Released as part of their 2002 album A la Reconquista, “Felina” is one of the Puerto Rican reggaetón duo’s most successful songs. The song uses reggaetón’s characteristic dembow rhythm in combination with provocative lyrics about how seductive a woman’s body is. The two sing “[t]u cuerpo es tan provocante” (“your body is provocative”) to the woman, attempting to compliment her beauty. The track’s instrumentation and style reflect what is now seen as a staple of reggaetón as a genre.
While the track did not receive the widespread commercial success of tracks by Ricky Martin, Shakira, or Marc Antony, “Felina” provides insight into how Puerto Ricans understood the genre of reggaetón, which originated in Panama but became synonymous with Puerto Rico. Further, the duo’s album was released by Universal Music Latino, which emphasizes the inherently “Latin” nature of reggaetón as a musical style. The track’s publication also highlights an attempt by American music executives to market Latin music within the US, despite earlier reluctancies to do so.
Héctor and Tito. Felina. A la Reconquista. Universal Music Latino, 2002.