Santo (song)

"Santo" was created for Aguilera's follow-up album to Mi Reflejo (2000) during recording sessions in 2021. Aguilera sought out to pay tribute to the music of Latin America with the album's sound, paying tribute to several genres from the region.[1] "Santo" is a reggaeton song,[2][3] a genre of music originating from Panama and Puerto Rico which falls under the urbano music category.[3] The song contains influences of Colombian cumbia,[4][5][6] and through its use of drums and percussion instruments such as the maraca, the song features the sound of rumba.[7][8] It is written in the key of A minor, with a moderately fast tempo of 96 beats per minute.[9]

Lyrically, "Santo" tells the story of two people who are "dying for each other" and are ready to commit every sin possible.[6] In the chorus, Aguilera calls her lover a "Saint" inviting her lover to "come and save" her,[10][11][12] While Ozuna calls her "more dangerous than the impact of an assault riffle".[11][12]

Upon its release, the single received positive reviews from music critics. Billboard considered "Santo" an "infectious perreo", and praised the song for its "catchy hook", Ozuna's "crisp, sugary vocals" and Aguilera's vocal range.[13] Liz Calvario‍ of Entertainment Tonight called "Santo" "the hottest song of the year",[14] and Lucas Villa from Rolling Stone labelled it as a "sexy" reggaeton song.[15] Writing for Remezcla, Isabella Vega thought that "Aguilera has embodied the pop-based vein of reggaeton with the absolute banger, 'Santo'".[16] In his review for Atwood Magazine, Josh Weiner found the song "fiesta-ready" and cheered its "pure Latin production". He also described Ozuna's singing as "spicy".[3] BroadwayWorld's Michael Major praised Aguilera's "unmatched vocals in full force" and thought that the song's "Latin rhythms create the perfect flow that makes an instant hit."[17]

According to El Tres, the song is "driven by a contagious reggaetón rhythm".[18] Lideny Villatoro of Univision opined that "Santo" is a perreo-influenced "jam" and "it's a sin not to want to dance to its rhythm". She also called the song a "potential hit".[6] Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus considered "Santo" "undeniably catchy" and the "EP's strongest moment". He believed that the single's "pumping beat will see it spreading throughout the clubs in Latin America, and across the globe".[19] A reviewer from Monitor Latino shared the same sentiment, calling the song "very rhythmic", and noting that it will make "everyone dance to it".[7] Shirley Gómez of ¡Hola! labelled "Santo" as a "powerful interpretation that honors Latin and Afro-Caribbean rhythms".[20] Writing for NEIU Independent, Enrique Cerros named the song "spicy" and thought that it "screams club banger".[8] Aldo Magallanes of a daily newspaper El Siglo de Torreón called the song "a perfect fusion" and "a powerful performance that, accompanied by Latin rhythms, becomes an instant hit".[21]

American Songwriter's Jacob Uitti positioned "Santo" at number five on his list of the top 10 Christina Aguilera songs.[22] In July 2022, Billboard called the song one of "the best Latin collaborations of the year (so far)".[23]

In the United States, "Santo" reached number 24 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs.[24] The song fared better on the airplay charts, reaching number 12 on the Latin Airplay chart,[25] and number three and seven on the Latin Pop Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay charts respectively.[26][27] It received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the Latin field.[28]

The song achieved commercial success mainly in Latin and Spanish-speaking territories, peaking at number 6 on Monitor Latino's Latin America chart.[29][30] In Guatemala, "Santo" peaked at number three on the overall chart and number one on the pop chart.[31][32] The song peaked at number six in Puerto Rico,[33] while reaching number one on the pop chart,[34] number seven on the urbano chart.[35] "Santo" reached the top 10 in other territories, such as Panama,[36][37] El Salvador,[38] and Peru.[39] It was a top 20 year-end hit in Guatemala,[40] and top 30 in Dominican Republic.[41] Throughout Europe, "Santo" peaked at number seventeen on the Hungarian Single Top 40 chart,[42] and at number seventy-two on the Spanish Singles Chart.[43]

Aguilera surrounded by the forest army and magical creatures.

The music video was released alongside the song on January 20, 2022. It was directed by Venezuelan director Nuno Gomes and shot in Las Vegas, Nevada.[10]

It is the third installment of the album's visual story-line, a follow-up to the "Somos Nada" video, where Aguilera's lover and business partner was killed after betraying her.[16] Now she finds herself in a magical forest of an underworld where she faces the ghost of her ex-partner seemingly haunting her.[16] Aguilera asks her savior to "come save" her. As they dance, they exchange alluring glances and explore their mystical surroundings. The performers dance together in the sorcerous land with magical creatures, where they look tempted by their surroundings and each other. Later Aguilera — dressed in an all-red ensemble donning a flower lip ring — is seen with fairies and forest army all around her.

Rolling Stone's Tomás Mier opined that Aguilera and Ozuna "channel Adam and Eve's wild side" in the music video, and thought that its scenery resembles "dark Garden of Eden".[10]

An alternate music video for "Santo" was released on June 15, 2022.

Aguilera performed "Santo" live for the first time at the 2022 Mallorca Live Festival, along with other songs from her ninth studio album and second Spanish-language, Aguilera.[44][45] It was later included on the setlist of her promotional tour EU/UK Summer Series.