Colombia 's cultural and intellectual elite has an enlightened attitude to soap operas. Rather than dismissing them as the opium of the masses, notable figures like the author Gabriel Garcia Marquez consider the soaps a valuable conduit to the heart of the people, which the artist, musician or writer should exploit with gratitude and respect. The dread-locked heartthrob Carlos Vives may owe his lofty celebrity status primarily to his starring role in numerous Colombian soaps, but the nation owes him a debt of gratitude in return for using the genre to champion native music styles like vallenato, cumbia and ±è´Ç°ù°ùó and rejuventate them for young 'globalised' audiences.
Vives was born and raised in the Carribbean coastal town of Santa Marta, on the mouth of the great Magdalena River, which is famous for its annual carnival. The cultural landscape of the region, made so famous by the pen of Marquez, with its Spanish, Carribean and Native American colours, inspires the beating heart of Vives' music. At the age of 12 he moved to the cold foggy hills of the capital Bogotà , where he later became part of a burgeoning rock scene. It was his friendship with trail-blazing rockers 'Distrito Especial', who were among the first to vamp up traditional cumbia rhythms for a rock'n'roll crowd, that opened his eyes to the potential of 'local' music styles.
In collaboration with the cream of Bogota's musicians and producers, such as Ivan Benavides, Ernesto 'Teto' Ocampo, LucÃa Pulido and the English ex-pat electro production maestro Richard Blair, responsible for the groundbreaking Sidestepper project, Vives built up a repertoire on local foundations, which was both respectful of Colombia's veteran musicians and composers, and funky enough to appeal to 21 st Century ears. Albums like 'Los Clásicos De La Provincia', 'La Tierro Del Olvido' and 'Tengo Fe', trod that tightrope between mass acceptance and artistic integrity with mesmerising skill. Vives became a stadium and bullring headliner both in Colombia and Spain. His mantelpiece began to groan under the weight of Awards and Grammies. Vives combines masculine beauty, talent and credibility in a way that our own one-dimensional soap stars can sadly only dream of.
Ivan Chrysler
YOUR COMMENTS
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Mabusha Masekela - - Johannesburg, South Africa
I recently got a stero system that plays cassettes - - so I broke out some of my old cassettes I hadn't played in forever - - La Tierra Del Olvido being one of them. I play it 2-3 times a day - - it's obviously "traditional" but ooh does it rock. Viva Vives!!!
Ruben, desde Chile
He is fantastic. He is the joy of my life. Love to all.
Gerard Whelligan Liverpool
Vibrant Alive Music . Carlos definately opened my eyes and ears to Colombian native folk traditions. One Day I hope we'll see him in Liverpool.
diana edmonton canada
Calor vives is numeber 1 singer in the whole latino folk world. There is no one better that him. thakn you for being so great.
liseth from Colombia
Carlos is an excelent artist and person, He is great. and he talk so much about our country i love it!!!!
Martha, California
In the world of today, we are exposed to so many sounds, melodies, lyrics, sometimes it seems there's nothing original out there, it's all a mix of the same. Yet, there is nothing like Carlos Vives music, I'm not even from Colombia and when I hear his music and songs my heart aches to return to a land i've never even seen but because of him I love. He, who draws memories in my heart and stirs pure nostalgia from experiences only lived through the magic of his songs, is a true artist. There's no one out there like Carlos Vives and 'la provincia'.
Pablo, Havana. Cuba
Carlos Vives has played a great role advancing Vallenato music. Grammys deserved and everything. However this specific album (Romantico) nominated for a World Music Award has to be a joke. Think of Barry Manilow. Does tacky or kitsch come to mind? Exactly my point. Other than that, keep up the good work Carlitos, and please go back to Vallenato. We don't need another "romantico."
Jackie from Canada but originaly from Colombia Car
When I first herd Carlos I was amazed, and thrild at the music my parents grew up with. I lovvvve my Country of Birth and to hear about all the great people comming out of Colombia and beleiving that this little place that we hear so much about in the news, with the drug war and the poverty can produce such wonderful music and art, poets, writers and food, makes me proud. I hope some day we can stop calling it a third world country and call it the best dam place to visit because it is so rich in culture, history, nature and best of all the weather. I have lived in Canada for 37 years and if there is one thing I miss about Colombia is the weather and its beaches. I hope you have enjoyed my little tid bit of, shall we say!!!!!!!!
Anonymous Vives, Santa Rosa, Ca
Carlos Vives is my cousin!!! it was crazzy when i was reading an espanol addition of people magazine and saw this man with the same last name as me. i went home and told my dad who is also from Colombia and he said that was my cousdin. It was surreal but i am amazed and blessed to be related to such a talented man and his music is absolutely amazing.
Uli MIAMI
Carlos #1 you have done just so much for the Colombian Folk music, anything esle u achieve is just a bonus thank you for giving us that wonderfull music....
Denisse- London
Wow...Carlos Vives has not only reached colombians hearts but also latinos in general. I watched him in concert when I was very young and his it was amazing... the energy that he brought to the stage was phenomenal. Well done to him & keep doing us latinos proud :)
Alvaro. Santa Marta, Colombia
Carlos Vives is the best artist, he created a kind of music that didn't exist no losing the esence of the colombian folk although he mixed modern rythms with traditional topics, and this what being an artist really means, he has his own identity, didn't copy anybody and everywhere he arrives he shows the colombian culture, "El Rock de mi Pueblo" for example his last album is the best example of making. He is the winner, there isn't another, he is the best. Thanks Carlos for being Colombian, for carrying our music to the world!!!
Cecilianita
Excellent nomination for a great artist who deserves this and more. All Colombians and Latin Americans respect and listend to his music. "The Vallenato" is a folklor music from the Atlantic Coast in colombia. Carlos Vives has achieved many awards in his short career, incluiding 1 American Winner Award in 2001 and other nomination to the same awards in 2005 for "the rock of my town" Carlos Vives is great and we all thank him for what he has done for Colombia and the world. Cecilianita (New York).
Sandra fro Miami
This is the best artist in the world, it is authentic, original, I love it! Please learn about him, listen to his music and you will realize why he must win.
Santiago from Venezuela
Carlos is a very complete artist! He is composer, producer and singer. He is the winner by far!!!
Issa colombia,
Well Im from Colombia and I feel proud about Vives. He s an exellent singer and person. Congratulations!!!!!
Claudia from Colombia
Carlos is a great artist. I love his music, he invented a sound which is the real colombian rock. The Rock is derived from the folclore music (blues, jazz)and that is what Carlos did, from his folclore, the vallenato, he invented the Colombian Rock!!!!! He deserves to win.
Eduardo Santos, LA
What Chrysler wrote does little justice to Vives work. Although he worked in one or two, not numerous soap operas, not necessarily watched by the "cultural elite", he comes from a longer tradition of the Colombian tropical Savannahs great music. Vives inherited, modernised and developed the amazing combination of indigenous, african and european rithm, instrument, form and poetry that Vallenato is. He is a masterful interpreter of decades-old songs in all rythms of which Vallenato exists, like Paseo, Puya, Son (not the Cuban). He also composes, collaborates and pushes ahead boundaries. Sidestepper connection was just a technical device. Grammys are deserved.
RODRIGO-SPAIN
I AM FROM COLOMBIAN, AND I LIKE THE MIUSIC OF CARLOS VIVES
Francisco, from New Jersey
!!! Congratulations... This is an excelent report about one of the most famoust artist in Latin America and the world. Carlos Vives is without a doubt, the best singer and writer from Colombia. He is the one who oppened the doors to artists as: Shakira, Juanes, Aterciopelados, and many more. Good job Carlitos Vives... You keep the name of pur country in a good place in the world. Thanks
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