Gloria Estefan’s new single was originally slated for a fall 2019 release. Lucky for us, it comes today (June 12) at a time when the song, and its title, are sorely needed.
“Cuando hay amor” (When There’s Love) is a celebration of love set to the beat of Brazilian and Colombian drums. The video, shot in Salvador Bahia, features Estefan dancing a samba de roda – a traditional Afro-Brazilian dance — surrounded by Bahian women of all ages.
“We wanted to highlight the movements and singing of the beautiful Bahianas who are important historical representatives of the Samba culture,” says Estefan. “I felt we need to put some love vibes out in the universe right now,” she added about the timing of the release. “We need some alegría, we need some joy. It’s very unifying. I really wanted this message to be the first thing to come out. And it’s a coincidence. I was supposed to put out this album three years ago.”
Estefan began recording Brazil 305, now slated for August, over three years ago. “I was going to record my vocals, and then my mom got sick and passed,” she recalls. “There was no way I could find the ability to sing.”
Eventually, Brazil 305 started to come together again. The concept album features 11 of Estefan’s hits, including the seminal “Conga” recorded with Miami Sound Machine, redone in Brazilian rhythms. The set also includes four new tracks, among them “Cuando Hay Amor,” penned by Nicolás Tovar, Emilio Estefan and newcomer Andrea López.“I really wanted an original song as the first single,” says Estefan. And as fate would have it, the message is just what’s needed.
“I feel a difference here,” says Estefan of the protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death. “I’m very very proud of our youth, although scared for them because they took a risk to go out in Covid infested land to protest. Our country is going through upheaval. Out of the bad things we can grow and learn and evolve. Hopefully we can go through changes in the system and make it more equitable and fair.”
Watch the video for “Cuando Hay Amor” here:
