 GLORIA ON LOVE The secret of an unforgettable night of passion? Gloria's songs The hottest musical star of the summer talks to us by Antonio Orlando   Oh, sure, with latin music you can dance, or use it to liven up parties. But without doubt, it does have a much better use - as music to make love to. Gloria Estefan. She seems to be nothing more than a machine churning out hit after hit, not a woman at all; she's little but a pepper girl, not fragile, despite that life hasn't always been good to her. So with "GQ" she goes right to the point: "It's natural. What's everybody looking for in a song? Sensuality, life, love and passion. There's no doubt that latin music is a combination of all these elements. This is why non-Latinos like it too. After these considerations it's a good idea to listen again to the songs of "Alma Caribena". The new album on which she has taken her inspiration from the music of many Caribbean countries: many different rhythms (salsa etc.), a couple of superstar guests (Jose Feliciano and Celia Cruz) and has given a sparkling performance. And her secret? Miami: my songs reflect my adopted hometown. And Miami is a cool, fun and sexy place to be. It's a great place to live. And also to make money, Miami is turning itself into "Glorialand". Because she and husband Emilio Estefan (musician and producer) are not only concentrating on music. They opened the "Larios on the Beach" restaurant (with beautiful waitresses) and the Cardozo Hotel, which will soon be the new attraction for tourists in South Beach, Miami, the place she loves so much, and the heart of the anti-castro (Cuban exile) community. So at nearly 43 years old (she was born in Havana on 1st september 1957) Gloria is an artist but also a businesswoman, a mainstay of the ongoing latin music market. If she hadn't released the "mi tierra" album 7 years ago which paved the way for the Hispanic crossover to the American market, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias would still be unknown. And it probably wouldn't be like the recent return of Carlos Santana in "Corazon espinado" style. She blushes. ("No. Carlos is an absolute genius, the master") but it is clear she enjoys the praise. Good, but also shrewd, Gloria. After the success she had with Miami Sound Machine in the '80s, she now alternates between English ans Spanish albums - sometimes with a disco-rock sound, other times staying with mambo and bolero. Equally popular with the "Johnsons" as with the "Ramirez", she caters to other tastes as much as to her own roots. Even though her closest friends are Latinos. One of them is the actor Andy Garcia, with whom she recently acted in a movie about the life of a fellow Cuban, jazz player Arturo Sandoval. Anyway, "la isla" (the island) isn't too far from Miami. "Unfortunately there is still Fidel Castro". Hard chap, Gloria! Caption of Gloria's photo: Por un beso (for a kiss)... Gloria's album starts with this... a reminder of the fantasy. A big THANK YOU to my friend Tim Garvey that helped me with the translation! |