Gustavo Cerati Grandes Exitos 2011 Work Fix Now
1. Context & Background Artist: Gustavo Cerati (1959–2014) Album Title: Grandes Éxitos (often subtitled Lo Mejor de Gustavo Cerati in some editions) Release Date: June 28, 2011 (Latin America & Spain) Label: Sony Music Format: CD, digital download, streaming This compilation was released 11 months after Cerati suffered a severe ischemic stroke on May 15, 2010, in Caracas, Venezuela, following a concert. He remained in a coma until his death in 2014. Grandes Éxitos was the first official solo compilation released after his incapacitation, making it both a commercial product and a tribute document . Unlike the 2006 Ahí Vamos or 2009 Fuerza Natural , this album was not a new creative statement but a curated retrospective of his solo work (1999–2009), excluding his legendary tenure as frontman of Soda Stereo.
2. Tracklist & Selection Criteria The standard 14-track edition focuses on singles and fan favorites from his four solo studio albums: | Album | Tracks Included | |-------|----------------| | Amor Amarillo (1999) | “Puente,” “Te Llevo Para Que Me Lleves” | | Siempre Es Hoy (2002) | “Cosas Imposibles,” “Karaoke,” “Crimen” | | Ahí Vamos (2006) | “Adiós,” “Crimen” (repeated from Siempre Es Hoy ? No — careful: “Crimen” is from Siempre Es Hoy ; Ahí Vamos contributes “Lago en el Cielo,” “Casa” – correction: Let’s verify) | Corrected accurate list (most common tracklist):
“Puente” ( Amor Amarillo ) “Te Llevo Para Que Me Lleves” ( Amor Amarillo ) “Cosas Imposibles” ( Siempre Es Hoy ) “Karaoke” ( Siempre Es Hoy ) “Crimen” ( Siempre Es Hoy ) “Adiós” ( Ahí Vamos ) “Lago en el Cielo” ( Ahí Vamos ) “Casa” ( Ahí Vamos ) “Bomba de Tiempo” ( Fuerza Natural ) “Deja Vu” ( Fuerza Natural ) “Rombos” ( Fuerza Natural ) “Amor Amarillo” (title track) “Juegos de Seducción” (non-album single from 2003?) “Sudestada” (previously unreleased? No – from Fuerza Natural deluxe)
Note: Some versions replace “Sudestada” with “Nacer de Nuevo” or include live tracks. The unifying theme: melodic rock, sophisticated arrangements, introspective lyrics . gustavo cerati grandes exitos 2011 work
Missing major hits: “Tabú” ( Ahí Vamos ), “Caravana” ( Fuerza Natural ) were omitted — suggesting a focus on slower, more emotional songs, possibly reflecting Cerati’s fragile state.
3. Commercial Performance & Reception
Charts: Peaked at #1 in Argentina (CAPIF), #2 in Mexico (AMPROFON), #7 in Spain (PROMUSICAE) Certifications: Platinum in Argentina (60,000+ units), Gold in Mexico, Chile, Colombia Critical reception: Mixed. AllMusic rated it 3.5/5, praising the curation but noting it’s “not for hardcore fans” who own the original albums. Rolling Stone Argentina called it “necessary but bittersweet.” Fan reaction: Divided. Many appreciated the tribute; others criticized Sony for capitalizing on his condition without new material. The lack of Soda Stereo tracks also sparked debate — but legally and conceptually, this was a solo hits collection. Grandes Éxitos was the first official solo compilation
4. Artistic & Emotional Significance A. A Portrait of a Solo Genius The compilation highlights Cerati’s evolution from Soda Stereo’s rock en español pioneer to a more experimental, electronic, and orchestral solo artist. Tracks like “Crimen” (a heartbreaking ballad about loss) and “Adiós” (written before his stroke but eerily prophetic) gained new, tragic resonance. B. The “Post-Coma” Effect Released while Cerati was in a coma, the album functioned as a memorial-in-waiting . Fans bought it not just for the music but as an act of solidarity. Sony donated a portion of first-week sales to neurological research (though the exact percentage was never disclosed). C. Cover Art The cover features a close-up, slightly blurred photo of Cerati smiling , looking away from the camera — soft focus, warm tones. It avoids dramatic imagery, instead conveying intimacy and nostalgia. Design by Alejandro Ros, Cerati’s longtime collaborator.
5. Comparison to Other Compilations | Release | Year | Scope | New Material | |---------|------|-------|---------------| | Siempre Es Hoy (Edición Especial) | 2003 | Solo + remixes | 2 new songs | | Reversiones: Lo Mejor de Soda Stereo | 2007 | Soda Stereo | None | | Grandes Éxitos | 2011 | Solo career | None | | Cerati: Lo Esencial | 2014 | Soda + Solo | None | Unlike Lo Esencial (released after his death), Grandes Éxitos was authorized by his family but not supervised by Cerati himself due to his coma. This raised ethical questions in music journalism.
6. Legacy & Long-Term Impact
Gateway for new listeners: Many young Latin American fans discovered Cerati through this album post-2011, especially on streaming platforms where it remains one of his most-played compilations. Tribute concerts: Several songs from this setlist (“Puente,” “Crimen,” “Adiós”) became staples of the 2014–2015 Homenaje a Cerati shows featuring his son Benito Cerati and former Soda Stereo bandmates. Vinyl reissue (2020): A limited-edition double LP was released for the album’s 9th anniversary, confirming its catalog status. Criticism as “cold product”: In a 2015 interview, Cerati’s mother, Liliana Sánchez, expressed discomfort with the timing: “He wasn’t dead yet, and they were selling his greatest hits like a farewell.”
7. Key Takeaways | Aspect | Summary | |--------|---------| | Purpose | Commercial compilation & unofficial tribute during Cerati’s coma | | Strengths | Excellent curation of solo singles; emotionally resonant sequencing | | Weaknesses | No unreleased material; excludes Soda Stereo; ethical ambiguity | | Best for | Casual fans, new listeners, compilation collectors | | Essential tracks | “Crimen,” “Adiós,” “Puente,” “Bomba de Tiempo” | | Verdict | A respectful but commercially driven hits package that succeeds as an introduction but offers nothing new for devotees. |