While Visiting Japan For Two Capacity-Crowd Concerts, JUANES Took Time to Support the One For All Demonstration In Conjunction With TICAD
("Tokyo International Conference on African Development)
Taking place earlier today in Japan, the One For All event (organized by London born artist, Antony Gormley) saw hundreds of people brave wind and rain to join Bono, Juanes, Youssou N’Dour and Japanese artists Misia and Sadao Watanabe and to make a stand against world poverty. Taking place in conjunction with the Tokyo International Conference on African Development and ahead of the upcoming G8 summit, participants looked to remind governments to keep the world’s promise to aid people living in poverty and then created the shape of a human being to represent those who haven’t had a voice to insist on their right to a poverty-free life.
Visiting Japan in support of the recent release of his multi-platinum fourth album La Vida… Es Un Ratico, Juanes performed two capacity crowd concerts in Tokyo and Osaka. The album’s first single “Me Enamora” (which already notched an astounding twenty-week/five-month run at #1 in the United States), is already a Top-5 hit on cable radio in Japan.
Los dos participaron en una manifestación en Yokohama, a la que asistieron unas 1.500 personas, incluyendo artistas de Japón y África.
''Bono es mi ídolo musical favorito, estar con él y compartir estos momentos fueron además de un regalo, un gran honor para mí'', dijo Juanes en un comunicado de prensa difundido el mismo jueves.
El grupo G8, integrado por Estados Unidos, Japón, Rusia, Gran Bretaña, Alemania, Francia, Italia y Canadá, se reunirá en una cumbre el mes de julio en Japón.
En la cumbre del G-8 en el 2005, celebrada en Escocia, el grupo se comprometió a incrementar en 50.000 millones de dólares anuales la ayuda a países pobres, pero no se establecieron plazos para su cumplimiento.
Ambos artistas, que portaban una camiseta blanca con el símbolo japonés que significa ''ser humano'', se reunieron antes del acto donde dialogaron sobre la situación de América Latina, en especial Colombia, México y Venezuela, según el comunicado.
''Me impresionó su amabilidad, sencillez y el interés por Colombia y América Latina'', aseguró Juanes.
Bono le habría expresado además al cantautor de ''A Dios le pido'' y ''Me enamora'' su deseo de visitar Colombia, país que ''admira por su belleza'', y no descartó regresar a México en otoño para participar de los premios MTV Latino que se entregan allí por tercer año consecutivo.
La manifestación coincidió con la segunda jornada de la Conferencia Internacional para el Desarrollo de África que se celebra en Yokohama hasta el viernes y que cuenta con la presencia de representantes de 52 países africanos.
Rabat, 24 may (EFE).- El cantante colombiano Juanes se presentó este viernes por primera vez en Marruecos, con un concierto en el que incluyó algunos de sus mayores éxitos y que tuvo como fin de fiesta un espectáculo de fuegos artificiales.
El artista, que afirmó antes de su actuación haber acudido al país magrebí "con todo el corazón, la pasión y el alma para entregar todo al público", inició su repertorio con la conocida "A Dios le pido", tras la cual introdujo a los asistentes temas de su último trabajo.
Canciones de "La vida... es un ratico" fueron alternándose con otras como "La camisa negra" o "Me enamora", coreadas tanto por los latinoamericanos presentes como por el resto de extranjeros y marroquíes que hicieron de su participación en el Festival Mawazine una de las más aclamadas.
El artista se atrevió con alguna que otra frase en árabe, cuya pronunciación resultó incomprensible para propios y extraños, pero en castellano, francés e inglés, no cesó de dirigirse al auditorio con la voluntad de que no decayeran los ánimos.
"¿Entienden español o no?", preguntó el colombiano, que no sólo reiteró lo feliz que estaba de encontrarse en Marruecos, sino también el hecho de que escuchar cantar a ese nuevo público fuera para él "el sueño más maravilloso".
Su salida al escenario fue precedida por los ritmos flamencos del español "El Bicho", y a la hora y media de concierto se dio por finalizada su actuación con un espectáculo de fuegos artificiales que constituyó un cierre perfecto a su primera incursión en África. EFE
As The First Latin Music Artist To Play Four Nights At Nokia Theatre LA Live, Juanes Wins Rave Reviews, Sets The Venue’s Single Night Attendance Record And Is Honored By Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa & The Los Angeles City Council
“The Love is mutual, Juanes: The Colombian star reignites his affair with the city that launched his career… the city that gave him his big break welcomed him back in a big way… it was obvious how much L.A. loves him” - Los Angeles Times
“Juanes impresses at Nokia: The Colombian star needs few frills to wow fans during his four-night run… a full house at Nokia Theatre sprang to its feet and started screaming”-Orange County Register
“Juanes fills the Nokia… Juanes arrived to the theatre with spirit to please the public that packed the theater… the singer and guitarist did not disappoint his followers… an unprecedented achievement”- La Opinion
“Grammy darling, social activist and Latin Star… music is his weapon of peace… [Juanes is] the most celebrated star of Latin alternative music and the genre’s leading social activist” – L.A. Daily News
“.the world [is] his for the taking. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Juanes. It is no coincidence that [he] has become one of Latin music's best selling artists in only eight years and four albums” - Variety
“the most universal of Latin America's stars… His latest album was released in 77 countries on the same day, the largest worldwide release for an all-Spanish language artist… Parallel to his commercial success is his rise on the world's social activism stage” -Reuters
A little over eight years since traveling from his native Colombia to Los Angeles in order to pursue a solo music career, Juanes returned to the city of angels triumphantly as the world’s leading all-Spanish language music superstar. Having already garnered wide acclaim at shows around the country since kicking off at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Juanes brought his La Vida World Tour into Los Angeles and met with an “unprecedented” reaction. As the first Latin music artist to play four-nights at the Nokia TheatreLA Live, Juanes was met with both critical praise and record-setting turn-out as he set a new single night attendance mark for the venue on Saturday night. On that same evening, the famed social activist was honored in a pre-show ceremony by both Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa & the Los Angeles City Council. The 12-time Latin Grammy winner was honored to receive a special presentation from the mayor that recognized his “altruistic and inspiring career… continued commitment and dedication to the social well-being of people worldwide… and invaluable contributions to the people of Los Angeles and for inspiring in each of us a sense of humanitarianism and selflessness.” The Los Angeles City Council followed suit by presenting a proclamation declaring the record-setting day as “Juanes day” in Los Angeles. Following three more shows in California, Juanes’ tour will next head overseas with visits to Japan, and more concerts throughout the year across Europe and Latin America.
Review: The Colombian star needs few frills to wow fans during his four-night run at the L.A. venue.
( By ROSALBA RUIZ - The Orange County Register )
As he sang to a full house at Nokia Theatre Friday night, in his second of four shows this week at the new venue, singer-songwriter Juanes reminisced about how just eight years ago – as his first album was being released – he would walk the streets of Los Angeles dreaming of singing to audiences in big venues here.
And that was two years after Juan Esteban Aristizabal first arrived in L.A. to try his luck at a solo career after playing with rock band Ekhymosis in his native Colombia. Since then, a lot has changed for him – nowadays he plays to big crowds not just throughout Southern California but all over the world.
Friday's two-hour show, the 22nd date in the U.S. leg of Juanes' La Vida World Tour, opened with "A Dios le pido" ("I Ask of God"), the song that earned him superstar status back in 2002 when he released his second album, "Un día normal" ("A Normal Day"). Donning fitted black pants and a long-sleeve black shirt, the 35-year-old performer, backed by six support players, strummed his electric guitar as the audience sprung to its feet and started screaming.
Although Juanes has released just four albums, most of the 23 songs he performed – including more than a half-dozen from his latest, "La vida es un ratico" ("Life Is But a Moment") – were favorites that most people could sing along to.
The mix included romantic songs like "Es por ti" ("It Is for You") and "Nada valgo sin tu amor" ("I'm Worth Nothing Without Your Love") as well as danceable fare such as "La camisa negra" ("The Black Shirt") and the percussion-driven "Bailala" ("Dance It"), which featured Spaniard artist and opening act Antonio Carmona and his nephew Juan playing cajon drums.
Juanes' formula usually takes rock and adds some Colombian flavor, but he's also reworked a few pieces by salsa great Joe Arroyo, infusing them with a modern touch. His version of Arroyo's "La Noche" ("The Night") is just as deliciously danceable as the original.
Granted, Juanes isn't much of a dancer, especially compared to other Latin pop heartthrobs such as Puerto Ricans Chayanne and Ricky Martin. Yet he didn't need dance moves to keep the audience engaged for the duration of the set. In fact, his production had few frills apart from basic lighting and big screens. This was just Juanes and his music – and that was enough.
It helps that he can sing about love ("Fotografía"), spite ("Mala gente") and the problems that plague his homeland ("Minas piedras," accompanied by photographs of landmine victims) with the same intensity. It also helps that Juanes has such natural appeal: He joked with fans, played "which side sings louder?" with them, serenaded a few women in the front row, made dedications while introducing songs. "Gotas de agua dulce" ("Drops of Sweet Water"), a song about falling in love, was sent out to the women on hand, while "Bandera de manos" ("A Flag of Hands"), an upbeat call for peace and unity, was dedicated to farmers, indigenous people and immigrants.
Colombia's landmine problem, which he has addressed since his first album, remains his biggest cause, however – it's the reason he established his Mi Sangre Foundation. Yet, social activist that he is, he'll make a detour Mexico City on May 17 for a free concert to promote the ALAS Foundation, whose members advocate for Latin-American children.
His humanitarian aspirations make him only more admirable, says longtime fan Diane Daybrow, of Orange.
"First and foremost, I like him as a composer and a singer," she says. "But he has this opportunity to bring attention to what's going on in his country, and I think anybody who has that platform, like U2 or Maná, for example, they should (use) it."
Latin rocker Juanes projects political voice in U.S.
( By Mary Milliken - Reuters )
Eight years ago, Colombian rocker Juanes was an immigrant seeking opportunities in Los Angeles before he found a music producer who gave him his big break.
Today, Juanes is probably the most universal of Latin America's stars, having sold 10 million records worldwide from Japan to Germany with his fusion of Latin folk music and rock, sung in Spanish.
At 35, he's determined to put that clout to good use, whether to push for peace on Latin America's borders or, while on his U.S. tour, to prod immigrants to get politically involved in this year of elections and immigration crackdowns.
"The economic situation, the elections and the immigration issue are really serious and affecting many immigrants," Juanes told Reuters ahead of four shows in Los Angeles to promote his fourth album "La Vida ... Es Un Ratico" (Life Is A Moment). "I think people are more reserved and scared."
At his two-hour concert at the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday, the black-clad rocker urged the heavily Hispanic audience in the most Hispanic of big U.S. cities to keep fighting for immigrant rights and told them how Los Angeles inspired him.
He is also working with the Rock the Vote campaign to get U.S. citizens of Latin American origin to register to vote in November's presidential and congressional elections.
"Those who can vote are the voice for those who don't have the possibility," said Juanes, whose full name is Juan Esteban Aristizabal.
Since his launch in Los Angeles, the singer and guitarist has made four albums with Argentine producer Gustavo Santaolalla, two-time Oscar winner for the soundtracks of "Brokeback Mountain" and "Babel," and won 12 Latin Grammys with hits like "La Camisa Negra" and "A Dios Le Pido."
COMPARED TO BONO
His latest album was released in 77 countries on the same day, the largest worldwide release for an all-Spanish language artist. Although there are no plans for a crossover to English, he says he would like to record some songs in that language to "share some ideas with the American people."
Parallel to his commercial success is his rise on the world's social activism stage where he is compared to rockers like Bono. TIME Magazine declared him "One of the 100 Most Influential People in the World" and he was invited to perform at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Concert.
Having grown up amid the violence of the Colombian city of Medellin, where drug cartels were the de facto power, Juanes is dedicated to doing everything he can to bring about peace.
In March, after border tensions between Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador sparked military mobilizations, Juanes organized a free concert for 200,000 people in a week, convincing six top Latin artists to perform.
"I don't know if I am more political, but I do have more clarity and criteria to make decisions and form opinions," he said. "But at 35, I am pretty much married to peace."
In 2005, he started his foundation Mi Sangre (My Blood) to help victims of landmines in Colombia. He sings about survivors in the ballad "Minas Piedras" on his latest album.
In Colombia, he says the security situation has improved, but guerrilla groups continue to wage war after five decades and the damage done by the drug trade is pervasive.
Through it all, Juanes seeks to remain neutral in politics and believes both sides of a conflict must be heard.
"I belong to the extreme center," he said.
When pushed to say which U.S. presidential candidate best represents the interests of immigrants in the United States, Juanes momentarily abandons his neutrality.
