Just to satisfy your curiosity because I think we should stick to the thread topic "merengue and bachata", salsa should have it's own thread if you want to discuss this genre buy anyway:
My opinion about La India is she had her moments of fame in the 90's, never was big on my list of salsa artists but she has some nice songs. For example, Vivir lo nuestro (with Mark A) is a classic, "Ese Hombre" and "Nunca voy a olvidarte". These are some salsas that gave her recoginition. Personally, I stopped following her music after the album which has these three songs- It's titled
Dicen que soy..The other album that I liked from her
Sobre el fuego never made it big and that's where I think she started to lose ground. In general, she has been quiet but her album release last year I think is an attempt to tell her fans that she's back. I personally think her latest album "Songbird" is good but once again it's not popular (as far as I know). I never hear songs played from the album when I go dancing and that's the way I judge if a salsa and merengue and bachata for that matter are popular among its fans. In genreal she's good but she's not Celia Cruz (q.p.d) which promoters tried to label her as
"la princesa" de la salsa with respect to la Dona Celia.
You have to keep in mind salsa is a very interesting genre. It fascinates me because of how it began with "el son cubano" and then in NY in the 50's with some acoustic changes etc. it became known as "salsa". When it comes to salsa I like to be regionalistic. I like the best of best from the Cuban artists like Issac Delgado, Adalberto Alvarez and Albita. You can't beat these artists. I love authentic Puerto Rican salsa. It goes right to your soul. The only group to me that stands out in this regard is El Gran Combo. Talking about longevity! They are still great. Songs like "El timbalero" and "No hay cama pa' tanta gente". No salsa group today can match songs like except maybe "La Sonora Carruseles" and "Fruko". Colombia, I give my hats to them. Some tremendous music originates from that beautiful country and their salsa to me is one of the finest. Groups like Grupo Niche (the older music), Orquesta Guayacan, La Sonora Carruseles, La Misma Gente, Joe Arroyo, the Latin Brothers and Fruko y sus Tesos are all excellent represenatives of "la salsa colombiana". Tierra querida.
In general salsa to me is terrific music, one of best genres of tropical music and most difused internationally. That perscusion, drums and "timbales" makes it hard to resist. Que viva la salsa.
There are okay Dominican salsa artists as well but in general when I think about salsa I don't think of the DR but Raulin Rosendo is okay. Santiago Cerron is traditional in style but nice. Cuco Valoy- depends on your taste. He's outdated.
That's all for now.
Lesley D
Tomvangeffen said:
bueno,
so much has been said now, and so many artists named that i am tempted to stray off a little again and ask you guys:
What do you think about " La India"
I know: not bachata , but she did some merengue and some really strong Salsa.I really like her very typical voice...
Tom
