Cambia El Pasio

Album: single release only (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Cambia El Paso" translates to "change the step"; Jennifer Lopez recorded this summer dance anthem after moving on following the breakdown of her four-year relationship with Alex Rodriguez.

    "The song is about change and not being afraid to take the step," Lopez said of the song on an episode of SiriusXM's Pitbull's Globalization show. "Like, just take the step, advance, do what you need to do. If something's not feeling right, whatever it is in your life, like, just make that move and dance. Dance is life, and joy and happiness."
  • The references to dancing in the chorus are not necessary about choreographed movement. Lopez explained on the Sirius XM show that she's talking about something else. "All she wants to do is just dance, dance, dance, dance again. You gotta live. You gotta be yourself. You got to be happy. And that's what the record's about."
  • The song mirrors Lopez' 2012 Pitbull collaboration "Dance Again," which she recorded shortly after her ex-husband Marc Anthony filed for divorce.
  • While in the Dominican Republic filming Shotgun Wedding, Lopez realized she'd got to a point in her life where she enjoyed being on her own. She told Apple Music's Zane Lowe her newfound happiness encouraged her to get back into the recording studio. "I'm good. I love my life right now. I love what I'm doing. I love where I'm at. I love the person that I am continually kind of evolving into and becoming," the singer said, before adding, "When I feel really good, I really feel like I do my best music. And so I got back from the Dominican Republic and I immediately had notified everybody that I know and be like, I want to get in the studio."
  • The Puerto Rican rapper/singer Rauw Alejandro enters the song halfway through. During his verse, the Latin R&B artist pays tribute to an independent woman who prefers the single life to being tied down to one man. The collaboration came about when Alejandro stopped by the Miami studio where Lopez was recording. When she played him "Cambia El Paso," it resonated with the "Todo De Ti" artist so much he recorded his contribution straight away.
  • Jennifer Lopez and Rauw Alejandro wrote the Latin pop track with Caleb Calloway, Mr. Naisgai, Reggi "El Auténtico", Jonas Jurström, Andrés Castro, Georgia Ku and Victor Thell.

    Jonas Jurström and Victor Thell also produced the song, incorporating a dance-floor-ready beat and reggaeton grooves. Victor Thell is one half of Swedish group Smith & Thell, whose 2018 single "Forgive Me Friend" was a #7 hit in their native country.
  • The Dominican director Jessy Terrero shot the video in Miami Beach on June 8-9, 2021. Terreo is a frequent Lopez collaborator including filming the clips for her hit singles "Live It Up," and "I Luh Ya Papi."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.