Although it was only a minor hit album, Paulina Rubio's "Border Girl," which would debut and peak at #11 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart and ultimately sell just north of 600,000 copies in the US, is a bonafide pop music dream. The disc is overstuffed from beginning to end with sing-a-long choruses that are simply unshakeable, while maintaining splendid production throughout that doesn't obscure Rubio's vocals or unique appeal, but instead helps the singer and her Latin roots shine in the sunlight.
Although the first track and lead single "Don't Say Goodbye" only peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100, it is nevertheless an urgent, pulsing club jam that Rubio delivers splendidly. The sharp video for the track, which was shot at an infamous $1,000,000 budget, is also candy for the eyes. The only problems with the track are the gloom it creates - it is, after all, about broken love - and its Euro-pop styled production, which both combined to make it an unfavorable choice for a summer single.
A much better choice for the lead single would have been "I'll Be Right Here (Sexual Lover)." An English translation of 2001's major hit "Y Yo Sigo Aqui (And I Continue Here)," which happens to be recycled at the end of "Border Girl," has instantly palatable lyrics and a catchy, summer-ready groove that does not let go of the listener, and long after the song has ended. The epitome of irresistible, if it had been the lead single "Border Girl" would have had much better chances of success. "Casanova," which contains other optimal lead single ingredients; sizzling percussion, blaring Latin horns and eyebrow-raising lyrics, also would have yielded the same results.
"Dark sexy skin, my passion begins/You're the center of my obsession/Watching you dance in your leather pants/My eyes see a true perfection/And I'm hypnotized by the rhythm of your hips/It's so hard to hide and I can't resist."
Further along, there is the monumental confection that is "The Last Goodbye." A perfect, completely kick-ass track that settles into a fine mid-tempo groove, the track blends hip-hop and ranchera sounds flawlessly; something that has not been otherwise done in pop music. The track is an adaptation of her 2000 single "El Ultimo Adios," which was a worldwide hit.
Rubio truly shines on "The One You Love," which was the set's second single. A true head-scratcher that it only peaked at #97 on Billboard's Hot 100, the track has an irrepressible chorus, sparkling Spanish guitars and is the epitome of a perfect mid-tempo pop single. The funky "Stereo," featuring an excellent guest appearance by rapper Chilly Willy, already sounds dated for being only 3 years old, but is still an extremely entertaining listen with its quirky lyrics and frothy, trance-like production.
"Don't wanna be too bizarre/But you're the key to my car/You're my electric guitar/Sounds like it's ringing on the stereo/It's very clear to me, just like it's in 3D/Total telepathy/Sounds like it's ringing on the stereo/I'm bouncing off the wall/The way you turn me on/I think I like this song/Sounds like it's ringing on the stereo."
Also, "Fire" is a fast-paced club jam that pleads to be your companion on dancefloors and treadmills. With Rubio's vocals soaring high and incessant production, including intermittence of her heavy breathing, this adaptation-gone-wild of her 2001 single "Sexi Dance" is made to raise heart rates as well as entertain.
The most shining track on the disc, however, is the underrated title track. An edgy, slow-danceable ballad, the lyrics are superb, and Rubio's performance is full of passion and sincerity.
"I am a border girl/Crossing oceans in the name of love/And I have been searching for this all of my life/My heart knows when it's wrong and when it's right."
The rest of the English tracks include her sex-kitten cover of Kiss' "I Was Made For Lovin' You," "Undeniable," a quiet ballad, and "Not that Kind of Girl," a high-energy girl-power anthem in the vain of Destiny's Child that is an adaptation of her 2001 smash "Yo No Soy Esa Mujer."
The disc switches over into Spanish in its latter half. "Si Tu Te Vas," "Todo Mi Amor" and "Baila Casanova" are counterparts for "Don't Say Goodbye," "The One You Love" and "Casanova" respectively. Although the lyrics falter a bit in the translation, which is par for the course, her vocals only pick up momentum. Last but not least is "Libre (Free)," another well-executed Latin pride anthem tailor made for dancefloors.
Overall, "Border Girl" is the essence of what pop music should be, especially with Latin flourishes. Although she was robbed of the success that she deserved with this album, Rubio still greatly outsold her arch rival Thalia's English-language debut, and most appropriately.
Those who have passed over this album should give it another chance.
Paulina Rubios Border Girl proved to me that I should not buy an album after loving only one song. When Don't Say Goodbye came out, I instantly fell in love with it. I figured, the whole album has got to be incredible. I was wrong. The rest of the album is so boring, so overproduced I immediately regretted buying it and wished I bought the CD single. Paulina does have a unique voice and she has excellent presence in her videos, but I wish she had chosen better material. It's like her producers wanted her to be the next Britney Spears so they thew together a bunch of bad pop songs to get her noticed in the US. What she should have done is gone the Shakira route or even the Christina Aguilera route and gotten some good writers and producers and put together an outstanding album that would have proven to the world Paulina Rubio has arrived. Unfortunately, Border Girl will be forgotten and we may never hear from her again.
I'm writing this review after just one listen to Border Girl. I must first confess that I'm a big fan of Paulina Rubio's work. She's been a superstar among hispanic gay audiences for almost a decade now, thanks to all the dance beats and a sexy and rebellious attitude. God, she looks gorgeous!!!
I think first single Don't say goodbye is a smash hit, I cannot get tired of listening to it. It's the first thing I listen to every morning. Other highlights are Border girl and The one you love. I was especially surprised by The last goodbye, the English version of her global #1 hit El ultimo adios. She is able to update the song but keeping the original idea of mixing the Mexican beats with a modern sound. As a result, she invented the mex-hop.
Like many other reviewers I didn't like much the idea of having four of her Spanish hits translated into English, but I think it's fair to give these great songs another chance, now with the American audience.
The new spanish tracks are great, I really liked Baila Casanova, which English version (Casanova) I didn't enjoy that much. And the other songs are great.
I give Border girl 4 stars because I think that I still need it to grow in me, I know it will, but first impression was very good.
Love you Pau. Cannot wait to see you live again. Come back to Costa Rica soon! We love you! Te amo.
This is the best album that she has had, Is a great mix of dance, pop, and love songs, I also love the Spanish tracks. My favorite tracks are: Baila Casanova, Don't Say Good Bye, and The One you Love.
This album is not so good when comparing it to her previous cd in spanish. It seems as a rushed effort into getting something out to the English market to capitalize on her spanish album success. A few of the song are catchy though.
