Martin.

Critical reception

Carlos Quintana from About.com, positively reviewed the track, saying: "this song is probably the most reflective, inspiring and positive of the whole album."^[3] Ernesto Lechner from the Los Angeles Times said that "the lyrics of "The Best Thing About Me Is You," a duet with Joss Stone, sound a bit forced in English, the Spanish version of the tune crackles with bonhomie."^[4] Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle praised the Spanish version, saying: "he lightens up a bit on "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú", that boasts an easy chemistry," but criticized the English-language version, calling it: "less successful" because of "Joss Stone’s habitual oversinging."^[5] Grace Bastidas from Latina said: "The first single from the album, "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" features Spanish siren Natalia Jiménez—Joss Stone duets in the English-language track—and is the definition of happiness. There's even some laughing and giggling at the end of the song in case you're not already smiling."^[6] Leila Cobo from Billboard said that the song is "a feel-good ditty over a happy reggae beat."^[7]

Commercial performance

The single topped the US Hot Latin Songs chart for two weeks and Latin Pop Airplay for five weeks. On other Billboard charts, it reached number seven on Tropical Songs, number thirty-seven on Latin Rhythm Airplay, number forty on Regional Mexican Airplay and number seventy four on the Billboard Hot 100. In Mexico, the song reached number three and was certified Platinum for sales of over 60,000 digital copies. It also charted in European countries, including number twenty-five in Spain.

Music video

The music video was filmed on December 20 and 21, 2010 in Miami, Florida and directed by Carlos Pérez.^[8] The video for the English version premiered on Martin's Vevo channel on January 11, 2011. Joss Stone does not appear in the video. The Spanish version of the video was released on Univision and also does not feature Natalia Jiménez.^[9]

Live performances

Martin performed the song with Joss Stone for the very first time on The Oprah Winfrey Show on November 2, 2010. He also performed it during the 2011 Música + Alma + Sexo World Tour.

Awards

Year	Ceremony	Award	Result
2011	Latin Grammy Awards	Record of the Year	Nominated
		Song of the Year	Nominated
		Best Short Form Music Video	Nominated
	Premios Juventud	The Perfect Combination[10]	Nominated
		Catchiest Tune	Nominated
		My Favorite Video	Nominated
2012	ASCAP Latin Awards	Pop Winning Song[11]	Won
	BMI Latin Awards	Award-Winning Songs [12]	Won
	Premio Lo Nuestro	Pop Song of the Year	Nominated
		Collaboration of the Year	Nominated

Formats and track listings

Digital singles

1. "The Best Thing About Me Is You" featuring Joss Stone – 3:36
2. "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" featuring Natalia Jiménez – 3:36

European digital remixes

1. "The Best Thing About Me Is You" featuring Joss Stone (Jump Smokers Radio Edit) – 4:26
2. "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" featuring Natalia Jiménez (Spanish Jump Smokers Radio Edit) – 4:27
3. "The Best Thing About Me Is You" featuring Joss Stone (Jump Smokers Dance Version) – 5:13
4. "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" featuring Natalia Jiménez (Spanish Jump Smokers Dance Version) – 4:42

German digital single

1. "The Best Thing About Me Is You" featuring Edita – 3:36

Mexican promotional single

1. "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" featuring Jenni Rivera (banda version) – 3:29

US Target edition album bonus tracks

1. "The Best Thing About Me Is You" (Solo Version) – 3:36
2. "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" (Solo Version) – 3:38

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2010–2011) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] 39 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[14] 4 Brazil Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[15] 93 Brazil Hot Pop Songs[16] 39 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[17] 21 Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay)[18] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 8 Mexico (Monitor Latino)[19] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 99 Russia Airplay (Tophit)[21] "The Best Thing About Me Is You (Jump Smokers Dance Version) 209 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[22] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 25 US Billboard Hot 100[23] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 74 US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[24] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 1 US Regional Mexican Airplay (Billboard)[25] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 40 US Tropical Airplay (Billboard)[26] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 7

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Position US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[27] "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 24 Chart (2017) Position Nicaragua Pop (Monitor Latino)[28] 85 Chart (2018) Position Puerto Rico Pop (Monitor Latino)[29] 70 Chart (2023) Position Dominican Republic Pop (Monitor Latino)[30] 83 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales Mexico (AMPROFON)[31] Platinum 60,000* * Sales figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Songs of 2011
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Pop Airplay of 2010
• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Pop Airplay of 2011

References

1. ‘Lo mejor de mi vida eres tú’, lo nuevo de Ricky Martin. Quemovida.excite.es, Retrieved November 3, 2010.
2. Leila Cobo (January 26, 2011). "Ricky Martin's "MAS" Track By Track". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
3. QUINTANA, Carlos (February 1, 2011). "Ricky Martin - 'Musica + Alma + Sexo' CD Review". About.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
4. LECHNER, Ernesto (February 3, 2011). "Album review: Ricky Martin's 'Musica + Alma + Sexo'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
5. GUERRA, Joey (February 3, 2011). "'M+A+S' Martin, less maudlin". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
6. BASTIDAS, Grace (February 3, 2011). "REVIEW: Ricky Martin Gives Us Musica + Alma + Sexo". Latina. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
7. COBO, Leila (February 3, 2011). "Ricky Martin, "Musica + Alma + Sexo"". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
8. "The best thing about me is you [2011]". LOS40CR (in Spanish). May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
9. Ricky Martin estrena un vídeo junto a Natalia Jiménez. Google.com, Retrieved January 12, 2011.
10. "Lista de nominados a Premios Juventud 2011". Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
11. "ASCAP Latin Awards 2012 Winners". ASCAP. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
12. "Top Latin Songwriters Honored at 19th Annual BMI Latin Music Awards". BMI. March 31, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
13. "Ricky Martin feat. Joss Stone – The Best Thing About Me Is You" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
14. "Ricky Martin feat. Joss Stone – The Best Thing About Me Is You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
15. "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard Brasil (Brasil: bpp) (2): 96. March 2011.
16. Brasil Hot Pop & Popular Songs. Billboard Brasil (Brasil: bpp) (2): 97. March 2011. ISBN 977-217605400-2.
17. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
18. "Ricky Martin Chart History: Mexico Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
19. Monitor Latino: Top 20 General. Webcitation.org, Retrieved January 23, 2011.
20. "Ricky Martin feat. Joss Stone – The Best Thing About Me Is You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
21. "The Best Thing About Me Is You (Jump Smokers Dance Version) – Tophit" (in Russian). Tophit. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
22. "Ricky Martin feat. Natalia Jiménez – Lo mejor de mi vida eres tú" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
23. "Ricky Martin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
24. "Ricky Martin Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
25. "Ricky Martin Chart History (Regional Mexican Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
26. "Ricky Martin Chart History (Tropical Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
27. "2011 Year End Charts: Hot Latin Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
28. "Chart Anual Monitor Latino 2017 – Nicaragua Pop". Monitor Latino. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
29. "Chart Anual Monitor Latino 2018 – Puerto Rico Pop". Monitor Latino. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
30. "Chart Anual Monitor Latino 2023 – República Dominicana Pop" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
31. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Ricky Martin in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.