On September 11, 2014, Ricky Martin announced that his new single, entitled "Adiós", would be released on September 23, 2014. He shared the artwork "bit by bit" on Facebook.[1][2] One week later, Milenio confirmed that it is set to be the lead single from Martin's tenth studio album and would be premiered via Uforia radio stations in the United States and Puerto Rico, one day earlier than the song's original release date.[3] On September 22, EFE revealed that the single contains three versions, "Spanish, English and English with some words in French".[4] In a statement, Martin expressed:
We chose "Adiós" because it represents who I am today. The title is a reference to the opening of another cycle.[5]
"Adiós" was released for digital download and streaming by Sony Music Latin on September 23, 2014.[6] In the same year, a mambo remix of the song, featuring American singer Nicky Jam, was released on September 30, and a ranchera remix, featuring Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda, was released on November 10.[7][8] On November 24, two extended plays, titled Adiós (Dance Remixes) and Adiós (Flylife Remixes) were released, both including four remixes of the song.[9][10] Another EP, containing the three original versions of "Adiós", as well as the mambo remix, was released on February 3, 2015.[11] "Adiós" was included as the first track on Martin's tenth studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar, released February 10, 2015, while a Turkish version of the song, featuring Turkish singer Ayşe Hatun Önal was included as the eleventh track on the Turkish edition.[12][13] "Adiós" was also later added to Martin's compilation album, Esencial (2018).[14]
Musically, "Adiós" is an uptempoworld music-flavored EDM song with elements of cumbia, flamenco, tango, baile funk, Middle Eastern, electronic, house, dance, burlesque, Latin, and Caribbean.[22] The song features a multilingualism that is sung in Spanish, English, and French. It was written by Antonio Rayo Gibo, Martin, and Yotuel Romero, with its production being handled by Romero, Jesse Shatkin, and Rayo. The track "features an original sound and rhythmic influences from different parts of the world" and runs for a total of four minutes.[5][12] Lyrically, "Adiós" which translates to "Goodbye",[18] tells "how difficult it is to say sorry, to betray an oath, an anniversary without promises, without even a single kiss",[23] with lyrics including: "Adiós / Te tengo que decir adiós / Me estoy volviendo loco /Loco, loco, loco, loco por tu amor" (Goodbye / I have to say goodbye / I'm going crazy / Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy for your love).[24]
Upon release, "Adiós" was met with widely positive reviews from music critics. Haley Longman of OK! praised Martin's multilingualism and wrote that with "Adiós" he transformed it in a song form.[25] Mike Wass of the website Idolator noted how the song's release in various languages was due to Martin's worldwide stardom. He further found the singer in a "sedate mood", similar to "Michael Bublé with a very exotic twist" and was more in favor of the Spanish version, noting how its chorus and instrumental breakdown were its key parts.[26] A writer of Radio Corazón labeled the track "a great song about Goodbye".[27] Jaromír Koc from musicserver.cz described its melody as "catchy" and stated that "the song sounds really fresh and a hit on the first listen".[17] Also, an author of El Espectador labeled the track "a catchy song".[23]
Besides the United States, "Adiós" peaked at number one in Colombia and reached the top-five in Mexico.[35][36] In 2017, it was certified platinum + gold by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON), for track-equivalent sales of over 90,000 units in Mexico.[37] In Spain's official weekly chart, the song debuted at number 37 on September 28, 2014. It subsequently peaked at number 12 on the chart issue dated December 14, 2014, giving Martin his 18th top-20 hit in the country. "Adiós" has since become Martin's longest-charting solo hit in Spain, spending 25 weeks on the chart.[38][39] The track was also certified gold by the Productores de Música de España (PROMUSICAE), for track-equivalent sales of over 20,000 units in the country.[40]
On October 3, 2014, Martin shared a video of himself on the set of filming "Adiós" music video, announcing that the visual would be available on October 20, 2014.[41] He exclusively premiered the video on Twitter on the specified date,[42] and uploaded the music videos for both Spanish/French and English versions on his YouTube channel the following day.[43][44] It was set in early-1930s Weimar Germany, filmed in Long Beach, California, the underground speakeasy Harvelle's, which opened its doors during Prohibition in 1931, and directed by Ethan Ladder.[45] Martin portrays five characters in the video: a policeman, a bartender, a bouncer, a gangster, and a singer.[42] The visual also features several female cabaret dancers, lap dancing to a few men in the crowd.[46] Martin stated about the early-1930s: "There is something about that era and the style that I love."[45] Writing for his website, Andy Towle praised Martin's different roles for being "each more dashing than the next",[47] while Sophie Schillaci from Entertainment Tonight described the video as "sexy" and "retro".[45] As of September 2018, the Spanish/French version has received over 100 million views on YouTube.[43]
