Now this is pretty…

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[6.33]

Micha Cavaseno: THE BRONX GOD, ladies and gentlemen! The last year or so has been spent by me in an enraptured state, hurrying to try and comprehend the phenomena that is Santos. Especially amusing as my boricua ancestry means I will forever be aligned to Latin-tinged music, despite having a mental block whenever remembering any of the seven or eight years of Spanish I’ve taken in all my education. I am cursed to always be the exile, barred from truly entering Santos’ romantic sagas. I’m like the guy who shows up to a fancy restaurant, confused by a menu, who haggles with the server to find whatever’s closest to chicken strips. This is the torment of being in love with this man’s music, and how effortlessly luxurious every single can sound, despite not understanding a damn word, and also wondering why the guitar tone sounds more 80s UK indie at times than bachata.
[7]

Nina Lea Oishi: Romeo Santos’s soothing voice convincingly smooths even the most soul-anguishing heartbreak into another sweet bachata ballad. And this track hits all the usual notes, albeit in a pretty way. But there is one moment of surprise, and it plays off our sense that we know what we’re getting with “Hilito.” Because just when we’re settling in, lulled by the familiar rhythms, Santos whispers, “Hey, listen to the words,” followed by a sudden fade-out, jarring us out of our mindlessness, forcing us to wonder for the briefest second if our headphones glitched or if our mp3 was faulty or if we accidentally turned the volume down on our device. By the time that we realize it’s just part of the song, we’re actually listening again, as Santos ordered us to. Meanwhile, Santos keeps on going like nothing happened.
[6]

Alfred Soto: I love the confections that Santos bakes out of bongos and the faintest hint of high life. Even the electronic interlude is well judged.
[7]

Ramzi Awn: Gwen Stefani has some stiff competition in the Latin market. Santos’ heartbreaking voice is a welcome diversion for summertime.  
[7]

Juana Giaimo: I’m beginning to think that every song by Romeo Santos is exactly the same and when they don’t have a catchy chorus — like “Cancioncitas de amor” or “Propuesta indecente”– his seducing melodrama just doesn’t work.
[4]

Katherine St Asaph: The backing meanders through what I swear are the melodies to at least three songs I heard growing up — probably a coincidence, but it does fit the lyric and its empty-afternoon wistfulness. I go back and forth on whether I find Santos’ voice too tremulous in general, but I also can’t imagine a larger voice on this.
[7]