Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)
"Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Pam Tillis. It was released in November 1994 as the third single from the album, Sweetheart's Dance. She co-wrote the song with Jess Leary, and co-produced it with Steve Fishell. The song is Tillis' only number-one single on the Billboard country charts and earned her a second nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
"Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)" | ||||
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Single by Pam Tillis | ||||
from the album Sweetheart's Dance | ||||
B-side | "Ancient History"[1] | |||
Released | November 7, 1994 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | Arista Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Pam Tillis singles chronology | ||||
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Background and writing
Tillis said the idea for the song came when she was watching the talk show Geraldo and saw a guest with a tattoo reading "mi vida loca", which is Spanish for "my crazy life". She presented the idea to co-writer Jess Leary, who came up with a "Tex-Mex/salsa kind of groove". Leary was initially unsure if the song's title would present difficulty to radio programmers.[2]
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the song has a "south-of-the-border Bo Diddley feel."[3]
Music video
The music video was directed by Roger Pistole and premiered in late 1994.
Personnel
Compiled from album liner notes.[4]
- Dan Dugmore — acoustic guitar
- John Barlow Jarvis — accordion
- John Jorgenson — electric guitar, mandolin, acoustic guitar solo
- Greg Leisz — steel guitar
- Suzi Ragsdale — background vocals
- Milton Sledge — drums
- Harry Stinson — percussion
- Pam Tillis — lead vocals, background vocals
- Biff Watson — acoustic guitar
- Willie Weeks — bass guitar
Chart positions
"Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)" debuted at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 19, 1994.
Chart (1994-1995) | Peak position |
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Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5] | 1 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1995) | Position |
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Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[7] | 41 |
US Country Songs (Billboard)[8] | 36 |
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 422. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- "Opportunity knocks for Jess Leary". The Times Tribune. December 26, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- Billboard, November 19, 1994
- Sweetheart's Dance (CD booklet). Pam Tillis. Arista Records. 1994. 18758.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7788." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. February 13, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- "Pam Tillis Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1995". RPM. December 18, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.