"Gasolina" (English: "Gasoline") is a reggaeton song written by Daddy Yankee and Eddie Ávila for Daddy Yankee's 2004 album Barrio Fino.[1] It features Glory, who sings the line "dame más gasolina" (meaning "Give me more gasoline"). The song was released as the album's lead single in November 2004 and became a hit in 2005, peaking inside the top 10 on some of the charts it entered. "Gasolina" is the first reggaeton song to be nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year. In 2015, the song reached the number nine position on the "50 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time" list according to Billboard. In 2017, it was included on Billboard's "12 Best Dancehall & Reggaeton Choruses of the 21st Century" at number eight.[2]
"Gasolina" was composed in 2003 by Daddy Yankee and Eddie Dee, assisted by a production duo known as Luny Tunes.[3] Daddy Yankee's album Barrio Fino was released in July 2004, containing the song "Gasolina". At the beginning of August, Daddy Yankee shot a video for the song in the Dominican Republic's capital city, Santo Domingo, at the Autodrómo Internacional de Las Américas motorsports track and in the historic center of town, the Zona Colonial.[4] The song was released as a single in the US on November 1, 2004, supported by a television appearance by Daddy Yankee on MTV's Total Request Live on November 4, when the video was introduced. By November 6, WSKQ-FM in New York City reported "Gasolina" in their top 10 rotation, and WRTO-FM in Florida said the song was their number one most-played track.[5] It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 chart a week later, rising to number 32 on January 28, 2005. "Gasolina" became a worldwide hit, gaining Daddy Yankee popularity among Latino mainstream music fans as well, becoming a hit in Puerto Rico, the rest of Latin America, the Caribbean, United States, Canada and Europe. On July 4, 2005, "Gasolina" was released as a single in the UK, eventually earning a Silver certification in March 2019.[6] Australia saw the single enter their charts in late January 2006 during their summer season, rising to number 12. "Gasolina" is one of the songs attributed with opening the door for reggaeton and creating a pathway for other stars in reggaeton.[3]
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Uses in the media and live performances[]
During his performance at the 2005 Lo Nuestro Awards, Daddy Yankee came into the show in a red Lamborghini, which was pulled down from the roof of American Airlines Arena in Miami, while singing "Gasolina".[48] This moment was voted as the best moment of the show by online voters at Univision's website.[48]
The song was used in a TV advertising for the 2006 Citroën C2, which ran through the spring and summer of 2005.[49]
At a campaign stop for Republican presidential nominee John McCain, Daddy Yankee endorsed McCain and performed this song live for students at Phoenix's Central High. A New York Times blogger has questioned if McCain and his campaign understood the song's double-entendres.[50]
The song was used on seventh week of Dancing with the Stars as the music for James Maslow and his professional partner Peta Murgatroyd's during the night.
Salvadoran singer Papa A.P. released a cover version of "Gasolina" in Europe in 2005. It caused some controversy for being released there prior to Daddy Yankee's version,[citation needed] which had been released the previous year in the United States. It was the first single from his second studio album, Assesina.
Papa A.P. said that he initially refused to release the single before Daddy Yankee but was convinced to do so by his producers.[52][unreliable source?] He said about his version: "I do not regret that choice because even if it's not my title, everyone has very well accepted my version, even in the hood of New York". He claims his producers "came to an arrangement" with Daddy Yankee's producers.[citation needed] One week after the recording, his producer proposed shooting a music video, which was eventually shot in Tunisia.[53]
His first European hit,[54] the song reached the top 10 in France, and also charted elsewhere around Europe.
The song was remixed in late 2004 by DJ Buddha, featuring Pitbull and N.O.R.E., and was also a smash hit. Later, Lil Jon mixed his own vocals to the remix, which is featured on the Crunk Juice remix CD.
This song was also recorded by La Fabrica and released in Europe before the song's official release by Daddy Yankee. La Fabrica's version peaked at number three in Greece before the original "Gasolina" was released.[61]
