"Dejaría Todo" (transl. "I'd Leave Everything") is a song by Puerto Rican singer Chayanne from his ninth studio album, Atado a Tu Amor (1998). The song was written and produced by Estéfano and released as the lead single from the album in September 1998 by Sony Discos.The rockballad details everything the singer is capable of doing for his lover. The song received generally positive reactions from music critics and is listed among Chayanne's best songs. A music video for the song was filmed and features a dark scenery. Commercially, it topped the BillboardHot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Airplay charts in the United States. The track was nominated for Pop Song of the Year at the 11th Lo Nuestro Awards and Song of the Year at the inaugural Ritmo Latino Music Awards in 1999 and was acknowledged as an award-winning song at the 2000 Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Latin Awards.
"Dejaría Todo" has been covered by Brazilian singer Leonardo, Puerto Rican singer Johnny Ray, and Latin American boy band CNCO. Leonardo recorded the Portuguese version, "Deixaria Tudo", which reached number two in Brazil, while Johnny Ray's cover peaked at number 15 on the Tropical Airplay in the US. CNCO's rendition was included on their covers album, Déjà Vu (2021). It peaked at number four on the Monitor Latino Peruvian pop charts.
Background and composition
On February 6, 1998, Chayanne announced during the 39th Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile that he was set to start recording a new album in June.[1] Further details about the album were revealed during a press conference in August at the Plaza Hotel in New York City including its name, Atado a Tu Amor, and release date on September 29, 1998. Chayanne described the record as "in the same style that I have been maintaining all my career. It's pop music, with a Caribbean influence, and the romantic ballads. It's for couples. It's for love."[2] Recorded in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles, it features compositions written by musicians that Chayanne had collaborated before including Estéfano of Donato & Estéfano.[3] One of the four songs Estéfano wrote for Atado a Tu Amor was "Dejaría Todo", which also he produced.[4][5]
"Dejaría Todo" is a rockromantic ballad, that, lyrically, addresses everything the singer is capable of doing for his loved one.[6][7] In the lyrics, he sings: "Lo dejaría todo porque te quedaras, mi credo, mi familia, mi religion" ("I'd leave everything behind so that you'll stay, my family, my religion").[8] Chayanne regarded the track as one of his favorites in 2016, stating: "Dejaría Todo was a marvelous record. I already had experience, I’d done several kinds of tours, I was established, I had mass recognition, enthusiasm, and it all came together with "Dejaría Todo"."[9] In 2021, the artist revealed the song was inspired by a past relationship he had with a former lover.[10] A Portuguese-language version of the song, "Deixaria Tudo" was also recorded for the Brazilian market with the lyrics being adapted by Lucas Robles.[11][12]
Promotion and reception
"Dejaría Todo" was released as the lead single for Atado a Tu Amor on the first week of September 1998 by Sony Discos.[13][14][15] The original recording was also featured on his greatest hits album Grandes Éxitos (2002).[16] A live version of the track was included on the albums Vivo (2008) and A Solas Con Chayanne (2012). A live version of the track was included on the albums Vivo (2008) and A Solas Con Chayanne (2012),[17][18] A music video for the track was filmed. A writer for Los 40 described it as a "claustrophobic scenario that speaks about the sadness of love in this video created by narrow corridors, dark colors, large pillars in which the singer gets and even a cage in which a model appears".[19]
El Norte critic Deborah Davis cited it as one of the tracks that makes the album "a successful resurrection".[20] Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle called it a "pleasant enough ballad with some nice acoustic guitar work".[21]El Nuevo Diario critic Edgard Barberna S. praised it as a "impressive ballad that gets under skin as a prayer of love".[22] Eliseo Cardona, who wrote a more critical review of Atado a Tu Amor for El Nuevo Herald, felt that "Dejaría Todo", along with the title track, "stand out in a banal repertoire made for the staging of the live show."[23] A writer for Clarín listed it as one of the singer's "15 Greatest Hits", while an editor from El Debate cited the track as of the five songs that made him famous.[7][24]
The Portuguese version, "Deixaria Tudo", was covered by Brazilian singer Leonardo on his studio album, Quero Colo (2000),[33] and reached number two in Brazil according to Billboard.[34] Leonardo performed it live as part of a medley with his son and musician Zé Felipe in 2013 which was recorded for the live album 30 Anos (2014).[35] Puerto Rican musician Johnny Ray recorded a salsa rendition of the track on his studio album, Romántico con Salsa (2001).[36] It peaked at number 15 on the Tropical Airplay chart in the US.[37]
Latin American boy band CNCO included the song on their covers album Déjà Vu (2021).[38] Cristina Jaleru of the Associated Press complimented CNCO's take as a "livelier sound" in comparison to the original recording.[39] CNCO's version peaked at number four on the Peruvian pop charts according to Monitor Latino.[40] The band sung "Dejaria Todo" live at the Premio Lo Nuestro 2021 along with several other songs from the album.[41]
^ abDeixaria Tudo (Media notes). Chayanne. Brazil: Sony Music Brasil. 1998. 899.656/2-492267.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abDejaría Todo (CD single) (CD single liner notes). Chayanne. Europe: Sony Discos. 1998. SAMPCS 6062.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abc"1999: The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. pp. 76, 78. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
^ abCobo, Leila (August 12, 2000). "Latin Notas". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 33. p. 48. ISSN0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
^Dejaría Todo – Remix (Media notes). Chayanne. Mexico: Sony Music México. 1998. PRCD 9751.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)