The Napster Blog

Award-Nominated Latin Artists: 2009

Napster's "Award-Nominated Latin Artists: 2009" playlist was made in honor of musicians nominated for awards such as the Latin Grammys, which were handed out in a ceremony on Nov. 5. As it turns out, many of the eventual winners made the list. Puerto Rican alternative hip-hop super-duo Calle 13 walked away with the most—and most prestigious—hardware, winning every award for which they were nominated, including Album of the Year and Best Urban Music Album (Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo, which we wrote about previously), Record of the Year and Best Alternative Song ("No Hay Nadie Como Tú"), and Best Short-Form Music Video ("La Perla," featuring the great Rubén Blades). Other winners on the playlist include Luis Fonsi (Song of the Year, "Aquí Estoy Yo"), Alexander Acha (Best New Artist), Vicente Fernández (Best Ranchero Album, Primera Fila), Laura Pausini (Best Female Pop Album, Primavera Anticipada), and Wisin & Yandel (Best Urban Song, "Abusadora").

Buika, El Ultimo Trago

Buika, the soulful Majorcan singer known for her jazzy take on Spanish flamenco fusion, collaborates with renowned Cuban bandleader and pianist Chucho Valdés on El Último Trago, an homage to the ballads made famous by Mexican icon Chavela Vargas. Buika's star has risen quickly over the past couple of years, on the strength of 2008's Niña de Fuego, which received a surprise—though well-deserved—Latin Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Valdés, for his part, is Cuba's most celebrated jazz artist, having formed and led the groundbreaking group Irakere over the past 30-plus years. The combination of Buika's plaintive yet powerful vocals with Valdés' incomparable work on the keys results in a truly outstanding recording, a dynamic re-imagining of these relatively simple, classic boleros and rancheras that truly have stood the test of time.

Mercedes Sosa, Cantora

Mercedes Sosa, the Argentine folk singer known as "the voice of Latin America" for her tireless efforts to bring to light the plight of the poor, oppressed, and disenfranchised, passed away in October. But her remarkable 60-year career ended on a high note: Her final album, 2009's Cantora, was nominated for three Latin Grammys (Album of the Year, Best Folk Album, and Best Recording Package). The album features duets with star Latin recording artists, including Shakira, Julieta Venegas, Gustavo Cerati, and Calle 13. The 10th Annual Latin Grammys will be presented on Nov. 5, and many are favoring a posthumous win for Sosa.

Latin Music Today: Fall 2009

Some of the biggest divas in Latin music are on top of the charts this fall, and Napster's "Latin Music Today: Fall 2009" playlist brings them all to you. Shakira makes a thunderous return after a four-year recording hiatus with "Loba," the first single off her highly anticipated new album, She Wolf. Canadian pop princess Nelly Furtado scores a huge hit with the dance track "Manos Al Aire," from her first Spanish-language album, Mi Plan. Mexican powerhouse Paulina Rubio insists that her love can't be bought in "Ni Rosas Ni Jugetes." And sophomore sensation Kany Garcia, proving that the hot start to her career (in which she won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist) was no fluke, asserts her happiness in the bouncy track "Feliz." In addition to these talented female performers, the playlist also features the likes of Joan Sebastian, Aventura, Alejandro Sanz, Ricardo Arjona, Luis Fonsi, and more. This is an exceptionally star-studded lineup—we hope you enjoy!

Kany Garcia, Boleto de Entrada

Puerto Rican singer Kany Garcia has followed up her successful debut album, Cualquier Día, with another hit record, Boleto de Entrada. The sophomore effort from the emerging Latin pop star reached #6 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart during its second week, solidifying her already outstanding credentials as a commercial and critical favorite. In the coming years, Kany will look to continue delivering on the promise of her 2008 Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist, a distinction that has marked the beginning of several noteworthy careers, including those of current stalwarts Jesse & Joy (2007), Calle 13 (2006), David Bisbal (2003), and Juanes (2001).

Nelly Furtado Artist Picks: Napster Playlist

Pop princess Nelly Furtado released her first Spanish-language album, Mi Plan, in September, joining the ranks of artists such as Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé who have found success with "reverse-crossovers" into the Latin market. According to Furtado, the album came about because she was having trouble writing new songs in English; fellow Canadian artist Alex Cuba recommended that she try writing in Spanish instead—after all, she had already scored a hit on the Latin charts in 2006 with "Te Busque." She recently shared some of her favorite music with us in her Napster "Artist Picks" playlist, and as a bonus, she was nice enough to also share her thoughts about some of the tracks:

"Manos al Aire," Nelly Furtado

"1, 2, 3, 4" Feist: "A good song for driving."

"Pretty Wings," Maxwell: "Maxwell is a true artist who consistently delivers quality music, and classic songs."

"Rosa Branca," Mariza: "Mariza is making Portuguese fado music better known than ever. She sings with power, soul, and beauty."

"ABC's," K'Naan: "K'naan is back with album number two, and it's full of life."

"Hay Veces," Antonio Carmona: "This song is so deep. It’s about badly wanting/dreaming for someone to return to the living world with you."

"Let the Drummer Kick," Citizen Cope: "Clarence and I have done two U.S. Tours together. He is great with just a guitar or with a full-band. He writes from a very honest place."

"Me Gustaria," Javier Garcia: "Javier is singing in my brand-new lineup for Mi Plan. Lucky me."

"Te Lo Agradesco, Pero No," Alejandro Sanz featuring Shakira: "These two sound great together. This song is so effortlessly amazing, and the harmonies are infectious."

"Eres Para Mi," Julieta Venegas featuring Anita Tijoux: "This song is funky and perfect. I love the groove."

"Toma de Mi," Jennifer Lopez: "I co-wrote this song with Julio Reyes. Jennifer recorded this for the El Cantante soundtrack. She sounds beautiful."

"No Creo," Shakira: "This song's lyrics break my heart in two."

Hugo Montenegro, Bongos & Brass

This 1960 album of stereo-rific instrumental jazz arrangements, focused mainly (as the name leads us to believe) on the upper-pitched percussion of bongos and a spectrum of sounds from various brass instruments, is an early project of Hugo Montenegro, a New York-born composer and arranger who first made his mark working for Andre Kostelantetz and Harry Belafonte, then went on to score movies in Hollywood and to release a string of albums re-interpreting movie music, especially that of Ennio Morricone for Sergio Leone westerns such as The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. But this early album is a prize all its own, spreading the sound out generously between the left and right channels and putting some very nice writing and playing on display in the process. The song selection includes standards such as "Laura" and "Lover," and a couple of Ellington numbers in "Cottontail" and "Take the 'A' Train," but it's Montenegro's arrangement of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" that has proved a favorite of Space-Age pop aficionados. Among the small army of percussionists on the album is said to be one Johnny Pacheco on bongos, not long before he led the pachanga craze and established Fania Records (with partner Jerry Masucci) and the legendary Fania All-Stars.

Salsa Classics: The '00s

Though the '00s have seen the rise of other Latin styles such as bachata and reggaeton, salsa has remained vibrant, proving that the music first popularized in the 1970s still has legs. Napster's "Salsa Classics: The '00s" playlist features highlights and chart-topping hits from the biggest salseros of the decade. Grammy winner Gilberto Santa Rosa, a.k.a. "El Caballero de la Salsa (The Gentleman of Salsa)," leads off with the powerful "La Agarro Bajando." New York salsa diva India begs to be swept off her feet with her pasionate plea "Sedúceme." Victor Manuelle flexes his old-school muscle on the #1 hit "El Tonto Que No Te Olvidó." Elder statesman Andy Montañez teams up with reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee for "Se Le Ve," which showcases a combination of styles dubbed "salsaton." And Marc Anthony channels his best Hector Lavoe on "Aguanile," from the soundtrack to the late salsa star's biopic, El Cantante. These gems and many more are a strong representation of the state of salsa in the '00s.

Jesse & Joy, “Adios”

Jesse & Joy, the simpatico brother and sister duo from Mexico City, made a name for themselves a couple of years ago when they won the 2007 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist on the strength of their debut album, Esta Es Mi Vida. "Adios," the first single from their upcoming sophomore album, Electricidad (due in September), is another fine example of the young musicians' keen songwriting skills. Jesse & Joy's optimistic Latin folk-pop-rock carries a heartfelt positive message that manages to inspire without coming off Pollyanna-ish or preachy. The singer-songwriters are also involved with environmental issues through La Onda Verde, the Latin arm of the Natural Resources Defense Council. They may still be a bit under the radar in the States, but they'll be kicking off a U.S. tour at the end of September. Expect to see and hear a lot more from them soon.

Rhythms del Mundo, Classics

Classics is the latest project from Artists Project Earth, a non-profit that produces the Rhythms del Mundo series "to raise awareness and funds for climate crisis projects and natural disaster relief." This album, like its predecessor, Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba, pairs new recordings of classic songs covered by rock and pop stars like The Rolling Stones, The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Jack Johnson, and Kaiser Chiefs with music by some of Cuba's finest soneros and rumberos. The best pairings of the bunch are usually songs that are thoroughly re-imagined, like the salsa-inspired cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" fronted by Augusto Enriquez, which liberally interprets the Queen masterpiece, leading to surprisingly good results. The award for most unlikely collaboration goes to Fall Out Boy and John Mayer, who team up on a Latin jazz version of Michael Jackson's "Beat It." Hey—it's for a good cause.