Baladas en Español () is a Spanish language compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 21 October 1996 by EMI. The compilation was only issued in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking territories. It was a commercial success upon release, peaking in the top ten of several national record charts, and was certified gold or platinum in numerous territories, namely Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Spain. As of 2001, the record sold in excess of 1.2 million copies worldwide.
"Un Día Sin Ti" and "No Sé Si Es Amor" were released as commercial singles, though most songs on the album would go on to receive substantial amounts of airplay on Latin American and Spanish radio.
Composition and style
The album consists of twelve of Roxette's ballads and downtempo tracks, translated into Spanish by songwriter Luis Gómez-Escolar, of whom very little is known. Escolar's translations have been criticised by both fans and media for being poorly representative of the original English lyrics, as well as for being overly-simplistic and juvenile.
Release
Baladas en Español was released on 21 October 1996, exclusively in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking territories. However, it was also released in the US by EMI Latin, making it the final Roxette album to be officially issued in the country. The record was preceded by the release of "Un Día Sin Ti" as its lead single, which reached the top ten of Billboards Latin Pop Songs. The song also charted on the national airplay chart of Spain. Its music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund. "No Sé Si Es Amor" was released as the album's second and final single in January 1997,
In 2022, an edition subtitled the "complete collection" was added to music streaming and download services, adding Spanish translations of three songs from the band's following album, Have a Nice Day, and "Tú No Me Comprendes", an outtake from the original version of the album.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Baladas en Español.
- Roxette are Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson
- Recorded at Tits & Ass Studio in Halmstad, Sweden; EMI Studios and Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden; Mayfair Studios in London, England and Capri Digital Studios in Capri, Italy between 1987 and 1996.
- All songs published by Jimmy Fun Music, except: "Watercolours in the Rain" published by Shock the Music/Jimmy Fun Music
- All songs produced by Clarence Öfwerman
- Mastered by Alar Suurna at Polar Studios
Musicians
- Marie Fredriksson – lead and background vocals
- Per Gessle – lead and background vocals, mixing
- Pelle Alsing – drums
- Bo Eriksson – oboe
- Anders Herrlin – bass guitar, programming, engineering
- Jonas Isacsson – acoustic and electric guitars
- Christer Jansson – drums
- Clarence Öfwerman – keyboards and production; string arrangements and conducting
- Kjell Öhman – accordion
- Mats "M.P." Persson – acoustic and electric guitars
- Pelle Sirén – acoustic and electric guitars
Technical
- Kjell Andersson – sleeve design
- Kevin Davies – photography
- Mats Holmquist – string arrangements and conducting
- Michael Ilbert – engineering, mixing
- Henrik Jansson – string arrangements and conducting
- Jonas Linell – photography
- Lars Nordin – photography
- Alar Suurna – engineering
Charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (1996–97)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"|Argentine Monthly Albums (CAPIF)
| 6
|-
! scope="row"|Portuguese Albums (AFP)
| 6
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums (Promúsicae)
| 7
|-
! scope="row"| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)
| 11
|-
! scope="row"|Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
| 42
|}