Your favorite merengue grupos past & present

[Indie]

For Golo 100 Re: Indie, what do you consider old in music?

As far as old age in music artists, if Milly is not old, then it would take reviving dead mommies to qualify for old age in music artists.

You mean "mummies", don't you? Anyway, go tell that to Little Richard, Willie Nelson, and The Rolling Stones. That's what I consider old in music.

Milly Quezada is one of the oldest female singers in DR.

And Fefita La Grande is older. So what?

In case people here don't know(don't be fooled by cosmetic surgery and photoshop) this lady was singing merengue already in the 60's.

That's bullshit. Milly started singing merengue in 1975 with her brother and sister, at a church called St. Rose of Lima, on 163rd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, in the Washington Heights section of New York City.

She was born in 1952. She is 51.

I know this woman personally, but I've never dared ask her age. I consider that extremely rude. But if you know this for a fact, golo, then I must say she looks exceptionally well. And, by the way, I don't consider a 51 year-old woman to be "old".

In music circles, specially in merengue, she is a relic, just like Celia Cruz, who is being kept standing with miraculous drugs and incredible music arrangements to try to fake us into believeing she is still singing.

Oh, so now you want to talk about Celia Cruz? Is nothing sacred to you? Or do you just despise ALL successful women?

Celia Cruz is old and sick. She has cancer. Yes, she must take strong and heavy medication in order to survive. The chemotherapy and medications have taken their toll on Celia's health, so that even when she wants to, she can't sing or perform, because she is so weak that sometimes she can't even remember the lyrics to her own songs. She hasn't been singing for awhile now, and the last time she tried so far was on March 13, 2003, at the Celia Cruz "Az?car!" Special, a tribute to her that was hosted by your boyfriend, Marc Anthony, and was televised LIVE. She sang very well, given her condition, with the Angel "Cucco" Pe?a band from Puerto Rico. No fake musical arrangements there.

So what's your point, golo? What does any of that have to do with Milly being "Reina del Merengue"? (Or, for that matter, with Celia Cruz being "Reina de la Salsa"?)

Her weight exceeds 170 lbs. on a small, short frame.

More bullshit. But, for argument's sake, let's say Milly was "Mama Cass" fat. Would that take away from her talent as a merengue singer?

In terms of presence, she looks like Dominican maid in her uniform when she stands next to other international stars during presentations.

Apparently, you want to discredit this woman so badly, you've had to lower yourself to criticizing her appearance, age, weight and attire, all because you dislike her singing. Go right ahead, golo; you sound just like a Dominican maid yourself, and the fact still remains that Milly Quezada is la "Reina del Merengue".

She dresses like a hick and is the noisiest crooner TW

Well, I must say she has enough fashion sense not to let herself be seen in public wearing double-breasted jackets with padded shoulders. And good ol' George Bush didn't think she was noisy when he invited her to sing at his 1990 Inaugural Ball.

Which reminds me: Milly didn't have to purchase airline tickets, as you had previously stated, for her trip to the Premios Billboard de la M?sica Latina in Miami. That invite was all-expenses paid, including her stay at the five star hotel on Brickell Drive; fit for a queen.

-Indie
Las Aguilas son Las Aguilas, y lo dem?s es monte y culebra, como dice mi papi chulo. Who cares if they "forgot" el himno nacional? As if that has anything to do with playing baseball really well, and with being Los Campeones....

 

[Golo100]

Indie

Indie....are you in Milly's payroll, or are you part of her entourage of lambones?

I thought you were the expert on Milly. In case you want to confirm her age, just go to her own web page. She doesn't hide her birthdate, except that I believe she is probably taking a few years off. She looks like she's been singing since 1952, not that she was born on that year.

As for Celia, the living mummy should have been buried a long time ago. It is time we let nature take its place. I've had enough of "azucar!!!". In fact I never thought she amounted to much, except she was the only woman who dared sing salsa in history, so she had no competition until someone, who is one hundred times more talented than she is, La India, has come to save us from this overrated woman.

Fefita La Grande is not older than Milly. It's just that Fefita has not resorted to surgery. In fact, Fefita is as old as Cher.

And thanks for reminding me of Little Richard and the Rolling Stones. You just have given me names of people who are in the same generation with your queen of merengue.

If you know her so well, please tell her for me that she should retire and spare Dominican Republic from more international embarrassment. She just looks like a "chopa" next to all the other gorgeous females shown in award ceremonies and it gives the impression our women all look like hell. We have too many beautiful women to be represented by Milly at the Billboards and other international shows.

TW

 

[Indie]

FOR GOLO 100 Re: Indie

Indie....are you in Milly's payroll, or are you part of her entourage of lambones?

1. I am not on Milly's payroll, 2. I am not a part of her or anybody's entourage, 3. I am not, and have never been, a "lambona". That would be someone who sucks up to everything and everyone they wished they were. Definitely not me. I'm proud of who I am and where I come from.

I thought you were the expert on Milly.

You thought wrong. I'm not "the expert" on anyone or anything.

In case you want to confirm her age, just go to her own web page.

I don't have to confirm her or anyone's age, for I don't care. But I see you really do.

She doesn't hide her birthdate, except that I believe she is probably taking a few years off. She looks like she's been singing since 1952, not that she was born on that year.

And you're telling us this because???.....Her age has EVERYTHING to do with her talent, right???

As for Celia, the living mummy should have been buried a long time ago. It is time we let nature take its place. I've had enough of "azucar!!!". In fact I never thought she amounted to much, except she was the only woman who dared sing salsa in history, so she had no competition until someone, who is one hundred times more talented than she is, La India, has come to save us from this overrated woman.

Whatever you say, golo, whatever you say. Go check your diabetes. By the way, how's that petition to get Celia to retire going?

Fefita La Grande is not older than Milly.

Blah, blah, blah, yes she is.

It's just that Fefita has not resorted to surgery.

Blah, blah, blah, yes she has. (And she made sure, thankfully, to get all her teeth put in. Good sets of dentures, too.)

In fact, Fefita is as old as Cher.

Yeah, Cher. The Cosmetic Surgery Queen. But, blah, blah, blah, who cares? It's about TALENT, get it?

And thanks for reminding me of Little Richard and the Rolling Stones.

You're welcome.

You just have given me names of people who are in the same generation with your queen of merengue.

Really? So what? Who gives a shit? It's about TALENT, get it? (And I STILL don't think Milly is "old".)

...your queen of merengue.

She's not MY queen of anything. She's the Dominican Republic's "Queen of Merengue".

If you know her so well, please tell her for me that she should retire and spare Dominican Republic from more international embarrassment.

Tell her yourself. I sent you a PM with the name and number of the person you should speak with.

We have too many beautiful women to be represented by Milly at the Billboards and other international shows. TW

Oh, okay. If singing merengue is about BEAUTY, and not TALENT, where are they? Bring them on, golo.

-Indie

Edited to add: I sent you another PM, golo, which includes the original, unedited, top part of my post.

 

[rafael]

Dissing Milly? When all is said and done and the history of Merengue is written there will be one Reina of Merengue. Milly is La Reina.

BTW, this sounds like in the 80s and all the hot new bands trashed the "dinosaurs of rock". Now 20 years later, who is still rocking? The Stones, Allman Brothers and Aerosmith or Flock Of Seagulls and Spandau Ballet;-)

20 years from now, who knows if we will remember Tulile. We WILL remember Milly!

 

[Indie]

Yeah, rafael, right on! "Dinosaurs of Rock", with talent and staying-power, like the Eagles. I just saw them on Saturday. I loved them. Excellent. Classics.

But, back to merengue.

Tu-whooo??? Oh, you mean that dude that goes on stage wearing see-through dresses, diapers and a bib? Yeah, true merengue class in action. Just leave it to the young guys.

-Indie

 

[jose?to]

MamIndie, Babe...

As you know, I never went away, but I spent some time in stockade. But being the master of any domain, and holding the keys to any and all gateways, I could've easily come back. Not my style, though.

I've followed the Killer D's, and I'm writing stuff for the Daily Show. And I'm here to support you, babe. I'll be gone for a couple of weeks. If bolo turns his hatred for Milly and Celia towards the Eagles, let me know. And, by the way, the only reason I won't crash that little party they are having at the Jaragua hotel is cuz I am very, very shy in public. Besides, I would not want my exotic good looks and charming personality to dominate the place. And I DON'T want to take advantage of nature's creation; wouldn't be prudent, as poppy bush would say.

Jose?to

 

[Indie]

I LOVE THIS GUY!!

 

[Tony C]

Milly the Queen of Merengue!!! So what? Thats like being named the queen of Disco! It is not like it is real music. Just dance crap.

The Stones and the Eagles where great in their day but I gave up on these nostalgia tours a long time ago.

Aerosmith was never really any good. and they got worse after they stopped Drinking and doing drugs.

As for 80's bands The Police, U2, the Clash seem to hold up real well. I can list many acts from the 80's that I would rather se than some of these old farts. Frankly most bands blow there wad after about 3 or 4 albums. After that they are just riding their fame.

Now Celia. I am Cuban and even I am sick of that old hag in a Cher fright wig.

 

[Indie]

Milly the Queen of Merengue!!! So what? Thats like being named the queen of Disco! It is not like it is real music. Just dance crap.

Yeah, Tony C. Milly's title: big deal! But I'll tell you what--merengue IS real music. And I challenge you to a duel any day, if you care to disagree!

-Indie
Disco's real music, too, but this thread is about merengue.

why doesnt golo remarks ,opinions and tatse dont surprise me from a gringo!

I noticed this was your first post, mereko, so I'll let you in on something: believe it or not, golo is Dominican.

-Indie
Welcome aboard!

 

[Golo100]

Not again, Indie!!

Indie: Tony C. could not be more right. Yes I am Dominican, but if there is anything that sounds all the same all the time, is merengue.

In fact, merengue is such a useless rythmn, that there are about ten different deviations of this music which have turned into fusions of it. The only reason a music fuses is because it has ceased to meet the needs of their listeners and or dancers.

The original merengue(perico ripiao) was such a bore and old-fashioned dance that it remained buried in the "chopo" community until its recent death or limbo into folkloric history. Only the very most backward people listen or dance to this montruosity.

Trujillo brought merengue to respectability by ordering special arrangements with classic instrumentation and made it into a social "must" at society's parties. This was the period of the great bands. But this didn't last too long. In came Joseito Mateo, the "king of merengue" who in my opinion turned the merengue back to the "chopos. Trujillo should have banned him. Only the great Felix del Rosario kept the Trujillo tradition with a bit of modernization.

Almost every band today imitates Felix del Rosario's rythmn, but none have the class. Then came another king...Johnny Ventura. Ventura despite his success was not that good. His voice was not made for merengue and he increased the "chopo" following which eventually has turned the merengue to the masses of chopos and into the worst music around. His son now has a band of muscular chopos to follow his tradition.

Merengue musicians don't understand that people abroad do not understand this Dominican slang, towns, cities and situations in Dominican Republic. They insist on writing merengues about the inner situations in DR, which nobody understands, outside of Dominican Yorks.

Today, bands like Los Ilegales(The best band in DR), Chichi Peralta, Juan Luis Guerra, La Familia Andres and many others have turned to fusions of merengue, like merengue-house, Fuson and others to try to save this music. But the writing is on the wall. Merengue will come back to DR from its losing international battle, and only our naive German, Italian and English tourists may give it a breather, because they have nothing better to dance to in their native lands.

Dominicans have also killed the merengue because they have changed the way merengue is supposed to be danced. The old aristocratic, classy way is dead. Today, Dominicans want to show their disdain for work and society by dancing merengue in a slow side to side move with a pronounced lazyness, while avoiding turns and classic moves. Those who go for the super fast merengue of Tulile and MalaFe do no longer dance with partners together. It is just like house music. This all began with El Baile Del Perrito by Wilfrido Vargas, one of the worst.

Today's merengue moves accentuate a "chopism" to it, in other words, people want to look like chopos and low class rats. They do not stand erect and straight and place their hands low and without character and pride. Most Dominicans dance like "guardias" or military enlisted men, the worst dancers.

In addition, the use of ridiculous costumes and clothes by merengue bands and the already tiresome "choreographic fronts" by popular bands have turned this music into a tasteless show.

One thing that makes Elvis Crespo and Grupo Mania different is their approach to choreography, which brings back a certain elegance to a dance that has been totally discredited, even by the old merengueros. Notice that Eddy Herrera had to follow Mania and changed his ridiculous braided hair and tailored costumes and now wears designer clothes to bring up his appearance. This has gained him more popularity in DR. But his old days remain in the minds of people.

Remember, I did not invent this. Most of the same old farts that most people like are afraid for the future of this music and have published reports on it.

TW

 

[Indie]

Re: Not again, Indie!!

Indie: Tony C. could not be more right. Yes I am Dominican, but if there is anything that sounds all the same all the time, is merengue.

1. Merengue is supposed to sound the same all the time--that's what makes it merengue. 2. That's not what Tony C. said. He said merengue is not real music, and he couldn't be more WRONG. (And if you agree, golo, that merengue is not real music, then for starters, your last post is just a figment of your imagination.)

Today, Dominicans want to show their disdain for work and society by dancing merengue in a slow side to side move with a pronounced lazyness, while avoiding turns and classic moves.

What a bunch of crap! The way people (yes, Dominicans too, golo) dance has nothing to do with whether or not they like to work. If that were the case, then based on their dance style, Jamaicans are all lazy, right? Stop showing your disdain for Dominicans, and learn to form a valid opinion someday, golo.

Remember, I did not invent this.TW

I'm glad you stopped.

-Indie

 

[Petaka]

R.I.P. Merengue

I stopped listening to this Merengue crap a long time ago. Merengue was music played a real dance halls like La Voz Dominicana - where you had to wear a tuxedo to be able to attend, and where I took Agripina on our first date.

Gone are the people the caliber of Papa Molina and Francisco Cer?n, now you have to listen to all this Rosario garbage.

How about this lyrics:

El 24 the Octubre se celebra en mi Quisqueya....la, la,la

Or this other lyrics:

Como se que te gusta el dulce de leche,
por debajo de la puerta te met? un ladrillo.

That was music. Those are songs that for many years were in the Dominican hit parade. Gone, but not forgotten!

 

[Golo100]

Indie...get some facts and real analysis

All your contentions are not followed with a real analysis of the situation. You have been basicly on the defensive and directing personal attacks, rather than dealing with the issues at hand.

However, every day, more and more of my opinions get confirmed by related news and commentaries made by the real people involved.

Take for instance last night. El Torito from Los Toros Band, one of the most prominent bands and a winner of many local merengue awards blasted several of your merengue favorites and some of the new, signaling a war between merengueros that just shows how divided they are about their product and how true it is that this music is in a state of decay.

El Torito told Domingo Bautista and Selinee Mendez in an interview that Fernando Villalona is the most overrated merengue singer in DR, something I have been saying for years, and that even Sergio Vargas is much better interpreting songs.

He then went on to blast Nelson De La Olla, Tulile and Tamarindo, some of the exponents of the new fast, garbage merengue calling them trash. El Torito says this merengue does not even qualify as music. How long have I been saying this?

While I am using El Torito for my argument, that does not reflect a change in my opinion of his own band. His band used to be a breath of fresh air during the 80's. This band sounded great and I thought it was going to be a future trendsetter. Then they went down the tubes and lost creativity. They began rehashing old songs. But today's Los Toros Band is a tired shadow of its old-self with nothing to offer. It really stinks.

So there goes your argument INDIE. Perhaps you can draw from real experience and knowledge of this field to contradict my reasoning, instead of just reacting.

By the way, Fernando Villalona has lost his voice and his vocal distortion from taped music is the worst in the business. The man just never sounds like his recordings and he is a lousy showman, who sometimes uses props, like uniforms to hype his poor performances.

And while this goes on, bachateros are kicking the ass of merengueros in record sales, party contracts and radio play. There is only one radio station dedicated exclusively to merengue today in the whole DR and it has a lousy rating. The rest are playing bachata, rock, pop, regetton, and salsa. What does that tell you? That the radio owners are wrong? That the advertisers are wrong?

Lady, get your facts straight. I eat this stuff up like bread.

TW

 

[Criss Colon]

"Habla Me De Ti"....For Song Of The Year!!!!

"Mami"! When I hear that song I SING!...Cris Colon,"El Bachaton"

 

[Golo100]

Indie, here's more

I didn't make this up. This is just straight from newspaper El Dia's respectable Fausto Polanco's column, a guy who is in this merengue business:

From El Dia, Friday May 23, 2003

"No Hay Relevos"

"En lo que va de a?o no se puede decir que ha habido un merengue pegado, que haya gustado y calado como siempre suele ocurrir. Estamos ante una situacion muy dificil para el merengue, porque la gente no lo esta asimilando y es penoso que nadie quiera prestarle atencion a los merengueros, a esa musica que tantos adeptos ha tenido en el pais y el extranjero durante tantos a?os. Por eso los que surgen no llegan muy lejos, otros nisiquiera a debutar, porque el presupuesto que tiene no le alcanzan para mucho. El pasado a?o trataron de surgir unos cuantos como 'Melao Criollo', 'Eddy Edyson', 'Mascarada' y 'Hector Cruz', pero ninguno de estos logro el repunte suficiente para poder continuar el el aire. No entiendo como han podido mantenerse por lo menos a medias, el grupo 'Staff' y 'Darlyn' quienes tienen varios a?os y por lo menos graban una que otra cancion al a?o. Ellos podran ser nuestros unicos relevos en el merengue, pero si esto continua asi ma?ana no tendremos merengue"

Well Indie, if this is not a major warning sign to you, I don't know what is. But listen to this. Eddy Herrera, one of the top 3 in DR in terms of image and popularity is going on a tour of Europe. It seems that this is the only way for these artists to survive...touring in DR or outside. But we are not talking here about tours like 'Shakira's Mangosta Tour' which are major international events. Herrera and his counterparts go around just doing 'mickey mouse' house and private parties which just pays enough to keep the musicians going and the band in the news.

In addition to this, private parties depend a lot on merengue bands, because it is a tradition in DR that to make a party respectable you have to have a live band, merengue bands being always 100% ready to fill the gap for peanuts. In society's circles, specially in old-fashioned Santiago and Cibao, there seems to be a competition among its rich citizens as to ' who makes the best party in town'. A live DJ playing house music does not fit this criteria, but a live band would.

Without this party business the merengue bands would now be extinct, because none are selling records and few are getting record companies to record their unsaleable merchandise.

Today's Billboard does not list a Dominican merengue act in the hot trends, including the top 20 albums, singles, videos, concerts.

Even locally, take Radio Universal's top requested songs and Hit Parade(This is a tropical music station) lists only El Melao by La Banda Gorda #2, Profeta en mi Tierra by Fernando Villalona #7, Sube y Baja by Los Rosario #8 and No Me Tientes by Parada Joven #12. The rest of the top songs are taken by pop and other acts like Juanes, La India, Paulina Rubio, Ricardo Montaner, Ednita Nazario, Bacilos, Jerry Rivera, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ricky Martin, etc.

I can cite every Hit Parade of the top tropical stations like Mania, Ritmo 96, Rumba, Supra and Zol and they are all ditto what I say.

Dying acts like Villalona, Sergio Vargas, Los Rosario, et al are not going to keep merengue alive unless fresh faces take their place.

TW

 

[Golo100]

Another column on the downhill slide for Merengue

From El Caribe, May 26, 2003
M?SICA
Falta de relevo, una radio irresponsable y malos
productos amenazan con sepultar al g?nero
El merengue: un enfermo
con muchos dolientes

"Los merengueros y algunas figuras relacionadas con el mundo de la m?sica ponen los pies sobre la tierra y adoptan una posici?n sincera a la hora de referirse a la posici?n del g?nero frente a la bachata. Tanto Eddy Herrera, como Pe?a Suazo, Pedro N??ez del Risco, representante de Milly Quezada, y Gerardo D?az, presidente de Los Toros Record, reconocen que la m?sica de amargue est? en su mejor momento.
?La bachata se vende como pan caliente?, aseguraron programadores radiales, ejecutivos y vendedores de tiendas de disco, y hasta los buhoneros que trafican en la ciudad con la m?sica local, en un trabajo que publicara ayer El Caribe. Semejante afirmaci?n no escapa de la mirada cr?tica de los cultivadores del merengue.
Pese a ser a?n un consentido en las ventas, Eddy Herrera cree que en los ?ltimos tiempos la bachata ha escalado m?s que el merengue, ?eso es una realidad aqu?, en Latinoam?rica y en Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, la situaci?n en la industria del disco es cr?tica a nivel mundial. No podemos negar el hecho de que el merengue ha bajado mucho y es algo comprobado que la bachata se consume m?s. En sentido general la venta del disco est? muy mal y esto se debe en gran medida a la pirater?a. Para ponerte un ejemplo de c?mo est? la cosa, el a?o pasado la producci?n del tema ?P?game tu vicio? vendi? casi cien mil copias en Estados Unidos. Si ese disco yo lo hubiese lanzado tres a?os atr?s, hubiese vendido el triple?.

Una culpa de todos
Mientras, Gerardo D?az, representante de Los Toros Band y Parada Joven, asegura que si bien es cierto que los merengueros deben revisarse, tambi?n los directores de emisoras deben poner un ?cedazo? al g?nero. A su juicio, aunque siempre habr? una brecha para el merengue popular, hay que tomar conciencia de qu? tipo de m?sica se quiere exportar. ?Es cierto que la bachata est? en su momento, pero se debe a que sus creadores se han preocupado por superarse y mejorar la oferta. Sin embargo, en el merengue sucede todo lo contrario. La gente consume lo que se impone. Si nosotros no propagamos el buen merengue no podremos vender. En este tiempo no tenemos una buena cosecha merenguera. En los a?os ochenta las cosas fueron muy diferentes. Nosotros tenemos m?s de una d?cada sin producir buenos int?rpretes. Tenemos que esperar una representaci?n digna de merengueros estudiados y preparados?, dijo.
En ese mismo perfil se coloca tambi?n Pedro N??ez del Risco, quien no pretende ir contra la corriente. A su juicio, la bachata tiene una gran ventaja en el aspecto de difusi?n y se coloca en una muy buena posici?n nacional e internacional. Para demostrar esto, se?ala que ?ltimamente ha habido m?s ?hit? de bachatas que de merengues.
?Milly hizo una bachata en este ?ltimo disco. Se llama ?Me qued? en el aire? y, sinceramente, voy a traerla al pa?s para ver si la pongo a sonar en la radio porque con los merengues Milly no tuvo la acogida debida. Nos hemos dormido en nuestros laureles y el merengue ha perdido mucho terreno?.
Para Pe?a Suazo existen muchas variables que trabajan a favor de la ?m?sica de amargue?, entre ellas, el hecho de que las producciones de bachata (que en su mayor?a se venden en casetes) tienen precios m?s asequibles. Sin embargo, asegura que en esta batalla sin cuartel el mayor problema reside en que el merengue tiene muchos ?embajadores mediocres. Se ha maltratado el merengue. Hay muchos int?rpretes malos que con su m?sica han provocado que la gente pierda la fe en el g?nero. Han abusado con malos arreglos. Eso no sucede en la bachata, al menos todav?a no se ha grabado una como ?Kulikitaka? o ?Mar?a se fue??. Hace falta innovaci?n. La capacidad productiva de sus compositores es casi nula. El 70% de los merengues de ahora son fusilados o no sirven?. Al igual que Gerardo D?az, el l?der La Banda Gorda cree que la radio ?tambi?n tiene vela en este entierro, porque la culpa es de todos?.

Courtesy of TW

 

[CorletoLovesDR]

My favorite old time merengue group: From the 80's: Bonnie Cepeda.

Today: Toros' Band

 

[Indie]

HEY, GOLO! Re: Indie...get some facts and real analysis

(How ya doin'?)

My m.o. would've been to answer your three back-to-back posts to me right away, but I just now returned from enjoying my long Memorial Day weekend, so I apologize for my delay in getting back to you.

**yawn** **stretch** **cracking knuckles** **sigh**

All your contentions are not followed with a real analysis of the situation.

OK. Did I miss something? What's the "situation", golo? Since you've obviously forgotten or misunderstood what my initial and only "contentions" were, THIS is what I replied in my first post to you on this thread REGARDING LOS PREMIOS BILLBOARD DE LA MUSICA LATINA

If you're referring to last week's (May 8th) Premios Billboard de la M?sica Latina, I'd like to clarify some things for you, and let you in on some insider info:

There were no Dominican merengue acts, "boring" or otherwise, as performers, because both the Executive Producer of the awards show, and the Senior Executive VP of Programming at the network that televised it, are PUERTO RICAN. THEY chose the artists THEY wanted participating at the Billboards, and THEY negotiated with their managers and record labels. THEIR aim is to promote PUERTO RICAN artists, not Dominicans. THEY have no national nor business needs or interests to do so, nor anything to gain from promoting Dominican acts.

Merengue is the national music and dance of the Dominican Republic, and we have PLENTY of talented musicians. Lack of talent, however, or ("new") appeal, has nothing to do with Dominican merengue or bachata bands "getting in the act", or not. They were simply not invited by the powers that be, because it wasn't a practical thing for them to do. It's all business; not fairness, nor courtesy.

I don't have to "analyze" anything, because I know this (what I stated) for a FACT. I was hoping YOU would stick to the facts when posting your mere opinions about things you have absolutely no knowledge of, as evidenced by your post on LOS PREMIOS BILLBOARDS DE LA MUSICA LATINA. (Yet you word your statements in a way that would make anyone who didn't know any better believe you were actually there! Of course, whether or not you were there, is not the issue, or any of my business. But guy, check out what you wrote)

The only merengue acts that were prominent at the show were Grupo Mania and Elvis Crespo. TW

Hmmm. Well, I already explained to you the business that goes on regarding who presents and who performs. What I'd like to know is, was your assertion made based on what you saw on television? If so, ever hear of a concept called TV editing?

Golo, don't underestimate Dominicans. We're all over the place, and while I simultaneously choose to keep my anonymity, I'll tell you again, for the third time

Just be sure to be better informed about things or people you disagree with before you start posting misleading information here, because a lot of DR1 readers take the things you post here as a given, as in, "If golo said it, it must be true." There's usually more to it than meets the eye.

(And I wrote my analysis years ago, by the way. Let me know if you want to read it.)

So, exactly what "situation" are you referring to, golo?

You have been basicly on the defensive and directing personal attacks, rather than dealing with the issues at hand.

Well, dude, when you insult someone I know as viciously as you did, and then have the gall to ask me

Indie....are you in Milly's payroll, or are you part of her entourage of lambones?

because I'm defending her, what do you expect? (And again, what are the "issues", golo?)

However, every day, more and more of my opinions get confirmed by related news and commentaries made by the real people involved.

Good for you! And here I was thinking all along you consulted the Ouija board!

1. Opinions, commentaries, people, things and situations are not granted automatic veracity just because they're in the news. And although the "news" MUST be factual, the "news" is not always necessarily, totally, and entirely true or even newsworthy. It CAN be manipulated. 2. I hate to break it you, but it is actually the mainstream media that influences and tampers with your views and opinions, golo; not the other way around.

Take for instance last night. El Torito from Los Toros Band, one of the most prominent bands and a winner of many local merengue awards blasted several of your merengue favorites and some of the new, signaling a war between merengueros that just shows how divided they are about their product and how true it is that this music is in a state of decay.

El Torito told Domingo Bautista and Selinee Mendez in an interview that Fernando Villalona is the most overrated merengue singer in DR, something I have been saying for years, and that even Sergio Vargas is much better interpreting songs.

He then went on to blast Nelson De La Olla, Tulile and Tamarindo, some of the exponents of the new fast, garbage merengue calling them trash. El Torito says this merengue does not even qualify as music. How long have I been saying this?

While I am using El Torito for my argument, that does not reflect a change in my opinion of his own band. His band used to be a breath of fresh air during the 80's. This band sounded great and I thought it was going to be a future trendsetter. Then they went down the tubes and lost creativity. They began rehashing old songs. But today's Los Toros Band is a tired shadow of its old-self with nothing to offer. It really stinks.

So there goes your argument INDIE.

Boy, this is FUN!!!


WHAT ARGUMENT???


I NEVER DISPUTED ANY OF THE LAST THINGS YOU SPEWED OUT REGARDING YOUR TASTES IN, OR YOUR PREDICTIONS ABOUT MERENGUE, GOLO!! (Was all that typing just for MY benefit, golo? Damn!) ALL I said was: 1. Here's some insider info 2. Stop dissing Milly (and Celia [and all women in general, for that matter]) 3. That misleading information thing 4. Merengue IS real music. Care to disagree? Fine, but before you do, read Merengue: Dominican Music and Dominican Identity, by Paul Austerlitz. Mr. Austerlitz is a musician, a Professor at Brown University, and a merengue scholar. The book is excellent; loaded with facts.

Perhaps you can draw from real experience and knowledge of this field to contradict my reasoning, instead of just reacting.

But I do! And I have! And I will! (You don't get it, do you?)

Lady, get your facts straight.

Only a ruler can get 'em straighter. And thanks for calling me a lady.

I eat this stuff up like bread.

Fine, but when you feel like taking a dump, don't......ah, hell, never mind,.....you just called me a lady! Let's leave well enough alone.

Good night, golo. Peace.

-Indie

 

[Criss Colon]

This once interesting thread is now a "Pissing Contest"!

..and that is SSSSSOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOOOOORING!....and SSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOO CLOOOOOOSED!CCCCCCC