Words Get in the Way
1986 single by Miami Sound Machine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Words Get in the Way" is a song written by Gloria Estefan and released as the third single from her band, Miami Sound Machine, on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love. The song is a ballad and became the highest-charting song from the album in the United States.
| "Words Get in the Way" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Miami Sound Machine | ||||
| from the album Primitive Love | ||||
| B-side | "Movies" | |||
| Released | June 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:30 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter | Gloria Estefan | |||
| Producer | Emilio Estefan Jr. | |||
| Miami Sound Machine singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Song history
As a ballad, "Words Get in the Way" marked a change in sound from the band's earlier singles and foreshadowed Estefan's later success.
The song was their first to crack the Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #5, and became their first number-one hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in 1986.[1] They didn't achieve the same success internationally, but still managed to reach the Top 20 in other countries. The single was certified Gold by the ARIA for its sales of 35,000 copies.[2]
The band re-recorded the song in Spanish under the title "No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar" ("I Won't Fall in Love Again"), although not a direct translation. The Spanish version entered the "Hot Latin Songs" in the Top 20, becoming the band's first entrance on the chart. This version was available on international pressings of the album and on its inclusion on Estefan's Spanish compilation Exitos de Gloria Estefan.
A live version with a different arrangement was included as a B-side to the single, "Always Tomorrow," and as a bonus track on international editions of Into the Light. It was taken from Estefan's Homecoming Concert in Miami from her 1988 Let it Loose Tour, released on VHS.
The song was featured in 1986 episodes of the daytime soap operas All My Children and Another World.
Formats and track listings
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar" (Words Get in the Way – Spanish version) | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| 3. | "Body to Body" |
| 3:56 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Orange Express" |
| 3:42 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Movies" |
| 2:57 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Betcha Say That" (single remix) |
| 3:40 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Betcha Say That" (single remix) |
| 3:40 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words Get in the Way" | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Betcha Say That" (single remix) |
| 3:40 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar" (Words Get in the Way – Spanish version) | Gloria M. Estefan | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Conga" | Enrique E. Garcia | 4:11 |
Official versions
Original versions
- Album version — (3:23)
- Spanish version ("No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar") — (3:23)
- Live version (from the Homecoming Concert in Miami 1988) — (5:02)
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| U.S. | June 1986 |
| Europe | October 1986 |
| Japan | July 21, 1986 |
Chart performance
Weekly charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position[2] |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] | 22 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] | 30 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] | 8 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] | 26 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 5 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[9] | 1 |
| US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[10] | 17 |
| US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart[11] | 9 |
| US Radio & Records Adult Contemporary Top 30 | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position[2] |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] | 70 |
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[13] | 47 |
| US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart[14] | 66 |
| Brazil | 14 |
| New Zealand[15] | 40 |