Gloria Estefan - Que Siga La Tradicion DVD

In 2000, Gloria Estefan celebrated her return to her Cuban roots with Que Siga la Tradicion, drawing on songs from three hugely successful albums: Mi Tierra, Abriendo Puertas and Alma Caribena. At a time when Latin music has become a global force, Estefan has triumphed as the commercial prima donna of the genre. When she emerged in the mid-1980s as one of the first stars of the MTV age, pumping out catchy dance hits at the head of Miami Sound Machine, there was little sense of her own musical origins beyond a kind of all-purpose pulsating Latin rhythm. Here, that balance... is redressed with a polished collection of boleros and balatas which vibrate with intensity and energy and are clearly heartfelt, not least "Por un Beso", which she describes as a powerful Latin torch song. At times she genuinely evokes the memory of that Latin superstar from another age Carmen Miranda, although there are no bananas in sight. If it all seems a little air-brushed--Estefan is no Omara Portuondo and these cosmetically enhanced dance routines are light years from the simple dignity of the Buena Vista Social Club--she can still take credit for being a major force in the Latin music revival. Her voice, too, has become a little darker and more interesting, serving her material well. On the DVD: The sleeve claims bonus documentary and interview material, although this really boils down to snatches of footage from the video shoot, a brief rehearsal scene with Celine Dion and a Millennium Eve concert. Some of it is too slushy for words: "From my soul to yours...". The biography, a written interview with Gloria, does shed useful light on her approach to Latin music, and for the die-hard fans there is also a discography and photo gallery. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack provides the kind of sound quality expected by the MTV generation, with picture quality to match. Gloria has never looked better. --Piers Ford [show more]

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