Latin Grammy 2013 Hangover

I always get a hangover from award shows as I normally have agreements and disagreements with the winners selected. Here’s my take on the good and the bad of the 2013 Latin Grammy selections:

Well Deserved Latin Grammy Awards

I’ll start with the good, as a lot of good Latin music and artists were rightly recognized with the little golden phonograph.

Special Recognition Awards – I totally like this idea of recognizing artists who’ve made great contributions to Latin music through the years. Just to mention a few, Colombian folk singer Totó La Momposina, Salsa singer Oscar D’ Leon, Cuban songo pioneer Juan Formell, Argentinian icon of the 60’s and 70’s Palito Ortega, and Latin music icon Eddie Palmieri (who doesn’t support the Latin Grammy) were recognized. The list is long (you’ll find the full list HERE) and all well deserving of some recognition for their contributions to Latin music.

Miguel Bose as Person of the Year – the Spainard has had a richly successful career in Latin music, influencing a couple of generations with his unique style and music. The Latin Academy of Recording Arts (LARAS) rarely goes wrong with their selection for Person of the Year.

Michel Camilo for Best Latin Jazz Album – as I said in a previous blog, with the caveat that “What’s Up” is a Jazz album by a Latin artist, and not a Latin Jazz album, the Dominican’s album is a pleasure to listen and enjoy his mastery of the piano.

Draco got “Album del Año¨ – the album “Vida” from the Puerto Rican singer songwriter is a nice jewel of musicality and guest artists. A bit too dark for me, but Draco’s music has been that way and is truly original and creative.

Latin Grammy Selections that Gave me a Headache

“Grabación del Año” – this is the most obvious “what where they thinking?” category. Marc Anthony’s “Vivir Mi Vida”, a simple, mindlessly repetitive song that although full of an energetic arrangement, lacks lyrical significance. I don’t think this is even in the same ballpark as Buika’s “La Nave del Olvido” or Pablo Alboran’s “Tanto”.

Pablo Alboran – no Latin Grammy? The rasing Spainard star has a wonderful album in “Tanto”, entered with 3 enominations, and left with no Latin Grammy; “NADA”. Inexplicably it lost in “Grabacion del Año” and ¨Mejor Album Pop Tradicional¨.

The “Cancion Tropical del Año” should have gone to Jorge Luis Piloto, who’s “Si Yo Fuera Tu” is a more beautiful composition than Carlos Vives “Volvi a Nacer” (written with Andres Castro). “Si Yo Fuera Tu” is part of Gilberto Santa Rosa’s nominated self-named album, and is one of the best written songs I’ve heard in a while. But I can understand why the Latin Grammy went to the song performed by Carlos Vives, as it is also a very good song, and sort-of relates to his comeback after 9 years.

Asondeguerra Tour as “Album Tropical Contemporneo” – Give me a break! Yes, “Asondeguera Tour” is is a good album, but why keep giving Juan Luis Guerra Grammies every time his nominated when there are better albums out there? Venezuelan group Guaco should have won this Latin Grammy for “Escultura”. “Escultura” is a fantastic album with great music and musical guests that make this album quite special.

Caetano Veloso is a great singer songwriter, but Tommy Torres should have won the “Mejor Album Cantautor” with his “12 Historias”. Tommy put together en exceptional album full of very creative song lyrics (“Querido Tommy” is a great example) and fantastic music.

In the above two cases, I believe there is a “music icon” effect on the Latin Grammy selection. Both Juan Luis Guerra and Caetano Veloso are Latin music icons that have accumulated an impressive catalog of quality recordings during their respective careers in Latin music. Yet, the lesser known or lesser acclaimed grupo Guaco and Tommy Torres put together superior albums in 2013, but did not get the vote of the judges of LARAS. I hope in coming years judges refreain from awarding “special recognition” awards withing Latin Grammy categories.

More on the Latin Grammy…

There are many more categories in the Latin Grammy Awards than the ones I commented above. I agreed with some, partially agreed with others (no strong oposition to the selection made, even when it was not my favorite) and other categoreis where I just didn’t listen all the music nominated (as in “Regional Mexicana” or “Urban” music).

We all have different criteria about what we like in music. As the proverb says…”para los gustos, los colores” (translates to something like ‘for different tastes, there are different colors’).

As I always like to remind people, the best value of the Latin Grammy as well as the Grammy Awards is not the winners but the nominees, as this provides us a great list of good music that we can go and check out!

Did you have strong differences with the Latin Grammy selections?