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Juanes

Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (born August 9, 1972), better known as Juanes (for the contraction of his first and middle name) is a musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a popular solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards. Juanes is the best-selling Colombian musician of all time, having sold more than fifteen million albums. He has won seventeen Latin Grammys, more than any other artist, and one Grammy Award.[1] Juanes is also known for his humanitarian work, especially with aid for Colombian victims of anti-personnel mines.

Early life and Ekhymosis

Juanes was born in Carolina del Príncipe, Antioquia, Colombia. He started the metal band Ekhymosis in 1988, and it released its self-produced debut album, Nino Gigante, the same year.[2] The band released five studio albums during its career and shared the stage with acts including Alejandro Sanz, Aterciopelados, and Ricky Martin;[3] however in Juanes' words, the band "couldn't get out of Colombia" and remained "very local and confined to the Colombian market. "[4] Juanes disbanded the group in 1998 so that he could pursue a solo career.[2]

2002–present solo career

Juanes performing at the 2005 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

The follow-up, Un día normal (A Normal Day), also produced by Gustavo Santaolalla who signed him with his first solo album, was released in 2002 and was highly successful in Latin America. The album was certified gold in Colombia during its first day of sales and was certified platinum and multi-platinum in countries including Colombia, Mexico, and Spain.[5] The album spent 92 weeks in the top ten of Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart,[6] setting a new record,[5] and spent a total of two years on the chart.[5] The album was released after the eligibility deadlines for the 2002 Latin Grammy Awards, but the advance airdate for the lead single, "A Dios le pido" ("To God I Ask"), allowed it to be nominated for three awards and win Best Rock Song.[5][7] "A Dios le Pido" topped the singles charts of twelve countries and spent 47 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks.[6] The album also featured "Fotografía" ("Photograph"), a duet with Portuguese Canadian pop singer Nelly Furtado about the isolation between lovers. Juanes later worked with Furtado on a remix of "Powerless (Say What You Want)", the lead single from her 2003 album Folklore, and on "Te busqué" ("I Looked for You"), a single from her 2006 album Loose. Juanes won the most awards at the 2003 Latin Grammy Awards, where he won each of the five awards for which he had been nominated, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year.[8]

"Nada valgo sin tu amor" (2004)
The lead single from Mi sangre.
"La camisa negra" (2005)
Juanes received criticism after his song was used in support of neo-fascism in Italy.
Problems playing these files? See media help.

Mi sangre (My Blood), was released in September 2004 and debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums.[9] The album produced three consecutive number one singles, which held the top chart position for a combined six months. The album's third single, "La camisa negra" ("The Black Shirt"), was used in Italy in support of neo-fascism by relating it to the uniform used under the regime of Benito Mussolini.[10] In response, left-wing media network Indymedia called for a boycott of the song.[11] Juanes later stated that "'La camisa negra' has got nothing to do with fascism or Mussolini... People can interpret music in all kinds of ways I guess."[12] "Rubio, Juanes Earn Billboard Latin Awards". Yahoo! Music. April 28, 2005. Retrieved February 7, 2007.</ref>

Juanes performing on the 'Mi sangre' tour

At the 2005 Latin Grammy Awards, Juanes won three additional awards to his nine previous Grammy awards. He took the award for Best Rock Song for "Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor" ("I Am Worthless Without Your Love"), Best Rock Solo Album for Mi sangre and Best Music Video for "Volverte a Ver" ("To See You Again").[13] On December 9, 2005, Juanes performed "La camisa negra" at an international gala in Germany celebrating the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final Draw evening.[14] In 2006, he recorded a duet of "The Shadow of Your Smile" with Tony Bennett for Bennett's Duets: an American Classic.

In June 2006, Juanes began a year-long sabbatical to spend time with his wife, model Karen Martínez, and their daughters Luna and Paloma.[15] He was working on an album that was released on October 23, 2007.[15] When asked about the possibility of recording an album in English, Juanes responded, "singing in Spanish is very important because it's the language in which I think and feel. I respect people that sing in English, but for now I'll keep my Spanish."[15] Juanes planned to launch his own music label, named 4J, in October 2007, to be distributed by the Universal Music Group.[16] He also was working on a new album, titled La vida... es un ratico (Life Is a Little Moment).[17]

"La vida... es un ratico" was released on Oct 23, 2007 with the first single being "Me Enamora" (it makes me fall in love). The second single was "Gotas de Agua Dulce" (drops of sweet water), and the third single became the vallenato fusion of "Tres" (three).

On December 11, 2007, Juanes performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway together with a variety of artists, which was broadcast live to over 100 countries.[18]

In November 24, 2008, Juanes re-released the album as "La Vida Es Un Ratico En Vivo [Deluxe Edition][2 CD/DVD Combo]" The album aside the 14 original songs, contains two previously unreleased songs: "Falsas Palabras" (false words) and "Odio por amor" (hate for love) which is also the current single. This new re-edition also includes seven live versions of songs played during his U.S. La Vida Tour. As another bonus added, Juanes also included a duet of his song "Hoy Me Voy" (today I leave) with US singer Colbie Caillat. The DVD contains the music videos of the four singles of the cd as well as a few live video recordings of the US tour.

Activism

Juanes has said that: "these are your people, young people, people with families, and four or five of them are dying every day."[12] Juanes established the Mi Sangre Foundation to help victims of anti-personnel mines[19] In 2005, he was named by Time as one of the world's 100 most influential people.[20] Juanes has supported current Colombian president Álvaro Uribe, stating that "with this new government of Álvaro Uribe my country seems in better shape."[21] On November 15, 2005, he was honored at the annual benefit gala for Sir Paul McCartney's Adopt-A-Minefield for his work as a Goodwill Ambassador for United for Colombia, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about the impact of land mines within Colombia.[22]

File:JuanesEuropeanParliament.jpg
Juanes performing for the European Parliament

On April 19, 2006, Juanes performed before the European Parliament, as part of a campaign to increase awareness against the use of land mines around the world, including in his native Colombia. He was first singer to perform in the hemicycle where the European Parliament holds its plenary sessions.[23] The Parliament gave a symbolic gift of €2.5 million to demine Colombia and to rehabilitate victims of the landmines.[24] In honor of his work and his music, he was given an escopetarra (a decommissioned AK-47 converted into a guitar) by peace activist César López; he later sold it at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills for US$17,000.[10] Juanes held a benefit concert on May 24, 2006 in conjunction with KLVE and Univision which raised roughly US$350,000 to care for injured children and provide prosthetics, wheelchairs, and land rehabilitation.[24]

On July 19, 2006, French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres awarded Juanes with the highest cultural honor given by France, L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, declaring him "Knight in the order of Arts and Letters" for his work in social activism.[25] In December 2006, work began on a recreational park for the rehabilitation of the handicapped named "Parque Juanes de la Paz" in Medellín.[26] The 68,000-square-meter facility will cost COL$10.6 billion, financed in part by the government of Medellín, and is to be completed by May 2007.[26]

Juanes is also an activist for his native Spanish language; he has stated many times that while he respects native Spanish-speaking artists who choose to sing in English (such as fellow Colombian singer Shakira), he himself will not sing in English in order to best express himself (since he thinks and feels in Spanish) and to promote the Spanish language. One exception was his duet with Tony Bennett for the song "The Shadow of your Smile." Also recently his new song "Odio por amor" includes one line in English: "It's Time To Change". He also sang a few lines of English during a duet performance with John Legend during the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.

On March 16, 2008, Juanes organized a free concert as a response to the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis.[27] This concert took place on the Colombia-Venezuela border. This was a free event and gathered an audience of 300,000 people. It was broadcast by Colombian and Venezuelan television stations. A Yahoo-Telemundo partnership webcast the event.[28] The concert featured the well-known artists: Miguel Bosé, Alejandro Sanz from Spain. Juan Luís Guerra from the Dominican Republic, Ricardo Montaner from Venezuela, Juan Fernando Velasco from Ecuador and Juanes and Carlos Vives from Colombia. The concert became a reality with the help of many private companies from Colombia and Venezuela. As an important remark concerning this event, Colombian president Álvaro Uribe had expressed days before the concert that he would attend the event. Juanes' manager replied that since it was an artistic event with no political affiliations they preferred the president not to be present. President Uribe replied in an official letter that he accepted Juanes' manager's suggestion.

2009 Peace Concert in Cuba

Juanes during the concert in Havana, Cuba.
Main article: Paz Sin Fronteras II

"Going to Cuba is a symbol that it’s time to change people’s minds, an opportunity to tell the world that people have to change."

— Juanes [29]

On August 5, 2009, it was announced that Juanes would hold his second "Peace Without Borders" concert in Havana's storied Plaza de la Revolución on September 20, 2009. The Cuban concert coincides with U.N. International Peace Day and could feature up to 12 artists from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Cuban folk legend Silvio Rodriguez and local salsa stars Los Van Van will also be participating.[30]

Juanes has received criticism on his potential concert by some in the Cuban-American/Cuban exile community in Miami who believe it will be seen as an act of support for the communist government of Cuba. Juanes expressed in an interview for Univision that he has no affiliation whatsoever to the Cuban government or their political views and that he sees this only as an artistic performance and nothing more.[31] Willy Chirino, a Cuban American performer who has not been to Cuba in over 45 years, however came out in defense of the right of Juanes and others to sing in Cuba, a move also supported by Puerto Rican artist Olga Tañón.[32] On August 14, 2009, Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcón's daughter, Margarita Alarcón, spoke of the controversy to CBS News, remarking that:

"The past 50 years of U.S.-Cuba relations makes the War of the Roses seem like child’s play ... embittered Cuban-Americans now direct their ire at Juanes and at those who want to join him for the concert in Havana. They hurl negative and insulting accusations at potential participants claiming that bringing their music to the Cuba public is equivalent to propping up a government with which they are at war. It seems that they want to limit the freedom of the Cuban people, censoring the type of music they can listen to."[32]

On August 20, 2009, Juanes announced that he had considered canceling the peace concert citing "fears for his safety as well as his family", who reside with him in Miami on Key Biscayne.[33] Such fears are contained in an August 15, 2009, police report, and are the result of threatening messages Juanes has received from those he describes as "a very small number of extremists." However, John Reilly, Juanes' New York-based spokesman, has stated that plans for the concert have not changed and that "the vast majority of communication Juanes is receiving from both fans on Twitter and everyday people he comes into contact with in Miami continues to be overwhelmingly supportive. The concert "Paz Sin Fronteras"(Peace Without Frontiers) was a total success. Juanes closed it along with other 15 Cuban and international artist and with more than one million people attending the concert."[33]

Personal life

Juanes met model/actress Karen Martínez during the filming of his video "Podemos hacernos daño". On August 6, 2004 they married.

Juanes is of Basque descent on his father's side.[34]

His band

  • Waldo Madera (drums since 2004)
  • Felipe Navia (bass since 2000)
  • Mauricio Colmenares (Guitar and Vocals since 2008)
  • Emmanuel Briceño (Keyboards and Vocals since 2002)
  • Felipe Alzate (Percussion since 2000)
  • Fernando Tobon (Guitar since 2002)

Discography

Main article: Juanes discography

See also

References

  1. ^ "Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes Top 13th Annual BMI Latin Awards". BMI. April 6, 2006. Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Bonacich, Drago. "Ekhymosis > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  3. ^ "Hechos en la vida musical de Juanes". Eskpe. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  4. ^ Kamin, Azhariah. "Latin to the core". The Star Online. May 29, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d "Juanes Biography". Rockero.com. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "Juanes > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  7. ^ Susman, Gary. "Trophy Time". Entertainment Weekly. September 19, 2002. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
  8. ^ "Juanes on Top with 5 at Latin Grammys". BMI. September 3, 2003. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
  9. ^ Zahlaway, Jon. "Juanes to visit the states in early 2006". LiveDaily. November 1, 2005. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
  10. ^ a b Martínez, Daniel. "Juanes en medio de polémica italiana". BBC Mundo. September 3, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2007. Cite error: The named reference "BBC" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Neofascistas adoptan como himno 'La camisa negra' de Juanes". Reuters. September 1, 2005. Retrieved from Colombian Indymedia January 25, 2007.
  12. ^ a b Wilson, Scott. "From Colombia, Encouraging Sounds". Washington Post. October 14, 2003: page C01.
  13. ^ Morris, Chris. "Juanes, Sanz, Bebe Win Latin Grammys". The Hollywood Reporter. November 4, 2005. Retrieved from Billboard February 12, 2007.
  14. ^ "Final draw: TV coverage to be broadcast in 145 countries". 2006 FIFA World Cup. November 17, 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
  15. ^ a b c "Juanes invited Paul McCartney to Colombia". Quepasa. December 3, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  16. ^ "Juanes Takes Over the World!". Latina.com. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  17. ^ "Juanes's New Album Has a Title". VOY Music. January 29, 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
  18. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2007". nobelpeaceprize.org. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  19. ^ "Colombia sin minas Events Raise $350,000 For Children Victimized By Landmines In Colombia". United for Colombia. June 1, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  20. ^ "TIME Magazine Celebrates New TIME 100 List of Most Influential People With Star-Studded Event April 19th". Time. April 15, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  21. ^ Knight, Tom. "Interview – Juanes". My Village. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  22. ^ "Mine Action in Colombia. Adopt-A-Minefield. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  23. ^ "EP and Juanes say 'no' to landmines". European Parliament. April 20, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  24. ^ a b "After concert gave by Juanes, the European Parliament donate 2.5 million of Euros". Colombian Air Force. April 20, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  25. ^ "Juanes To Be Knighted". Global Rhythm. July 17, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  26. ^ a b "Works Begin on Juanes’ Park". VOY Music. December 25, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  27. ^ Siete 'cancilleres de la paz' hicieron olvidar las fronteras con su música en Cúcuta - Archivo - Archivo digital eltiempo.com
  28. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080311/ap_en_mu/people_juanes
  29. ^ Juanes Says Concert in Cuba About Bringing Message of "Change" by the Latin American Herald Tribune
  30. ^ Rocker Juanes to Offer Sept 20 Concert in Havana by Sigal Ratner-Arias, The Associated Press, August 5, 2009
  31. ^ Juanes defendio concierto en Cuba by Teresa Rodriguez - Aquí y Ahora - Univision networks
  32. ^ a b A Bridge without Borders: Efforts Underway to Turn Juanes Peace Concert in Cuba into Controversy by Margarita Alarcón, CBS News, August 14, 2009
  33. ^ a b Juanes Receives Threats over Cuba Concert by Damian Grass, Associated Press, August 20, 2009
  34. ^ http://canales.diariovasco.com/ocio/meca/juanes-euskera-kepa-junkera-200911091001.php
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