SINGLE REVIEW: Enrique Iglesias
- Posted on October 15, 2007 9:36 AM
- 2 comments
Enrique Iglesias
‘Tired of Being Sorry’
(Interscope)
Review by Matt Killeen
I’m married to a Nuyorican, that’s a New York Puertorican to us Brits, and living with a fluent Spanish speaker has many perks. Access to the more obscure backstreet eateries from the Bronx to Pamplona is one, her ability to sound deeply sexy when asking someone the way to the bathroom is another. The downsides are few and far between. However, access to all things Latin has illuminated something disturbing that I will now share with you. I apologise in advance.
I love Latin music from Tito Puente to Mana but it has a consistent flaw. No matter how good something sounds sung in Spanish, the translation usually reveals banal and irritating drivel. ‘La Bamba’ is monumentally disappointing, the Gypsy Kings become laughable and Shakira, belly dancing or not, leaves a lot to be desired.
Of course this is because some things - rhythm, meter, idiom – just do not translate. It’s a problem that has beset Asian film subtitles for decades and Italian Opera for centuries. What makes this so painful, however, is the distinct lack of effort deemed acceptable in the world of the Latin ‘crooner’.
Enrique, so much his father’s son, attempts to sidestep this by singing in English from the get-go. The result has been consistently apalling and ‘Tired of Being Sorry’ is no exception. He doesn’t sound sorry, tired or angry. In fact he doesn’t sound like he anything other than vaguely narcissistic. What is he really talking about? I have to admit I may just have forgotten, so unmemorable was the chorus. In fact can you hum anyone of his songs right now? Me neither.
You can’t blame Latin culture for this. Pop drums and fuzz guitars slide across the song like inadequately secured luggage. There’s no rhythm, and no discernable melody, just vibrato and tonality used like a sledgehammer where a screwdriver was required. The result is that the essential Latin heat, and that’s what Enrique is supposed to be good at, is just diluted to homeopathic levels. By the way, homeopathy is self delusion – if it works, it’s all in your head.
Have you seen Enrique live? What's your verdict? Tell all in the comments section.
Enrique Iglesias tickets.
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Comments (2)
O. Ferrity
I went to see Enrique Iglesias at Odyssey Belfast last night
I arrived at 7.30 and sat listening to piped music until
9,40pm. Then was told that the show was being recorded and we had to have a "practice" clspping and waving and roaring session. By the time he came on I was ready to go home. As for the show advice just get the cds and listen to him.Members of the audience were brought up on stage so he could sing to them. They may have enjoyed this but watching people make complete idiots of themselves was not what I had paid to see
Posted on November 7, 2007 12:48 PM
R Galloway
I have to agree at least in part with the comments made in the previous post. I too was at the Belfast Odyssey concert last night and whilst Enrique himself was lovely and performed well - the show lacked any spectacle. There could have been better effects and dance routines included. The show was advertised to begin at 8.00pm and in fact nothing happened until 9.40pm -there was no supporting band. From an overall entertainment and value for money event it was disappointing.
Posted on November 7, 2007 10:44 PM
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