GLORIA ESTEFAN
Buenos Aires, GEBA Stadium
18/4/2009
Gloria Estefan is saying goodbye to touring and since 2004 she has been visiting the countries she has never played before. It´s not easy for an artist to do, but this Cuban singer has valid reasons to do it: her family. Her mum just turned 80 and she wants to spend more time with her children and her husband (the producer Emilio Estefan).
At 9.50pm the lights of the stadium went down and on the screen spanning the stage video played showing images from different Gloria looks and a special Megamix of sounds. Suddenly the screen disappeared, the band started to play and the dancers did their thing, waiting for the Diva. Amid flaming lighting Estefan appeared and the party started with 'Oye'. 'I cant stop, I cant stop' goes the song which was certainly true tonight. 'Rhythm Is Gonna Get You' follows which is when you realize the important cross-over that this artist made, paving the way for other singers like Shakira, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias as the audience accepts the change of language, from Spanish to English as the feeling and the energy is still there. A good example is at the end of the song when the tribal chorus chants 'oee oee, oee ooo aaa' and Gloria asks the audience to sing, 'Now in Spanish, now in German, now in Japanese'. Obviously it's always the same, "In any language, the music is the same", she says.
The dancefloor keeps burning with '3 deseos', another hit from the 'Abriendo Puertas' CD. 'In September me and Emilio will celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary, and this is the first song we composed together', is how Estefan presents one of the most touching ballads from 'Mi Tierra', the bolero 'Con Los Años Que Me Quedan', followed by 'No Pretendo', 'Ayer' and the salsa-vibe 'No Me Dejes de Querer'.
After showing pictures on screen of some of the artists she has collaborated with during her career (Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, Alejandro Fernandez, Celia Cruz, etc), she talked about Shakira, whom she helped launch her English career. 'She recorded with Wyclef Jean, but I did it before!', refering to 'Hips Dont Lie' from the Colombian singer (2006) and 'Don´t Release Me' (from 'Gloria', 1998). 'Madonna recorded with Justin Timberlake ('4 Minutes' in 2008), 'But I did it before!' ('The Music of My Heart' in 2000). 'On my record, 'Gloria', in 1998, I didnt include a song and instead gave it to J.Lo' is how she introduced 'Let's Get Loud', before playing the song, and surprising the crowd with her version.
'Everlasting Love' continues the dance vibe, with Gloria explaining that she wasn't at the video shoot, because at the time (1994) she was 9 months pregnant. 'You saw on the screens all the drag queens playing me, so if any man likes them, it´s fine, dont panic'. She also introduced her brilliant band, 'The United Nations', from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the USA.
The ballads 'No Será Fácil' and 'Si Voy a Perderte' (Don't Wanna Lose You) added some romance to the night and marked the end of the first part of the show. Gloria left the stage, but her 'Mini Me' appears, her daughter Emily (14) wearing a Jagger/Richards t-shirt who played an instrumental version of the Seventies hit 'Play That Funky Music' on the guitar. At the end of the song she even played the drums, 'She´s the most talented of the family!' says Gloria later.
Then, a journey through nostalgia and emotion. '1, 2, 3', 'Hoy', 'Abriendo Puertas', 'Santo Santo', a mention of her father in 'Tu Fotografía', 'No Te Olvidaré', and the 1996 Olympic Games song 'Reach'. 'No Llores', first single from her most recent album '90 Millas', started the salsa vibe again, followed by 'Mi Tierra', 'Oye Mi Canto' and 'Cuba Libre'.
The rhythm party continues in English with 'Turn The Beat Around', 'Conga', 'Dr. Beat', 'Get On Your Feet' and 'I Just Wanna Be Happy'. After 'Live For Loving You', 'Higher', 'Corazón Prohibido' - with some parts of songs sung by the crowd - she dedicated a special song to her Argentinian fans, an a cappella version of the classic tango ballad 'El Día Que Me Quieras'.
After almost 3 hours of show - 35 songs - in front of 23,000 people, it was a fine way to showcase, for the last time, the talent and charisma of Gloria Estefan.
At 9.50pm the lights of the stadium went down and on the screen spanning the stage video played showing images from different Gloria looks and a special Megamix of sounds. Suddenly the screen disappeared, the band started to play and the dancers did their thing, waiting for the Diva. Amid flaming lighting Estefan appeared and the party started with 'Oye'. 'I cant stop, I cant stop' goes the song which was certainly true tonight. 'Rhythm Is Gonna Get You' follows which is when you realize the important cross-over that this artist made, paving the way for other singers like Shakira, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias as the audience accepts the change of language, from Spanish to English as the feeling and the energy is still there. A good example is at the end of the song when the tribal chorus chants 'oee oee, oee ooo aaa' and Gloria asks the audience to sing, 'Now in Spanish, now in German, now in Japanese'. Obviously it's always the same, "In any language, the music is the same", she says.
The dancefloor keeps burning with '3 deseos', another hit from the 'Abriendo Puertas' CD. 'In September me and Emilio will celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary, and this is the first song we composed together', is how Estefan presents one of the most touching ballads from 'Mi Tierra', the bolero 'Con Los Años Que Me Quedan', followed by 'No Pretendo', 'Ayer' and the salsa-vibe 'No Me Dejes de Querer'.
After showing pictures on screen of some of the artists she has collaborated with during her career (Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, Alejandro Fernandez, Celia Cruz, etc), she talked about Shakira, whom she helped launch her English career. 'She recorded with Wyclef Jean, but I did it before!', refering to 'Hips Dont Lie' from the Colombian singer (2006) and 'Don´t Release Me' (from 'Gloria', 1998). 'Madonna recorded with Justin Timberlake ('4 Minutes' in 2008), 'But I did it before!' ('The Music of My Heart' in 2000). 'On my record, 'Gloria', in 1998, I didnt include a song and instead gave it to J.Lo' is how she introduced 'Let's Get Loud', before playing the song, and surprising the crowd with her version.
'Everlasting Love' continues the dance vibe, with Gloria explaining that she wasn't at the video shoot, because at the time (1994) she was 9 months pregnant. 'You saw on the screens all the drag queens playing me, so if any man likes them, it´s fine, dont panic'. She also introduced her brilliant band, 'The United Nations', from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the USA.
The ballads 'No Será Fácil' and 'Si Voy a Perderte' (Don't Wanna Lose You) added some romance to the night and marked the end of the first part of the show. Gloria left the stage, but her 'Mini Me' appears, her daughter Emily (14) wearing a Jagger/Richards t-shirt who played an instrumental version of the Seventies hit 'Play That Funky Music' on the guitar. At the end of the song she even played the drums, 'She´s the most talented of the family!' says Gloria later.
Then, a journey through nostalgia and emotion. '1, 2, 3', 'Hoy', 'Abriendo Puertas', 'Santo Santo', a mention of her father in 'Tu Fotografía', 'No Te Olvidaré', and the 1996 Olympic Games song 'Reach'. 'No Llores', first single from her most recent album '90 Millas', started the salsa vibe again, followed by 'Mi Tierra', 'Oye Mi Canto' and 'Cuba Libre'.
The rhythm party continues in English with 'Turn The Beat Around', 'Conga', 'Dr. Beat', 'Get On Your Feet' and 'I Just Wanna Be Happy'. After 'Live For Loving You', 'Higher', 'Corazón Prohibido' - with some parts of songs sung by the crowd - she dedicated a special song to her Argentinian fans, an a cappella version of the classic tango ballad 'El Día Que Me Quieras'.
After almost 3 hours of show - 35 songs - in front of 23,000 people, it was a fine way to showcase, for the last time, the talent and charisma of Gloria Estefan.
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