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"Mi Tierra" (My Homeland) is a 1993 song by Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan, released as the first single from her first Spanish language album, Mi Tierra (1993). It is written by her with Estéfano, based on inspirations by Estefan. The song is a tribute to Gloria's homeland Cuba—the principal reason for the making of the album. It was first released in the United States and took Gloria to the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks top position. The song reached the No. 1 spot on the chart, and was her first No. 1 hit since the Spanish version of "Don't Wanna Lose You" in 1989. It was also a hit on other markets (like the dance market), where it became Gloria's first Spanish single to ever reach the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[1]

"Mi Tierra"
Single by Gloria Estefan
from the album Mi Tierra
Released	July 6, 1993 (1993-07-06)
Recorded	1992–1993
Genre	Salsa
Length	4:38
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Estéfano Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan singles chronology
"Go Away" (1993) "Mi Tierra" (1993) "Con Los Años Que Me Quedan" (1993)
Music video
"Mi Tierra" on YouTube
Alternative cover
US Cassette and promo CD, Europe and UK cover art

This song was also Gloria's first No. 1 in Spain, which led the album to become the most successful album released in the country for its sales of more than a million. The song was one of the first Spanish-language songs to reach the Top 40 on some English language countries like the United Kingdom, a record-breaking honor which would set the tone for the success of future Latin-American and Hispanic artists.

The remixes for the song were made by Gloria Estefan's personal remixer Pablo Flores and by Tommy Musto.[1]

The song was played as a wake-up call for NASA astronaut José Hernández aboard the Space Shuttle mission STS-128.[2]

A rerecorded version was included in Estefan's 2020 album, Brazil305.[3]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis described it as a "happy upbeat" and "anthemic" song.[4] Larry Flick from Billboard called it "genius". On the club remix, he said it's "effectively reconstructed for her newly rediscovered club following. Track tempers the original song's kinetic percussion and Glo's fierce singing with a wriggling deep-house groove and ambient keyboards."[5] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan called the song "intoxicating".[6] Anne Hurley from Entertainment Weekly stated that "moods flow from intense yearning" and it is a "meditation on longing for one's homeland".[7]

Music writer James Masterton noted in his weekly UK chart commentary, "It is the first time she has ever charted a single sung in Spanish, which may restrict its appeal somewhat."[8] Alan Jones from Music Week rated it three out of five, adding that "the older occasional singles buyer will be lured to this by its traditional Latin-drenched original mix, while dance fans will skip it for Tommy Musto and Pablo Flores' muscular house mixes. Regular Estefan fans are more likely to give it a miss altogether."[9] Tim Jeffery from the magazine's RM Dance Update described it as "a nice summery Latin number".[10]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, released in the US in July 1993. It depicts Estefan performing with a band. The video was published on YouTube in October 2013. It has amassed more than 42 million views as of September 2021.[11]

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Germany (Official German Charts)[12]	77
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13]	30
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14]	27
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	36
UK Dance (Music Week)[16]	15
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[17]	1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[18]	5

See also

• Number-one hits of 1993 (U.S. Hot Latin Tracks)

References

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