Por Debajo de la Mesa

{{Infobox song

| name = Por Debajo de la Mesa

| cover = Por Debajo de la Mesa.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Luis Miguel

| album = Romances

| released = {{start date|1997|07|15|df=yes}}

| recorded = 1997

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Bolero

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=03}}

| label = WEA Latina

| writer = Armando Manzanero

| producer = Luis Miguel

| prev_title = Que Tu Te Vas

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = El Reloj

| next_year = 1997

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|giAE7Yz7gHI|"Por Debajo de la Mesa"}}

| type = single

}}}}

"Por Debajo de la Mesa" ("Underneath the Table") is a song written by Armando Manzanero and performed by Mexican recording artist Luis Miguel. Arranged by Bebu Silvetti, it was one of the two original compositions written for Miguel's fifteenth studio album Romances. It was released as the lead single from the album on 15 July 1997 and it became his thirteenth number-one single on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States. The music video features Miguel performing at a fine-dining restaurant in New York City.

The track received a negative reaction from Achy Obejas of the Chicago Tribune who called it "lame". It was nominated Pop Song of the Year at the 10th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards and Manzanero was awarded a Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Latin Award for writing the song. Manzanero performed the record as a duet with several artists such as Tania Libertad and Susana Zabaleta.

Background

In 1991, Miguel released Romance, a collection of classic Latin ballads, the oldest of which dates back to the 1940s. The album was produced by Armando Manzanero and arranged by Bebu Silvetti,{{cite web|title=Romance — Credits|url=http://allmusic.com/album/romance-r100917/credits|access-date=1 April 2011|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}} and was credited for revitalizing the bolero genre.{{cite book|first1 = Cordelia|last1 = Candelaria|authorlink=Cordelia Candelaria | first2 = Peter|last2 = Garcia| first3 = Arturo|last3 =Adalma| volume = 2| title = Encyclopedia of Latino popular culture| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3uD6PKXl3q4C&q=%22world%20music%22%20awards%20%22luis%20miguel%22%20%22romances%22&pg=PA551 |access-date = 14 March 2011| year = 2004| publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group| location = Westport, United States| isbn = 9780313322150| pages = 551–552}} It also made history as the first Spanish-language album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States.{{cite web

|title = Luis Miguel

|url = http://www.latinoise.com/Luis_Miguel.html

|publisher = Latinoise

|access-date = 19 February 2011

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713185800/http://www.latinoise.com/Luis_Miguel.html

|archive-date = 13 July 2011

|df = dmy-all

}} A follow-up to Romance was released in 1994 under the title Segundo Romance (Second Romance), which was produced by Miguel, Juan Carlos Calderón and Kiko Cibrian.{{cite web|title=Segundo Romance — Credits|url=http://allmusic.com/album/segundo-romance-r203611|access-date=1 April 2011|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}} Both albums received a platinum certification by the RIAA in the United States and also became successful in countries outside of Latin America and the United States, such as Finland and Saudi Arabia, selling over twelve million copies combined.{{cite web

| last = Obejas

| first = Achy

| date = 30 August 1996

|title= Luis Miguel Grows Up And Moves On With His Latest Albums

|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/08/30/luis-miguel-grows-up-and-moves-on-with-his-latest-albums/

|work=Chicago Tribune

|publisher=Tribune Company

|access-date=19 February 2011}}{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|artist=Luis Miguel|access-date=19 February 2011}}{{cite journal|year= 1997|journal= Forbes|volume= 160|issue=5–9 |page=155|last=La Franco|first= Robert}}

In December 1996, Miguel held a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he announced his desire to record a third Romance album and mentioned the possibility of working with Manzanero and Juan Gabriel. He also expressed an interest in singing in Italian and Portuguese,{{cite news |title=Va por el tercero|newspaper=Reforma|url=http://busquedas.gruporeforma.com/reforma/Pages/BuscaImpresa.aspx|publisher=Grupo Reforma|trans-title=Going for third|date= 10 December 1996|language=Spanish|access-date=9 April 2011}}{{subscription required}} although the album's songs are originally all in Spanish. Two months later Manzanero confirmed that he was working with Miguel on another bolero-inspired ballad album, under the tentative title Tercer Romance ("Third Romance").

{{cite magazine| last = Lannert| first = John| date = 8 February 1997| title = Latin Notas| magazine = Billboard| publisher = Nielsen Business Media, Inc.| volume = 109| issue = 6| page = 32| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wA4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22luis%20miguel%22%20intitle%3Abillboard&pg=PA32 |access-date = 28 March 2011}} Miguel's record label confirmed that fourteen tracks would be included on the album under the title Romances.{{cite news |title= Es Luis Miguel un clasico del romance|first=Angélica |last= De León|newspaper=Reforma|url=http://busquedas.gruporeforma.com/reforma/Pages/BuscaImpresa.aspx|publisher=Grupo Reforma|trans-title=Is Luis Miguel romantic classic|date= 16 July 1997|language=Spanish|access-date=28 March 2011}}{{subscription required}} "Por Debajo de la Mesa" was written by Manzanero as one of the two original compositions for the album along with "Contigo (Estar Contigo)".{{cite web|title=Romances — Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/romances-r308222/credits|access-date=19 February 2011|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}} Manzanero stated that "Por Debajo de la Mesa" and "Dormir Contigo" were two of his favorite songs that he composed for Miguel.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jim-YANOn5AC&pg=RA1-PA20|title=25 Years of Hot Latin Songs|last=Cobo|first=Leila|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=8 October 2011|access-date=7 May 2014|volume=123|issue=36|page=20|issn=0006-2510}}

Promotion

{{Listen

|filename=Luis Miguel - Por Debajo De La Mesa.ogg

|title=Luis Miguel "Por Debajo de la Mesa" (1997)

|description=A sample of the lead single "Por Debajo de la Mesa", an original composition for the album by Armando Manzanero.

|format=Ogg

}}

A music video for "Por Debajo de la Mesa" was filmed in New York City which features Miguel performing at the Rainbow Room with the video being shot in black-and-white.{{cite video| people = Miguel, Luis (performer)| title = Por Debajo de la Mesa|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giAE7Yz7gHI | medium = Television| publisher = Warner Music Mexico| location = New York City| date = 1997 }} It was directed by Daniela Federici.{{cite news|last1=Bulgarelli|first1=Pablo|title=Exito al calor del bolero|url=http://wvw.nacion.com/viva/1997/julio/26/espec1.html|access-date=20 May 2018|work=La Nación|date=26 July 1997|language=Spanish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521020955/http://wvw.nacion.com/viva/1997/julio/26/espec1.html|archive-date=21 May 2018|url-status=dead}} The song was included on his greatest hits album Mis Boleros Favoritos (2002) and Grandes Éxitos (2005).{{cite web|title=Por Debajo de la Mesa — Luis Miguel|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/por-debajo-de-la-mesa-mt0035008714s|access-date=3 January 2014|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} A live version of the song was included on his album Vivo (2000) as part of the "Romances Medley".{{cite web|title=Vivo — Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vivo-mw0000619848|access-date=3 January 2014|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}}

Release and reception

"Por Debajo de la Mesa" serviced to radio stations across Latin America on 5 July 1997.{{cite news |title= Llega a todo el mundo 'Por Debajo de la Mesa|first=Carlos |last= Meraz|url=http://busquedas.gruporeforma.com/reforma/Pages/BuscaImpresa.aspx|newspaper= El Norte|publisher=Grupo Reforma|date= 15 July 1997|access-date=28 March 2011|language=Spanish}}{{subscription required}} In the United States, the song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on the week of 2 August 1997.{{cite magazine |title=Top Latin Songs — Week of August 7, 1997 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=2 August 1997 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-08-02/latin-songs |access-date=15 April 2011 }} Six weeks later, it peaked at number one on the chart and remained on the position for four weeks.{{cite magazine |title=Top Latin Songs — Week of September 6, 1997 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=7 September 1997 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-09-06/latin-songs |access-date=15 April 2009 }} "Por Debajo de la Mesa" ended 1997 as the eighth best-performing Latin single of the year in the United States. The track also peaked at number one on the Billboard Latin Pop Songs chart where it spent five weeks on top of the chart and was the best-performing Latin pop song of the year in the country.{{cite magazine |title= Latin Pop Songs — Week of August 30, 1997 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=30 August 1997|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-08-30/latin-pop-songs |access-date=1 January 2014}}

Despite giving Romances a positive review, Chicago Tribune editor Achy Obejas called "Por Debajo de la Mesa" a "lame" song and cited it as one of the songs where Miguel is beginning "to slip" on his ballad recordings.{{cite web| last = Obejas| first = Achy| date = 3 October 1997|title= Music. Album Reviews – Luis Miguel Romances|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-10-03/entertainment/9710030393_1_armando-manzanero-songs-oldies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922154726/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-10-03/entertainment/9710030393_1_armando-manzanero-songs-oldies|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 September 2012|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=19 February 2011}} Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News felt the track's arrangements "is so stifling, so precious, it's difficult to feel any sensuality. Mr. Miguel tries to muster a seductive tone, but it's no use. This is a love song for the chaste."{{cite news|last1=Tarradell|first1=Mario|title=Miguel's 'Romances' not memorable - Production, song choices worsen a tired formula|work=The Dallas Morning News|publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation|date=14 August 1997|page=37A}} It received a nomination for Pop Song of the Year at the Lo Nuestro Awards of 1998, losing to "Si Tú Supieras" by Alejandro Fernández.{{cite news|url=http://wvw.nacion.com/viva/1998/abril/03/espec9.html|title=Premios Lo Nuestro: Los galardones a la música latina serán entregados en mayo próximo|last=Barquero|first=Christopher|language=Spanish|work=La Nación|publisher=Grupo Nación GN, S.A.|year=1998|access-date=14 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615051809/http://wvw.nacion.com/viva/1998/abril/03/espec9.html|archive-date=15 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |url=http://archivo.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=490998 |title=Lo Nuestro 1998 – Historia |language=Spanish |work=Univision |publisher=Univision Communications, Inc |access-date=14 June 2013 |year=1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017010133/http://archivo.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=490998 |archive-date=17 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} Manzanero was given a BMI Latin Award for composition of the song due to it being one of the best-performing Latin songs of the year.{{cite web|title=BMI Latin Awards: 1999|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/533568|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc.|access-date=19 February 2011}} At the inaugural Juventud Awards in 2004, "Por Debajo de la Mesa" was nominated in the category for "La Más Pegajosa" ("Catchiest Tune"),{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hip%2C+Young+Hispanics+to+Honor+Their+Idols%3A+%60Premios+Juventud%27+First...-a0120056382|title=Hip, Young Hispanics to Honor Their Idols: 'Premios Juventud' First Ever Hispanic Youth Awards to Air Live on Univision Network Sept. 23.|work=Univision|publisher=Univision Communications|date=2 August 2004|access-date=6 April 2014|archive-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512233925/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hip%2c+Young+Hispanics+to+Honor+Their+Idols%3a+%60Premios+Juventud%27+First...-a0120056382|url-status=dead}} but lost to "El Za Za Za" by Liberación.{{cite web|url=http://www.hispanicprwire.com/News/es/2989/7/la-primera-entrega-de-los-premios-juventud-se-convierte-en-una/|title=La primera entrega de los 'Premios Juventud' se convierte en una gran fiesta de estrellas|language=Spanish|work=Univision|publisher=Univision Communications|date=2 August 2004|access-date=7 April 2014}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

Chart (1997) !Peak position
class="wikitable sortable"
Mexico Exitos Nacionales (Notitas Musicales){{Cite web \|date=October 1, 1997 \|title=Mexico Charts Notitas Musicales Los 90s \|url=http://www.elchalanradiospot.com/images/Notitas%20Musicales%20Sep%202da%201997%20Chart%20c.jpg \|access-date=July 12, 2023 \|website=El Chalan Radio Spot}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|1
{{singlechart\|Billboardlatinsongs\|1\|artistid=32851\|artist=Luis Miguel\|song=Por Debajo De La Mesa\|access-date=15 April 2011\|refname=}}
{{singlechart\|Billboardlatinpopsongs\|1\|artistid=32851\|artist=Luis Miguel\|song=Por Debajo De La Mesa\|access-date=1 January 2014\|refname=}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"\|Chart (1997) !scope="col"\|Position
scope="row"\|US Latin Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=1997: The Year in Music\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&q=lo+mejor+de+mi\|volume=109\|issue=52\|page=YE-57, 59\|magazine=Billboard \|publisher=Prometheus Global Media\|date=27 December 1997\|access-date=9 August 2012}} \|8
scope="row"\|US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard) \|1

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col"|Chart (1997)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|US Latin Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=1997: The Year in Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&q=lo+mejor+de+mi|volume=109|issue=52|page=YE-57, 59|magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=27 December 1997|access-date=9 August 2012}}

scope="row"|US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|title=Por Debajo de la Mesa|artist=Luis Miguel|award=Gold|certyear=2024|access-date=5 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

Other recordings

Manzanero has sung "Por Debajo de la Mesa" as a duet with Peruvian musician, Tania Libertad on the duo's studio album Manzanero y la Libertad (1998) and with Chano Domínguez and Carmen Paris on Manzanero's album Duetos 2 (2002).{{cite web|title=Manzanero y la Libertad — Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/manzanero-y-la-libertad-mw0000051683|access-date=3 January 2014|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}}{{cite web|title=Duetos 2 — Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/duetos-2-mw0000663282|access-date=3 January 2014|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}} He also performed the song in a concert with Argentine pianist, Raúl di Blasio in 1999 which was included on the latter's live album Bohemia, Vol.2 (2000) and also performed the song live with fellow Mexican singer, Susana Zabaleta on their album De la A a la Z (2006).{{cite web|title=Bohemia, Vol. 2 — Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bohemia-vol-2-mw0000068860|access-date=3 January 2014|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}}{{cite web|title=De la A a la Z [DVD] — Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/de-la-a-a-la-z-dvd-mw0001222879|access-date=3 January 2014|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation}}