Latin Thursday - Fonseca - Corazon - Corazon

Ok here we go!!

LT

Escribo en Ingles para poder llegar a amigos que no saben Espanol (que pena no tengo la enie). Disculpen mi ingles.

Juan Fernando Fonseca hails from Bogota Colombia (My City, Yeah!!) as one of the most important pop-vallenato singers. Yes there are a lot of other singers experimenting with what I like to call the "Vallenato Bogotano" and yes they are also very good, but what called my attention about this artist is the fact that the CD, Corazon, brings many Colombian rhythms to the front of the mix which for me increases the value of this enterprise. It makes an effort to raise awareness around the cultural and musical heritage that Colombia owns and that above all should be preserved as our patrimony.

Let me tell you a little bit about the history of the Vallenato. It was born at the Atlantic coast of Colombia, more precisely in Valledupar. It didn't become popular elsewhere until the 80's. There's a really cool story around the origins of Vallenato, eventhough it is shrouded in mystery and what I'm about to say may not be true, Francisco el Hombre battled Satan in an accordion talent show and defeated him giving birth to intrincate rythms and solos that characterize the genre. Bass guitar is also very important for this genre, up to the point that John Patitucci asked Chucho Merchan (recognized colombian bass player) to teach him the vallenato technique.

Well this guy (Fonseca) graduated from one of the most important high schools in Bogota as well as one of the most expensive ones. The "Gimnasio Moderno" school is a place of very open minded students and staff. He studied music at the Berkley School of Music located in Boston, MA, where as I'm told by my friend Jorge Uriel Velasco, the practice and preservation of each one's musical heritage is highly appreciated. Concerts to promote and reward the preservation of musical heritage take place every now and then and are recorded. The fascination for rythms from the colombian coast must have stroke him during his college years.

Back in the day, around 2001, I had the opportunity to attend to a Juanes concert in Bogota, the opener for this show was Fonseca, at the time he wasn't that recognized and attracted the attention of many musical radio stations which began giving him airtime by playing his music and having interviews promoting his music. He opened for Shakira's shows as well. This would eventually lead him to earn the 2006 Latin Grammy award for best tropical song with "Te mando flores."



By the way I love the girl from the video oh and some other girls to... Call me (:

Oh and for those of you who don't live in Bogota, check out the scene where he walks beside her during the day, that's down town Bogota really close to Universidad de Los Andes where my studies took place. I love it!!! Oh and during the night she goes to a bar and after that apparently he gives her a ride and they drive by The National Museum, through la Septima, that's one of the most important streets that take you from north to south of the city with the beautiful mountains to the east and the wild sabana to the west. OMG I love Bogotá!!!

The song I want to feature here features Fonseca and Chucho Merchan playing together the song that gives title to the whole CD. What I appreciate the most and the reason why I chose it, although it is not the most mainstream one, and is not exactly vallenato, is that there are some moments where a bullerengue rhythm kicks in with some very nice chorus and a warm acoustic guitar, colombian gaita and electronic synthesizer that greatly add to the atmosphere.

Bullerengue percussion leads the movement of the womens hips and symbolizes the fertility and the power to give life that they have. As they dance they wear white dresses with long skirts that they hold against their hips which move back and forth very slowly and gracefully. The way I see it, is that women not only give life to newborns but also to the people that they love, they keep us alive and that's why this song is so magical...

Here's some of the lyrics (Obviously translated) :

What else can I ask from the heart
with you I loose all reason
And whenever you are not here anymore
I will only look for you until the end.

My love for you reaches up to the heavens...

I'm so sorry I couldn't find a link to show you this song but I guess your musically hungry minds will not let this go. Ohh actually I got it you can check it out HERE.

I recomend this CD, It is one of my personal favorites and hopefully you will share this feeling. Ohh and stay tunned for Fonseca's new CD this month!

Ok so this was a little long... anyways I promise I wont write this long any more or else I wont have time to make my own music.

See you nexxxt Latin Thursday!

Please post your comment or suggestions. Rock hard!