Ríe y Llora

In 2001, Cruz released her fifty-ninth album, La Negra Tiene Tumbao. The album featured a top ten single, in its title track as well as another relatively successful single, "Hay Que Empezar Otra Vez". "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" peaked at number thirty on the Billboard Latin Songs chart and number four on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart. The album won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album. It was nominated for Album of the Year. Cruz was sidelined by a brain tumor. following a partially successful surgery to remove the tumor, Cruz returned to the studio to record Regalo del Alma, weeks after the operation. Cruz later died on 16 July 2003 of brain cancer, at the age of 77. "Ríe y Llora" was the final song recorded before her death. ==Musical composition==

The song was composed in minor key tonality with joyful lyrics and catchy hooks. It features the use of a piano, brass horn ensemble and prominent percussion. It takes influence from Afro-Latin music. The song experiments in pop balladry, accompanied by the use of an electric guitar. According to a biography of Cruz, the song "is about laughing and crying. Cruz reminds her listeners to live their lives fully and enjoy every moment." Cuban writer Jose Quiroga claimed the song to be "an appeal to live for the moment, and to understand that forgiveness is not forgetting, but rather the possibility of remembering without pain." He opined that the song was appropriately titled. ==Critical reception==

The song received an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers award for Tropical Song of the Year. At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2004, the song won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song. At the ceremony, Regalo del Alma was awarded the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album. It also received the Grammy Award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. At the 2004 Latin Billboard Music Awards, the song received a nomination for "Tropical Airplay Track of the Year by a Female Artist". "Rie y Llora" was awarded Best Latin Dance Song at the 19th Annual International Dance Music Awards. It is considered one of Cruz's most significant songs. According to the Spanish-language newspaper, El Pais, the song helped relieve the "nostalgia" caused by Cruz's death. The song was covered by Raul Bier and Pablo Delvillar on the tribute album Tributo a Celia Cruz: Bachata Con Azúcar (2003), by Maruja on her debut studio album Azúcar! (2005), ==Track listing==

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