"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 BillboardAdult Contemporary chart, while reaching #44 on the US BillboardHot 100 and #48 on the US Cash BoxTop 100.[2][3][4] The song was included exclusively on the Australasian edition of Estefan's first greatest hits album, as well as all editions of The Essential Gloria Estefan and iTunes Originals: Gloria Estefan. A rerecorded version was also included on Estefan's 2020 album, Brazil305.[5]
Matthew Hocter from Albumism described "Cuts Both Ways" as a "heartbreakingly beautiful song of love lost", and picked it as one of the "highlights" of the album of same name.[6] Bill Coleman from Billboard viewed it as a "trademark-styled ballad, highlighted by lovely acoustic guitars and affecting vocals."[7] David Giles from Music Week deemed it a "big ballad". He added, "Cliched lyrics aside; its acoustic guitar is undeniably pleasant and her voice is left attractively uncluttered, Carpenters style."[8] A reviewer from The Network Forty noted that "shifting gears from power ballad to folk to Latin, this single has a deeper message, both musically and lyrically, than you might expect."[9] Pop Rescue wrote that "this is really quite a nice track as it twists and turns", and "a nice plodder".[10] Mike Soutar from Smash Hits called it a "latin-tinged sappy smoocher".[11]
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, featuring Estefan performing alone in a beach house. Sometimes she is seen standing by a large window, glancing out at the sea. Other times she sits by a table. In between there are also small clips of billowing water or a guitar that is being strummed. The video was later published on Estefan's official YouTube channel in March 2011. It has amassed more than 2,7 million views as of October 2021.[12]
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