The second solo album of Maria Jose, former band member of Mexico’s popular pop group, Kabah, is a cover album that pays homage to pop divas that reigned the Spanish airwaves during the 1980’s era.
Maria Jose’s version of Daniela Romo’s “Adelante Corazón” which just hit US radio airwaves a few days ago, Ana Gabriel’s “Y Aquí Estoy” along with Maria Conchita Alonso’s “Acaríciame” are a few of the songs that were re-made for the 12-track album.
Since its release last year in the Mexican republic, Maria Jose’s Adelante Corazón reached the number one spot on iTunes Mexico, received a double platinum award and a 2009 Premio Oye award. Hoping to achieve the same level of success in US terrain, the singer prepares to take on a 13-city US tour in promotion of the album and hopes that the mature musical taste of audiences at large will play in her favor.
Amante de lo Ajeno (lover of other people’s belongings) is a collection of strong pop tunes that were made famous by some of the greatest 80’s divas. It was quite difficult to choose what songs to incorporate into this album because there were so many amazing songs and artists to choose from. I was trying to find those songs that were not that obvious. For example, Maria Conchita Alonso’s “Una noce de copas” was huge and people recognized the song immediately so we didn’t want to do that type of hit. Instead, I wanted to do those songs that you don’t recognize until you hear the chorus and then you suddenly realize that it’s one of those songs that you forgot that you loved, like her “Y Aquí Estoy” for example. I wanted to re create those songs that were slightly forgotten in the back of your mind but that were still in your heart.
Doing this album was just so much fun from beginning to end. I had a couple of friends over at my house one night and we were watching some old videos on You Tube but searching in particular for songs from the 80’s decade. And you know, those years were very dramatic when it came to artists. The hair, the makeup, the costumes and the fashion…it was all big and bold. It was such a fun time and me being a huge fan of great 80’s artist such as Maria Conchita Alonso, Daniela Romo, Vicky Carr and other amazing female vocalists of that time, I decided to do an album with my interpretation of some of those memorable 80’s songs as an homage to these talented artists and as a way to somewhat bring those songs back.
Talent of the 80’s
In the 80’s there were a lot of female artists who had huge voices and were very talented. So going into this project I knew that I was going to be compared and that the songs themselves were going to be compared to the original version. But if you think about it, we all compare everything to everything. We compare our ex partners with our current partners, our dress with our neighbors dress, etc., etc. So I knew that the audience was going to do the same with this album but it really didn’t bother me too much. The way I saw it, I had nothing to loose. My first album did relatively well and with this second album I felt that I had the time and space to have fun with it. Although Amante de lo Ajeno is a cover album, I had to make that album my own and make those songs my own, while still respecting the integrity of the song and of its original singer. For my third album, however, I hope to go into it with some original work but the chances of doing another cover album sometime in the future is not ignored either.
I think that we’re getting back to having strong talent on the stage. In the 90’s, for example, we saw a lot of female singers with pretty faces but with very little talent, and that caused us to go through a time when the music was very plastic. But now the audience doesn’t buy that act. Audiences now have other means of listening to great music that not only comes from their region but from all over the world as well, and they are comparing, listening and paying attention to what is good and what isn’t. A lot of that change has to do with the exposure that people have to music from all over the world by means of the Internet.
In the 80’s when I was listening to some of my favorite bands, the only way to listen to them was to either go to their concerts or buy their album. But now, all people have to do is go on the Internet and listen to the best singer in Spain or the best singer in China. People are not naïve about their music anymore because they’re smarter and more selective about what they choose to listen to. They want good music and they know that they don’t have to listen to just a pretty face. Plastic things don’t fool them anymore.
A good friend of mine, Edith Marquez, did a duet with me on this albums “Cosas del Amor” which was made famous by Ana Gabriel and Vicky Carr. And Edith has such a strong and amazing voice and singers like her are raising the bar again on what is good and strong music and I think that people like her also help in maturing the musical taste of audiences.
Another thing about the audience of today compared to that of earlier years is that they are more open minded to different types of music, which again, I think has to do with their exposure to it. For example, I have a strong gay following here in the United States and I think that they, along with the new generation of fans of 80’s music, will be in full support of Amante de lo ajeno. That’s the thing about the gay community, you know, once they adopt you they don’t let you go. Gloria Trevi, for example, did the same tour three times because of the request from the gay community, and she has such a strong support from them. For me, that specific audience has also been key in having my music reach the states. They’re always open to new artists and new music. So if I decided to do another album of this concept or make the next album of songs that I’ve written, I think that the modern audience will be in support of it.
—
Tracks:
“Adelante Corazón”(Daniela Romo)
“Y Aquí Estoy”(Ana Gabriel)
”Frente a Frente ”(Jeannette)
“Acaríciame” (María Conchita Alonso)
“No Me Pregunten Por El ” (Cristal)
“ Cosas del Amor ” dueto con Edith Márquez (Ana Gabriel y Vicky Carr)
“ Sola No ”(Fiordalisso)
“En Mi Soledad” (Arianna)
“ Mi Amor Amor” (Lucía Méndez)
“Ese Hombre No Se Toca” (Rocío Banquells)
“Herida de Muerte” (Manoela Torres)
“No Soy Una Señora” (Melissa)
http://www.myspace.com/mariajosemx
