Daily Headlines: February 11, 2013

* U.S.: Juanes, Lila Downs and Quetzal were some of the winners in the Grammys' Latin categories that were awarded yesterday.

* South America: Parts of Peru, Chile and Bolivia have been hit hard by flooding and landslides caused by torrential rains.

* Mexico: According to a new federal government report over 1100 people were killed in violent incidents last month.

* Ecuador: Recent poll results indicated that President Rafael Correa appears poised to win reelection in next Sunday’s elections.

Video Source – YouTube via user Marlow Rosado (Marlow Rosado y La Riqueña upset Romeo Santos to win the 2013 Grammy for "Best Tropical Latin Album.")

Online Sources- Billboard.com, BBC News, LAHT, Reuters

Venezuelan “Amigos” Upset Over Chavez Ad

With Venezuela’s presidential elections less than a month away both incumbent Hugo Chavez and rival Henrique Capriles are seeking any advantage they can get.  Yet the use of music to support the current president has raised the ire of one well-known Venezuelan band.

Members of Los Amigos Invisibles have asked a state-run radio station to quit running pro-Chavez campaign ads that use their 2004 song “Majunche.” 

"They've expropriated Majunche.  Just what we needed," tweeted bass player Jose Rafael Torres after the group found out that the YVKE station used their song. Meanwhile a spokeswoman for the band's management claimed to Reuters that the song was utilized without the band’s permission.

The instrumental tune, whose title is roughly translated as “Loser,” was played behind a speech where Chavez declared that “The loser won't win elections in Venezuela ... this year, or even in 2,000 years!”

Several members of “Los Amigos” have not been shy in admitting that they support the former governor of Miranda state.  “I would like to be an oligarch but I don’t have any lands…I’ve been forced to be on the opposition by conviction,” Torres tweeted.  Percussionist Marco Arias composed a song for the Capriles campaign entitled “Algo bueno está pasando” (“Something good is happening”).  Lyrics for the upbeat tune include “We’re all going to celebrate” and “Something good is happening, change is coming.”

Daily Headlines: February 2, 2011

* Colombia: Juanes has reportedly cancelled an April 15th concert in Miami that was scheduled on the same date as the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba.

* Caribbean: The mass deportations of thousands of undocumented Haitians from the Dominican Republic continues allegedly due to fears over the spread of cholera.

* Venezuela: Political relations between the U.S. and Venezuela are “at a standstill” according to a senior diplomat from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.

* Brazil: The “pursuit of happiness” could soon become a Brazilian constitutional right.

Image – AFP via El Informador (Juanes performed in front of a crowd of over 90,000 spectators this past weekend in Merida, Mexico).
Online Sources- ABA Law Journal, The Latin Americanist, ABC News, El Universal, HULIQ

Juanes to Santos: Hands off my music

In 1984 Bruce Springsteen demanded that U.S. President Ronald Reagan cease from using “Born in the U.S.A.” as part of his reelection campaign. Twenty-six years later a similar situation is occurring in Colombia.

On Monday Colombian pop rock star Juanes accused presidential candidate Juan Manuel Santos of using one of his hit songs without the musician’s consent. In a message written on his Twitter page Juanes accused the Santos campaign of “abuse” for crating a pro-Santos video with a rewritten version of his song “La camisa negra” (“The Black Shirt"). “I’m wearing a shirt/ because I support Santos/ I want him to be the president and protect our homeland,” warbled a Juanes imitator in the video that had been posted onto several social networks.

The Santos campaign quickly tried to remove the video in question from sites such as YouTube and Facebook, and attempted to assure Juanes that they were not behind the video’s creation. Indeed, the originator of the video turned out to be a former Senatorial candidate from Santos’ own party.

Earlier this month the Santos campaign came under fire for publishing a radio commercial with the voice of current president Alvaro Uribe allegedly giving his full support to the ex-Defense Minister. In reality, the ad used an imitator of Uribe and pre-recorded sounds of a cheering audience though that information was not disclosed in the commercial.

The latest polls indicate that both Santos and independent candidate Antanas Mockus are in a dead heat and that neither man will win outright in the first round later this month.

Image- Univision.com
Online Sources- El Universal, Media Nation, EFE, AFP, BBC Mundo, El Espectador,

Give Ladies In White Nobel Prize says Juanes

Colombian musician Juanes received plenty of undue criticism in the run-up to last September’s “Peace Without Borders” concert in Havana. It could be interesting to see if those same people who blasted him last year will also criticize him for his public support of Cuba’s Ladies in White.

In an e-mailed message publicized by a Cuban dissident, Juanes advocated that the next Nobel Peace Prize should go to the Ladies. Juanes justified giving the prestigious honor to the Ladies so “that those who suffer injustice follow their example of perseverance.” Juanes further thanked them for supporting last year’s historic concert “despite the drastic opposition of other sectors.”

In response one of the Ladies thanked Juanes while also acknowledging the group’s effort against repression:

“The Ladies in White are committed to our peaceful activities not for a prize but for the liberation of our husbands,” said Berta Soler, husband of activist Angel Moya who is serving a twenty-year jail term. – [ed. Translated text]

The Ladies have gained international fame for their marches against the Castro regime and have received increased support after being targeted in a police crackdown last month. Celebs like Gloria Estefan and Andy Garcia led solidarity marches in Miami and Washington, respectively.

Image- Al Jazeera English
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, EPA, El Universal, BBC News, Voice of America

"Paz Sin Fronteras” nearly cancelled said Juanes

One of the accusations against the "Paz Sin Fronteras" concert in Cuba was that event implied support of the Castro regime. Yet some of the musicians who performed at the concert have denounced the Cuban government for nearly forcing a last-second cancellation of the gig.

A recording made public last week showed Colombian musician/concert organizer Juanes denouncing how he was under constant surveillance by the government. His anger boiled over, however, when he was informed that security segregated concertgoers and even barred some individuals who were not dressed in white:

`This is it, we're leaving now! We're very angry, very angry, very angry. We came here to sing to the young people of Cuba, and that's why we are here. But we've encountered strong obstacles, and this is it!'' Juanes is heard saying in the recording. The discussion took place in front of the lobby elevators of the Hotel Nacional, where the singer was staying.

Juanes and Spain’s Miguel Bose would even threaten to cancel the show hours before it was to take place, yet that idea was dropped after some convincing by Puerto Rican star Olga Tañon.
An article on Friday in the Cuban press claimed that Juanes was "clearly nervous" and had mistakenly identified a hotel worker as his “spy.” Nevertheless, Tañon later said that Juanes endured “excessive pressure” and implied that he may’ve been harassed by the government.

Hundreds of thousands of Cubans attended the "Paz Sin Fronteras" concert and viewed performances by over a dozen artists from the Americas and Europe. A possible next edition of the concert could be held along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Image- AFP (Juanes and CuCu Diamantes took the stage at the "Paz Sin Fronteras" concert in Havana).
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Miami Herald, AP, Canadian Press, examiner.com, USA TODAY

Yoani Sanchez opines on Cuba “peace concert”

Plenty has been mentioned in the press and by bloggers on last Sunday’s "Peace without Borders" concert in Cuba. We’ll leave the last word, however, with well-known Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez.

Sanchez attended the concert and though she admitted that “the Juanes concert will not have significantly changed our lives” she also expressed hope that there can be (as Juanes said) a “Cuba libre!”:

If we see the performance of this September 20th as the dress rehearsal for a concert we'll have one day, then we must congratulate those who participated. Even if there isn't another, and the Plaza again takes on its solemnity and grayness, at least this Sunday afternoon we live something different. In a place where the division between us has been systematically sown, Juanes--to the setting of the sun--has shouted, "For one Cuban family!"

Image- CBC (“Hundreds of thousands gather at Revolution Square in Havana for the Peace Without Borders concert..”)
Online Sources- Reuters Video, The Latin Americanist, Wikipedia, Huffington Post

Miercoles Musical: The first "peace concert"

Preparations are under way for this Sunday's "peace concert" in Havana featuring fifteen artists from Europe and the Americas. The organizers of this "Paz Sin Fronteras" gig have plenty to think about such as what sort of political message will be conveyed via the musicians and will the concert go off without a hitch.

It may be worth remembering the first "Paz Sin Fronteras" effort eighteen months ago along the Colombia-Venezuela border. It was a true festival of music in the midst of political tensions between the neighboring states. The tensions still remain but for one day Juanes, Miguel Bose and others helped show the power that music can have in uniting us as people:

If you reside in the U.S. and wish to watch the convert on TV, HITN-TV will air the concert live from Havana starting this Sunday at 2pm EST. Click here for more info including if HITN is available in your area.

Online Sources - HITN, Reuters, examiner.com, YouTube

Lineup announced for Cuba “peace concert”

Fifteen artists representing six countries are planning to perform as part of a September 20th “peace concert” in Havana, Cuba.

Among the acts that will be present according to a press release we received a few hours ago will be Colombian pop-rock artist/ “Paz Sin Fronteras” organizer Juanes. Cuban artists Silvio Rodríguez and Los Van Van will also be there along with the likes of Miguel Bosé (Spain) and Olga Tañón (Puerto Rico). Representing the U.S. will be the brilliant fusion sounds of CuCu Diamantes and Yerba Buena.

Juanes has received plenty of criticism from members of the cuban exile community in the U.S though he has also been backed by some Cuban dissidents. According to the press release the upcoming concert will try to bring musicians together in a spirit of peace and harmony much like the first “Paz Sin Fronteras” last year along the Colombia-Venezuela border:

Concierto Paz Sin Fronteras will take place at the Jose Marti Revolution Plaza between 2PM and 6PM local time. The Paz Sin Fronteras stage will be located at the same spot where Pope John Paul II held his historic mass in January of 1998. Admission is free and open to the public.

The concert organizers have requested that the artists and the audience wear all white attire to symbolize peace.

All artists have agreed to perform just their most popular songs and that the concert will not present political messages of any nature. There will be no presenters on stage – just music performers.

The concert will be sponsor-free and will supposedly air via satellite through Cuban television. None of the artists will be paid to perform and production costs will be split between Cuba's Ministry of Culture, Juanes, Bosé and Tañón.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- BBC News, The Latin Americanist, Billboard
Other Source - Paz Sin Fronteras press release via e-mail

Daily Headlines: September 8, 2009

* Brazil: The presidents of France and Brazil issued a joint statement confirming Brazil’s over $2 billion deal to buy three dozen French-made jet fighters.

* Chile: In a shocking incident a heartbroken 26-year-old Chilean committed suicide as onlookers including his ex-girlfriend witnessed it via a live webcam.

* Ecuador: The head of security for President Rafael Correa died on Sunday after being ill for over a month with the swine flu.

* Cuba: More than twenty dissidents including the co-founder of the Ladies in White publicly backed the September 20th peace concert in Havana organized by Colombian musician Juanes.

Image- AP (“Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, and France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaks during the Independence Day parade, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Sep. 7, 2009.”)
Online Sources- Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, The Latin Americanist, LAHT, CNN

Weekend Headlines: August 29-30, 2009

* Cuba: While visiting Cuba, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson called for the Obama administration to do more to improve ties with the island and also backed musician Juanes’ plans for a Havana peace concert next month.

* Nicaragua: On a related note, a group of graduating Nicaraguan med students received a congratulatory phone call from Fidel Castro.

* Mexico: Hurricane Jimena may become a “major” hurricane by the time it hits Mexico’s Pacific coast but will it be enough to combat the country’s water woes?

* Dominican Republic: Despite the global economic woes officials claim that tourism rates in the Dominican Republic will go up this year.

* Peru: Villagers in the southern Peruvian town of Ayacucho commemorated the 25th anniversary of the massacre of 92 people at the hands of army soldiers.

* Colombia: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will be part of the investigation into the deaths of twelve indigenous Awa last Wednesday.

Image- AFP
Online Sources- CNN, Reuters, Bloomberg, The Latin Americanist, LAHT, AP, Dominican TODAY

Weekend Headlines: August 22-23, 2009

* Argentina: Argentina’s government along with Jewish groups are angry that Iran’s choice for defense minister is Ahmad Vahidi- a suspect in the deadly 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.

* Mexico: A deal has reportedly been reached between Volkswagen and workers at its Puebla plant who went on a five-day strike.

* Chile: Chile’s government is reevaluating its plan to buy lands and redistributing to indigenous Mapuche communities in light of recent deadly clashes between police and demonstrators.

* Haiti: Authorities claimed that about 140,000 tons of emergency food has been stockpiled in preparation for possible hurricanes and tropical storms.

* Peru: Peru’s national men’s soccer team has rescinded a boycott of September’s World Cup qualifiers after several player demands were met.

* Cuba: The manager of Colombian singer Juanes said that he will go ahead with a planned September 20th peace concert in Havana despite receiving death threats.

Image- BBC News (Argentina has accused Iran’s government of masterminding the 1994 AMIA bombing that killed 85 people and injured hundreds.)
Online Sources- CNN, Wikipedia, Bloomberg, The Latin Americanist, LAHT, UPI, USA TODAY, BBC News

Death threats made against Juanes

Colombian musician Juanes has come under plenty of fire over his plans to hold a “Peace Without Borders” concert in Havana, Cuba. Despite receiving support from some musicians and Cuban dissidents, others in the Cuban exile community have blasted the planned September 20th. One group of Cuban expats in Miami publicly smashed Juanes CDs as a sign of protest last week.

For a few opponents of Juanes, however, the anger against him has become hatred:

Colombian pop star Juanes filed a complaint at the Miami police department after having received threats over his planned concert in Cuba, Telemundo reported Wednesday…

One of the threats said "I hate what you are saying, but you will die defending your right to say it," an alteration of a sentence of French philosopher Voltaire who originally wrote "I do not share what you say, but I will defend until death your right to say it."

According to Telemundo, the singer is now considering suspending the controversial concert. However, in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, Wednesday Juanes said the concert was still on.

Despite the paranoia against him, Juanes said that he would like to hold another peace concert along the U.S.-Mexico border. In a message written on his Twitter page, Juanes mentioned that “I want to tell you that, after Cuba, the idea is to go to the U.S.-Mexico border, between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, in 2010.”

Image- AP
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, YouTube, LAHT, Colombia Reports,

Juanes defends planned Havana concert

Last week we mentioned plans by Colombia's Juanes to host a peace concert in the Cuban capital of Havana. The proposed gig- which could take place on September 20th- has split the Cuban exile community in the U.S.

Writer-journalist Carlos Alberto Montaner praised Juanes for taking the initiative to play in Cuba. “It could be the chance for thousands of young Cubans to reject the Cuban regime”, he said while adding that the concert wouldn’t diminish his mainstream appeal.

On the other side of the coin are views like that of filmmaker Joe Cardona who wrote a scathing op/ed piece in the Miami Herald. “The concert promises to be nothing more than a shameless, thoughtless and heartless appearance by the 36-year-old singer and his fellow performers” wrote Cardona who also claimed that the planned concert would provide a “tacit legitimization” of the Castro government.

Meanwhile, Juanes and his associates have strongly denied the criticisms against him. “Why are the promotion of unity between peoples and the dismantling of borders bothersome?” said the musician’s spokesman- Fernán Martínez. Juanes defended his actions in an interview last night on Univision’s “Aquí y Ahora" (Here and Now) newsmagazine. “Traveling to Cuba symbolizes that it’s time to change minds” he said and added that the U.S. government has provided its support for the event.

Perhaps the last word on the subject should be with a Cuban who actually lives on the island: blogger Yoani Sanchez.

I think that Juanes should come and sing. If his subject is peace, he will have to know that this Island is not immersed in bellicose conflict, but neither does it know concord. He will raise his voice before a people who have been divided, classified according to a political color and compelled to confront any who think differently. A population that for years has not heard talk of harmony and that knows the punishment given to those who dare to voice their criticisms. We need his voice, but only if he comes to sing without forgetting any Cuban, without rejecting any difference.

Image- Washington Post
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Miami Herald, EPA, Americas Quarterly, Huffington Post, El Tiempo, Global Voices Online

Juanes to head possible Cuba concert

Colombian pop-rocker Juanes is not shy from organizing concerts for peace; he was one of the main minds behind the March 2008 “Peace Without Borders” gig along the Colombia-Venezuela boundary. Yet it appears that Juanes is planning a second set of the “Peace Without Borders” series next month in Cuba.

According to execs at the Cuban Music Institute, Juanes will give a concert in Havana on September 20th. The Cuban press reported that the concert will be attended by several musicians from Latin America and Juanes have traveled to Cuba last June to speak with officials. Juanes' manager- Fernan Martinez- gave more details to the AP including Juanes’ personal meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

For now, Martinez said, the show will feature at least Juanes and Spanish singer Miguel Bose.

"Following the lead of the first concert ... the event will use music as a tool to transcend politics and demonstrate unity of peoples beyond borders," Martinez said.

He said Juanes, who has started a foundation to help land-mine victims, met with Clinton "to present the concept for the concert" and that "the requests for U.S. artists are currently in process with the Treasury Department."

Martinez said the singer also met recently with Treasury officials and Congress, as well as leaders of key Cuban exile groups in Miami to help ensure U.S. stars come for the show.

If Juanes is able to pull off this concert, would it be fair to compare him to better known humanitarian musicians?

Image- El Espectador
Online Sources- Escambray, AP, The Latin Americanist

Juanes, Jaguares, “In the Heights” win Grammys

Image- MSNBC (Photo of Juanes at the 2008 Latin Grammys; Argentine producer Gustavo Santaolalla accepted Juanes’ honor tonight).

The Grammy Awards ceremony may be going on as we publish this post (we "heart" M.I.A.!), yet several awards have already been given out. Though most Latin American musicians have opted to skip the ceremony, awards in the “Latin” category have been doled out:

• Colombian Juanes beat Luis Miguel, Jorge Drexler, and others to win Best Latin Pop Album. In a message published via his publicist, Juanes dedicated his award to “those held hostage in the Colombian jungle.”
• “If Jaguares win, it will be because NARAS owes (lead singer Saúl Hernández) one (and only one),” mentioned one article ahead of today’s awards. Deserved or not, the Mexican rockers won Best Latin Rock Or Alternative Album ahead of worthy finalists like Locos Por Juana and Nortec Collective.
• In other categories, reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel won Best Latin Urban Album while José Feliciano got top honors in Best Tropical Latin Album. In addition, Nati Cano and Mariachi Divas shared Best Regional Mexican Album honors while Los Tigres del Norte captured Best Norteño Album.
• Last but not least, “In The Heights” can add another honor to the four Tony Awards received in 2008. The musical inspired by the New York City Latino enclave of Washington Heights received Best Musical Show Album ahead of “Gypsy”, “South Pacific”, and others.
  

Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, vive.in, San Antonio Current, Prensa Libre, El Pais, grammy.com, Milenio

Juanes, Nortec Collective get Grammy nods

Nominations for the Grammy Awards were announced in a glitzy, overhyped ceremony live last night.

Rapper Lil Wayne led the field with eight nominations, closely followed by Coldplay with seven and three artists including Kanye West with six. In addition, John Mayer received five nominations and the Jonas Brothers even got a nod.

(Despite such choices I haven’t totally lost my faith in humanity…yet).

Colombian Juanes- who dominated the Latin Grammys last month- was nominated for Best Latin Pop Album. That same category also included Mexico’s Luis Miguel (he’s still around?) and Argentine Jorge Drexler (who I thought would be snubbed).

Speaking of snubs, there were some surprise non-choices made in other Latin music categories. Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany Garcia won best new artist at the Latin Grammys but was shut out last night. Mexican rockeros Cafe Tacvba won two Latin Grammys but didn’t get a nod in the Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album category. (Nortec Collective and Locos Por Juana were deservedly picked in that category).

You can check out all the nominations here; could Lila Downs or Gilberto Gil upset Youssou N'Dour in Best Contemporary World Music Album?

Image- AP (“Singer Juanes accepts the song of the year award at the 9th annual Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 in Houston.”)
Sources- Chicago Sun-Times, New York Times, Reuters, AP

Today’s Video: Juanes triumphs at Latin Grammys

Wow:

Juanes has completed a sweep at the Latin Grammys in Houston by taking record of the year honors.

By winning the top honor, the Colombian rocker brought his total for the night to five, including trophies for song of the year, album of the year, best male pop vocal album and best short form music video.

We’ll have more on the Latin Grammys tomorrow; in the meantime, let’s turn back the clock to last March and watch Juanes’ performance at the Paz Sin Fronteras ("Peace Without Borders") concert:

Sources- The Latin Americanist, YouTube, AP

Daily Headlines: October 20, 2008

* U.S.: According to a recent study 39.3% of Latinas in their 50s have osteoarthritis while roughly 42% of Latinas are obese.

* Latin America: Colombia’s Juanes, Mexico’s Café Tacuba, and Chile’s Kudai were among the winners at the MTV Latin America awards held last week. (Katy who?)

* Spain: In an unsurprising note, officials who served under ex-strongman Francisco Franco are angry at crusading judge Baltasar Garzon.

* Panama: Authorities have removed Chinese candy and cookies that were found with traces of an industrial chemical called melamine.

Image- abc.net.au
Sources- IHT, AFP, newsday.com, Reuters, independent.ie, The Latin Americanist

De Musica Ligera: New Juanes song hits radio

A new single from Colombian rockero/humanitarian Juanes was released to radio on Monday. The tune entitled “Odio por Amor” will be released as part of an upcoming album according to an e-mail sent to us by his PR team:

Recorded in August and set for inclusion in a planned special/expanded edition release of La Vida… es Un Ratico in November, “Odio por Amor” is an instantly classic Juanes anthem in the vein of “A Dios Le Pido”. The just released track finds Juanes giving a heartfelt appeal that we re-evaluate our approach to relationships – whether it be an exchange between lovers, family or even nations. The universal need for this simple but vital reminder to exchange love for hate is reinforced by Juanes, for the first time-ever, singing the song’s chorus in both Spanish and English – with the engaging refrain of “Es tiempo de cambiar / It's time to change.”

The song can be heard here via Univision.com. Juanes’ lone English-language lyrics don’t sound out of tune with the rest of the song, while the tune itself is more “pop” than “rock.” All-in-all it’s a good song.

Have you listened to “Odio por Amor”? If so, what did you think of it?

Image- New York Daily News
Sources- The Latin Americanist, juanesweb.com, Univision.com