"Yo Contra Ti"
Single by Daddy Yankee featuring Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra
LanguageSpanish
English title"Me Against You"
ReleasedSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
RecordedJune – July 2017[1][2][3]
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length3:51
Songwriter(s)Ramón Ayala
Producer(s)Echo
Daddy Yankee singles chronology
"Hula Hoop"
(2017)		 "Yo Contra Ti"
(2017)
Music video
"Yo Contra Ti" on YouTube

"Yo Contra Ti" (Spanish pronunciation: [ʝo kontɾa ti]; English: "Me Against You") is a song by Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee featuring the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. It was composed for a breast cancer campaign in partnership with foundations Susan G. Komen Puerto Rico and J. Walter Thompson. The song was released on September 1, 2017 accompanied by a music video directed by Kacho López and filmed at a Comprehensive Cancer Center in Puerto Rico. The clip shows a woman with breast cancer being injected during a chemotherapy process which gives her strength, proceeding to stand up and lip-sync the lyrics while Daddy Yankee performs the track. The song was written by Daddy Yankee and was produced by Echo, with additional production by Beatboy and Daddy Yankee.

It is a hip hop song with lyrics about breast cancer and empowerment, representing the struggle of women who are diagnosed with it.[4] "Yo Contra Ti" has been critically well received, garnering Susan G. Komen Puerto Rico and J. Walter Thompson numerous awards for its campaign, as well as five nominations at the 2018 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the song and music video. "Yo Contra Ti" was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Fusion/Performance at the 19th Latin Grammy Awards. Commercially, the single failed to rank on any chart, although it was reported that the campaign has amassed over a million dollars for Susan G. Komen.

Background and release

On August 2, 2017, Daddy Yankee announced a partnership with Susan G. Komen Puerto Rico foundation to raise funds for women with breast cancer on his natal Puerto Rico after learning that a close friend of his was diagnosed with cancer.[5][6][7] He interacted with cancer patients in order to "capture how they feel and give voice to their anger."[8] He stated that his perspective about how the disease is handled changed after meeting them.[9] Daddy Yankee wanted to write motivational and positive lyrics because he believes that "sometimes the themes directed to this goal incline towards pain and pity, and is the least that a person wants to feel in those moments."[10] Amarilis Reyes, executive director of Susan G. Komen Puerto Rico, said that the track represents "the feeling of our survivors and a clear message of our purpose."[11] According to Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día, breast cancer "is the leading cause of death in females per year on the island."[12]

The song marks the first collaboration between the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and an urban act.[8] Puerto Rican musician and director of the orchestra Ángel "Cucco" Peña stated that "the frontiers that have traditionally separated classical and popular music have disappeared in the 21st century."[11] He also hopes that "this new initiative will serve to facilitate new projects that contribute to the country and our culture."[11] Daddy Yankee expressed that recording with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra "was something that was on [his] bucket list."[10]

The track was recorded at La Huerta Music Studios in Madrid, Spain, at Playbach Studios in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and at the Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals in Santurce, Puerto Rico.[10] It was produced by Puerto Rican record producer Echo, who had previously worked on a similar project titled "Porque Soy Tempo" by Puerto Rican rapper Tempo featuring the London Symphony Orchestra in 2008.[13] Daddy Yankee and Mexican record producer Beatboy served as additional producers.[10] The song was mixed by Echo and Spanish recording engineer Rafa Sardina at After Hours Studios in Woodland Hills, California.[10] Sardina has stated that the track "brings together two worlds that until now were quite distant in many people's minds, the urban world and the classical world."[14] He described the musical arrangements as "very classical with cinematic hues."[14]

On August 30, 2017, Daddy Yankee announced that "the genre's biggest tiraera (diss track) is approximating."[15] The song was digitally released on September 1, 2017, a few hours after the premiere of the music video.[16][8] The single's cover art is composed by a shot from the music video and features cancer patient Jessie Reyes, who is shown smiling after receiving an injection on her chest during a chemotherapy process. Daddy Yankee stated that the fifty percent of the profits from digital downloads and track streams will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Puerto Rico foundation.[8][17][18] J. Walter Thompson reported that the song garnered over a million dollars in charity and that it was "transformed into a fundraising platform for the Susan G. Komen Foundation."[14]

Composition

"Yo Contra Ti" is a hip hop song with a length of three minutes and fifty-one seconds. In the song, Daddy Yankee takes the role of a patient with breast cancer diagnose, and the lyrics are about empowerment.[19] In the intro and the first verse, he reflects the feeling of an ill woman since the diagnose of the disease, thinking about life and death, and how it would affect her beloved ones. As time passes, she notices how his body is changing and has to confront the mirror's raw reflection of her every day. She also talks about beauty despite her hair loss, stating that "not all princesses have long hair." She then begins to confront her cancer by asking angrily "who are you to tear my life source breasts?" and "who are you to tear this flower's petals?" and decides to fight against it instead of becoming a victim.[20]

The chorus of the song is a war declaration, stating that one of them would be victorious, promising that she will not surrender, and yelling the words "fuck cancer." In the second verse, the woman expresses that it wants to see her dead and that she is listening to a voice saying "you are in Nazarene's hands." She metaphorically separates her body from her soul, stating that the cancer could touch her flesh and skin but it could not break her faith. The verse ends by affirming that her spirit is stronger and that she already has won the war even if she faces death. In the outro, Daddy Yankee says that "when the tears fall and the pain grows, Philippians 4:13."[20] This Bible verse reads "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."[21]

Daddy Yankee explained that the song's last lines are "very spiritual" by stating that "cancer can take your body but not your identity" and that "even if death comes, it won't steal who you are."[22]

Music video

Background

A music video for the single premiered on August 31, 2017 on Daddy Yankee's official YouTube channel and was directed by Puerto Rican Latin Grammy Award-winner Kacho Lopez Mari.[8][23][12] Filming of the music video took place at the Puerto Rican Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico on August 22, 2017.[12][24] Kacho Lopez had previously worked with other Latin American acts including Puerto Rican band Calle 13, Colombian musician Juanes, and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin.[25] Cinematographer Santiago "Chago" Bennet Mari served as director of photography.[24] The clip features breast-cancer-diagnosed women including Carmen Hernández, Yesenia Mercado, Vicky Núñez, Nayda Ortiz, Zulma Rodríguez, Martiza Perea, and Jessie Reyes,[26] whose experiences inspired Daddy Yankee to write the song.[12] Puerto Rican actress Cordelia González has a brief appearance as a nurse.[10]

Synopsis

The clip centers around a cancer-diagnosed woman, portrayed by actual cancer patient Jessie Reyes, who ensures that she will fight against the disease instead of giving up her life.[11] The video starts introducing her, who was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 27, 2017.[8] She is at a hospital and is escorted by a nurse to a chair. The woman is injected during a chemotherapy process and stands up while smiling, and proceeds to lyp-sinc the lyrics in front of her breast's bone scan.[27] Daddy Yankee is shown in various cameras performing the song alone and then with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra in a room with lights that interweaves between black, white, and red colours. The clip ends with a text which says "dedicated to all warriors who have fought and those who continue to fight the battle", highlighting the word "continue" as the rest of the sentence fades away.[8]

Reception

An editor of American news website Univisión stated that both the song and the music video "could be considered one of Daddy Yankee's best musical works of the past years."[7] "Yo Contra Ti" garnered foundations Susan G. Komen and J. Walter Thompson Puerto Rico the Radio Mercury Award for Integrated Campaign with Radio/Audio and silver El Sol Awards for Long Format Audiovisual Piece, Online Video and Audio Production, Drafting in 2018.[28][29][30] The campaign also received SME Digital Awards for Best Social Responsibility Campaign and Best Use of Content Marketing at the 11th SME Digital Awards.[31][32] It has also received merit The One Club Awards for Film / Long Form and Online / Streaming Audio, Single or Campaign.[33] The song and music video garnered five nominations at the 2018 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, receiving a Bronze Lion award for Radio & Audio, Not-for-Profit/Charity.[34]

Music awards

Ceremony Date Category Result
Latin Grammy Awards[35] November 15, 2018 Best Urban Fusion/Performance Nominated

Advertising awards

Ceremony Date Category Result
Cannes Lions International
Festival of Creativity[34][14]		 June 18–22, 2018 Entertainment for Music, Use of Original Composition Nominated
Entertainment for Music, Production of Exclusive Artist
Content in Partnership with a Brand or a Cause		 Nominated
Radio & Audio, Not-for-Profit/Charity Bronze
Social & Influencer, Content Marketing-Partnerships Nominated
Social & Influencer, Content Marketing-Social Video Nominated
Social & Influencer, Content Marketing-Content Creation Nominated
El Sol Awards[30] June 2, 2018 Long Format Audiovisual Piece, Online Video Silver
Best Use of Influencers Gold
Audio Production – Drafting Silver
Radio Mercury Awards[28] May 31, 2018 Integrated Campaign with Radio/Audio Won
SME Digital Awards[31] May 17, 2018 Best Social Responsibility Campaign Gold
Best Video Execution Silver
Best Use of Content Marketing Gold
Other
  • The One Club Awards 2018: Merit awards for Radio: Online / Streaming Audio, Single or Campaign and Health, Wellness & Pharma: Film / Long Form.[33]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Primera Hora.[10]

Locations
Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Kacho Lopez (July 14, 2017). "Con @daddyyankee en el estudio cocinando. @echohits #comingsoon #filmeszapatero #daddyyankee #dyarmy" (in Spanish). Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  2. ↑ Daddy Yankee; Echo (July 14, 2017). "Creando con @echohits transformando el #ecosistema #playbachstudios @playbach @carlosvpb" (in Spanish). Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ Echo (June 22, 2017). "Y asi con el #bigboss @daddyyankee comienza el #echosistema, en Madrid @lahuertamusic @elbeatboy metiéndole en la madre !! #laquimicasigueintacta #makinghits #despacito #barriofino #theechoteam #theechosound #notreadyforthis" (in Spanish). Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Cáncer hasta en el reguetón / Cancer even in the reggaeton". ETHOS ANTROPOLÓGICO (in European Spanish). June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ Fernandez, Suzette (August 2, 2017). "Daddy Yankee Is in 'War Mode' to Support Women With Breast Cancer in His Native Puerto Rico". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Conferencia de Prensa: ¡Únete a la batalla!" (in Spanish). Susan G. Komen Puerto Rico. August 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Daddy Yankee liberó la peor 'tiraera' de su carrera contra un enemigo mundialmente famoso" (in Spanish). Univisión. September 1, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Yo Contra Ti (Video Oficial) – Daddy Yankee FT. Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). YouTube. August 31, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017. See description.
  9. ↑ "Daddy Yankee se compromete en lucha contra el cáncer". La República (in Spanish). August 4, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Escribano, Rosa (September 1, 2017). "Con flow sinfónico Daddy Yankee". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Daddy Yankee lanza 'Yo Contra Ti', una canción que invita a luchar contra el cáncer" (in Spanish). holaciudad.com. September 1, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 4 EFE (September 1, 2017). "Daddy Yankee lanza emotiva canción contra el cáncer". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Tras las rejas no se salva de la piratería" (in Spanish). primerahora.com. September 17, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Daddy Yankee vs. Breast Cancer Susan G. Komen". J. Walter Thompson. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  15. ↑ Daddy Yankee [@daddy_yankee] (August 30, 2017). "Este viernes..." [This friday...] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved September 1, 2017 – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "Yo Contra Tí – Single by Daddy Yankee". Apple Music. September 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  17. ↑ Daddy Yankee [@daddy_yankee] (September 2, 2017). ""Yo contra ti" dale click y haz la diferencia. 50% de las ganancias serán donados a @komenpr" ["Yo contra ti" click it and make the difference. 50% of the profits will be donated to @komenpr] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved September 1, 2017 – via Twitter.
  18. ↑ Daddy Yankee [@daddy_yankee] (September 2, 2017). "Ya puedes escuchar #YoContraTi en @Spotify. Cada vez que la escucha contribuyes a @komenpr #raceforthecurepr" [You can listen to #YoContraTi on @Spotify. Every time you listen to it you are contributing to @komenpr #raceforthecurepr] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ "Daddy Yankee contra el cáncer en una canción" (in Spanish). proceso.com.do. September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  20. 1 2 "Daddy Yankee – Yo Contra Ti Lyrics" (in Spanish). Genius. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  21. ↑ Upchurch, John (April 6, 2015). "3 Surprising Ways I Can Do All Things through Christ Who Strengthens Me". biblestudytools.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Daddy Yankee "Tu Contra Mí" Making" (in Spanish). YouTube. February 4, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018. The last lines of the song are very spiritual if you analize them. You can touch my body but my soul is unwavering, even if you tear my flesh, my faith is unwavering. Cancer can take your body but not your identity. Even if I deal with death, even if it comes to me, you are not going to steal who I am.
  23. ↑ Cejas de Miranda, Miranda (September 1, 2017). "Daddy Yankee lanza sencillo y videoclip sobre la lucha contra el cáncer". Telemetro. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  24. 1 2 Kacho Lopez (September 1, 2017). "Detrás de cámaras de nuestro trabajo más reciente: "Yo contra ti" by @daddyyankee @komenpr @jwtpuertorico #filmeszapatero @dyadtv @pjgaffers #musicxpress 📷 by @marimarei" (in Spanish). Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Filmes Zapatero – Kacho Lopez Mari". kacholopez.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  26. ↑ BOCÓN, NOTICIAS EL (April 2, 2020). "Daddy Yankee: Fallece de cáncer el protagonista del video de su canción "Yo contra ti" | NNDC | USA". El Bocón (in Spanish). Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  27. ↑ "[VIDEO] 'Yo contra ti', una brutal canción Daddy Yankee contra el cáncer ¡Escúchela!" (in Spanish). hsbnoticias.com. September 1, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  28. 1 2 "2018 Radio Mercury Awards Winners Announced". radioink.com. June 1, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Premiados 2018 – El Sol – El Festival Iberoamericano de la Comunicación Publicitaria" (in Spanish). elsolfestival.com. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  30. 1 2 "El Sol 2018: Lola MullenLowe, la agencia del festival" (in Spanish). adlatina.com. June 2, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  31. 1 2 "Estos son los ganadores del SME Digital Awards" (in Spanish). noticel.com. May 17, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  32. ↑ "SME Puerto Rico Anuncia El Shortlist de los 2018 SME Digital Awards" (in Spanish). digital.smepr.org. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  33. 1 2 "The One Club / The One Show – 2018 One Show Agency Rankings – J. Thompson Puerto Rico / San Juan". The One Club. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  34. 1 2 "Cannes Lions 2018: Todos los finalistas iberoamericanos". adlatina.com. June 19, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  35. ↑ "The Latin Academy Of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. – 19th Latin Grammy Awards" (PDF). The Latin Recording Academy. September 20, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
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