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Take A Good Look (and A Read! :)

A review by varona22 on Juanes
Feb 28, 2008

Author's product rating: Juanes - rated by varona22

Advantages:	A performer in the full sense of the word, and an activist with a great heart
Disadvantages:	It took a while for him to surface, but it was worthwhile

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

♫ ♪ "Tengo la camisa negra, hoy mi amor esta de luto, hoy tengo en el alma una pena y es por culpa de tu embrujo…."♫ ♪ ♫

Who knew that this ironically poetic love phrase would transcend the language barriers and make a non-stop journey around the world? Who, at first knew, that the author of these words, once a seven year old grieved by his nation's tearing violence, would one day become a chart topper and record breaker? Who ever imagined that one day Time magazine would name him among the "100 most influential people in the world today?"

Beginnings as a Musician

Born in Carolina del Príncipe, Colombia, August 9, 1972, Juan Esteban Aristizábal began his early music vocation at the age of seven with his family's patient and loving teachings at the guitar. He first ventured with typical folkloric Colombian music, such as cumbia, vallenato and guasca and while making his transition to adulthood listened to American rock bands such as Metallica. Maybe it was these two put together that would later on become the exotic mix that would catapult him to stardom, or maybe as an irony, the crucial moments of his adolescence would help the outcome. Those were disastrous times for Juanes; his cousin was executed by kidnappers and a close friend was murdered at gunpoint.

However, by the early age of 16, he wasn't planning on taking matters into his own hands as many of his peers would do. Instead he found a way to express his pain and sorrow and transmit a positive message through his music. He already had in mind what his true goal in life would be and formed Ekhymosis, a metal band with several of his childhood friends. However, with hits like "Solo" and "La Tierra" they only managed to conquer the Colombian listeners, nothing more and nothing less. In Juanes' words, the band "couldn't get out of Colombia" and remained "very local and confined to the Colombian market." He then decided it was time to split from international anonymity and pursue a solo career in 1998.

Fijate Bien : He's Made it to International Stardom!

Juanes decided to name his solo debut album "Fijate Bien", which in English means, "take a good look". And what an appropriate title that was! It was like if somehow he foresaw his future worldwide success. Nevertheless, he had to be patient: once again the album fared well in Colombia, spending ten weeks at the number one position, but it failed to grasp any one else's attention, except that of the Grammy Board of Directors. Which artist, however, at the start of his solo career, wouldn't find this surprisingly exhilarating? Little did he know that this apparently unpopular album would hit gold, scoring three Latin Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Rock Solo Vocal Album, and Best Rock Song. This momentous event gave Juanes the impulse to start writing and composing more, and by 2002, his second album, Un Dia Normal was released.

The album hit jackpot once more among his fellow country men during its first day of sales and went platinum and multi-platinum in countries like Mexico, and Spain. The album spent 92 weeks in the top ten of Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart, setting a new record for Juanes. The lead single, "A Dios le Pido" ("I Ask God"), allowed it to be nominated for three awards and win Best Rock Song. "A Dios le Pido" topped the singles charts of twelve countries and spent 47 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks.

I think in everyone's opinion, this song in particular was the one to bring Juanes' career into the spotlight. It has all the right components: heartfelt lyrics, an up-beat rhythm, a melodious chorus, and indescribable passion. For some it became an anthem, and for others, a prayer of peace for the troubled Latin-American countries. Nevertheless, this highly acclaimed song was not the only highlight of "Un Dia Normal"; it also contained other hits such as the love duet with Nelly Furtado in "Fotografia."

This partnership was meant to be and continue. Juanes worked once more with Furtado on a remix of "Powerless (Say What You Want)", the lead single from her 2003 album Folklore, and on "Te Busqué" ("I Looked for You"), a single from her 2006 album Loose. The stairway to stardom was inevitably on the rise for Juanes.

All the former led to a repeated success at the 2003 Latin Grammy Awards, winning all five of the awards for which he was nominated, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year. I'm sure this sudden burst of popularity and acclamation must've been over staggering for Juanes. It all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye; it was well-deserved, nevertheless.

His success continued to escalate with the release of his 2004 album Mi Sangre (My Blood), which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. The album came packed with hits, such as the ever-so-famous "La Camisa Negra" ("The Black Shirt") which became especially popular in Europe. Countries like Germany and Italy played the song non-stop. However, in Italy it was used to support neo-fascism due to the fact that the black shirt was a part of the uniform under the regime of Benito Mussolini. In response, many called for a boycott of the song. What was Juanes' response to the controversy? "La Camisa Negra' has got nothing to do with fascism or Mussolini...People can interpret music in all kinds of ways I guess."

At the 2005 Latin Grammy Awards, Juanes again broke records and won three awards in addition to his nine previous ones. He took the award for Best Rock Song for "Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor" ("I Am Worthless without Your Love"), Best Rock Solo Album for Mi Sangre and Best Music Video for "Volverte a Ver" ("To See You Again"). Due to his immense popularity in Germany, he was bestowed the honor of performing "La Camisa Negra" at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final Draw gala. The honors didn't stop there: in 2006, the American crooner Tony Bennett invited him as a special guest in a new version of "The Shadow of Your Smile", featured in his 2006 album, "Duets: An American Classic."

Present Time

When asked about the possibility of recording an album in English, Juanes responded, "singing in Spanish is very important because it's the language in which I think and feel. I respect people that sing in English, but for now I'll keep my Spanish." And he has kept true to his word until this day, in comparison to other of his contemporaries and countrymen, such as Shakira. In October 2007, he launched his own music label, named 4J, distributed by Universal side by side to his long-awaited album after a two year "sabbath". "La Vida …Es Un Ratico" proved to be an immediate hit and it still is climbing.

The first single, "Me Enamora" spent seven consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Latin Chart in the US and reached number one in 14 different countries by the time of the album's release. This is a beautiful song which speaks about what makes him fall in love, and although not as ironic as "La Camisa Negra" it has a catchy beat very similar to that of the former. In my opinion, "Me Enamora" is actually an outstanding mix of "La Camisa Negra" and "A Dios Le Pido" which are Juanes' most outstanding songs.

Other highlights of Juanes' career include:

-Performed at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, together with a variety of artists, which was broadcasted live over 100 countries.

-Established the Mi Sangre Foundation to help victims of anti-personnel mines.

-Honored at the annual benefit gala given by Sir Paul McCartney's Adopt-A-Minefield for his work as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Colombia.

- In 2006, he performed before the European Parliament to increase awareness against the use of land mines in countries around the world, and especially in his native land Colombia. Later that day, he was given an escopetarra (an AK-47 converted into a guitar) in honor of his music and work and later auctioned it off at a fund raiser in Beverly Hills for $17,000.

-Held a benefit concert on May 24, 2006 which raised 350,000 to provide prosthetics, wheelchairs, and rehabilitation for victims of landmines.

-On July 19, 2006, Juanes was awarded the L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedie, declaring him "Knight in the order of Arts and Letters" for his work in social activism.

- Recreational park for handicapped children, "Parque Juanes de la Paz" was completed by May 2007 in Medellin, Colombia.

My Own Thoughts About Juanes

It might sound ironic, but to tell you the truth I've never been the biggest Juanes fan. I do enjoy several of his songs but he's never really been at the top of my Favorites list. "So why did you write a review about him?" you may ask yourself. I did so because he's one of the few outstandingly talented artists Colombia has been able to export for the enjoyment of other nations. In addition to that, I admire the fact that he's a performer in the full sense of the word and his aid for the Colombian civil war crisis is immense. He managed to surface from total anonymity to being internationally acclaimed. Even if you're completely not a Juanes fan, you can't deny what a successful celebrity he's become.

Nonetheless, when you attend a Juanes concert, trust me, your view of him completely changes. That was my personal case. On March 11, 2005, after my friends' repeated requests, I decided to give him a try and attend one of his concerts in Miami, Florida. I can only say it was one of the best, if not THE best concert I have ever been to! He's simply so captivating on stage, you just can't resist the force of his live enchanting songs and melodies! If you ever have the opportunity, this is one concert I would totally recommend. All blame for my blurry pictures falls on the excitement of the evening.Take a good look and enjoy!

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