Hello everyone, it’s been a while. Midterms and papers have been crazy! But, you know what gets me through any rough time, especially through studying? Some good Latin music.
 

I’m super excited for this installment of Música Buena because I can tell you guys about, personally, one of my most anticipated albums—Sale El Sol by none other than la única Shakira coming out tomorrow! (October 19, 2010).

This album is going to be her seventh studio album and it’s fresh off her music success this past summer during the FIFA World Cup (check out the two versions of the song “Waka Waka,” featured on this album). She tells Billboard, “I see [the new album] as having two currents. One is a lot about love and love experiences and emotions. And the other side of it is very joyful, and upbeat…It’s a little more Latin on one side and a little more rock ‘n roll on the other side.”

My favorite song on the album, and also the Featured Tema, would have to be “Addicted To You,” a mambo song that’s sure to be a hit.

She sings, “I’m addicted to you / porque es un vicio tu piel. / Baby I’m addicted to you, / quiero que te dejes querer.” It’s definitely a song you would hear at a Latin club and it would have everyone going crazy. Other songs you should check out include: “Gordita” and “Loca.”

Reblog and leave comments if you plan to/have purchased Shaki’s album. Buy it on iTunes!

Every Tuesday in the lower level of the widely-visited GSU, the Howard Thurman Center is crowded with members of Alianza Latina who stretch over the comfortable couches to share conversation in an otherwise serene atmosphere. Similar to Dean Elmore’s Coffee and Conversation, which occurs in the same space every Friday, tonight Alianza Latina met for Café con Leche.

This customary Latin American coffee and milk concoction is a simple drink enjoyed at any time of the day, but especially with companions. Last night, Alianza Latina shared it with various members of the BU community and their special guest Dean Benjamin Juárez, the newly appointed Dean of The College of Fine Arts.

An acclaimed conductor with a diverse musical background, and an even more impressive and international work repertoire, Dean Juárez arrives at Boston University from his native Mexico.

Most recently, Dean Juárez worked as the director of culture, technology, and development at the Dr. José Maria Luis Mora Research Institute in Mexico.  However, he is no stranger to the stage and prior to his administrative work he studied in Europe. He returned to Mexico as principal guest conductor and assistant conductor of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra and associate conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra.

As Dean Juárez reminisced on his life, his eyes glazed with pride and gratitude; his hands directed every thought as if the room itself was organized in string and percussion groups. Even as he immersed himself in the language of his passions, it was evident Mr. Juárez had one message: the universality of music.
He eloquently expressed: “As I go on, I realize that my life is just a pre-text to share with you the art and institutions of my country.”

Mr. Juárez was not here to baffle the students with Toscanini and Vivaldi although everyone awed at his name dropping of Thalia, Celia Cruz and Luis Miguel, he was here to share the mystery of music that binds human hearts much like a cup of café con leche.

“Music is like that, you can build a bubble and rebuild your tones, a place where you know that you belong and where beauty reigns,” Juárez expressed with faint nostalgia for the warm weather and spicy food of his native Mexico, a stark contrast to the ominous clouds and rain that plagued Boston all week.

Students nodded in agreement and looked at Mr. Juárez with reverence, a re-assuring admiration. Here is a man from our neighbor country of Mexico, so often belittled and frowned upon for its political violence and economical demise, reminding us of beauty and culture, so often trampled on by U.S. hegemony.

-Susana Alvarez

This one is so hard, I can’t even choose between five of them. I’m going to give the top two because it’s almost impossible to pick one that’s better than the other—for me at least.

The first artist I’m going to mention is Austin Santos, better known as Arcángel La Maravilla. I’m trying to think back to the very first song I heard by him. I think it would have to be “Soy Una Gárgola” featuring an artist I’m also going to mention as my favorite, Randy Nota Loca del dúo Jowell y Randy.

After “Soy Una Gárgola” I was just stuck on this guy—other favorites include: “Me He Enamorado De Ti,” “Historia De Amor” y “Piel Canela.”

I think you should all go buy the albums La Maravilla and El Fenómeno and I can’t wait to purchase his next album currently in production entitled Sexo, Elegancia, y Maldad.

The second is a group made up of Jowell El Mas Suelto y Randy Nota Loca, formerly known as Jowell y Randy. Their last album, El Momento pretty much took over the airwaves despite having been delayed about half a year. Throughout that time, though, they kept in contact with their fans and released two free mixtapes: Se Acerca El Momento and Tengan Pacienca.

Favorite songs by them include their hottest song at the moment, “Loco” (check out the remix with Wisin y Yandel!) as well as their very first song together “Todavia Recuerdo.”

Be on the lookout for El Momento 2 coming real soon. I can’t believe I had to choose! I’ll leave you with an Honorable Mention list: Kaltri, Jadiel, De La Ghetto, Marc Anthony, y Los Toros Band just to name a few.

Phillipe Chatelain (uptownvoice.tumblr.com)