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Banking on love. That lust for romance is what Puerto Rican Luis Miguel (his name is actually Luis Miguel Gallegos, but he goes by just his first two names) banked on in 1991 when, at 21, he veered from an already successful pop career and recorded Romance, a collection of classic love songs associated more with guitar-strumming serenaders than with the teen idol he used to be. The album was such a hit -- it sold more than eight million copies worldwide -- that he followed with two more CDs in the same vein: Segundo Romance (1994) and last year's Romances. With more than 45 million albums sold worldwide, Luis Miguel is one of Latin music's brightest stars. And despite his notorious reticence at giving interviews, and unlike most Latin stars, he's constantly showcased in English-language media. That's as much for his singing prowess as for his long-term relationship with Daisy Fuentes and his high-profile public appearances at the Oscars and elsewhere with actress Salma Hayek. It doesn't hurt that he's genuinely good, a dazzling showman with a cajoling voice who routinely sells out big venues to crowds anxious to witness his nonstop energy. |
Back in the spotlight. And then there's Bennett. In his late 60s, he was still selling out close to 200 shows a year, to older audiences. Now, we can look back and say he was cool, we can say he was hip. But, truth be told, he wasn't on our minds then. Enter Bennett's son, Danny. He takes over as Dad's manager, revamps his look and gets him on Letterman, The Simpsons, the MTV Music Awards. Suddenly, everyone knew he was cool. Bennett's video of Steppin' Out, a black-and-white tribute to Fred Astaire, made it to MTV's rotation, and he was suddenly sharing the stage with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Mariah Carey. In 1994, he collected an album-of-the-year Grammy for his MTV Unplugged. His ``comeback'' has been deemed one of the most amazing in pop music history, but Bennett laughs at the suggestion. ``What comeback?'' he often asks. ``I never went anywhere.'' But Luis Miguel and Tony Bennett, alike? On the one hand, Luis Miguel's trio of Romances continues the tradition of yesterday's great Latin American singers: Argentina's Carlos Gardel, Mexico's Armando Manzanero (who is also artistic director of Luis Miguel's most recent album) and Spain's Raphael. But in the process, young Luis Miguel has rediscovered and redefined a style which oldster Bennett kept alive for more than half a century. Sinatra has called Bennett ``the best singer in the business -- the best exponent of a song.'' Luis Miguel numbers Sinatra among his idols. Luis Miguel and Bennett even shared the stage for a performance at Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday in 1995. |
Different audiences. Sure, both have cultivated highly different audiences. Luis Miguel -- he, with the blond hair and green eyes -- is a darling of generations of Latins: women who swoon at his looks and voice; guys who serenade girlfriends with his songs; parents who appreciate the fact that this young stud has made their music hip again. Bennett, who wooed Generation-Xers with his MTV flair, also appeals to all ages. It's hard to believe this guy once played to audiences of retirees-only. Like Luis Miguel, Bennett is cool, cool, cool, so proclaimed by the likes of Spin magazine, which cited Bennett and James Brown as the two greatest influences in rock music. There is that crucial difference: Luis Miguel doesn't sing in English. He says he's not interested, for now, anyway. His emotions, he feels, are best expressed in his native language, so his fan core remains Spanish-speaking. And why should he romance us en ingles? Maybe one day (though his Romances would be something else entirely in another tongue). Never mind that Julio Iglesias has sung in English. Luis Miguel is no Julio Iglesias. He is much more a Tony Bennett. And he looks good in a tux. |