Nostálgico
"Nostálgico" is a song produced by Jamaican record producer Rvssian and recorded by Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro and American singer Chris Brown. It was written by Lionchild, Brown, Eric Bellinger, Ben Shapiro, Feli Ferraro, Richard McClashie, Teezio, Colla, Kenobi, Alejandro, and Rvssian, while the production was handled by Rvssian. The song was released for digital download and streaming as a single by Sony Music Latin and Head Concussion Records on September 8, 2021. A primarily Spanish language R&B-infused reggaeton and dancehall song, it reminisces on a past relationship that the singers want back. The track received widely positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its Caribbean beats and the singers' exchange of verses.
"Nostálgico" was nominated for Crossover Collaboration of the Year at the 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro. The song was commercially successful, reaching the top five in Puerto Rico and Spain, as well as the top 10 in several other countries such as Dominican Republic and Peru, and on Billboards Latin Airplay in the United States. It also peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Latin Songs chart. The song has received several certifications, including Latin quintuple platinum in the United States. An accompanying music video, released simultaneously with the song, was directed by Edgar Esteves and depicts the three musicians partying at a sensual house party.
Background and release
Inspired by Chris Brown's musical style, Rauw Alejandro has been named the "Latin Chris Brown", due to the similarity of their music, style, and dance moves. The comparisons between the two artists made their fans anticipate a collaboration between them. Meanwhile, the media considered it Alejandro's "dream" collaboration. On September 5, 2021, Brown announced that they had collaborated on a song produced by Rvssian, and shared a snippet of it on his Instagram story. "Nostálgico" marks Brown's fourth collaboration on a Spanish language song, following "Algo Me Gusta de Ti", "Control" and "Just As I Am". The song was released for digital download and streaming by Sony Music Latin and Head Concussion Records on September 8, 2021, as a single.Music and lyrics
Musically, "Nostálgico" is a primarily Spanish language R&B-infused reggaeton and dancehall song, with elements of electronic music and Caribbean beats. The song was written by Lionchild, Brown, Eric Bellinger, Ben Shapiro, Feli Ferraro, Richard McClashie, Teezio, Colla, Kenobi, Alejandro, and Rvssian, while its production was handled by Rvssian. The track runs for a total of 3 minutes and 29 seconds.Lyrically, "Nostálgico" which translates to "Nostalgic" in English, includes both Spanish and English lyrics. On the song, the singers reminisce on a past relationship that they want back, trying to sweep their lovers off their feet. The lyrics include, "Aquella noche que volviste / Llorando me Convenciste / Que tu no quería hacerme daño / Hicimos el amor en el baño".
Critical reception
Upon release, "Nostálgico" was met with widely positive reviews from music critics. In his review for DancehallMag, Donovan Watkis labeled the song "a late summer banger", while an author of HipHop-N-More called it "vibey". Lucas Villa from mitú named Alejandro and Brown a "twinkling duet" and described them as "magical, sexy, and irresistible". In 2022, Ernesto Lechner from Rolling Stone ranked the track as Alejandro's 41st-best song, saying it "echoes the profound imprint of Jamaica in its DNA", and praised "the exchange of verses" between the singers as "flawless".Accolades
"Nostálgico" was nominated for Top Latin Crossover Song at the 2022 Premios Tu Música Urbano, Collaboration OMG at the 2022 Premios Juventud, and Crossover Collaboration of the Year at the 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro. The song was also acknowledged as an award-winning song at the 2023 ASCAP Latin Awards.Commercial performance
"Nostálgico" debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on September 25, 2021, becoming Rvssian's 5th entry, Alejandro's 24th, and Brown's 4th. On December 11, 2021, the track reached its peak of number 11. It also reached number six on the US Latin Digital Song Sales, number nine on Latin Airplay, number six on Latin Rhythm Airplay, and number two on Latin Pop Airplay charts. The song was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for track-equivalent sales of over 300,000 units in the United States.Besides the United States, "Desesperados" hit the charts in several European countries, including Portugal and Switzerland. In Spain's official weekly chart, the song debuted at number 13 on September 19, 2021. It subsequently peaked at number three on the chart for two consecutive weeks, becoming Rvssian's first top 10 hit in the country, Alejandro's twelfth, and Brown's second. The track was later certified quadruple platinum by the Productores de Música de España, for track-equivalent sales of over 240,000 units in the country. In Latin America, "Nostálgico" experienced commercial success. It peaked in the top 10 of Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, and Puerto Rico, and reached the top 20 in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In Mexico, the song was certified platinum + gold by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas, for track-equivalent sales of over 210,000 units.
Promotion
Music video
An accompanying music video was released simultaneously with the song. The visual was directed by Venezuelan director Edgar Esteves, and filmed on April 23, 2021. It depicts the three musicians partying at a sensual house party, as each of them dance along to the record. The video begins with Rvssian arriving with a girl and entering the house. In the next scenes, he flirts and spares with his lover. Alejandro starts singing for a woman in a bathtub, and then the scene switches as Brown begins singing his verses.Live performances
"Nostálgico" was included on the set lists for Alejandro's the Rauw Alejandro World Tour, the Vice Versa Tour, and the Saturno World Tour.Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.- Rvssian producer, composer, lyricist, performance arranger, recording engineer
- Rauw Alejandro associated performer, composer, lyricist, producer
- Chris Brown associated performer, composer, lyricist
- Rachael Kennedy "Lionchild" composer, lyricist
- Eric Bellinger composer, lyricist
- Ben Shapiro composer, lyricist
- Feli Ferraro composer, lyricist
- Richard McClashie composer, lyricist
- Patrizio Pigliapoco "Teezio" composer, lyricist
- José M. Collazo composer, lyricist
- Jorge Pizarro "Kenobi" composer, lyricist
- Nathalia Marshall "Lionchild" composer, lyricist
- Lance Shipp "Lionchild" composer, lyricist
- Tarik Johnston composer, lyricist
- Amber Rubi Urena A&R coordinator
- John Eddie Pérez Rios A&R director
- Colin Leonard "Sing Mastering" mastering engineer
- Mario Dunwell maixing engineer
- Richard "M.R.I" McClashie performance arranger
Charts
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| Costa Rica | 66 |
| Dominican Republic | 51 |
| El Salvador Pop | 96 |
| Guatemala Pop | 66 |
| Honduras | 78 |
| Nicaragua | 35 |
| Panama | 17 |
| Paraguay | 75 |
| Peru Urbano | 71 |
| Puerto Rico Urbano | 92 |
| Spain | 90 |
| US Hot Latin Songs | 50 |
| US Latin Airplay | 38 |
| US Latin Pop Airplay | 7 |
| US Latin Rhythm Airplay | 20 |
| Venezuela Urbano | 56 |