Captive Heart (song)
Encyclopedia
"Captive Heart" is a song by American Tejano pop
singer Selena
, released from EMI Records
and EMI Latin
on August 22, 1995. It was the second promotional single released from Dreaming of You (1995), behind "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)". It was written by Mark Goldenberg and Kit Hain, while it was produced by Guy Roche
. Recording sessions had took place at Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr
's recording studio Q-Productions
and at several other locations. The song was given mixed reviews from music critics. The Daily Vault, believed Selena made a mistake with "Captive Heart". Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News
stated that "Captive Heart" was bordering on that New Jill Swing
sound popularized by Mary J. Blige
and Jade.
"Captive Heart" is a electropop song performed in a rhythmical pop
groove. The song is composed in the key of D major
in a moderate of 91 beats per minute. The song's lyrics describes a girl who is love struck by a guy who she just saw walking. Her love is then captivated by his "wild passion" that keeps her from being free. She is willing to do anything to be with the guy, weather drowning in the ocean, giving him all control of her emotions, and holding a flame that burns her. "Captive Heart" peaked at number ninety-six on the Canadian Hot 100
and number thirty on the Rhythmic Top 40. American singer, Donna De Lory was the backing vocalist for the song. The song was nominated for "Tejano Crossover Song of the Year" and "Song of the Year" at the 1995 Tejano Music Awards
.
, California
in January 1995, Q-Productions
in Corpus Christi
, Texas
and at Conway Studios in North Hollywood. It was written by Mark Goldenberg and Kit Hain, while it was produced by Guy Roche
. It was audio mixed
by Nathaniel "Mick" Guzuaski
, engineered by Mario Lucy, Brian "Red" Moore and Mona Suchard who also was credited at the assistant engineer. American singer Donna De Lory was the backing vocalist for "Captive Heart". Recording sessions had took nearly less than a week to complete the song.
"Captive Heart" is a Electropop song performed in a rhythmical pop
groove. It had drew influences from synthpop
, fast Rock
, dance-pop
, electronic dance music
and adult contemporary. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is composed in the key of D major
with a time signature
in common time
, and with a moderate groove of 91 beats per minute. The music is largely based on instrumentations such as the electric guitar
, acoustic guitar
and the drum
s.
The song's lyrics describes a girl who is love struck by a guy who she just saw walking. Her love is then captivated by his "wild passion" that keeps her from being free. She is willing to do anything to be with the guy, weather drowning in the ocean, giving him all control of her emotions, and holding a flame that burns. The song starts off with Selena who just sees, from afar, a guy walking. She senses danger from him which makes her heart stops altogether, calling him the "perfect stranger". She is then captivated and is willing to go wherever he goes. The chorus
of the song, being that the guy holds the key to her emotions. The guy's "wild passion" makes her more into him, quoting "Fire burns, so I've been told" and ending it with "but I like the way it feels". The song ends with Selena screaming "let me be free".
chart on November 12, 1995. The song debuted at number 35 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart on September 3, 1995. Six weeks later, it had peaked at number 30. It remained on the chart for two more weeks before it was taken off. During the 1996 Tejano Music Awards
, "Captive Heart" was posthumously nominated for "Tejano Crossover Song of the Year" Two years later, at the 1998 Tejano Music Awards, the song was nominated for "Song of the Year".
Vibe editor Ed Morales, compared both, Evelyn "Champagne" King
and "Wherever You Are" (duet with the Barrio Boyzz
) with the song "Captive Heart". While, according to the Chicago Tribune, "Captive Heart" was destined for urban-contemporary radio. Leonard Charles of Miami Today
, commented on "Captive Heart"s lack of impact on the Hot 100, stating that the song would have been stronger if EMI Records
had promoted the single extensively. Charles also commented that he believes that the record company didn't put in much effort on the song but believed that EMI had only put in effort on singles "Dreaming of You
" and "I Could Fall in Love
". Benson Ramos of The Gaston Gazette
believed "Captive Heart" wasn't "crossover potential". Steven Washington of Aurora Sentinel
praised the song's "electronic feels" and "Latin flavors" that it brings to the song. Sabrina Moore of Corsicana Daily Sun
, disliked the song because it felt "unoriginal" but commented that Selena could have done better in another Latin flavored ballad.
The Daily Vault, believed Selena made a mistake with "Captive Heart", stating that "... the song was a surprising and painful flaw, because it showcases a mistake of exerting too much throat, which many popular singers currently do ..." The Daily Vault instated that it was a one-way ticket to voice destruction. Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News
, stated while reviewing "I'm Getting Used To You
" that the songs "... are a bit more uptempo, bordering on that New Jill Swing
sound popularized by Mary J. Blige
and Jade ..."
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
singer Selena
Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez , known simply as Selena, was a Mexican American singer-songwriter. She was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Top Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits...
, released from EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
and EMI Latin
EMI Latin
EMI Televisa Music, also known as EMI Latin and EMI International, is a subsidiary of EMI which focuses on Latin American music....
on August 22, 1995. It was the second promotional single released from Dreaming of You (1995), behind "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)". It was written by Mark Goldenberg and Kit Hain, while it was produced by Guy Roche
Guy Roche
Guy Roche is a record producer and songwriter who is best known for the hit singles he has co-written/co-produced for Christina Aguilera, which include but are not limited to "What a Girl Wants", "I Turn to You", and "Come on Over Baby . He also co-wrote Brandy's Never Say Never single "Almost...
. Recording sessions had took place at Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr
Abraham Quintanilla Jr
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the father of singer Selena, who was murdered in 1995.-Early life:...
's recording studio Q-Productions
Q-Productions
Q-Productions is a record company owned and operated by Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Founded in 1993, Q Productions or also known as Q, or Q-Zone specializes within the Latin music industry, and it is located in Texas. The company's most recognized contributing artists are Selena , Los Tres Reyes, and...
and at several other locations. The song was given mixed reviews from music critics. The Daily Vault, believed Selena made a mistake with "Captive Heart". Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
stated that "Captive Heart" was bordering on that New Jill Swing
Hip hop soul
Hip hop soul is sub-genre of contemporary R&B which fuses R&B, neo soul and dance elements with hip hop. The term did not originate until the promotion for Mary J. Blige's debut album What's the 411? in 1992 when Uptown Records proclaimed her to be the "Queen of Hip Hop Soul" and generally...
sound popularized by Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
and Jade.
"Captive Heart" is a electropop song performed in a rhythmical pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
groove. The song is composed in the key of D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
in a moderate of 91 beats per minute. The song's lyrics describes a girl who is love struck by a guy who she just saw walking. Her love is then captivated by his "wild passion" that keeps her from being free. She is willing to do anything to be with the guy, weather drowning in the ocean, giving him all control of her emotions, and holding a flame that burns her. "Captive Heart" peaked at number ninety-six on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
and number thirty on the Rhythmic Top 40. American singer, Donna De Lory was the backing vocalist for the song. The song was nominated for "Tejano Crossover Song of the Year" and "Song of the Year" at the 1995 Tejano Music Awards
1995 Tejano Music Awards
The 15th Tejano Music Awards were held in 1995. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing Tejano music musicians.- Vocalists of The Year :*Male Vocalist of The Year...
.
Production and compostion
"Captive Heart" was recorded at Bananaboat Studios in BurbankBurbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in January 1995, Q-Productions
Q-Productions
Q-Productions is a record company owned and operated by Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Founded in 1993, Q Productions or also known as Q, or Q-Zone specializes within the Latin music industry, and it is located in Texas. The company's most recognized contributing artists are Selena , Los Tres Reyes, and...
in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and at Conway Studios in North Hollywood. It was written by Mark Goldenberg and Kit Hain, while it was produced by Guy Roche
Guy Roche
Guy Roche is a record producer and songwriter who is best known for the hit singles he has co-written/co-produced for Christina Aguilera, which include but are not limited to "What a Girl Wants", "I Turn to You", and "Come on Over Baby . He also co-wrote Brandy's Never Say Never single "Almost...
. It was audio mixed
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
by Nathaniel "Mick" Guzuaski
Mick Guzauski
Mick Guzauski is a multi-platinum Mixing Engineer and sound engineer.Guzauski's work spans a wide range of styles, including jazz, R&B, Latin, rock, pop, and easy listening...
, engineered by Mario Lucy, Brian "Red" Moore and Mona Suchard who also was credited at the assistant engineer. American singer Donna De Lory was the backing vocalist for "Captive Heart". Recording sessions had took nearly less than a week to complete the song.
"Captive Heart" is a Electropop song performed in a rhythmical pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
groove. It had drew influences from synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, fast Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
, electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
and adult contemporary. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is composed in the key of D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
with a time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
, and with a moderate groove of 91 beats per minute. The music is largely based on instrumentations such as the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and the drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s.
The song's lyrics describes a girl who is love struck by a guy who she just saw walking. Her love is then captivated by his "wild passion" that keeps her from being free. She is willing to do anything to be with the guy, weather drowning in the ocean, giving him all control of her emotions, and holding a flame that burns. The song starts off with Selena who just sees, from afar, a guy walking. She senses danger from him which makes her heart stops altogether, calling him the "perfect stranger". She is then captivated and is willing to go wherever he goes. The chorus
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
of the song, being that the guy holds the key to her emotions. The guy's "wild passion" makes her more into him, quoting "Fire burns, so I've been told" and ending it with "but I like the way it feels". The song ends with Selena screaming "let me be free".
Commercial performance and critical reception
"Captive Heart" debuted at number 99 on the Canadian Hot 100Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
chart on November 12, 1995. The song debuted at number 35 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart on September 3, 1995. Six weeks later, it had peaked at number 30. It remained on the chart for two more weeks before it was taken off. During the 1996 Tejano Music Awards
Tejano Music Awards
The Tejano Music Awards had been launched in 1980 by former art teacher and music veteran Rudy Trevino and the leader of the Latin Breed Band, Gilbert Escobedo. Only 1,500 fans turned out for the first Tejano Music Awards. Over the years, San Antonio evolved into the Nashville of Tejano music...
, "Captive Heart" was posthumously nominated for "Tejano Crossover Song of the Year" Two years later, at the 1998 Tejano Music Awards, the song was nominated for "Song of the Year".
Vibe editor Ed Morales, compared both, Evelyn "Champagne" King
Evelyn King (singer)
Evelyn "Champagne" King is an American R&B, disco and post-disco singer. Some of her best-known songs are "Shame", "Love Come Down," and "I'm in Love."-Biography:...
and "Wherever You Are" (duet with the Barrio Boyzz
Barrio Boyzz
The Barrio Boyzz were a Latin pop group. The group were made up of Puerto Rican American and Colombian Americans who grew-up in New York City. They gained popularity during the 1990s, especially when they became label-mates with the Mexican-American singer-songwriter Selena, and landed their first...
) with the song "Captive Heart". While, according to the Chicago Tribune, "Captive Heart" was destined for urban-contemporary radio. Leonard Charles of Miami Today
Miami Today
Miami Today is a weekly Miami newspaper headquartered in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. The newspaper specializes in uncovering important news about business, real estate development, government and civic life in Miami...
, commented on "Captive Heart"s lack of impact on the Hot 100, stating that the song would have been stronger if EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
had promoted the single extensively. Charles also commented that he believes that the record company didn't put in much effort on the song but believed that EMI had only put in effort on singles "Dreaming of You
Dreaming of You (Selena song)
"Dreaming of You" is the name of a Selena love song written by Franne Golde and Tom Snow. It was Selena's biggest single, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was released at the end of the first quarter of 1995, after Selena's murder...
" and "I Could Fall in Love
I Could Fall in Love
"I Could Fall in Love" is the first single by American singer Selena from her last studio album Dreaming of You, released in October 1995 by EMI International.-Song information:...
". Benson Ramos of The Gaston Gazette
The Gaston Gazette
The Gaston Gazette is a newspaper based in Gastonia, North Carolina. The newspaper is owned by Freedom Communications, Inc.Its editorial position is generally conservative, and sometimes libertarian...
believed "Captive Heart" wasn't "crossover potential". Steven Washington of Aurora Sentinel
Aurora Sentinel
The Aurora Sentinel is the brand of newspapers serving the city of Aurora, Colorado. Both a weekly and daily product carry the Sentinel banner, as well as The Buckley Guardian, serving the area's military community.-History:...
praised the song's "electronic feels" and "Latin flavors" that it brings to the song. Sabrina Moore of Corsicana Daily Sun
Corsicana Daily Sun
The Corsicana Daily Sun is a morning daily newspaper published in Corsicana, Texas, covering Navarro County. In 2009 it dropped Saturday and Monday from its publication schedule and is now published five days a week. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.The newspaper's marketing slogan...
, disliked the song because it felt "unoriginal" but commented that Selena could have done better in another Latin flavored ballad.
The Daily Vault, believed Selena made a mistake with "Captive Heart", stating that "... the song was a surprising and painful flaw, because it showcases a mistake of exerting too much throat, which many popular singers currently do ..." The Daily Vault instated that it was a one-way ticket to voice destruction. Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
, stated while reviewing "I'm Getting Used To You
I'm Getting Used To You
"I'm Getting Used to You" is the title of the fourth single released by Selena from the album Dreaming of You.-Song information:The track was written by superstar songwriter Diane Warren and was chosen to be the fourth release...
" that the songs "... are a bit more uptempo, bordering on that New Jill Swing
Hip hop soul
Hip hop soul is sub-genre of contemporary R&B which fuses R&B, neo soul and dance elements with hip hop. The term did not originate until the promotion for Mary J. Blige's debut album What's the 411? in 1992 when Uptown Records proclaimed her to be the "Queen of Hip Hop Soul" and generally...
sound popularized by Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
and Jade ..."
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Tejano Music Awards Tejano Music Awards The Tejano Music Awards had been launched in 1980 by former art teacher and music veteran Rudy Trevino and the leader of the Latin Breed Band, Gilbert Escobedo. Only 1,500 fans turned out for the first Tejano Music Awards. Over the years, San Antonio evolved into the Nashville of Tejano music... |
Tejano Crossover Song of the Year | |
| 1998 | Tejano Music Awards | Song of the Year |
Charts
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
|
| Rhythmic Top 40 | |
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
|
Track listing
- U.S. Promo Single (1995)
- "Captive Heart" – 4:23
- U.S. Cassette Single (1995)
- "Captive Heart" – 4:23
Credits and personnel
All credits were taken from the albums liner notes.- SelenaSelenaSelena Quintanilla-Pérez , known simply as Selena, was a Mexican American singer-songwriter. She was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Top Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits...
- vocals, backing vocals - Donna De Lory - back-up singer
- Mark Goldenberg - writer
- Kit Hain - writer
- Juan Figueroa, Arnold Hain - synthesizers
- Jose Behar - co-producerMusic executiveA music executive or record executive is person within a record label who works in senior management, making executive decisions over the label's artists...
- Guy RocheGuy RocheGuy Roche is a record producer and songwriter who is best known for the hit singles he has co-written/co-produced for Christina Aguilera, which include but are not limited to "What a Girl Wants", "I Turn to You", and "Come on Over Baby . He also co-wrote Brandy's Never Say Never single "Almost...
- producer - Nathaniel "Mick" GuzuaskiMick GuzauskiMick Guzauski is a multi-platinum Mixing Engineer and sound engineer.Guzauski's work spans a wide range of styles, including jazz, R&B, Latin, rock, pop, and easy listening...
- audio mixerAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Mario Lucy - engineer
- Brain "Red" Moore - engineer
- Mona Suchard - engineer and assistant engineer