Gran City Pop is the ninth studio album by Mexican singer Paulina Rubio released by Universal Music Group on June 23, 2009. The album expanded the Rubio's stylistic palette by combining elements of genres such as ranchera, hip-hop, eurodisco or arena rock, and she became more involved in songwriting and creative elaboration, extracting influences from various dance-pop-based genres including electropop, synth-pop and eighties British pop.
In 2008, Rubio began working again with Argentinian music producer Cachorro López, who served as the executive producer of her previous album Ananda (2006). The two collaborated with various producers and writers on the album, including Lester Méndez, Mario Domm, Noel Schajris, Gianmarco and Fernando Osorio. And She returns to collaborate with Colombian songwriter Estéfano after six years, and other songwriters and producers with whom she previously collaborated such as Coti, Chris Rodriguez and Fernando Montesinos.
Gran City Pop received acclaimed reviews from music critics, many of whom complimented it as a return fresh sounds, and received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. In Mexico, Gran City Pop peaked at number two on the Mexican Albums Chart, and was certified gold by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON). In the United States, the album debuted at number forty four on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of over 9,400 copies, while it debuted at number two on the Top Latin Albums chart and number one on the Latin Pop Albums chart. Additionally, it sold 100,000 copies in United States and Puerto Rico, and manage to sell 300,000 copies worldwide.
Three singles were released from Gran City Pop. The lead single, "Causa Y Efecto", peaked at number one in the United States Latin charts, Mexico general chart and Spain airplay chart. Subsequent single "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes" also was a success in Latin America, and "Algo De Ti" generally underperformed on the charts, but the music video was a hit in the television. To further promote the album, Rubio embarked on the Gran City Pop Tour in 2009.
Background and production
Following take a sabbatical year, Rubio released her eighth studio album, Ananda, in September 2006. Slated to be released as Rubio's comeback album, Ananda was certified twice times platinum in the United States after it atop at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. In Spain, the album peaked at number two on the Spanish Albums Chart and was eventually certified double platinum, becoming her second best-selling album in that territory, after Paulina (2000). Critical reception towards Ananda was favourable, many critics felt it a transition to pop-rock sound, acknowledging Rubio's mature perceptions.
In November 2007, Universal Music announced Rubio's "started recording her next album in her [home]studio in Miami (Florida) which she plans to release in the fall of 2008" She had recently finished her Amor Luz y Sonido tour, so she had already written some songs. During American television and radio host Larry King's 75th birthday charity party, Rubio announced: "I've been recording with Estéfano, Cachorro López for many months ... They are my songs and Coti's, it's rock & roll, pop music, rancheras and those songs that touch your heart at a time when I am very much in love, very full, trying to put down roots." Until then, the production had features compositions by Estéfano, Los Rabanes, Jeremías, Noel Schajris, Gian Marco Zignago, Lester Méndez, and Mario Domm. Paulina prepared her album with her own songs with the help of Coti, who had a big influence in the writing of the album. Speaking to a Mexican radio program, she said that the new material presented many changes. She explained: "[...] at the same time I remain very loyal to my music; my rancheras, boleros, and simple rhythms like the songs we used to listen to as children". She also added: "This new production will have songs by Mario Domm, the leader of Camila, and Estéfano, but there are some songs of mine with Coti; it's an album to get out the child within us".