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Chiquitita (Song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Chiquitita” | |
|---|---|
| |
| Single by ABBA | |
| from the album Voulez-Vous | |
| B-side | “Lovelight” |
| Released | 16 January 1979 |
| Recorded | 13 December 1978 |
| Studio | Polar, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genre | Pop soft rock schlager |
| Length | 5:26 |
| Label | Polar (Sweden) Epic (UK) Atlantic (US) |
| Songwriter(s) | Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus |
| Producer(s) | Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus |
| ABBA singles chronology | |
| “Summer Night City“ (1978)”Chiquitita“ (1979)”Does Your Mother Know“ (1979) | |
“Chiquitita” (“Little Girl” in Spanish) is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in January 1979 as the first single from Voulez-Vous (1979), the group’s sixth album. Agnetha Fältskog performs the lead vocals. Originally, the track “If It Wasn’t for the Nights” was going to be the album’s lead single, but after “Chiquitita” was completed these plans were abandoned, and it remained an album track.
Background and release
Many preliminary versions of “Chiquitita” exist. It had working titles of “Kålsupare”, “3 Wise Guys”, “Chiquitita Angelina” and “In the Arms of Rosalita”. A revised version, which had a sound that was influenced by the Peruvian song “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)” performed by Simon and Garfunkel, was recorded in December 1978 and released as a single in January 1979.
Agnetha Fältskog is the sole vocalist for approximately the first minute of the finished recording. Thereafter, she is joined by Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who sing in harmony for the rest of the song.
With the success of the English version, ABBA recorded “Chiquitita” in Spanish, and it was one of the featured tracks on the Spanish-language release Gracias Por La Música.
During production of the Thank You for the Music box set in 1994, an early version of “Chiquitita” titled “In the Arms of Rosalita” was proposed for inclusion on the set, but was rejected by the songwriters. An 8-minute “Chiquitita story” medley combining the song with various early demos (including the “Rosalita” version) was scrapped by mid-1994.
Reception
“Chiquitita” proved to be one of ABBA’s bigger hits. It was featured in the Music for UNICEF Concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. As a direct result of this event, ABBA donated 50% of all royalties from the song to UNICEF. “Chiquitita” was a no. 1 hit in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, South Africa and Rhodesia.
It was a top 5 hit in ABBA’s native Sweden, the United Kingdom (peaking at no. 2 in both countries where Blondie‘s “Heart of Glass” was occupying the top spot), Australia, Germany and Norway.
These sales make it the most successful single from the album Voulez-Vous in terms of global charts and one of the more famous charity songs ever. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the song go to UNICEF in recognition of the “International Year of the Child” in 1979. In 2014, all ABBA members agreed on increasing their donation to 100% of all royalties from the song to UNICEF. As of 2021, the song’s royalties had raised $4.8 million for the charity.
In the United Kingdom, “Chiquitita” debuted at no. 8 in the singles chart, making it the highest place début for any ABBA single release.
In Argentina, sales figures up to the end of July 1979 on the single show 500,000 in the Spanish edition and 25,000 in the original English language format.
Cash Box wrote that it has “a bouncy tune” with “soaring harmonies.”
As of September 2021, it is ABBA’s ninth-biggest song in the UK, including both pure sales and digital streams.
Music video
“Chiquitita” was one of the few singles ABBA released without a custom-made video. Since then, on compilations of the group’s videos, a contemporary TV performance of the song has been used, recorded in mid-February 1979, a month after the single’s release. This clip was taped by the BBC during recording of the show ABBA in Switzerland, broadcast across Europe at Easter 1979, but this clip did not feature in the broadcast, being intended for a Christmas programme.
ABBA are seen performing the song on a mountainside, with a snowman in the background. Throughout the clip, the bad weather and bad light caused problems during filming, which affected Anni-Frid Lyngstad; her hair constantly flew in her face, and she was forced to keep moving it out of her eyes, so it was not used.
During the location shoot in Leysin, the BBC recorded two other versions of the group lip-synching to the song. The group performed the song inside the BBC Big Top used to host ABBA in Switzerland, which was included in the final broadcast, and a second video was shot of the group sitting around a table in a cafe, for the show Christmas Snowtime Special shown on BBC1 on 23 December 1979, hosted by Dame Edna Everage.
The clip of the group filmed outside with the snowman was intended for this Christmas show, but producer/director Michael Hurll recorded the second clip because he was not happy with the first. In March 2022, a new lyric video was released featuring the mountainside footage.
Personnel
- Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad – backing vocals
- Björn Ulvaeus – guitar
- Benny Andersson – keyboards
Charts
Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for “Chiquitita”
| Chart (1979–1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| West Germany (GfK) | 3 |
| US Cashbox Top 100 Singles | 36 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 29 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 15 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 2 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 1 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 2 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 4 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 1 |
| Mexico (Radio Mil) | 1 |
| Ireland (Irish Singles Chart) | 1 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 36 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 14 |
| Brazil (Pandisc) | 3 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) | 1 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 6 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 4 |
| Argentina (CAPIF) | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1979) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 40 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 9 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | 17 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 9 |
| UK (Music Week) | 16 |
| US (Joel Whitburn‘s Pop Annual) | 167 |
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | — | 700,000 |
| Chile | — | 75,000 |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Ecuador | — | 75,000 |
| El Salvador | — | 65,000 |
| France | — | 150,000 |
| Japan (RIAJ) SOS / Chiquitita | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Kenya | — | 10,000 |
| Mexico | — | 500,000 |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Gold | 100,000^ |
| Portugal | — | 20,000 |
| Spain | — | 100,000 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) Since 2015 | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| Summaries | ||
| Latin America | — | 2,250,000 |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
The SONG That Saved ABBA — And Conquered THE WORLD
Cher version
| “Chiquitita” | |
|---|---|
| |
| Single by Cher | |
| from the album Dancing Queen | |
| Language | Spanish, English |
| Released | 8 May 2020 |
| Recorded | 2020 |
| Studio | Metrophonic Studios (London, England) |
| Genre | Pop Europop |
| Length | 4:49 |
| Label | Warner |
| Songwriter(s) | Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus |
| Producer(s) | Mark Taylor |
| Cher singles chronology | |
| “SOS“ (2018)”Chiquitita“ (2020)”Stop Crying Your Heart Out“ (2020) | |
On May 8, 2020, American singer-actress Cher announced she had re-recorded Chiquitita in Spanish with all proceeds going to UNICEF, similar to how ABBA had done in 1979 with the release of the same song.
Cher’s Spanish version of “Chiquitita” became her first song to chart on a U.S. Latin chart. It charted at No. 6 on the US Latin Digital Song Sales (Billboard).
Music video
An accompanying music video for “Chiquitita” premiered on UNICEF’s website on 9 May 2020 and uploaded to Cher’s official YouTube channel shortly afterward. Cher shot her part at home, with the final cut of the video featuring children from around the world.
Track listings and formats
Digital download
- “Chiquitita (Spanish Version)” – 4:49
- “Chiquitita” – 5:14
Credits and personnel
Credits for Dancing Queen adapted from AllMusic. Management
- Published by Universal Songs of PolyGramInt., Inc. (ASCAP) and EMI Grove Park Music Inc. (BMI)
- Recorded by Mark Taylor and Paul Meehan at Metrophonic Studios, London
- Mixed at by Matt Furmidge and Mark Taylor at Metrophonic Studios, London
- Mastered by Sthephen Marcussen Mastering, Hollywood, CA
Personnel
- Cher – primary vocals
- Ash Soan – drums
- Adam Phillips – guitars
- Hayley Sanderson – backing vocals
- Andy Caine – backing vocals
Charts
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Latin Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 6 |
Other notable covers
- A Spanish version of “Chiquitita” released as a single by Amaia Montero in 2010 became a number one in the Spanish charts.
- Sinead O’Connor released a cover of “Chiquitita” as a single in 1998, which was included in the 2003 compilation album “She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty“.
- София Тарасова
- Bij Vanslag
- Annalie Johnson
- Simfonijski Orkestar Mostar
- Andre Rieu
- Phil McGarrick
- Ray Conniff
Voulez-Vous (Album)
| Voulez-Vous | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio album by ABBA | |
| Released | 23 April 1979 |
| Recorded | 13 March 1978 – 29 March 1979 |
| Studio | Polar, Stockholm Criteria, Miami |
| Genre | Europop Euro-disco |
| Length | 41:43 |
| Label | PolarEpic (UK)Atlantic (US original release) |
| Producer | Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus |
| ABBA chronology | |
| ABBA: The Album (1977)Voulez-Vous (1979)Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1979) | |
| Singles from Voulez-Vous | |
| “Chiquitita“ Released: 16 January 1979″Does Your Mother Know“ Released: 27 April 1979″Voulez-Vous” / “Angeleyes“ Released: 6 July 1979″As Good as New“ Released: October 1979 (Mex.)”I Have a Dream“ Released: 7 December 1979 | |
Voulez-Vous (pronounced [vule vu]; French for “Do you want (to)?”) is the sixth studio album by the Swedish supergroup ABBA. Released on 23 April 1979, the album yielded five hits, all of them big 1979 singles in Britain – “Chiquitita“, “Does Your Mother Know“, “I Have a Dream” and the double A-side “Voulez-Vous“/”Angeleyes“.
The title track showed the group embracing disco music, which at the time was at its peak. The album topped the charts in a number of countries and ranked among Britain’s five best-selling albums of the year.
It was the first ABBA album to be mainly recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm, and the only ABBA album to include a studio recording made outside Sweden: the instrumental backing track for the title track was partly recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami.
Voulez-Vous was first released on CD in 1984. The album has been digitally remastered and reissued four times: first in 1997, then in 2001 and in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and yet again in 2010 for the Voulez-Vous Deluxe Edition.
Background and production
In early 1978, ABBA were at the peak of their success and having just completed promotion for their latest album and theatrical film release, thoughts were turned to the next album, which was planned to be released in time for Christmas. Sessions however proved to be difficult and after starting on 13 March 1978 with the ultimately unreleased track “Dr Claus von Hamlet”, a number of compositions were demoed and rejected. Indeed, after six months, only two songs that would end up on the finished album (“The King Has Lost His Crown” and “Lovers (Live a Little Longer)“) were completed.
During this time the group opened their own recording studio, Polar Studios in Stockholm, which was among the most advanced in the world at the time and would be where ABBA would work from here on. Two songs recorded at this time were “Lovelight” and “Dream World“. However, neither song would appear on the Voulez-Vous album (“Lovelight” would be used as the B-side to the single “Chiquitita”, while “Dream World” would remain unreleased until 1994; both songs are now featured as bonus tracks on re-issues of the Voulez-Vous album). Other tracks started but subsequently scrapped included “Just a Notion“, which was later included on Voyage (2021).
By September 1978, ABBA had been absent from the charts for some months, and so a song from the recording sessions, “Summer Night City“, was released as a single. Never happy with the finished song, members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus regretted the release and lamented the fact that it peaked lower than previous singles in the charts, not being released at all in the US. They considered the UK to be their most important market, and there it had ended a run of No. 1 hits by stalling at No. 5 – their smallest hit for three years. A full-length version was however still planned for the upcoming album, but ultimately never used. By this time, tensions were growing within the group due to the low productivity of the period, as member Agnetha Faltskog commented; “I can tell from the look in Björn’s eyes when he gets home how the day’s work has been. Many times the boys have been working for ten hours without coming up with one single note”. Andersson talked to a reporter at the time saying; “The prospects are not good. It’s worse than ever…We have no idea when we’ll be finished”. It became obvious that the album wouldn’t be completed by the end of the year and the deadline was extended into 1979. In late 1978, further indication of internal struggles became widely known when it was announced that married couple Ulvaeus and Faltskog were to divorce. Rather than spelling the end for the group however, this freed up a lot of the tensions between the two and in late 1978, work suddenly took off apace for the album.
In October, two tracks were completed: “Angeleyes” and “If It Wasn’t for the Nights“. Although seen as an archetype ABBA track, the former of these was deemed dated by Andersson, labelling it “back to the sixties”. The second track however featured an all-out contemporary vibe, being quite disco-orientated and considered the strongest song that had been recorded for the album. It was intended to be not only the next single but also the song that ABBA would perform at the Music for UNICEF Concert in January 1979.
This plan was changed however when an even-better song came along in December. With the original title of “In the Arms of Rosalita”, “Chiquitita” was the song the band performed. Although rather more schlager in style, Andersson considered it the best of their new songs, despite the feeling that it was very out of style with the rest of the acts performing that night. “It was pretty strange, but we felt it was the best song we had and that’s why we chose it, however wrong it may have been”, he said. In early 1979, “Chiquitita” became one of ABBA’s biggest hits around the world, reaching No. 1 in many countries, although just being clipped by Blondie‘s “Heart of Glass” in the UK at No. 2.
At the end of January, Andersson and Ulvaeus left Sweden and rented an apartment in the Bahamas where they felt they could get some inspiration by listening to American music and experiencing a whole different vibe to the rather conservative Stockholm. Two songs emerged from this time; “Voulez-Vous” and “Kisses of Fire“. Excited by the former, they went to Criteria Studios in Miami to record the backing track with the disco band Foxy — the only time they recorded a song outside Sweden. Upon returning to Sweden to finish the songs, another track, “Does Your Mother Know“, was recorded – a song that was to be the next single, and also the only mainstream release to feature Ulvaeus on lead vocals.
The single would not become as big a hit worldwide as “Chiquitita”, but was the most successful release from the album in the US. By the end of March, the final two tracks were finished; “As Good as New” and “I Have a Dream” (the latter featuring a local children’s choir from the International School of Stockholm).
Release
At the end of April the album, titled Voulez-Vous, was finally ready for release and to emphasize the shift towards a disco sound, the album cover shot was taken at Alexandra’s night club in Stockholm. The album was released on 23 April 1979, and in the following months of its launch, ABBA released a number of other singles from it. The title track was released as a double A-side with “Angeleyes”, while “I Have a Dream” was belatedly released in December 1979 following their recent world tour. A track recorded in August 1979 (four months after the release of the album), “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)“, was released as a single in October and was later included as a bonus track on CD versions of Voulez-Vous.
On 31 May 2010, the deluxe edition of Voulez-Vous was released internationally. It featured a remastered and expanded CD version of the album, with six bonus tracks, along with a companion DVD of TV content from 1978 and 1979. Found on this second disc were: the BBC TV special ABBA in Switzerland; the “Chiquitita” performance from the Music for UNICEF Concert and another one from ABBA Snowtime; a performance of “If It Wasn’t for the Nights” from the Mike Yarwood Christmas Show (1978); a Björn and Benny interview on the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop; an extended promo of “I Have a Dream”; two Greatest Hits Vol. 2 TV commercials; and the “International Sleeve Gallery”. The reissue also contained a 28-page illustrated booklet with an essay on the making of the album.
The album was reissued for its 40th anniversary on 14 June 2019, as a multi-format release. It included: a double-LP half-speed master of the original album, pressed on 180g vinyl, cut at 45rpm, and mastered at Abbey Road Studios; a colored-vinyl 7″ box set of seven singles issued during the Voulez-Vous era; and stand-alone picture discs of each of these singles.
Critical reception
Professional ratings
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| Blender | |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Record Mirror | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Smash Hits | 6/10 |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10 |
| Uncut | |
The album received favourable reviews from contemporary music critics.
The Dutch magazine Hitkrant made it “LP of the Week” and stated: “This time, the Swedish foursome has delivered an album that will be talked about for a long time to come, because it namely is of an unprecedented, enormous class.”
The Manchester Evening News determined that “Frida vocalises with increased assurance, now making words count much more—in fact the lyrics are slowly coming out of their sometimes naivete”.
Less positively, Smash Hits‘ reviewer Red Starr found that ABBA “don’t disappoint but they don’t exactly inspire either with this clean but clinical collection of European disco-orientated songs. They’ve still to make an album that conveys the magic and impact of their singles, and this isn’t it”.
Bruce Eder of AllMusic retrospectively noted that “about half of Voulez-Vous shows the heavy influence of the Bee Gees from their megahit disco era” but that it also “had a pair of soft, lyrical Europop-style ballads” which according to him sounds like “popular folk music during the mid-to-late ’60s”.
Sean Egan from the BBC gave the album a favourable review writing that the album “was an effort that saw Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Anni-Frid put their dancing shoes on to join in with the dominant disco craze” and also that the album’s ballads “are able to provide a pocket of air on a disco floor that would otherwise get sweaty and stultifying”.
Commercial performance
Voulez-Vous topped the charts Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Finland. In the UK, it entered the charts at No. 1 and remained there for a month), and was a Top 10 success in countries including Canada, New Zealand and Australia. In the US, Voulez-Vous became ABBA’s third album to reach the top 20 (peaking at No. 19). It reached number 1 in Japan in 1979.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.
Side one
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | “As Good as New“ | 3:22 |
| 2. | “Voulez-Vous“ | 5:11 |
|---|
| 3. | “I Have a Dream“ | 4:44 |
|---|
| 4. | “Angeleyes“ | 4:20 |
|---|
| 5. | “The King Has Lost His Crown“ | 3:30 |
|---|
Side two
| o. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Does Your Mother Know“ | 3:13 |
| 2. | “If It Wasn’t for the Nights“ | 5:13 |
|---|
| 3. | “Chiquitita“ | 5:26 |
|---|
| 4. | “Lovers (Live a Little Longer)“ | 3:28 |
|---|
| 5. | “Kisses of Fire“ | 3:16 |
|---|---|---|
| Total length: | 41:43 | |
Notes
- The Spanish pressing of the album features the Spanish version of “Chiquitita” on Side one, as its sixth track.
Deluxe edition
Released on May 31, 2010. “Estoy Soñando” and “¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame!” (the Spanish versions of “I Have a Dream” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”, respectively), along with the Spanish version of “Chiquitita”, were not included on this reissue, but could be found on Gracias Por La Música and as bonus tracks on The Complete Studio Recordings.
All tracks are written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.
Bonus tracks
| o. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Summer Night City” (full-length version) | 4:18 |
| 2. | “Lovelight” (B-side of “Chiquitita”) | 3:48 |
|---|
| 4. | “Dream World” (first released on Thank You for the Music) | 3:38 |
|---|
| 5. | “Voulez-Vous” (extended remix, 1979 US promo) | 6:11 |
|---|
Personnel
Adapted from the album’s liner notes.
ABBA
- Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (1, 8, 10), co-lead vocals (2, 4, 7, 10), backing vocals
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (3, 5, 9), co-lead vocals (2, 4, 7, 10), backing vocals
- Björn Ulvaeus – guitars (2–5, 7–10), banjo (8), lead vocals (6), backing vocals
- Benny Andersson – keyboards (1, 4–10), synthesizers (1–10), backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Ola Brunkert – drums (1, 3, 4, 6–10)
- Rutger Gunnarsson – bass guitar (1, 3, 5, 8–10)
- Janne Schaffer – guitars (1–4, 7)
- Joe Galdo – drums (2)
- Arnold Paseiro – bass guitar (2)
- Paul Harris – piano (2)
- Ish Ledesma; George Terry – guitars (2)
- Halldor Pálsson; Johan Stengård – tenor saxophones (2)
- Nils Landgren – trombone (2)
- International School of Stockholm Choir – vocals (3)
- Kerstin Feist – choir director (3)
- Mike Watson – bass guitar (4, 6, 7)
- Lasse Wellander – guitars (5, 6, 8–10)
- Rolf Alex – drums (5)
- Jan Risberg – oboe (5)
- Lars O. Carlsson; Kajtek Wojciechowski – tenor saxophones (6)
- Malando Gassama – percussion (7, 9)
Production
- Benny Andersson; Björn Ulvaeus – producers, arrangers
- Michael B. Tretow – engineer
- Rutger Gunnarsson – string arrangements (1, 9)
- Anders Eljas – string arrangements (4, 5, 7), horn arrangements (7)
- Rune Söderqvist – album design
- Ola Lager – photography (at Alexandra Disco, Stockholm)
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1979–1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Argentina (CAPIF) | 2 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 5 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 2 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 6 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 1 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 1 |
| France (IFOP) | 13 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 1 |
| Japan (Oricon) | 1 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 2 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 1 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 1 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 1 |
| US Billboard 200 | 19 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1979) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 7 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 18 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 2 |
| France (IFOP) | 40 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 11 |
| Japan (Oricon) | 5 |
| New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ) | 23 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 5 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (1970–1979) | Position |
|---|---|
| Japan (Oricon) | 17 |
| Chart (1980) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 37 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 26 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 74 |
| Chart (2022) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 187 |
| Chart (2023) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 154 |
| Chart (2024) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 152 |
Weekly chart performance for Voulez-Vous
| Chart (2021–2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 43 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 26 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | 29 |
| Greek Albums (IFPI Greece) | 66 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) | 61 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 27 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 5 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 65 |
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | — | 200,000 |
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | 200,000 |
| Belgium (BRMA) | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat) | Platinum | 82,340 |
| France | — | 200,000 |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 500,000^ |
| Greece | — | 50,000[66] |
| Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong) | Gold | 10,000* |
| Hungary | — | 75,000 |
| Japan (Oricon Charts) | — | 623,000 |
| Malaysia | — | 10,000 |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Sweden | — | 289,925 |
| Taiwan | — | 2,500 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000^ |
| * Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Chiquitita (Album)
| Chiquitita | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio album by Menudo | |
| Released | July 1, 1979 |
| Studio | Estudio Torres Sonido, Madrid, Spain |
| Genre | Latin pop |
| Label | Padosa, Inc. |
| Menudo chronology | |
| Laura (1978)Chiquitita (1979)Felicidades! (1979) | |
Chiquitita (released in Puerto Rico as Menudo) is Menudo’s third Spanish album, released in 1979, this time featuring brothers Carlos, Óscar and Ricky Meléndez (aged 14, 13, and 11 respectively), Fernando Sallaberry (14), and new member René Farrait (12). René replaced Nefty Sallaberry after Nefty reached the age limit set by Menudo management.
In 1979, the quintet had already established itself as a successful act in its homeland, Puerto Rico. Songs from their previous albums managed to chart in countries like the Dominican Republic.
Promotion
To promote the new album, the group traveled to Venezuela twelve times without receiving payment. This led to substantial success: with the single “Chiquitita,” a cover version of one of the best-known songs by the Swedish group ABBA, they achieved commercial success in the country.
Critical reception
The specialized music critics also responded positively. In the column of the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, on October 10, 1979, the critic recommended the album Chiquitita, as a tribute to the country’s Children’s Month, noting that the quintet had significant qualities as performers.
Commercial performance
In Puerto Rico, the album Menudo earned the quintet its first gold record for its impressive sales.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead Vocals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Ella-a-a” | H. Herrero, J. Seijas, L. G. Escobar | Group |
| 2. | “Sólo Tu Amor” | Edgardo Diaz, Celi Bee | René Farrait |
|---|
| 3. | “Doña Tecla” | Socorro Centeno | Óscar and Ricky Meléndez |
|---|
| 4. | “Mi Mejor Amiga” | S. Centeno | Fernando Sallaberry |
|---|
| 5. | “Voy A América” | J. Seijas, E. Guerín, C. Villa | René Farrait |
|---|
| 6. | “Chiquitita“ | Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson | Fernando Sallaberry, Carlos Meléndez |
|---|
| 7. | “Sueños” | Pedro Herrero | Carlos Meléndez |
|---|
| 8. | “De Tu Vuelo” | Alejandro Monroy, E. Diaz | Group |
|---|
| 9. | “Soy Natural” | E. Diaz | Group |
|---|
| 10. | “Voulez-Vous” | B. Ulvaeus, B. Andersson, E. Diaz | Group |
|---|
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