Thaindian News

Santiago, Oct 9 (IANS/EFE) Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra brought his fusion of Caribbean rhythms to the Chilean capital in a fiesta of merengue and bachata.

An icon of Latin music, Guerra and his 15 musicians - including backup singers, drummers and the wind and brass sections - took the party by storm in Santiago Friday night with danceable classics plus tunes from his 2010 album “A Son de Guerra” (To the Sound of Guerra).

“Good evening, Chile. It’s a pleasure to be with you. Now…everybody get up and dance,” the singer-songwriter said and immediately launched into “La Bilirrubina”, one of the most-beloved hits from his 1990 album “Bachata Rosa”.

“La Travesia” (The Crossing), “La Llave de Mi Corazon” (Key to My Heart) and “Bachata Rosa” - in other words, a merengue, a reggaeton and a bachata - showed the Dominican’s facility for blending Latin rhythms and led in perfectly to a salsa potpourri that included many classics of the style including “Razones” (Reasons) and “Carta de Amor” (Love Letter).

Guerra, a devout Christian, then picked up an electric guitar and evinced his more spiritual side with “Son al Rey” (Music for the King) a number he composed “while reflecting on Psalm 103″, as the singer himself said.

The artist also touched on social issues with two of his well-known hits: “El Costo de la Vida” (Cost of Living) and “Visa para un Sueno” (Visa for a Dream) about Dominican migration to the US.

“I’ve wanted to do rock for a long time, because I always had the soul of a rocker. So I found a good rocker, a good songwriter and a good friend,” the singer said just before the image of Colombian pop star Juanes appeared on a big screen and with whom Guerra sang “La Calle” (The Street).

Finally, Guerra brought the nearly two-hour show to a close with one of his most memorable hits, “Ojala que Llueva Cafe” (May It Rain Coffee), which also addresses social concerns.

–IANS/EFE
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