24 Kilates is the second studio album by Mexican recording artist Paulina Rubio, released by Capitol Latin on November 16, 1993. Following the success of her debut album, Rubio reunited with the Spanish producer Miguel Blasco, who produced the album. while the songs were written mostly by Cesar Valle, Don Matamoros and C. Sánchez. The recording sessions took place in Spain during the summer of 1993, coinciding with Rubio promotion her first concert tour in South America. 24 Kilates received mixed reviews from music critics, who considered the album rock-oriented sound with influences of jazz, funk, blues and dance as their first album. The album had commercial success, reached the top in Mexico and sold 150,000 in Mexico a few weeks after its release. Four singles were taken from the album. The first single was "Nieva, Nieva", which was successful on the charts, reaching number one in Mexico. Two other singles, "Él Me Engañó" and "Asunto De Dos", peaked in the top ten in Mexico charts. "Vuelve Junto A Mí" was only released in the United States, where it appeared on the Billboard charts. The album was promoted further through Rubio's first and second concert tours, and a concert residency in the famous Mexican club El Patio. In an article by El Siglo de Torreón published in 1994, Rubio was cited as "the current novelty", considering it together with other stars of music as a guarantee at the box office due to its commercial success in the music industry. Alluding the success of his first album and 24 Kilates.
Background
Rubio came to peoples' attention in the 1980s when she was part of the popular Mexican group Timbiriche. She signed with Capitol Latin in early 1992 and released her debut studio album in October 1992. Fueled by hit singles like "Mío", "Amor de Mujer" and "Sabor A Miel", La Chica Dorada peaked at number one and was one the best-selling album of 1993 in her native Mexico, certified three times gold and one time platinum and sold over 600,000 copies. The album helped Rubio launch her career as a pop artist at a time when there was many competitions of artist. After the success of her debut album La Chica Dorada, Rubio developed the sessions of her second album. In the midst of an extensive promotion through South America, her label EMI Music prepared the songs that would go through the musical career of the well-known Chica Dorada. According to EMI executives, Rubio became the promise of music in Mexico thanks to the success of her debut album. The concept of the album followed the basis of the "gold" as the frame of Rubio, but striving more with the production decided to baptize it with the name of "24 Kilates". Previously, she also told that the album will take references from the epicspace-operaStar Wars.
Critical reception
Musically, 24 Kilates resumes the similar process and composition of her previous effort. The album, like the previous, was handled by Miguel Blasco and José Ramón Flórez, who had written and produced the entire album, where C. Sánchez, C. Valle and Don Matamoros written the majority the songs. According to AllMusic, 24 Kilates is a latin pop and latin dance album, it's no surprise that sounds very similar to her debut . Which is fine consideration that at the time this formula was pure gold. In his book La Balada: Un Mensaje Universal by the Colombian writer Carlos Bolívar Ramírez alludes 24 Kilates emphasizing that "His pop-rock style is very convincing and the poetic lyrics are of good quality".
Singles
"Nieva, Nieva", the album's first single release, reached number twenty-seven on the US BillboardHot Latin Tracks. The second single "Él Me Engañó" was accompanied by Rubio's first music video with an expensive production. "Asunto De Dos" was the album's third single.. "Vuelve Junto A Mí" was a single released only in United States and had a positive commercial performance, peaking at number 20 on the Hot Latin Tracks, without promotion. "Tú Sólo Tú" was released as an airplay single even was planned as the last 24 Kilates's single. In countries like Peru, the song was one of the most played songs on the radio in 1994.
Commercial performance
24 Kilates reached gold status upon release with pre-sales of over 150,000 copies. In US, 24 Kilates received limited promotion and did not appear on any major charts, only their singles "Nieva, Nieva" and "Vuelve Junto A Mí" rached top 30 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks.
