"Coming Out of the Dark" | ||||
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Single by Gloria Estefan | ||||
from the album Into the Light | ||||
B-side | "Desde La Oscuridad" | |||
Released | January 10, 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1990 | |||
Studio | Crescent Moon, Miami, Florida | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:02 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Gloria Estefan singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Coming Out of the Dark" on YouTube |
"Coming Out of the Dark" is a song by Cuban-American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released on January 10, 1991, worldwide by Epic Records as the leading and first single from her second album, Into the Light (1991). It was written by Estefan with her husband Emilio Estefan, Jr. and Jon Secada, and produced by Estefan Jr., Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald. It became the singer's third number one in the United States and second number one in Canada (solo and with Miami Sound Machine). The song is a soul ballad [1] which includes the use of a choir. Among the voices in the choir are Estefan's colleague, the Cuban singer Jon Secada, and the R&B singer Betty Wright (both had participated in backing vocals on her debut solo album, Cuts Both Ways as well as Into the Light). The song's accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe. [2]
This is the first single released after Estefan's accident on March 20, 1990—an 18-wheeler rammed her tour bus, nearly causing the singer's death—when her "Get on Your Feet Tour" was in progress. It is also the first song that Estefan performed publicly after recovering, inspired by the near-fatal accident and also is dedicated to her husband. The title was inspired by a phrase her husband had written on a piece of paper as a helicopter transported her for delicate surgery to repair her broken back. She explained to Billboard : "My husband had been in one of the helicopters traveling from one hospital to the other. It was really dark and gray, and he was traumatized. He got this ray of light that hit him in the face, and he got the idea for 'Coming Out of the Dark'."
Estefan was careful not to turn Into the Light into a pity party. "I hate pity," she told the Los Angeles Daily News . "I'm very self-reliant and independent, and I'm used to that role. I don't like people feeling sorry for me. So I wrote 'Coming Out of the Dark' to let the people around me know how important they are to me. But that was as far as I wanted to go with the accident. I didn't want this to become 'the album on the accident.' What am I going to sing - 'Oh, this bus hit me'?"
The song was a number one hit on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts (and her last to date on both charts). [3] The song was also a hit in Canada, Spain and Japan. However, it didn't have as much impact in the rest of Europe, where Estefan had always been popular. In Ireland, the single only reached the top 20; and in UK reached the top 40, a very low position in comparison to other singles.
AllMusic editor Jason Birchmeier highlighted the song in his review of Into the Light , complimenting it as a "memorable" ballad. [4] Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard found that this "uplifting, gospel-framed ballad" is "bolstered by a striking and inspirational performance." [5] Bill Wyman from Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Coming Out of the Dark" is a "pretty song about Estefan's recovery. It starts out slow, then brings its point home with a gospel-like chorus reminiscent of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror". It's hard not to be sympathetic — the song is an anthem to hope and indomitability, and someone who's endured Estefan's pain certainly deserves room to talk about it." [6] Mario Tarradell from Knight Ridder viewed it as a "gospel-tinged showpiece". [7] Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked that with a "comeback in glory after a heavy tourbus accident, Estefan shines in this gospel type of song. Inspired by the strong backing vocals, she climbs her way back to the top. [8] David Quantick from NME said, "Her recent stuff, the 'Anything for You's and 'Oye Mi Canto's threaten to give American hit music a good name. 'Coming Out of the Dark', however, is a bit epic for my tastes, Gloria's restrained vocal not ideally suited to its anthemic leanings. Perhaps Maria McKee could cover it?" [9] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel wrote that the song "has a pretty vocal although the melody sounds like something destined for a Kodak commercial. The gospel-choir effect of the backing vocals seems more an homage to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" than a spiritual statement." [10] A reviewer from People Magazine deemed it as "standard dance pop". [11] Caroline Sullivan from Smash Hits felt that it "starts off slow, then perks up a touch and cracks along at a lively pace for the rest of the song." [12]
In 2019, Bill Lamb from About.com described the song as a "gorgeous hit ballad", adding that it is now considered one of the top inspirational pop hits of all time. [13] In an 2021 retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism viewed it as "one of her finest". [14] Maryann Scheufele from AXS ranked the song among her ten "best songs" in 2014, remarking that Estefan "truly has been blessed with an inspirational voice." [15] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan named it one of three "real hits" of the album, with "Live for Loving You" and "Seal Our Fate". [16] Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus declared it as "one of the most poignant songs" of Estefan's career. [17] Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly described it as a "poignant gospel-tinged ballad". [18]
Estefan also recorded the Spanish version of the song, called "Desde la Oscuridad". The song was released to Latin-American radio stations and the considerable airplay it received took the song to the Top Five of the Hot Latin Songs chart.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
3. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" (Instrumental Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
3. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" (Instrumental Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" (Instrumental Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
3. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" (Instrumental Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
3. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" (Instrumental Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:41 |
4. | "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" | Elton John & Bernie Taupin | 6:11 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
3. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" (Instrumental Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:41 |
4. | "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" | Elton John & Bernie Taupin | 6:11 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:02 |
2. | "Desde La Oscuridad" (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:07 |
3. | "Coming Out Of The Dark" (Instrumental Version) | Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Jr. & Jon Secada | 4:41 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García, known as Gloria Estefan, is an American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by both VH1 and Billboard. Estefan's record sales exceed 100 million worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female singers of all-time. Many of Estefan's songs became international chart-topping hits, including "1-2-3", "Don't Wanna Lose You", "Coming Out of the Dark", "Turn the Beat Around", and "Heaven's What I Feel". Other hits include "Bad Boy", "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", "Get On Your Feet", and "You'll Be Mine ".
"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" is a song written by Harry Noble and originally performed by Karen Chandler in 1952. It has been re-recorded several times since then, the most notable covers being by Mel Carter in 1965 and Gloria Estefan in 1994.
"It's Too Late" is a song from American singer-songwriter Carole King's second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later gold-certified by the RIAA. Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.
"Turn the Beat Around" is a disco song written by Gerald Jackson and Peter Jackson, and performed by American actress and singer Vicki Sue Robinson in 1976, originally appearing on her debut album, Never Gonna Let You Go (1976). Released as a single, the song went to #10 on the Billboard pop charts, and #73 on the Billboard soul chart. The song earned Robinson a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The track also went to number one on the Billboard disco chart for four weeks. "Turn the Beat Around" is considered a disco classic and is featured on many compilation albums.
"Don't Wanna Lose You" is a song by Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, released on June 21, 1989 as the first single by Epic Records from her debut solo album, Cuts Both Ways (1989). The song is written by Estefan and produced by her husband, Emilio Estefan, Jr. It reached number one in the US, where it became her second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was also certified Gold.
"Here We Are" is a song by Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1989 in the United States and in 1990 to the rest of the world as the third single of her debut solo album, Cuts Both Ways (1989). It was released with the B-side song "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", that was included on the European version, later to appear on the Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me album. A Portuguese version of the song, "Toda Pra Você," is included on the compilation Exitos De Gloria Estefan as well as the Brazilian edition of the Cuts Both Ways album. As a duet for her special television concert All The Way Concert, Celine Dion performed this song, while Estefan sang Dion's song, "Because You Loved Me". A new Spanish version called "Tu y yo" was released in July 2019 on Estefan's official YouTube channel, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the song. This version was also included on her 2020 album Brazil305.
"Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" is a song by Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, released as a single from her debut solo album, Cuts Both Ways (1989). In the US, it was the fourth single from the album and was released in April 1990. It was the second single in the UK, released on September 4, 1989, and throughout Europe in September and October 1989.
"Cuts Both Ways" is a song by Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan, released in 1990 worldwide as the fifth and final single from her debut solo album, Cuts Both Ways (1989). It had moderate success in the US, becoming a number one hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, while reaching number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single, even with its success, was not included on the US release of the Gloria Estefan Greatest Hits album, but was included in The Essential Gloria Estefan and iTunes Originals: Gloria Estefan. A rerecorded version was also included on Estefan's 2020 album, Brazil305.
"Where Does My Heart Beat Now" is a song performed by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion for her ninth studio album and debut English-language album, Unison (1990). It was released by Columbia Records as the third single from Unison in Canada on 1 October 1990. It was also issued as the lead single in the United States in late 1990, and in other parts of the world in early 1991. "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" was written by Robert White Johnson and Taylor Rhodes in 1988, and recorded by Dion one year later. The song was produced by Christopher Neil. Dion premiered the song at the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 in Switzerland, where she performed it along with her 1988 winning song, "Ne partez pas sans moi".
"Live for Loving You" is a song by Cuban–American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released on September 30, 1991 by Epic Records worldwide as the fifth and final single from her second solo album, Into the Light (1991). The song was written by Estefan, her husband Emilio Estefan, Jr. and Diane Warren, and produced by Estefan, Jr., Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald. Estefan dedicated the song to her husband, like she did with "Coming Out of the Dark", "How Can I Be Sure" and "Hoy". "Live for Loving You" peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was the first single from the album to appear on the dance music charts.
"Always Tomorrow" is a song by Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan, released worldwide on October 12, 1992 as the first single by Epic Records from her compilation album, Greatest Hits. The song is written by Estefan and produced by her husband Emilio Estefan, Jr., Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald. It is a guitar-driven acoustic ballad about starting over in the wake of tragedy or disaster. While on tour, Estefan has played the guitar while singing the song. She donated royalties from single sales to the victims of Hurricane Andrew. In 2005, the song was featured in a medley with her No. 1 smash "Coming Out of the Dark" in the compilation "Hurricane Relief: Come Together now", created for Hurricane Katrina relief.
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Cuban-American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, released on October 30, 1992, by Epic Records. The album includes songs with soft rock influenced sounds as well as more upbeat Latin pop works inspired by dance music. The tracks were gathered from various releases over the 1985 to 1992 period.
"I See Your Smile" is a single by Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released on February 8, 1993 by Epic Records in Europe, the UK and the US as the third single worldwide, and second in America, from her first compilation album, Greatest Hits (1992). The song was written by Jon Secada and Miguel A. Morejon and produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr., Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald. It is a Latin-pop ballad about someone who cannot get over their lost love. In the US, the song was released instead of the "Miami Hit Mix / Megamix" medley, which was the second single released in most of the world outside America. The song performed well on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, peaking at number three.
"Conga" is the first hit single released by the American band Miami Sound Machine, led by Gloria Estefan, on their second English-language album, Primitive Love. The song was written by the band's drummer and lead songwriter Enrique Garcia. The song first appeared on August 31, 1985, as part of the album. The single was released in Australia on September 9, 1985.
"Reach" is a song by Cuban-American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It is co-written by Estefan with Diane Warren and was the official theme song of the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, United States. The single was included on the official Atlanta 96 album, Rhythm of the Games, and later on Estefan's seventh studio album, Destiny (1996). The song became a sizeable European hit, peaking within the top 10 in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway and Spain, where it reached number two. In the UK, it peaked at number 15, while on the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 47 in June 1996. Outside Europe, it peaked at number 23 in Australia as well as number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Reach" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the ceremony in 1997, but lost out to Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart", which was also written by Diane Warren. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Marcus Nispel.
"I'm Not Giving You Up" is a 1996 song by Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan, released as the third single from her seventh studio album, Destiny (1996). It was popular more by its single remix by Tony Moran, which later was included on Estefan's 2001 Greatest Hits Vol. II compilation instead of its original version. In the US, the song was released as a double single along with "Higher". In Europe, it was released to coincide with the European leg of Estefan's Evolution World Tour. "I'm Not Giving You Up" peaked at number 11 in Spain, number 28 in the UK and number 33 in Scotland. In the US, the song reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Anything for You" is a 1988 ballad written by Cuban-American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan and sung by Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. The song appeared on their 1987 album Let It Loose. After years of fluctuating success in the United States, "Anything for You" marked a breakthrough for the group when it topped the Billboard magazine Hot 100 chart on May 14, 1988, and remained there for two weeks. It was the first of three number-ones for Estefan. Due to the success of the single, the album Let It Loose was re-released with the title Anything For You outside North America. The song also spent three weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at #3 on the Hot Latin Tracks on June 25, 1988.
The discography of singles, promo singles, remixes and Latin tracks for Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine consists of 50 singles (solo), 18 promotional singles (solo) and eight other guest or special appearance singles as a solo artist. Although Miami Sound Machine was no longer featured in the credits from 1989 onwards, they remain Estefan's backing group until this day, though none of the original members remain.
"Can't Stay Away from You" is a song by Cuban-American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan, credited to Estefan and her former band, the Miami Sound Machine. The song was released in November 1987 by Epic as the third single from their multi-platinum album, Let It Loose (1987). It became Estefan's fifth top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it was their second #1 hit on the adult contemporary chart, following 1986's "Words Get in the Way". The song originally peaked at #88 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1988, however the song was re-released after the success of its follow-up, "Anything for You", peaking at #7 in March 1989.
"Get Here" is a pop ballad written by American singer and songwriter Brenda Russell. The title track of her fourth studio album, Get Here (1988), it became a moderate hit on the Billboard R&B chart on the heels of the album's massive first hit, "Piano in the Dark". American vocalist Oleta Adams covered and released the song in 1990, reaching the top five in both the US and the UK with her version. Adams's version of "Get Here", co-produced by Roland Orzabal from the band Tears for Fears, became her signature song.
On "Coming Out Of The Dark," though, Estefan presents herself as a soul singer, leading the choir by whooping muscular ad-libs all over it.