La Chica Dorada

After having been part of the Timbiriche group and recording ten studio albums, Rubio traveled to Europe in 1991 to study History of Art, but his greatest wish was to start his solo career. This is how Gian Pietro Felisatti, better known as "DiFelisatti", one of the most outstanding composers of that era, along with José Ramón Flórez, volunteered to work on the solo project of the young artist of 20 years. The well-known producers and she had a very good relationship, since both writers were responsible for great successes of the band Timbiriche. Added to the above, Rubio was established in Spain to start recordings of what would be his debut album.

Miguel Blasco, Spanish producer of the greatest discographic hits of Alejandra Guzmán, Yuri and Mijares would handle all the production of La Chica Dorada, achieving a breakthrough in just four months of work. In June 1992, Paulina Rubio officially signed a contract with the EMI Capitol label in Mexico[6] and the song "La Chica Dorada" was released exclusively to publicize her solo project. The song describes the moments Rubio lived in Spain while studying Art History and dreamed of becoming a Hispanic pop star.

"La Chica Dorada" was released the same day that Madonna, one of her biggest influences, published her album "Erotica".

Prior to the promotion of the album, Rubio gave several details of his solo debut while he was recording the last scenes of the telenovela Baila conmigo, informing the media of his great radical change of image. La Chica Dorada was released in Mexico and United States on October 20, 1992, the same day that Madonna released her fifth studio album, Erotica. The album was re-released in Europe in 2001, and the digital edition was released in 2005.

The promotion began in July 1992, when Rubio conducted a small advertising campaign by several Mexican media outlets, where she presented her new image as "golden girl" and promoted the song "La Chica Dorada" on some radio stations. " The singer made several promotional appearances, including talk shows and live performances in the main cities of Mexico. Paulina Rubio made her debut as a solo singer on the legendary Mexican television program Siempre en Domingo, with Raúl Velasco on October 18, 1992,[7] 3 days before her album was released. She performed the song "Amor De Mujer" and her first single, "Mío". The famous television host commented that "it was a great privilege to have presented Paulina as a solo singer". His presentation had a high audience rating that the next week was invited again.[8] In United States, for the Spanish-language television program Sábado Gigante, Rubio performed the track "Mío" in January, 1993 and that presentation opened the doors to the Hispanic market in that country.[9]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[11]
Apple Music	favourable[12]

Many critics compare the image of La Chica Dorada with Madonna and Marilyn Monroe (picture).

La Chica Dorada had received mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic rateit three of five stars, giving it a mixed review and considering the album energetic, exuberant, passionate and intense like the aesthetic image and personality of Paulina Rubio.[11] Due to the success of "Mío", in Mexico the journalists considered her solo debut as the new "Latin pop icon" and a great business for her label EMI/Capitol Latin.[13] Apple Music considers that [La Chica Dorada] "is an album with a risky musical proposal that transcends".[14]

Many Critics could not avoid comparing La Chica Dorada to Madonna[15] dance-pop 80's era records, and to tell the truth, what makes the album distinctive is Rubio's authentic personality: sophisticated young adult and sensual, genuinely compared to Marilyn Monroe. In fact, Rubio remarked a mole on the side of the lip, like the Hollywood actress. Trapped in these stereotypes, the singer it makes its way through implacable and passionate clues such as "Mío", "Amarte En Libertad", "Amor De Mujer" and "Sabor A Miel" in styles dance-pop. La Chica Dorada remains one of her defining albums of Latin pop.

El País newspaper's Elena Reina wrote recently that "[Rubio] turn from adolescence to the age of majority to hit new record. If her image had already been important to her career as a child, now [with her debut] it becomes crucial", ultimately concluding that the album was her passage from girl to woman.[16] Catalan music critic and journalist Jordi Bianciotto categorized La Chica Dorada as "a light and danceable pop record" and expressed his "disconcerting version" of "La Escoba", which was originally sung by the Spanish rock group Los Sírex. Similarly to most critics, he highlighted Rubio's success with his debut.[17]

La Chica Dorada debuted on the USA Latin Pop Albums Chart on January 1993. In its eighth week, it peaked at number two and stayed there for two consecutive weeks.[18] Rubio became the first Mexican female artist to have a success album with her debut as solo artist on Billboard charts; in doing so, She was also the first member of Timbiriche who managed to enter those lists. The album also peaked at number 42 on the Top Latin Albums chart where it stayed on the charts for 3 weeks.

In Rubio's native Mexico, La Chica Dorada was certified three times gold in the first five months of its launch and the summer 1993 it was certified platinum with sales of 450,000.[19][20]

The following people contributed to La Chica Dorada:[25]

• Paulina Rubio – lead vocals, backing vocals, main performer, songwriter

Additional personnel

• Miguel Blasco – music director, executive producer
• Luis Méndez – A&E
• Remy Causse – arrangements
• J.R. Florez – record producer, composer
• Cesar Valle – composer
• Gian Pietro Felisatti – composer
• Aleks Syntek – composer
• José Antonio Álvarez Alija – engineering
• Carlos Latapí L – photography

• 1992 in Latin music
• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• List of artists influenced by Madonna

• La Chica Dorada at Discogs (list of releases)