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Pop singer Jessica Simpson and Spanish flamenco singer David Bisbal performs
together at the 5th annual Latin Grammy Awards in Los
Angeles (AP) |
When the lights come up on Wednesday's Latin
Grammys, many musicians like Mexican band Cafe Tacuba, who are little
known in the United States, will vie for top honours in a glitzy Hollywood coming out party
for new artists.
In a shift from prior years, when big mainstream superstars like Ricky
Martin swept the top categories, the fifth annual Latin Grammys here
feature Maria Rita and the group Skank in top categories like best record.
"The interesting thing is that younger and younger talent are being
nominated and are coming to the forefront. It's pretty much a shift from
previous years when the Grammys still catered to the commercial and the
older Latino generation," said Luis Brandwayn of Latin Web radio network
Batanga.com.
The only well-known star in the best album category is Alejandro Sanz,
a top-selling artist in Spain and Latin America, who won his first U.S.
Grammy in February for best Latin pop album for "No Es Lo Mismo" ("It's
Not the Same").
No other best album contenders are big sellers in the United States,
although a self-titled album by Brazilian singer Maria Rita, daughter of
the late Elis Regina and one of her homeland's greatest singers, has been
a hit in Brazil and Europe.
The shift toward the eclectic acts reflects overall trends in Latin
music as artists have returned to their roots after the much ballyhooed
"Latin Explosion" of 1999 proved a bust.
Back then, artists attempted to cross over into U.S. pop following
Martin's blockbuster hit "Livin' la Vida Loca."
Other crossover stars included Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Enrique
Iglesias. But more recently, Latin artists are rare at the top of U.S. pop
charts, particularly as the U.S. music sector itself has suffered overall
sales declines.
With a nationalistic renaissance in Latin music, the
Latin Grammys have also grown more worldly with increasing numbers of
nominees from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.
In July, Maria Rita, Sanz and octogenarian Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes
shared honours as the most nominated performers for this with four nods
each, including best-album for Maria Rita's "Maria Rita," Sanz's "No Es Lo
Mismo," and Valdes' "Lagrimas Negras" ("Black Tears").
Also competing for best album are "Cuatro Caminos" ("Four Roads") by
alternative band Cafe Tacuba and Argentine singer Kevin Johansen's "Sur O
No Sur" ("South or Not South").
Oddsmakers favour "Lagrimas Negras," a collection of flamenco-tinged standards by Valdes
and younger partner, Spanish Gypsy singer Diego El Cigala for best album.
It nabbed three nominations and has been likened to "Buena Vista Social
Club," another hit by elderly Cuban musicians.
Brazilian music producer Tom Capone led the field of Latin Grammy
contenders overall with five nominations - for his work on "Maria Rita"
and three other albums, including "Cosmotron," the latest release from
popular Brazilian band Skank.
Song and record nominations -- for best songwriting and
production/performance, respectively -- went to Menudo singer Robi Draco
Rosa for "Mas Y Mas" ("More and More"), Sanz for "No Es Lo Mismo" and
Julieta Venegas for "Andar Conmigo" ("Walk with Me").
Also vying for best record were Skank for "Dois Rios" ("Two Rivers"),
Valdes and El Cigala for "Lagrimas Negras" and Maria Rita for "A Festa"
("The Party"). Johansen was nominated for best song for "La Procesion"
("The Procession"), as was Cafe Tacuba's Emmanuel Del Real for "Eres"
("You Are").
Maria Rita was nominated for best new artist, as was California hip-hop
duo Akwid, Puerto Rican-born singer-songwriter Obie Bermudez, Colombian
rockers Superlitio, and rock-reggae fusion band Mauricio & Palodeagua,
also from Colombia.
The Latin Grammys will be telecast on CBS from the Shrine Auditorium in
Los Angeles.
(Reuters) | 
Updated: 2004-09-03 15:23