"Criminal"
Single by Natti Natasha and Ozuna
LanguageSpanish
Released18 August 2017 (2017-08-18)
GenreReggaeton
Length3:52
LabelPina
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Haze
Natti Natasha singles chronology
"Otra Cosa"
(2016)		 "Criminal"
(2017)		 "Amantes de una Noche"
(2018)
Ozuna singles chronology
"Se Preparó"
(2017)		 "Criminal"
(2017)		 "Egoísta"
(2017)
Music video
"Criminal" on YouTube

"Criminal" is a song by Dominican singer Natti Natasha and Puerto Rican singer Ozuna, released by Pina Records on 18 August 2017. Written by the two singers, Jhay Cortez, Rafael Pina, Vicente Saavedra and its producer Haze, it is a reggaeton song with drum programming and forceful bass patterns indebted to the dancehall genre. The accompanying music video was directed by Nuno Gómes at an abandoned women's prison in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, and portrays Ozuna as a prison director falling in love with a prisoner played by Natasha. It received over 1 billion views on YouTube within five months of its release and was the most watched music video by a female singer in 2017.

The track was well received by music critics who found it catchy and praised it for giving reggaeton dance floor appeal. It received a number of award nominations, winning Best Collaboration at the 2018 Soberano Awards. "Criminal" became a crossover success and helped relaunch Natasha's music career, becoming her first top five single on the US Hot Latin Songs chart since 2012's "Dutty Love" and first chart-topper in Spain where it spent three consecutive weeks at number one. It also topped the charts in El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru and Spain, and reached the top 10 in 10 other Latin American countries.

Background

"Criminal" was written by Natasha, Ozuna, Jhay Cortez, Rafael Pina, Vicente Saavedra and its producer Haze.[1][2] Pina, Natasha's manager, sent Ozuna the song after two previously failed collaboration attempts, and Ozuna called it a "home run".[3] Pina recalled, "After several months of trying to bring up the song, there was always a situation that would have discouraged anybody but, unlike me, I never got up with a 'no' in my head and continued without anything or anyone stopping me."[3] Natasha regards "Criminal" as her second chance at a career in music and her first solo release where she had sufficient record label support. Regarding the writing process, she said: "To me, it's such a special song because I had the opportunity to write my part of the lyrics and I just really loved it. When Ozuna agreed, I was extremely excited and for some reason, I knew people were going to love it as much as we did."[4]

It is a reggaeton song with drum programming and forceful bass patterns indebted to the dancehall genre.[3][5]

Music video

Ozuna approaching Natti Natasha in an electric chair for a kiss.
Ozuna approaching Natasha in an electric chair for a kiss in the music video.

The accompanying music video was directed by Venezuelan director Nuno Gómes. It was filmed at a deactivated women's prison in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico in April 2017 and inspired by the music video for Lady Gaga's "Telephone".[6][7] A storm hit Vega Alta a day before the video shoot, resulting in trucks getting stuck in mud and the video wardrobe getting wet. Gómes called it the worst filming day of his career.[6] Filming took nearly 20 hours.[3] Fashion designer Nelson Tavárez chose bold ensembles for Natasha's wardrobe to portray her character as empowered and confident.[8]

Natasha plays a prisoner trying to attract the attention of Ozuna, the prison director.[7] The clip starts with Natasha being escorted to the prison where Ozuna awaits. They are shown in several locations inside the prison with Natasha performing sensual dances for Ozuna. The video reaches a climax with Natasha sitting in an electric chair and Ozuna approaching her for a kiss. Both are struck by electricity, but are shown together amid police alarms in the final scene.[9]

The video led YouTube's weekly chart for two consecutive weeks in November 2017, ending Luis Fonsi's 35-week run at number one with "Despacito".[10][11][12] It surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube within five months of its 18 August 2017 release and was the most watched music video by a female artist in 2017.[6][13] "Criminal" is one of the 50 most viewed videos and eight most viewed Spanish-language videos on YouTube,[14][15] having received over 2.0 billion views.[16] It is also both Natasha and Ozuna's most watched music video on the platform.[16][17] Natasha said YouTube provided her with "the opportunity to reach other parts of the world, when before we depended on a label for that. It's definitely an achievement not only for me, but for Latina women. Before we did not have that reach."[10] Billboard included "Criminal" at number 11 in its list of Top 25 Sexiest Latin Music Videos.[18] Tommy Calle of Hoy wrote that Natasha's "sensuality and beauty" in the video "stands out to the eye".[19]

Critical reception

"Criminal" was well received by music critics. Leila Cobo of Billboard described the song as "sexy without being vulgar" and said its "immediate catchiness" made it "a YouTube sensation".[20] Marjua Esteves of the same website wrote that it is "not your everyday fast-pumping reggaeton record, but a criminally slow-grinding jam".[21] Raquel Reichard of The Fader called the track a "knockout" and an "earworm".[22] Writing for Maxim, Brandon Friederich found the song "contagious" and wrote, "Even if you're a non-Spanish speaker, just try resisting the urge to sing the 'muy criminal'-laden chorus".[23] Los 40's Alberto Palao Murcia commented, "I timidly gave the track a play expecting a more Latin rhythm that does not even reach the dance floor, but, to my surprise, by the second chorus I was already singing 'Criminal, Cri-Criminal..."[3] Similarly, Tommy Calle of Hoy called it "an urban anthem that has managed to turn on the dance floor",[24] and "a catchy song that lifts everyone's spirits".[19]

Billboard placed "Criminal" at number 17 in its list of Top 20 Best Latin Songs of 2017.[21] Idolator's Mike Wass gave the song an honorable mention in his list of The Best Latin Pop Songs of 2017.[25]

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Award/work Result Ref.
2018 Soberano Awards Collaboration of the Year Won [26]
MTV Millennial Awards Nominated [27]
2019 BMI Latin Awards Award Winning Song Won [28]
Heat Latin Music Awards Collaboration of the Year Nominated [29]

Live performances

Natasha and Ozuna performed "Criminal" together at Calibash LA 2018 on 20 January and at the Soberano Awards on 21 March 2018.[26][30] On 21 June 2018, Natasha performed the song at VidCon in Anaheim, California.[31] She also performed the track at KLVE's Las Qué Mandan event at the Inglewood Forum on 17 November 2018.[32]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[79] Gold 100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[80] 2× Platinum 100,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[81] 4× Platinum 160,000‡
United States (RIAA)[82] 15× Platinum (Latin) 900,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "ACE Repertory". American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "'Amanece', de trapero boricua Anuel AA, y productor, obtiene premio mundial". Los Angeles Times (in Spanish). 26 October 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2020 – via EFE.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Murcia, Alberto Palao (18 January 2018). "Criminal: El videoclip de las mil millones de reproducciones que quizá aún no conocías". Los 40 (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Roiz, Jessica (13 February 2019). "Natti Natasha On Pouring Her Heart Out In Debut Album 'ilumiNATTI': 'It's All About Empowerment'". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Leight, Elias (3 August 2018). "Why Isn't Jamaican Dancehall Bigger in the U.S.?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 Assunção, Muri (21 May 2018). "Ozuna and Natti Natasha's Go-To Music Video Director, Nuno Gomes, On His Viral Visuals". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Ver video: Criminal ft. Ozuna (Official Video). Artista: Natti". VidaPrimo (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Final Frontier". NelsonTavarez.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "¡Ya salió 'Criminal', lo nuevo de Ozuna y Natti Natasha! (Video)". Radio Moda (in Spanish). 18 August 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Natti Natasha afirma que por las redes llegan a todo el mundo". Crítica.com.pa (in Spanish). 27 November 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "YouTube Music - Top YouTube Songs & Music Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "YouTube Music - Top YouTube Songs & Music Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  13. ↑ Burstein, Sergio (14 January 2018). "Natti Natasha te lleva a su cuarto con la ayuda de Bad Bunny y de sus atributos corporales". Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  14. ↑ "Top 1000 Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All Time". YouTube. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  15. ↑ Fernandez, Suzette (21 September 2018). "The 10 Most-Watched Spanish-Language Videos on YouTube". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  16. 1 2 Benjamin, Jeff (6 February 2019). "Ozuna Surpasses Justin Bieber For Most Videos With 1 Billion Views On YouTube: See All 7 Vids". Forbes. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  17. ↑ Roiz, Jessica (10 December 2018). "Natti Natasha's Most Watched Music Videos". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  18. ↑ Esteves, Marjua (1 December 2017). "Top 25 Sexiest Latin Music Videos". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  19. 1 2 Calle, Tommy (22 January 2018). "El secreto de Natti Natasha para el éxito va más allá de sus curvas". Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  20. ↑ "2018 Preview: 10 Latin Artists to Watch". Billboard. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  21. 1 2 "Top 20 Best Latin Songs of 2017: Billboard Staff Picks". Billboard. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  22. ↑ Reichard, Raquel (5 December 2018). "Natti Natasha is ushering in a brighter future for reggaeton". The Fader. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  23. ↑ Friederich, Brandon (29 March 2018). "Who Is The Most Popular Singer on YouTube? Meet Natti Natasha, the Sexy Singer Who's Being Called the Most-Watched Woman on YouTube". Maxim. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  24. ↑ Calle, Tommy (13 December 2017). "Un éxito 'criminal' el de la 'Princesa Urbana' Natti Natasha". Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  25. ↑ Wass, Mike (26 December 2017). "From 'Mi Gente' To 'Despacito,' The Best Latin Pop Songs Of 2017". Idolator. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  26. 1 2 Calle, Tommy (22 March 2018). "Natti Natasha fue la soberana princesa en su propia tierra junto a Ozuna". Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  27. ↑ "MTV MIAW 2018: los ganadores de la ceremonia". El Comercio (in Spanish). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  28. ↑ "Mario Quintero Lara and Sebastian Krys Honored at the 26th Annual BMI Latin Awards". Broadcast Music, Inc. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  29. ↑ Fernandez, Suzette (21 November 2018). "J Balvin Tops Heat Latin Music Awards Nominations: See Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  30. ↑ Calle, Tommy (21 January 2018). "Lo bueno y lo malo del Calibash LA 2018". Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  31. ↑ Burstein, Sergio (23 June 2018). "Natti Natasha ratifica su éxito descomunal en YouTube durante concierto organizado por la misma plataforma". Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  32. ↑ Burstein, Sergio (18 November 2018). "Estas estrellas femeninas de la música latina armaron una fiesta masiva en honor a las mujeres". Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  33. ↑ "Top 20 Argentina – Del 29 de Enero al 4 de Febrero, 2018" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  34. ↑ "Bolivia General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  35. ↑ "Chile General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  36. ↑ "Top 100 Colombia" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  37. ↑ "Dominican Republic General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  38. ↑ "Top 100 Ecuador" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "El Salvador General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  40. ↑ "Guatemala General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  41. ↑ "Honduras General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  42. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 1" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  43. ↑ "Mexico Airplay: Dec 30, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2018. (subscription required)
  44. ↑ "Nicaragua General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  45. ↑ "Panama General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  46. ↑ "Paraguay General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  47. ↑ "Peru General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  48. ↑ "Natti Natasha x Ozuna – Criminal". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  49. ↑ "Top 100 Canciones – Semana 43: del 20.10.2017 al 26.10.2017" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  50. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 2, 12 january 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  51. ↑ "Natti Natasha x Ozuna – Criminal". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  52. ↑ "Uruguay General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  53. ↑ "Natti Natasha Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  54. ↑ "Natti Natasha Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Natti Natasha Chart History (Latin Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  56. ↑ "Natti Natasha Chart History (Latin Rhythm Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  57. ↑ "Top 100 Venezuela" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  58. ↑ "Dominican Republic – 2017 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  59. ↑ "El Salvador – 2017 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  60. ↑ "Honduras – 2017 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  61. ↑ "Nicaragua – 2017 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  62. ↑ "Top 100 Songs Annual 2017" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  63. ↑ "Hot Latin Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  64. ↑ "Chart Anual Monitor Latino 2018 – Argentina". Monitor Latino. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  65. ↑ "Bolivia – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  66. ↑ "Chile – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  67. ↑ "Costa Rica – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  68. ↑ "RD – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  69. ↑ "El Salvador – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  70. ↑ "Guatemala – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  71. ↑ "Honduras – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  72. ↑ "Nicaragua – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  73. ↑ "Panama – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  74. ↑ "Paraguay – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  75. ↑ "Peru – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  76. ↑ "Top 100 Canciones - 2018" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  77. ↑ "Uruguay – 2018 Year-End Chart" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  78. ↑ "Hot Latin Songs - Year-End". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  79. ↑ "French single certifications – Natti Natasha & Ozuna – Criminal" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  80. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Natti Natasha & Ozuna – Criminal" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 22 March 2020. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Criminal" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  81. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Natti Natasha / Ozuna – Criminal". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  82. ↑ "American single certifications – Natti Natasha, Ozuna – Criminal". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
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