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Twenty-five years ago, the self-proclaimed La Chica Dorada bid farewell to the old millennium in unparalleled style. With the release of her fifth studio album, Paulina, on May 23, 2000, in the U.S., Paulina Rubio reaffirmed her status as a Latin pop icon. It was the evolution of an artist who, despite an already impressive career, revealed that her true artistic brilliance was only beginning to unfold.
Under the Universal Music México label, Paulina came to life thanks to the collaboration of a diverse and talented team of songwriters and producers, including Estéfano (lead contributor), Christian De Walden (“Yo No Soy Esa Mujer”), Armando Manzanero (“Tal Vez, Quizás”), and Juan Gabriel (“Cancún y Yo”), among others. The Mexican singer fused pop, Latin rhythms, and elements of dance and rock, crafting an album as bold and multifaceted as she is. The results? A record that celebrated love, independence, and empowerment with irresistible energy, transforming into an instant classic.
The impact was instant. The album debuted at the top of Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. It also made waves beyond the Latin music sphere, debuting at No. 156 on the Billboard 200 — a notable feat for a Spanish-language album at the time. The singles also dominated the charts: “Y Yo Sigo Aquí” landed at No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay, while “Lo Haré Por Ti” peaked at No. 13 and “El Último Adiós” reached No. 18 on Hot Latin Songs. On Latin Airplay, “Yo No Soy Esa Mujer” secured the No. 7 spot, and “Sexi Dance” made its way to No. 34.
With over 2.5 million copies sold worldwide, Paulina marked a new era in Rubio’s career. A quarter of a century later, we’re diving back into the album’s tracks, ranking them from least to most iconic.
