15 March 2009
13 March 2009
Aventura "Obsesion"
Obsesión" is a 2003 single by Dominican-American bachata band Aventura, released in 2003 by Premium Latin Music. It was released first as a single in late 2003, and then included on the 2004 album We Broke the Rules. It achieved a huge success in many countries, reaching often the top of the charts. The text was written by Anthony Santos, while the refrain is performed by the female vocalist Judy Santos (both have no relationship). In 2003, the song was covered by 3rd Wish featuring Baby Bash, but this version was less successful than the original version (#7 In Switerland, #2 in Austria, #12 in France). [Wikipedia]
Santana "Oye Como Va"
"Oye Como Va" is a song written and composed by Latin jazz and mambo musician Tito Puente in 1963 and popularized by Santana's cover of the song in 1970 on their album Abraxas, helping to catapult Santana into stardom with the song reaching #13 on the Billboard Top 100. The song has the classic rhythm and tempo of cha-cha-cha. It has similarities with "Chanchullo" by Israel "Cachao" López. The Latin Beat Magazine writes, "Cachao's tumbaos for his 1937 composition of Resa Del Neleton (later changed to Chanchullo) inspired Tito Puente's signature tune 'Oye Como Va'." On the original recording of the song the voice of Santitos Colon, the Puente orchestra singer at the time, can be heard in the song along with those of Puente and other orchestra musicians. The song has numerous arrangements and remakes by numerous artists in various tempi. NPR included the song in its "NPR 100: The most important American musical works of the 20th century". Santana's arrangement is a "driving, cranked-up version" in a new style of Latin rock (attributed to musicians like Santana), adding electric guitar, Hammond B-3 organ, and a rock drum kit to the instrumentation and dropping Puente's brass section. The electric guitar part takes on Puente's flute melody, and the organ provides accompaniment (with organist Gregg Rolie's discretional use of the Leslie effect). There are several guitar solos and an organ solo, all of which are rooted in rock and the blues but also contain licks similar to those of the original arrangement. [Wikipedia]
Kaoma "Lambada"
Lambada" (also released as "Chorando Se Foi (Lambada)") is a 1989 song recorded by the French pop group Kaoma with the Brazilian vocalist Loalwa Braz. The video features the Brazilian children duet Chico and Roberta. The lyrics of "Lambada", which is also the name of a Brazilian music style, was an unauthorized translation of the song "Llorando se fue", an acoustic song recorded by the Bolivian group Los K’jarkas. The unauthorized use later resulted in a successful lawsuit from Los K’jarkas. The single became a worldwide summer hit, selling over 5 million copies in 1989 and starting the Lambada dance craze. It reached #1 on seven different charts, as well as #46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reaching #4 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the 37th best-selling single in the UK during 1989. [Wikipedia]
Black Eyed Peas feat Sergio Mendes "Mas Que Nada"
"Mas Que Nada" is a song originally written and performed by Jorge Ben in 1963, which in a later cover version became the signature song of Sérgio Mendes. In the United States, it is one of a few Brazilian songs that is widely known. It is worth noting that in the United States, the song is popularly credited to Mendes with Jorge relatively unknown, whereas in Brazil, the reverse is true. In Brazilian Portuguese slang, mas que nada (literally, "but, that [is] nothing") means "come on" or "no way". In 2006, Mendes re-recorded the song with The Black Eyed Peas and additional vocals by Gracinha Leporace (Mendes' wife); a version that is included on his album Timeless. In Brazil, the song is well-known for being the theme song for the local television channel Globo's Estrelas.The Black Eyed Peas' version also contains a sample of their 2004 hit "Hey Mama". The re-recorded song became popular on many European charts. On the UK Singles Chart, the song entered at #29 and rose to and peaked at #6 on its second week on the chart. [Wikipedia]
12 March 2009
Dr Alban "It's My Life"
Dr. Alban (born Alban Nwapa, August 26, 1957 in Awomama, Nigeria) is a Stockholm, Sweden-based musician and producer with his own record label dr-records. His music can best be described as a Eurodance/hip-hop reggae with a dancehall style. Alban Uzoma Nwapa was born into a middle class family of 10 children in Oguta, Imo state, Nigeria and had his secondary education at Christ The King College, Aba, Nigeria. He spent most of his youth in his hometown Oguta. His father was a dentist. He grew up listening to Fela Kuti and James Brown. At age 23, he travelled to Sweden to study dentistry. In order to be able to finance his studies, Nwapa started making music. He worked as a DJ in the Stockholm club 'Alphabet Street'. Very quickly his name became widely known, especially since Alban often sang to the records he put on the turntable. DJ René couldn't help but notice him and so he was discovered. Alban finished his studies and even opened his own dentistry practice, keeping his disk jockeying as a lucrative sideline. In 1990, he met with Denniz PoP from the SweMix label. Together with Denniz and Rap-Queen Leila K, his first record, "Hello Africa" - his declaration of love for his African home - broke all records. Alban Xhezair Nwapa took the stage name Dr. Alban, a nod to his dental studies. His debut album Hello Africa sold roughly 1 million copies world-wide.One year later this success was surpassed by the second album One Love. 1.6 million singles of the song "It's My Life" were sold (the single was even used as background music for a Tampax advert). It was #1 in the Netherlands, Israel and Germany and #2 in the UK. The following single "One Love" was #5 in Israel. The album immediately sold over 1.7 million units. Then followed the albums Look Who's Talking and Born In Africa. All in all, Dr. Alban has racked up world-wide sales of over 5 million albums and over 6 million singles, which resulted in 7 times Silver, 30 times Gold and 30 times Platinum. His hit single "No Coke" was used to illustrate an anti-drugs campaign in Sweden. The single "Sing Hallelujah" reached #5 in Israel. After a re-release of "No Coke", Dr. Alban confirmed his Euro dance style with his hit "Look Who's Talking", which reached #4 in Israel, #6 at MTV Europe, and #54 in UK. "Let The Beat Go On" was #12 in Israel, and #12 at MTV9. [Wikipedia]
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