Latin Grammys Are Still Seeking an Identity
 Kelefa Sanneh - NYTimes
| | Bebe is nominated for album of the year at the Latin Grammys. |
The best thing you can say about the Latin Grammy Awards is also the worst thing you can say about them: they're all over the place.
The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was founded in 1997, and its Grammy ceremony spun off from the other Grammy ceremony three years later, when people were hyping the so-called Latin boom. Five years later, the academy is still trying to figure out exactly what it is celebrating, and for whom.
The Sixth Annual Latin Grammy Awards ceremony is to be held tonight at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, and it will be broadcast at 8 Eastern and Pacific times (7, Central). (It will be shown on Channel 41 in the New York area). This year the show moves from CBS to the Spanish-language network Univision, which means, among other things, that presenters and winners won't have to speak English. Instead of trying (sometimes awkwardly) to insist on the ties between Latin music and American pop culture, this year's ceremony goes in a different direction, underscoring the size and breadth of Latin music worldwide. And organizers are cannily selling the network switch as a potential source of pride, even if declining ratings prompted the move. Who needs CBS, anyway? We've got our own network. The Latin Grammys have come home.
With these Grammys, though, home is a tricky concept. There will be winners in 43 categories, covering an impressive range of Spanish- and Portuguese-language genres. And yet one of the fastest-growing Latin genres, reggaetón, hasn't made much of an impression on the awards.
At the Latin Grammys, there is always an effort to acknowledge the big Latin stars. The first year's winners included Carlos Santana, Marc Anthony and Shakira. And the veteran Cuban singer Ibrahim Ferrer, who died in August, won that night's most absurd trophy: best new artist. He was 73.
In the early years, the Latin Grammys also strained to include big names that CBS viewers would recognize. Performers at the first ceremony included Christina Aguilera, who has a father of Ecuadorian descent, and, for some reason, 'N Sync. (Maybe it could be argued that the group has a musical forefather of Puerto Rican descent: Menudo.) Partly because of this effort, the first Latin Grammys inspired the one thing every good awards show needs: a high-profile boycott. The record labels Fonovisa asked its artists to stay away, complaining that the program didn't pay enough attention to Mexican music.
By contrast, this year's nominee list is scrupulously multinational. The artists up for album of the year are the Puerto Rican-born Obie Bermúdez, the Tejano group Intocable, the smooth Brazilian singer and pianist Ivan Lins, and Diego Torres, son of the Argentine actress Lolita Torres.
That's four. The fifth is the emerging Spanish pop star Bebe, who emerged as the surprise front-runner when nominations were announced in August: her debut album, "Pafuera Telarańas" (EMI Latin), earned five. It is an appealing disc, full of clever but understated songs from alt-rock to flamenco to hip-hop; its single "Malo," a record-of-the-year nominee, is a surprisingly nimble and propulsive chronicle of domestic violence. The album is not a hit in the United States, though tonight's show could help change that. In any case, the CD already has a new selling point: the cover now bears a sticker saying, "Five Nominaciones al Grammy Latino."
Why Bebe? Well, just like the Anglo Grammys (is it possible to make the names separate but equal, too?), the Latin Grammys have a wide didactic streak. Sometimes you go to an awards show with the pop stars you've got. But sometimes you go to an awards show with the pop stars you want. And so, like their Anglo counterparts (remember India.Arie's moment in the Grammy spotlight?), the Latin voters often use their ballots to celebrate their own good taste. The Latin Academy helped turn the Colombian singer Juanes into an international rock star, after his debut album won three Latin Grammys. No doubt the academy hopes to repeat that feat.
Curiously - some would say scandalously - absent from the best-album nominee list is reggaetón, the Spanish-language hip-hop hybrid based in Puerto Rico that is arguably the year's biggest musical success story. Daddy Yankee, the genre's biggest star, has earned two nominations: his dance-club smash single, "Gasolina," is nominated for record of the year, and his excellent hit album, "Barrio Fino" (VI/Universal), is nominated for best urban-music album, alongside four other rap and reggaetón CD's. But that is the extent of it.
This year all-reggaetón radio stations sprung up across the country, and the music is hugely popular among Latinos worldwide. Yet despite the genre's dizzying rise, the Latin academy has not embraced it. None of the genre's leading stars have won a Latin Grammy, although that might change (a little bit) tonight. And the production duo Luny Tunes, responsible for much of the music behind the reggaetón revolution, was not even nominated for producer of the year.
This hostility to reggaetón should be no surprise: awards shows tend to move much slower than the music marketplace; it took years - and a boycott - before hip-hop earned its place at the Anglo Grammys. And to some voters, celebrating reggaetón might somehow seem like a betrayal of the ceremony's emphasis on regional Latin styles. Still, there is something strange about a Latin-music awards show in the United States in which Bebe has more nominations than Daddy Yankee.
The irreverent Mexican rock band Molotov, nominated for best rock album, recently gave voice to the reggaetón backlash by implying that the genre was not truly Latin music. In The Chicago Sun-Times, a band member said: "It lacks authenticity. It's part hip-hop, part Puerto Rican music. It's like white people's hip-hop in a way."
Luckily, exciting new genres don't typically wait for statuettes before they set about taking over the world. And so maybe it makes sense that the voters prefer to throw their weight behind not-quite-there-yet stars like Bebe. No matter what happens tonight, here's a prediction: By the time reggaetón stars start winning Latin Grammys by the armload, they won't need them.
Complete list of 6th annual Latin Grammy nominations
1. Record of the Year: Malo, Bebe; Gasolina, Daddy Yankee; Amor Del Bueno, Reyli; Tu No Tienes Alma, Alejandro Sanz; Duele El Amor, Aleks Syntek.
2. Album of the Year: Pafuera Telaranas, Bebe; Todo El Ano, Obie Bermudez; Diez, Intocable; Cantando Historias, Ivan Lins; MTV Unplugged, Diego Torres.
3. Song of the Year: Al Otro Lado Del Rio, Jorge Drexler, songwriter and artist; Duele El Amor, Aleks Syntek and Ana Torroja, songwriters (Aleks Syntek, artist); Malo, Bebe, songwriter (Bebe, artist); Todo El Ano, Obie Bermudez, songwriter (Obie Bermudez and Elsten C. Torres, artists); Tu No Tienes Alma, Alejandro Sanz, songwriter (Alejandro Sanz, artist).
4. New Artist: Bebe, Ilona, J.D. Natasha, Diana Navarro, Reik.
5. Female Pop Vocal Album: Pafuera Telaranas, Bebe; Andrea Echeverri, Andrea Echeverri; La Fuerza Del Destino, Fey; Escucha, Laura Pausini; El Otro Lado De Mi, Soraya.
6. Male Pop Vocal Album: Amar Sin Mentiras, Marc Anthony; Todo El Ano, Obie Bermudez; Stop, Franco De Vita; A Corazon Abierto, Alejandro Fernandez; Razon De Sobra, Marco Antonio Solis.
7. Pop Album by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Pajaros En La Cabeza, Amaral; Desde Mi Barrio, Andy & Lucas; Sinverguenza, Bacilos; Elefante, Elefante; Postales, Presuntos Implicados.
8. Urban Music Album: Barrio Fino, Daddy Yankee; The Last Don — Live, Don Omar; The Kings Of The Beats, Luny Tunes; El Kilo, Orishas; Desahogo, Vico C.
9. Rock Solo Vocal Album: El Viaje A Ninguna Parte, Bunbury; Imperfecta-Imperfect, JD Natasha; Mi Sangre, Juanes; Mi Vida Con Ellas, Fito Paez; Mestizo, Revolver.
10. Rock Album by a Group or Duo: En Vivo, Enanitos Verdes; Un Metro Cuadrado, Jarabe De Palo; Musica Pa'l Pueblo, Locos Por Juana; Con Todo Respeto, Molotov; Estelar, Volumen Cero.
11. Alternative Music Album: En El Cielo De Tu Boca, Circo; Sweet & Sour, Hot y Spicy, Ely Guerra; The Venezuelan Zinga Son Vol. 1, Los Amigos Invisibles; Street Signs, Ozomatli; Ecolecua, Rabanes.
12. Rock Song: Bienvenido Al Anochecer, Beto Cuevas, songwriter (La Ley, artist); Lagrimas, Martin Chan & JD Natasha, songwriters (JD Natasha, artist); Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor, Juanes, songwriter (Juanes, artist); Polaroid De Ordinaria Locura, Fito Paez, songwriter (Fito Paez, artist); Un Accidente, J. L. Abreu & Egui Santiago, songwriters (Circo, artist).
13. Salsa Album: Valio La Pena, Marc Anthony; Asi Soy..., Oscar D'Leon; Aqui Estamos y... De Verdad!, El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico; Autentico, Gilberto Santa Rosa; Across 110th Street, Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
14. Merengue Album: Saborealo, Elvis Crespo; En Vivo 2004, Los Toros Band; Celebra Conmigo, Kinito Mendez; Generaciones, Ramon Orlando; Resistire, Tono Rosario.
15. Contemporary Tropical Album: Bacha, Bacha; Chapeando, Juan Formell and Los Van Van; Hasta El Fin, Monchy & Alexandra; Sin Miedo, Michael Stuart; Cuba Le Canta A Serrat, Varios Artistas; El Rock De Mi Pueblo, Carlos Vives.
16. Traditional Tropical Album: Ahora Si!, Cachao; Nostalgia, Manny Manuel; Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Manuel Guajiro Mirabal, Manuel El Guajiro Mirabal; Flor De Amor, Omara Portuondo; Tradicion, Tropicana All Stars.
17. Tropical Song: Ahora Si, Cachao, songwriter (Cachao, artist); Bandolero, Jose Luis Morin A. & Olga Tanon, songwriters (Olga Tanon, artist); Como Tu, Carlos I. Medina & Carlos Vives, songwriters (Carlos Vives, artist); Las Avispas, Juan Luis Guerra, songwriter (Juan Luis Guerra, artist); Valio La Pena, Marc Anthony & Estefano, songwriters (Marc Anthony, artist).
18. Singer-Songwriter Album: Vaidade, Djavan; Bolsillos, Pedro Guerra; City Zen, Kevin Johansen; Resucitar, Gian Marco; Los Rayos, Vicentico.
19. Ranchero Album: No Soy De Nadie, Pepe Aguilar; Alma Ranchera, Rocio Durcal; Vicente Fernandez y Sus Corridos Consentidos, Vicente Fernandez; Tradicional, Ana Gabriel; Mexico En La Piel, Luis Miguel.
20. Banda Album: En vivo, Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizarraga; Los Numero Uno Del Pasito Duranguense, Conjunto Atardecer; Pensando En Ti, K-Paz De La Sierra; Locos De Amor, Los Horoscopos De Durango; Con Mis Propias Manos, Lupillo Rivera.
21. Grupero Album: Loca De Amar, Ana Barbara; Sin Riendas, Bronco / El Gigante De America; Para El Pueblo, Oscar De La Rosa and La Mafia; Olvidarte Nunca, Guardianes Del Amor; Sigo Pensando En Ti, Volumen.
22. Tejano Album: Polkas, Gritos y Acordeones, David Lee Garza, Joel Guzman & Sunny Sauceda; Solo Contigo, David Lee Garza and Los Musicales; Para Mi Gente, Jimmy Gonzalez and Grupo Mazz; Milagro, La Tropa F; Vive, Bobby Pulido.
23. Norteno Album: Hoy Como Ayer, Conjunto Primavera; Diez, Intocable; Atrevete, Los Palominos; Directo Al Corazon, Los Tigres Del Norte; El Zurdo De Oro, Michael Salgado.
24. Regional Mexican Song: Aire, Josue Contreras & Johnny Lee Rosas, songwriters (Intocable, artist); Corazon Dormido, Freddie Martinez, Sr., songwriter (Jimmy Gonzalez and Grupo Mazz, artists); Me Vuelvo Loco, Edel Ramirez, songwriter (Los Palominos, artist); Na Na Na (Dulce Nina), Luigi Giraldo, Cruz ck Martinez & A.B. Quintanilla III, songwriters (A.B. Quintanilla III Presents Kumbia Kings, artists).
25. Instrumental Album: Nuevos Caminos, Manuel Alejandro; Ed Calle Plays Santana, Ed Calle; Tiple Jazz, Pedro Guzman; Paseo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba & New Cuban Quartet; Coral, David Sanchez.
26. Folk Album: Misa Criolla — Navidad Nuestra De Ariel Ramirez, Camerata Coral and Grupo Tepeu; One Blood Una Sangre, Lila Downs; Noche Amiga Mia, Los Nocheros; Para Ellos, John Santos and El Coro Folklorico Kindembo; Homenaje A Luis Miranda El Pico De Oro, Varios Artistas.
27. Tango Album: Hybrid Tango, Hybrid Tango; De Tango Somos, Nicolas Ledesma Cuartetop; Buenos Aires, Viaje / Buenos Aires Journey, Adriana Nan; Solo Para Dos, Trelles & Cirigliano; Bajo Cero, Pablo Ziegler, Quique Sinesi & Walter Castro.
28. Flamenco Album: Mi Adn Flamenco, Diego Carrasco; Confi De Fua, Jose Merce; Andando El Tiempo, Gerardo Nunez con Paolo Fresu, Perico Sambeat and Mariano Diaz; No Hay Quinto Malo, Nina Pastori; Aguadulce, Tomatito;
29. Latin Jazz Album: Mi Tambor, Paoli Mejias; The Body Acoustic, Bob Mintzer, Giovanni Hidalgo, Andy Gonzalez, David Chesky & Randy Brecker; Piano / Drums / Bass, Negroni's Trio; Poncho At Montreux, Poncho Sanchez; Bebo De Cuba — Suite Cubana — El Solar De Bebo _Cuadernos De Nueva York, Bebo Valdes.
30. Christian Album (Spanish Language): Viento Mas Fuego, Marco Barrientos; Para Ti, Juan Luis Guerra; Luz En Mi Vida, Pablo Olivares; Dia De Independencia, Rojo; Tiempo De Navidad, Marcos Witt.
31. Christian Album (Portuguese Language): Som De Adoradores-Ao Vivo, Aline Barros; Terremoto-Ao Vivo, Eyshila; Para Orar e Adorar 3 — Ouco Deus Me Chamar, Ludmila Ferber; Deixa O Teu Rio Me Levar — Ao Vivo, Soraya Moraes; Para O Mundo Ouvir, Rose Nascimento; Alem Do Que Os Olhos Podem Ver, Oficina G3; Cantando, Dancando e Louvando!, Alexandre Soul.
32. Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album: El Milagro De Candeal, Carlinhos Brown; MTV Ao Vivo, Rita Lee; Incite, Lenine; Estudando o Pagode — Na Opereta Segregamulher e Amor, Tom Ze.
33. Brazilian Rock Album: Barao Vermelho, Barao Vermelho; Tamo Ai Na Atividade, Charlie Brown Jr.; Leela, Leela; Tianastacia Ao Vivo, Tianastacia.
34. Samba / Pagode: Ao Vivo 3, Jorge Aragao; A Madrinha Do Samba/Ao Vivo Convida, Beth Carvalho; Brasilatinidade, Martinho da Vila; Brasao de Orfeu, Wilson das Neves; Partido Ao Cubo, Nei Lopes; A Vera, Zeca Pagodinho.
35. MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira): Eletracustico, Gilberto Gil; Joao Gilberto in Tokyo, Joao Gilberto; Com o Pe No Forro, Toninho Horta; Banda Maluca, Joyce; Cantando Historias, Ivan Lins.
36. Romantic Music: Pra Sempre Ao Vivo No Pacaembu, Roberto Carlos; Donos do Brasil, Raimundo Fagner; Leonardo Canta Grandes Sucessos, Leonardo; Alma Sertaneja, Roberta Miranda; Alto Falante, Alexandre Pires.
37. Brazilian Roots / Regional Album: Gaitapontocom, Renato Borghetti; Recado a Sao Paulo, Caju & Castanha; Cada Um Belisca Um Pouco Dominguinhos, Sivuca & Oswaldinho; Os Maiores Sucessos de Sao Joao, Forrocacana; O Canto Da Sereia, Gil; Baiao De Dois, Elba Ramalho e Dominguinhos; MTV Ao Vivo, Ivete Sangalo.
38. Brazilian Song (Portuguese Language): Cancao Transparente, Francis Hime & Olivia Hime, songwriters; Ninguem Faz Ideia, Lenine & Ivan Santos, songwriters (Lenine, artist); Ponte Aerea, Jose Miguel Wisnik, songwriter (Eveline Hecker, artist); Sao Sebastiao, Totonho Villeroy, songwriter (Totonho Villeroy, artist).
39. Latin Children's Album: La Fiesta Continua!!! Christell; Floricienta y Su Banda, Floricienta; Ke Zafados, Ke Zafados; Poder Payasonico, Los Payasonicos; Lina Luna, Lina Luna; Aventura y Amor, Mision S.O.S.
40. Classical Album: Fantasia Brasileira, Orquestra de Camara Rio Strings (David Chew & Andre Oliveira, producers); Glazunov Symphony No. 5 The Seasons, Jose Serebrier (Tim Oldham, producer); Homo Ludens, Leo Brouwer (Leo Brouwer & Isabelle Hernandez, producers); Riberas, Cuarteto De Cuerdas Buenos Aires & Paquito D'Rivera (Andrea Merenzon, producer); Rodrigo Concierto De Aranjuez / Villa Lobos: Concerto For Guitar and Ponce: Concierto Del Sur, Sharon Isbin (Tobias Lehmann, producer).
41. Engineered Album: Diez, Chuy Flores & Jack Saenz III, engineers; Fuego, Seth Atkins, Javier Garza, Cruz ck Martinez & Robert Bobbo Martinez, engineers; MTV Unplugged, Gustavo Borner, engineer; Street Signs, Robert Carranza, Serban Ghenea & Anton Pukshansky, engineers; Velvetina, Antonio Cortes, engineer.
42. Producer Of The Year: Paco De Lucia, Sergio George, Sebastian Krys, Gustavo Santaolalla, Afo Verde.
43. Music Video: Volverte A Ver, Juanes Gustavo Garzon, video director; Cecilia Sagredo, video producer; Mirate, Gustavo Garzon, video director; Sweet Dreams, video producer (La Ley, artist); Amateur, Rogelio Sikander, video director; The Maestros, video producer (Molotov, artist); A Veces Fui, Esteban Madrazo, video director; Mediamates, video producer (Aleks Syntek, artist); Los Caminos De La Vida, Pucho Mentasti, video director; Pucho Mentasti, video producer (Vicentico, artist). |
Vallarta Weddings
Entertainment | November 2005 
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