Let this go down in history as the first official post of SIEMPRE EN DOMINGO, and of course, it had to be about Patricia Manterola. Anyone who knows me would not expect anything else. Mexican singer and actress, Patricia Manterola (who also goes by Patty Manterola) and I go way back; so far back neither one of us were of age.
Patty started her career as a child, but it was in the ’90s that found herself as one of the eight members of the pop group, Garibaldi. Maybe unofficially, I might be considered one of the group’s biggest fans. I will say that I am the biggest English-speaking fan, that is for sure. Over the years, I have met Patty many times during Garibaldi and after, as a soloist.
In 2003, Patty released her last big label produced album, “Dejame Volar.” Since then, Patty has been releasing music under the indie label, “Nui Records.” It has been twelve years since we have had a full-length album from the starlet. That does not mean she has been dormant all this time. Musically, maybe. Patty released her first musical production seven years later with ALALALEO. The single contained four additional remixes when it was released digitally to the world.
Since that 2016 release, we have had a handful of individual singles on streaming platforms but nothing concrete like a full album. When we finally do get an album, what genre do you think we will have?
Let’s break down what we have seen musically from Patty since her last album.
- May 20, 2016: ALALALEO – A pop dance track that features Latin beats that feels very similar to the music we heard on the album, Que El Ritmo No Pare. The single is in Spanish but there is a multilingual version of the song, as well as remixes.
- December 15, 2017, Patty released three singles in English. “Sweet Child of Mine”, “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, and “Money Talks” came out with a club beat. “Sweet Child of Mine” single came with a remix. Essentially with four new songs, we see that Patty wants to be a club diva. Easily, these tracks could be heard in any nightclub around the US and would do great. I do wish this would have been released as an EP instead of three singles.
- April 20, 2018: The single “Sin Ti Otra Vez” is released. The ballad sings like a torch song with strong bolero influences. Patty does have the chops for this style of music but it’s just not my jam.
- August 24, 2018: The duet from the movie La Nacion de las Mariposas, “Nuevo Mundo” is released. Patty sings the song with Felipe Oyarzo, a director and actor from the movie. Patty also starred in the movie about a Latin American country that changes like a butterfly to end poverty and corruption. The song is okay. On the level of theme songs, I would have like to have heard the song really come together for an impact.
- March 29, 2019: Patty released the single, “Devorame Otra Vez” which was originally made famous by the Spanish duo Azucar Moreno. This song is strongly influenced by Spanish flamenco but Patty added male reggaetón vocals, which I didn’t feel the song needed. I understand that artists today want to reach larger markets and to do that, they step into genres that do not suit them. Since the release of Que El Ritmo No Pare, Patty has been embracing the Latin roots but I just don’t feel that she needs to step into the Latin ghetto to achieve success.
- October 11, 2019: Again, we have another single filled with heavy urban beats. “Leyenda” starts with the one part of the genre that I hate. Explain to me, please, why do we have to announce who is singing the song. I know I am listening to Patty, why does she need to say, “Patty M.” Sorry, I love you Patty… but I just can’t. She has such a wonderful voice and she is such a great performer that she doesn’t need this.
- May 29, 2020: Again with Patty M. “A Romper La Noche” is release and if I wasn’t such a fan of this woman for what she has given me over the years, I might have turned off the music three songs ago. The one thing I can say is that I do love the artwork for this single.
- September 18, 2020: Finally Patty returns to something other than urban music. With the single, “Canción Pa’ Levantarte” we hear those Latin beats but they remind me more of music from Colombia and artists like Carlos Vives. Her vocals play very well with this song and the music.
- February 12, 2021: With Valentine’s days away, Patty released a love song to her husband, Forrest. She is unapologetically in love with Forrest and her family and this song is her way of telling the world. I have always loved Patty’s ballads and they are some of the best songs in her catalog. This is finally my Patty, the way I love her. Thank you for being in love, so we can love you in return. “Made in Heaven” is a bilingual ballad of perfection.
- April 2, 2021: We return to the urban tunes with the song, “Como La Marea” which she records with Yenz Garcia, a relatively unknown urban artist. I am sad.
So I ask, what will we get if Patty were to release a full-length album? I don’t know. By the looks of it, I might lose my favorite artist to the pits of my urban nightmare. As a pop music fan, I have followed Patty’s career loyally because I believe she is a damn good artist. Meanwhile, I will turn on the album, “Dejame Volar” to write this article because it is what I believe is Patty’s perfect album.
Patty has certainly been busy over the last few years with singles, movies, television shows, and a few web series; one that features her family on YouTube. And I’ll be here praying that Patty gets back to her pop music roots and releases music that her fans have grown to love.
Since that day, I have been study Latin pop and rock music and have become a Latin pop music historian through the publishing of articles, fanzine, and websites. My goal is to teach people about Latin pop music and the history behind it with my website, Siempre En Domingo.
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