Luis Figueroa earns his first top 10 on any Billboard airplay chart as “Hasta El Sol De Hoy” surges up the list with a nine-spot jump, rising 18-9 on the Tropical Airplay chart (dated May 22). It ties for the largest positional jump into the top 10 in 2021, following Victor Manuelle and La India’s “Víctimas Las Dos,” which also surged nine positions on the March 6-dated list, vaulting 15-6.
“Hasta El Sol De Hoy” pushes up the chart with a lofty 108% gain in audience impressions, to 1.6 million, earned in the week ending May 16, according to MRC Data. It concurrently takes the week’s Greatest Gainer honor.
Figueroa’s rework of the 1993 hit “Hasta El Sol de Hoy,” written by Oscar Domingo Derudi and performed by Edgar Joel and his orchestra with Anthony Colón on lead vocals, is an homage to Colón, Figueroa’s uncle. It’s one of 11 songs from his forthcoming album Canciones del Alma, due May 28.
“I am so proud of this new achievement,” the Philadelphia-born Puerto Rican artist tells Billboard. “It’s an amazing time for me as I also prepare for the release of my first album. We never expected everyone to take so well this rendition. It has been such a blessing, as the song is already special to me and my family because of my uncle. I am very happy to be living this moment right now with it.”
Figueroa secured his first entry on a Latin airplay chart through his featured role on Sebastián Yatra’s “Por Perreo,” which also features Lary Over. It reached the top 20 on Latin Pop Airplay (No. 16, July 2018), his highest ranking there thus far. “Hasta El Sol,” also penetrates the tally with its pop version. The latter, which also makes the tracklisting of Canciones del Alma, moves 20-17 on the current Latin Pop Airplay chart.
“We recorded the pop version of the song first in Miami to include on the album and then later we decided to record a salsa version,” Figuero adds. “Salsa has been in my blood since I was a child so singing this version was only natural for me. The song was recorded in Puerto Rico and was produced by Jay Lugo and mixed by Rolando “Rolo” Alejandro. I produced the vocal arrangements and Victor Manuelle helped me by writing new soneos for my version. I think we captured a fresh new take on a nostalgic classic that now has become my own.”
Figueroa joins six other acts who have notched their first Tropical Airplay top 10 in 2021. Here’s a recap:
Date, Artist, Title
Feb. 6, Camilo, “Bebe,” with El Alfa
Feb. 6, El Ala, “Bebe,” with Camilo
Feb. 6, El Tiburon Mayor, “Tus Jefes No Me Quieren”
Feb. 27, Kany García, “Búscame,” with Carlos Vives
March 27, Luis Vázquez, “Tu Fan”
April 24, Manny Cruz, “Las Puertas del Cielo”
May 22, Luis Figueroa, “Hasta El De Hoy”
Elsewhere on the Latin charts, Figueroa captures his highest Latin Digital Song Sales ranking: “Hasta El Sol” ascends 9-7.
