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 Those people who mocked the first Latin Grammy's last year, or just plain spoiled it by getting picky over the categories, can kiss my Aterciopelados CD. This year, the nominations are all over the map, and young, obscure, or indie talent is getting the attention it deserves over the usual suspects. That's cool, and we have to say we will definitely be watching the Latin Grammy's live from Miami's American Airlines Arena on September 11. (And not just to see what Thalia and Paulina are wearing.) Where else could you see a group like Colombia's Aterciopelados go head to head with Christina Aguilera, a Brazilian guy called Gilberto Gil, Spanish pop singer Alejandro Sanz and this year's revelation Juanes. And that's just for Record Of The Year.
Record of the Year Pero Me Acuerdo De Ti - Christina Aguilera Album Of The Year Song Of The Year Best New Artist Best Female Pop Vocal Album Best
Male Pop Vocal Album Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group With Vocal Best Rock Solo Vocal Album Best Rock Song Best Rock Album |
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The
award for Album Of The Year features Juanes, Gilberto Gil and Sanz
(again) going up against Paulina Rubio and Vicente Amigo. So maybe you
don't know who all these people are? Whatever. That's the way it should
be. Aterciopelados have long been producing killer Colombian punk with a
folky edge and now they've gotten even better by introducing a trip hop
vibe to singer Andrea Echeverri's soul-baring boleros.
And
then there's Gustavo Santaolalla, nominated for best producer.
Santaolalla did the soundtrack for the best movie this year, Amores
Perros, featuring tracks from Café Tacuba, Titan, Julieta Venegas and
Control Machete. The double album is a one-stop introduction to the best
Rock en Espanol. But nothing prepared us for Juanes amazing 7
nominations for his debut album Fijate Bien. The 27-year-old Colombian
rocker began his music career 15 years ago with the band Ekhymosis in
his native Medellin. He made 7 albums with Ekhymosis before releasing
his solo album last year and hitting the jackpot. Now, he's looking at
the kind of interest that Shakira got from last year's Latin Grammy's
(and he won't need to belly dance.)
Other
interesting stuff will be watching to see if any of the seven Cuban
artists nominated for awards can get through the Miami security and into
the auditorium. Last year Miami authorities turned the event way because
of anti-Cuba laws that forbid doing business with the enemy (communist
Cuba). But those laws have been dropped off the statute books and no
less a figure than Jorge Mas Santos of the Cuban American National
Foundation has said that he is proud to be a part of the Latin Grammy's.
Seven Cuban artists were also nominated, including salsero Issac
Delgado, jazz pianist Chucho Valdés and singers Celina González and
Omara Portuondo. This year's show will also include a new category for
rap/hip-hop album. The nominees are DJ Kun, Faces Do Subrbio, Planet
Hemp, 7 Notas 7 Colores and Sindicato Argentino Del Hip Hop, from
Argentina. It's nice to see Latino hip hop finally get it's props but
why were Cuban group Orishas left out? And if Christina "Wannabe
Latina" Aguilera can get two pop nominations, why weren't L.A.'s
Delinquent Habits nominated for their bangin' third album Merry Go
Round, or the late Big Pun for the compilation Endangered Species? Or am
I just getting picky?
The
Nominations are:
