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Almas del Silencio (English: Souls from the Silence) is the seventh studio album and fifth Spanish-language album recorded by the Puerto Rican-American recording artist Ricky Martin. This is the first Spanish album release since 1998's Vuelve. The album witch released by Sony Discos and Columbia Records on May 20, 2003 in 38 non-Hispanic countries and reached top ten in Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Norway and Finland.
Background and development
Martin initially planned to release an English-language album, which was supposed to be his first complete work in the field of songwriting. He changed his mind:
Martin noted about the language: "Many countries are releasing [this album] simply as Ricky Martin's next album, period. They know me as a Latino who recorded an album in English. And the next English-language album will be Ricky Martin's next album, period."
Martin said of the new album: "I really needed to go back to focus, to my center, to the beginning. I had the need to search within, and really dig deep, and find those emotions that, because of the adrenaline and the euphoria that I lived for a couple of years, were probably sabotaged." Therefore, he asked the songwriters for tracks that "reflect his own state of mind, expressing his yearning for his native Puerto Rico and for the simpler things in life." The single debuted at No. 1 on the US Hot Latin Tracks, It was the first time that list has seen a No. 1 debut since February 7, 1998, when Los Temerarios "Porque Te Conoci" (Why Did I Meet You) bowed in the top slot, then spent 11 weeks on top of the Hot Latin Songs. "Tal Vez" also debuted at No. 1 on the Latin Pop Airplay (thirteen weeks on top) and at No. 4 on the list of Tropical Airplay (weeks later it reached number one). It also reached number seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to its seventy-three peak on the Hot 100 Airplay. "Tal Vez" topped the Billboard Top Latin Songs Year-End Chart. Also reached number 1 in Argentina, Chile, Central America, Mexico and Venezuela. Martin performed "Tal Vez" at the Latin Billboard Music Awards on May 8 in Miami.
"Asignatura Pendiente" was released as the third single on July 14, 2003. The song was written by Guatemalan singer-songwriter Ricardo Arjona and produced by Tommy Torres, is about the artist's experiences, whatever it may be, not only Ricky Martin, but in the mouth of the Puerto Rican singer. This refers to his beginnings with the famous group Menudo", how success has influenced his life and the nostalgia he feels far from his native Puerto Rico, which also applies to Ricardo Arjona, due to his ex-wife and very good friends of the island. In "Asignatura Pendiente" lovelessness, sacrifice and lived rewards are evidenced. The song has reached number five on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and number four on the Latin Pop Airplay.
"Juramento" it was the second international single and the fourth single from the album. It was released on September 8, 2003. The Spanglish version is called "Juramento (The Way to Love)". The song reached number eleven in Spain, number forty-five in Italy, number fifty-seven in Switzerland and number ninety-two in Germany.
"Y Todo Queda en Nada" is the fifth and final single from the album. It was released as a promotional single on November 3, 2003, in Latin territories. The song reached number one on the Hot Latin Tracks in the United States and stayed at the top for one week. It arrived at peak number nine on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, it also peaked at number two on the Latin Pop Airplay and Latin Tropical Airplay. In 2004 the song he stayed with number 4 of Billboard Top Latin Songs Year-End Chart.
In total, he sold 261,000 copies in the US. It was certified 4× Platinum Latin award by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), indicating shipments of over 400,000 copies in the country. Outside the United States, it was certified Platinum in Spain and Argentina, and Gold in Mexico and Switzerland. The album has sold over two million copies worldwide.
Awards and nominations
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Ceremony
!Award
!Result
|-
| rowspan=2|2003
|Premios Tu Música
| Best Ballad Album
|
|-
|American Music Awards
|Favorite Latin Artist
|
|-
| rowspan=4|2004
|Lo Nuestro Awards
|Pop Album of the Year
|
|-
| Latin Billboard Music Awards
|Latin Pop Album of the Year, Male
|
|-
| Latin Grammy Awards
|Best Male Pop Vocal Album
|
|-
|Premios Juventud
| CD To Die For
|
|-
|}
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2003)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Argentine Albums (CAPIF)
|1
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Dominican Albums (Musicalia)
|3
|-
|-
!scope="row"|European Albums (Top 100)
|16
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Greek Foreign Albums (IFPI)
|1
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|59
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
|19
|-
!scope="row"|Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
|40
|-
!scope="row"|US Top Latin Albums (Billboard)
|2
|-
!scope="row"|US Latin Pop Albums (Billboard)
|50
|}