Twenty years ago today, Juanes released his breakthrough album, Un Día Normal. Juanes had previously released Fíjate Bien, his debut LP, which had success locally in Colombia . However, with its mix of catchy pop, cutting rock, and traditional Latin sounds, Un Día Normal took him to an entirely new level. It spent 92 weeks on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, setting a record at the time, and it spun off gigantic back-to-back hits such as “A Dios Le Pido,” “Mala Gente,” and “Es Por Ti,” all songs that helped define pop-rock in Spanish for that era. The album won six Latin Grammy, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year — and it made Juanes a star. Below, he remembers putting together the album during a hectic, emotional time, filled with highs and lows that inspired the sound of the record. He talks about the changes he was going through at the time, how he drew from his past, and how Un Día Normal changed the game for him and Latin … [Read more...] about ‘Un Día Normal’ Turns 20: Juanes Remembers
Meat loaf albums
See Bonnie Raitt Showcase New LP ‘Just Like That…,’ Talk ‘Nick of Time’ on ‘CBS Mornings’
Bonnie Raitt showcased her new album Just Like That… and talked about her classic LP Nick of Time on CBS Saturday Morning . For the show’s “Saturday Sessions,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted singer performed her rendition of the Bros. Landreth’s “Made Up Mind” and “Livin’ for the Ones” from the new LP, as well as her Nick of Time hit “Love Letter”; Raitt’s 1989 album was recently enshrined in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. “Circumstantially, it changed my life,” Raitt said of Nick of Time on CBS Saturday Morning . Raitt recorded Just Like That… — her first album in six years — in Sausalito, California in summer 2021. The musician produced the record herself and recorded alongside bassist James “Hutch” Hutchinson, drummer Ricky Fataar, keyboardist and backing vocalist Glenn Patscha, and guitarist Kenny Greenberg. “On this record, I wanted to stretch,” Raitt noted in a statement. “I always want to find songs that excite me, … [Read more...] about See Bonnie Raitt Showcase New LP ‘Just Like That…,’ Talk ‘Nick of Time’ on ‘CBS Mornings’
Harry Styles Brings the Pop to UBS Arena for ‘One Night Only’ Show
To begin anew, Harry Styles returned to where he last left things off. The consummate rock star finished the North American leg of his Love On Tour trek at Long Island’s new UBS Arena in November; he was also the first artist to grace the venue’s stage. On the same day he launched his third album Harry’s House , he returned to play the whole new batch of songs in full, and then some. After an afternoon of pouring rain, the thousands of lucky fans who miraculously got the highly sought-after Ticketmaster pre-sale codes to the event entered the sold-out show covered in soaked boa feathers. The weather (and long commute from New York City proper) didn’t dampen the thrilled energy in the crowd. The general admission floor was like a class reunion, with girls in sequins and velvet running around to say hi to each other. The last time they may have met up was likely the last UBS event. Once the well-memorized pre-show playlist ran its course (including an audience-wide … [Read more...] about Harry Styles Brings the Pop to UBS Arena for ‘One Night Only’ Show
‘You Can Let It Go’: Why Harry Styles’ ‘Matilda’ Is His Heartbreak Masterpiece
Harry Styles knows how to make you feel right at home. Harry’s House , his third and best album, gives a welcoming pop vibe. Harry’s House is a place where he invites you in, sits you down in the kitchen, cooks you pancakes and hash browns, opens a bottle of wine, serves bubblegum and edibles, then whisks you out to the garden to listen to your whole life story. It’s an idyllic place to spend an hour. But the centerpiece of the album is “Matilda,” a real heartbreaker, an acoustic-guitar ballad about someone learning how to build a new life after a traumatic past. It’s a new peak for Harry—one of the most emotionally powerful songs he’s ever done. He wrote “Matilda” with Amy Allen (who also cowrote “Adore You”) along with his trusty collaborators Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon. It comes halfway through the album, surrounded by glam-pop gloss—a deep breath of a song. He listens to Matilda tell this painful story, responding, “ You don’t have to be sorry for leaving … [Read more...] about ‘You Can Let It Go’: Why Harry Styles’ ‘Matilda’ Is His Heartbreak Masterpiece