"Ego" is a song by Argentine singer Lali from her second studio album Soy (2016). The song was written by Tim Larsson and its producers Gavin Jones, Tobias Lundgren and Johan Fransson. Espósito co-wrote the Spanish version of the song with Gustavo Novello, Pablo Akselrad and Luis Burgio. The song was released as the album's third single and as Lali's debut single in the United States and Puerto Rico.

"Ego"
Single by Lali
from the album Soy
ReleasedDecember 14, 2016 (2016-12-14)
Recorded2016
Length3:51
Label
Composer(s)
  • Gavin Jones
  • Tobias Lundgren
  • Johan Fransson
  • Tim Larsson
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
  • Gavin Jones
  • Tobias Lundgren
  • Johan Fransson
Lali singles chronology
"Firestarter"
(2016)
"Ego"
(2016)
"Roma-Bangkok"
(2017)
Music video
"Ego" on YouTube

Commercially, the song peaked at number 4 on the Monitor Latino Argentine National Songs chart and at number 15 on the Argentine Latin Airplay chart. Its music video received the award for Video of the Year at the 2017 MTV Millennial Awards.

Background and composition

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"Ego" was originally written by Tim Larsson and its producers Gavin Jones, Tobias Lundgren and Johan Fransson. The Spanish version was in charge of Espósito, Gustavo Novello, Pablo Akselrad and Luis Burgio. In an interview with Billboard Argentina, the singer stated: "it means a lot to me to be able to talk about other people's ego and oneself's; how does that affect our way of living, how it turns into an attack".[1]

Release

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The song was released as the album's third single, being first released to digital download on May 20, 2016 along with the release of the album, and later serviced to contemporary hit radio in December 2016. In March 2017, Lali travelled to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Miami, Florida in order to promote the single, which eventually became her debut single in those territories.[2]

Critical reception

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While reviewing the album Soy, Santiago Torres from Billboard Argentina described the song as "a ballad with thoughtful, complex and orchestral arrangements" and also praised Espósito's "outstanding vocal performance".[3] Belén Fourment from El País compared the song the previous promotional single "Unico", saying: "they are not directly compatible compositions, but both songs clearly reflect the life moments of a girl who still encourages to write from a more intimate place".[4]

Commercial performance

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"Ego" debuted on the Monitor Latino Argentine songs chart at number 15 and later peaked at number 4. It marked Espósito's second entry and highest-charting song on the chart, after the previous top 5 single, "Soy".[5][6] Additionally, the song peaked at number 15 on the Argentina Latin Airplay chart, also provided by Monitor Latino.[7] On March 9, 2017, the song was the 50th more played song of the US Tropical Latin radio format.

Music video

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Directed by Juan Ripari, the music video made its premiere on December 14, 2016 at dawning on Vevo. The video broke the Argentine Vevo Record by achieving over 500 thousands views within a 24-hour span,[1] and won an award at the 2017 MTV Millennial Awards in the category for Video of the Year.[8]

Synopsis

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The video was described as "an overcoming story".[9] It was shot in Villa La Angostura, Argentina in early November.[10] Espósito can be seen in a forest, running away from arrows that fall from the sky. However, towards the end of the video, she finds a bridge that carries her to some better place. In this way, the singer transforms the pain into learning, added to the metaphor of the change of clothes and the fact of crossing the bridge. The video ends with a message from Lali that says "Although the world agonizes for pride, greed and ego, there's always a bridge to where love, truth and light reign. Crossing it is for the brave sentimental only."[1][11][12]

Live performances

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Espósito performed her first televised performance of "Ego" on Susana Giménez.[13] On June 6, 2017, Espósito performed the song at the 19th Annual Gardel Awards, prior to "Boomerang" and "Soy". In Clarín.com, the performance was compared to previous ones by Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears, writing: "[Lali] surprised everyone with her outstanding figure, her live choreographies and her imprint at the moment of hitting one of the most important stages of the Corrientes Avenue.[14] "Ego" is also part of the setlist for her worldwide tour, Soy Tour.[15]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Soy's liner notes.[16]

Recording and management
Personnel

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Lali habló sobre Ego: "Pasé un año muy así, de mucho bosque y flechas"". Billboard Argentina (in Spanish). December 16, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "¡Sin fronteras! Lali Espósito llegó a Estados Unidos y revolucionó Miami". Infobae (in Spanish). March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  3. ^ Santiago Torres (June 24, 2016). "El álbum de Lali, tema por tema". Billboard Argentina (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  4. ^ Belén Fourment (May 30, 2016). "Una sensación que empieza a mostrar" (in Spanish). El País. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Top 20 Nacionalidad del 16 al 22 de Enero, 2017" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on January 23, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Top 20 Nacional Argentina – Del 6 al 12 de Marzo, 2017" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Top 20 Latino Argentina – Del 20 al 26 de Febrero, 2017" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. February 20, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "mtv miaw 2017: ¡todas las categorías y nominados!". MTVLA.com. MTV Networks. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  9. ^ "Lali presenta Ego" (in Spanish). 3musica. December 14, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  10. ^ Lizardo Ponce (November 21, 2016). "¿Cuál es el próximo videoclip de Lali Espósito?". somosarroba.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "Lali Espósito presentó el videoclip de Ego: escenario natural, dramatismo ¡y un significativo mensaje!". ciudad.com (in Spanish). December 14, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  12. ^ "Lali Espósito presentó "Ego", su nuevo e impactante videoclip" (in Spanish). El Comercio. December 19, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "Lali Espósito estuvo con Susana Giménez y revolucionó las redes sociales". La Viola (in Spanish). TN. December 19, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  14. ^ "Lali Espósito y el look más sensual de los Premios Gardel". Clarín.com (in Spanish). 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Lali estalló el Argentino". El Día (in Spanish). National University of La Plata. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  16. ^ Soy (booklet). Lali. Sony Music Argentina. 2016. pp. 13, 18. 88985323532.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "Top 100 Anual Argentina". Monitor Latino. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  18. ^ "Top 100 Anual Argentina – Latin". Monitor Latino. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Anual Pop Panamá". Monitor Latino. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Anual Venezuela – Audiencia". Monitor Latino. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Anual Venezuela – Pop – Audiencia". Monitor Latino. Retrieved 4 January 2018.