 ALL TO DANCE THE NEW GLORIA ESTEFAN’S ALBUM WITH CUBA IN HER HEART - by Sara Casassa Gloria Estefan is a wren person of woman: she has a tiny and graceful body, enlightened and intense eyes, deep and steady voice. And it’s right that voice, so different from the singer melodious one, revealing her personality: a little-great woman, strong and reserved, with still trembling legs when she goes up on stage. Today she is a star of international music, queen of the pop in Cuban "made in Miami" salsa: 18 albums, 3 compilations, 20 million records sold all over the world and now the new album "gloria!" 16 tracks of overwhelming 70/80s disco-dance, mixed with various musical kinds ranging from rap to afro-cuban rhythms. Anti-Castro refugee daughter, Gloria came to Miami, when she was only 2 years old. But her Cuban roots remain inside, sinking in the music she listened as a child and in the nostalgic stories of her parents. And she has grown up with that strong anti-Castro political convictions, like all Cuban refugees in Miami. During the interview, even speaking about music, her thought always runs to that island, so far and so close for her. But in the new album there is also a lot of amusement and experiment desire: for example the rap with Wyclef Jean of Refugees in the song "Don’t release me". How is your last album born? "At the beginning it should have been a remixed compilation of my hits, but when I met old and new friends in the record room I eventually experienced several kinds of music. I liked rap very much, but I still adore dance and latin rhythms from my land as well". You have always been lived in Miami, but do you feel a strong bond to Cuba. Why? "Cuba is a unique place: stimulating mixture of races and cultures characterize it. But unfortunately it is a place where I can’t go. There is a song in my new album, called "Cuba libre", talking about that. I have never been allowed to see my own Land, to see the place where I come from, to sing for my people and this is very sad for me". What’s your dream for Cuba? That people could have the same freedom I had: to have free elections, free religion, without being arrested or expelled, to build their economic future. But it will at least take a whole generation to reconquer the awareness of democratic rights, which have beeen lost during 40 years of Castro’s dictatorship. Do you think Castro hasn't made anything good for Cuba? I think that the idealism of the early years has been overwhelmed by his power thirst and almightiness. Until he will be there, things for Cuba can’t change. |
