Sexo Virtual
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Sexo Virtual
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Rauw Alejandro
| album = Vice Versa
| language = Spanish
| English_title = "Virtual Sex"
| released = {{Start date|2021|06|25}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=28}}
| label = Sony
| writer = * Marcos Masís "Tainy"
- Emmanuel Sosa
- Alberto Carlos Melendez
- Jorge E. Pizarro "Kenobi"
- José M. Collazo "Colla"
- Eric Pérez Rovira "Eric Duars"
- Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz "Rauw Alejandro"
- Jorge Álvaro Díaz "Álvarito"
| producer = * Albert Hype
- Tainy
| prev_title = Todo de Ti
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Cambia el Paso
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|hqnbKS_SNCM|"Sexo Virtual"}}}}
}}
"Sexo Virtual" ({{Translation|"Virtual Sex"}}) is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro for his second studio album, Vice Versa (2021). It was written by Tainy, Emmanuel Sosa, Alberto Carlos Melendez, Kenobi, Colla, Eric Duars, Alejandro, and Álvaro Díaz, while the production was handled by Albert Hype and Tainy. The song was released by Sony Music on June 25, 2021, as the third single from the album. A Spanish language reggaeton and electronic perreo, it is an erotic song about overcoming distance, bringing the bodies together, with the singer exposing some of his deepest fantasies.
"Sexo Virtual" received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its lyrics. The track was commercially successful, reaching number one in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama. It debuted in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and was certified platinum in both Mexico and Spain. The accompanying music video was directed by Nuno Gomes and depicts an illusional futuristic virtual reality experience.
Background and release
Alejandro released his debut studio album, Afrodisíaco, on November 13, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/album/afrodis%C3%ADaco/1536861742|title=Afrodisíaco by Rauw Alejandro|publisher=Apple Music (global)|access-date=September 2, 2022|archive-date=September 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902165713/https://music.apple.com/album/afrodis%C3%ADaco/1536861742|url-status=live}} Two weeks after finishing the work on Afrodisíaco, he started working on his second studio album, Vice Versa.{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-album-todo-de-ti-interview-9592155/|title=The Moment of Rauw Alejandro: 'Todo De Ti' Singer Goes Full-Experimental On 'Vice Versa' Album|work=Billboard|last=Roiz|first=Jessica|date=June 25, 2021|access-date=August 13, 2022|archive-date=August 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813205308/https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-album-todo-de-ti-interview-9592155/|url-status=live}} The latter was released for digital download and streaming by Sony Music Latin and Duars Entertainment on June 25, 2021, and "Sexo Virtual" was included as the second track.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/album/vice-versa/1596868386|title=Vice Versa by Rauw Alejandro|publisher=Apple Music (global)|access-date=September 2, 2022|archive-date=September 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902191319/https://music.apple.com/album/vice-versa/1596868386|url-status=live}} On the same day, the song was picked as the third single promoting the project,{{cite news|url=https://www.que.es/2021/06/26/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-sexo-virtual/|title=Rauw Alejandro presenta 'Vice Versa' con 'Sexo Virtual'|work=Qué!|last=López|first=Juanix|language=es|date=June 26, 2021|access-date=November 17, 2022|archive-date=November 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116173633/https://www.que.es/2021/06/26/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-sexo-virtual/|url-status=live}} issued by Sony Music to Latin American radio airplay.
Music and lyrics
{{Listen
| filename = Rauw Alejandro - Sexo Virtual sample.ogg
| pos = left
| title = "Sexo Virtual"
| description = A 20-second sample of the chorus
| format = Ogg
}}
Musically, "Sexo Virtual" is a Spanish language reggaeton and electronic perreo.{{cite news|url=https://gaana.com/song/sexo-virtual-3|title=Sexo Virtual MP3 Song Download by Rauw Alejandro|publisher=Gaana|access-date=November 17, 2022|archive-date=November 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116194514/https://gaana.com/song/sexo-virtual-3|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-1190860/|title=Rauw Alejandro Takes Reggaeton to Bold New Places on 'Vice Versa'|work=Rolling Stone|last=Villa|first=Lucas|date=June 29, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904090555/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-1190860/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-interview|title=Rauw Alejandro Wants to Become the Greatest Latin Performer Ever|work=Teen Vogue|last=Gastelum|first=Alexis Hodoyan|date=June 26, 2021|access-date=November 17, 2022|archive-date=November 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116200717/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/rauw-alejandro-vice-versa-interview|url-status=live}} The song was written by Tainy, Emmanuel Sosa, Alberto Carlos Melendez, Kenobi, Colla, Eric Duars, Alejandro, and Álvaro Díaz. Its production was handled by Albert Hype and Tainy, and the track runs for a total of 3 minutes and 28 seconds. Lyrically, "Sexo Virtual" which translates to "Virtual Sex" in English, is an erotic song about "overcoming distance, bringing the bodies together", with Alejandro exposing "some of his deepest fantasies". The lyrics include, "Esta noche por video / Pendiente, que te vo' a llamar / Nos vemos y el bellaqueo / Lo terminamos con sexo virtual" (Tonight by video / Pending, I'm going to call you / See you and do the bellaqueo / We end it with virtual sex).{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-50-best-rauw-alejandro-songs-1234621320/|title=The 50 Best Rauw Alejandro Songs|work=Rolling Stone|last=Lechner|first=Ernesto|date=November 8, 2022|access-date=November 11, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108152530/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-50-best-rauw-alejandro-songs-1234621320/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1283266/the-mixtape-presents-ed-sheeran-doja-cat-tyler-the-creator-and-more-new-music-musts|title=The MixtapE! Presents Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Tyler, The Creator and More New Music Musts|work=E! Online|last=Weinberg|first=Lindsay|date=June 26, 2021|access-date=November 18, 2022|archive-date=November 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117144818/https://www.eonline.com/news/1283266/the-mixtape-presents-ed-sheeran-doja-cat-tyler-the-creator-and-more-new-music-musts|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sonica.mx/musica/2021/12/27/canciones-con-las-que-rauw-alejandro-domino-el-2021-9084.html|title=5 canciones con las que Rauw Alejandro dominó el 2021|last=Tovar|first=Armando|publisher=Sónica.mx|language=es|date=December 27, 2021|access-date=September 9, 2022|archive-date=September 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909084633/https://www.sonica.mx/musica/2021/12/27/canciones-con-las-que-rauw-alejandro-domino-el-2021-9084.html|url-status=live}} The Fader{{'}}s Lucas Villa compared the song with "Digital Get Down" by NSYNC, noting it for "breaking down love-making in the streaming era".{{cite news|url=https://www.thefader.com/2021/12/14/the-50-best-albums-of-2021|title=The 50 best albums of 2021|work=The Fader|date=December 14, 2021|access-date=November 18, 2022|archive-date=November 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117144842/https://www.thefader.com/2021/12/14/the-50-best-albums-of-2021|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
"Sexo Virtual" has been met with positive reviews from music critics. In 2022, Ernesto Lechner from Rolling Stone ranked the track as Alejandro's 16th-best song, highlighting "the tension in the lyrics". Also from Rolling Stone, Lucas Villa described the song as "alluring". Lindsay Weinberg from E! Online called its lyrics "steamy", saying that he "turned up the heat" for the song.
Commercial performance
"Sexo Virtual" debuted and peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on July 10, 2021, becoming Alejandro's 18th entry. The song also debuted at number 22 on Spain's official weekly chart on July 4, 2021. The following week, it reached its peak of number 19. It was later certified double platinum by the Productores de Música de España (PROMUSICAE), for track-equivalent sales of over 120,000 units in the country. In Latin America, "Sexo Virtual" reached number one in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama. In Mexico, the song was certified platinum by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON), for track-equivalent sales of over 140,000 units.
Promotion
=Music video=
File:Sexo Virtual Music Video.jpg, depicting Alejandro fixing a virtual reality headset on his head.]]
An accompanying music video was released simultaneously with the song.{{cite web|title=Rauw Alejandro - Sexo Virtual (Video Oficial)|via=YouTube|date=June 25, 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqnbKS_SNCM|access-date=November 29, 2022}} The visual was directed by Nuno Gomes and depicts an illusional futuristic virtual reality experience. In an interview with E! Online, Alejandro stated that it "is truly mind blowing and fun", with them having "a blast shooting it".{{cite news|url=https://ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/chevere/nuno-gomes/|title=¡Qué éxito! Nuno Gomes le hizo el videoclip a famoso reguetonero|work=Últimas Noticias|last=Sojo|first=Karen Ramírez|language=es|date=July 5, 2021|access-date=November 29, 2022|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129192133/https://ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/chevere/nuno-gomes/|url-status=live}}
=Live performances=
The song was included on the set lists for Alejandro's the Rauw Alejandro World Tour and the Vice Versa Tour.{{cite news|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/p-rico-m%C3%BAsica_rauw-alejandro-da-primer-gran-concierto-en-puerto-rico-como-parte-de-su-gira/47048770|title=Rauw Alejandro da primer gran concierto en Puerto Rico como parte de su gira|last= Ortiz|first=Jorge J. Muñiz|publisher=Swissinfo|language=es|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=January 24, 2023|archive-date=January 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124211438/https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/p-rico-m%C3%BAsica_rauw-alejandro-da-primer-gran-concierto-en-puerto-rico-como-parte-de-su-gira/47048770|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://revistalugardeencuentro.com/2022/06/11/rauw-alejandro-se-sube-a-las-nubes-con-su-vice-versa-tour-en-fuengirola/|title=Rauw Alejandro se sube a las nubes con su 'Vice Versa Tour' en Fuengirola|work=Revista Lugar de Encuentro|language=es|date=June 11, 2022|access-date=August 15, 2022|archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815195258/https://revistalugardeencuentro.com/2022/06/11/rauw-alejandro-se-sube-a-las-nubes-con-su-vice-versa-tour-en-fuengirola/|url-status=live}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://tidal.com/track/206274878|title=Sexo Virtual / Rauw Alejandro|publisher=Tidal|access-date=November 29, 2022}}
{{Div col}}
- Rauw Alejandro{{spaced en dash}} associated performer, composer, lyricist
- Marcos Masís "Tainy"{{spaced en dash}} producer, composer, lyricist
- Emmanuel Sosa{{spaced en dash}} composer, lyricist
- Alberto Carlos Melendez{{spaced en dash}} composer, lyricist
- Jorge E. Pizarro "Kenobi"{{spaced en dash}} composer, lyricist, recording engineer
- José M. Collazo "Colla"{{spaced en dash}} composer, lyricist, mastering engineer, mixing engineer
- Eric Pérez Rovira "Eric Duars"{{spaced en dash}} composer, lyricist
- Jorge Álvaro Díaz "Álvarito"{{spaced en dash}} composer, lyricist
- Albert Hype{{spaced en dash}} producer
{{Div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2022 year-end chart performance for "Sexo Virtual" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Honduras Urbano (Monitor Latino){{cite web|url=http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top100/anual/2022/Honduras/urbano|title=Chart Anual Monitor Latino 2022 – Honduras Urbano|language=es|access-date=December 3, 2022|publisher=Monitor Latino|archive-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203110029/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top100/anual/2022/Honduras/urbano|url-status=live}}
| 74 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Sexo Virtual"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|artist=Rauw Alejandro|title=Sexo Virtual|award=Platinum+Gold|number=2|type=single|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|access-date=July 29, 2024|refname=MX certification}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Rauw Alejandro|title=Sexo Virtual|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|id=rauw-alejandro-sexo-virtual|access-date=April 27, 2024|refname=ES certification}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Central America|award=Platinum|access-date=January 31, 2023|refname=CA certification}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true|streamsonly=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Sexo Virtual" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Latin America
|June 25, 2021 |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
{{short description|2021 single by Rauw Alejandro}}
{{Rauw Alejandro}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Rauw Alejandro