Elvis Crespo Silences The Critics
Elvis Crespo's candid Q&A session during the Billboard Latin Music Conference in San Juan, PR photo by: Leslie DJ
San Juan, Puerto Rico was the place to be for all the events leading up to the 2010 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Prior to the award show Billboard hosted a Billboard Latin Music Conference, four full days of panels, music showcases and celebrity Q&As.
For the first time the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Conference were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“The moment you step off the airplane [you can sense the party vibe] it smells like party and combo,” stated Merengue artist Elvis Crespo during his one on one discussion on the state and evolution of tropical music. Former member of Merengue group Manía hopped onstage full of energy and displaying his bright smile.
He is best known for his hit “Suavemente” the song is a staple at most weddings and birthday parties and is well known by non-Spanish speakers. It’s the go-to Merengue tune blasted at American parties. But what the Puerto Rican singer would quickly find out is that with a hit song come a lot of responsibilities. He grew tired of single and at one point refused to perform it live. Plagued by the constant pressure of duplicating the success of the song the singer felt trapped and ultimately decided that in order to carry on he would need to be proud of his hit single and move on with his career. Now he’s so proud of the success the song has brought him he admitted to performing the song twice during most of his sets.
Crtitics have called the singer a one-note artist claiming that his songs all sound the same to which he said, “if it’s not broke don’t fix it. If the musicologists don’t like my music then go look for another artist to critique.” He admitted that the critics drove him to hire new pianists and guitarists for his follow-up album and he “didn’t sell a single record!” Now he takes pride in his sound and no longer cares what critics think.
His upcoming album is set to be released in August and will feature Merengue and Bachata as well as collaborations with artists like Dominican singer Omega who is famous for his urban interpretation of Merengue.
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Leila Cobo interviews Elvis Crespo photo by: Leslie DJ
Por la primera vez en la historia de los premios Billboard Latinos los premios y la conferencia fueron presentados desde San Juan, Puerto Rico. La conferencia de los Billboard Latinos incluye cuatro días llenos de eventos, fiestas y entrevistas con los artistas mas pegado en la música Latina.
“Desde que te abaja del avión [te das cuenta que el aire] vuele a fiesta y a combo” dijo el merenguero Puertorriqueño.
El ex-integrante del grupo Manía, Elvis Crespo, subió la tarima lleno de energía y con su sonrisa brillante.
El merenguero admitió que su éxito “Suavemente” fue tan exitoso y la cantaba tanto que la dejo de cantar. Cuando el dejo de buscar otra canción que duplicara el éxito de el sencillo “Suavemente” se comenzó a sentir orgulloso de su éxito y ahora la canta dos veces en sus presentaciones.
Sobre la critica que sus canciones suenan igual el cantante admitió, “si la formula te esta funcionando no la cambies. Si al musicólogo no le gusta que busque otro músico que criticar.” El también admitió que la criticas lo llevaron a buscar diferente guitarristas y pianistas para el lanzamiento que siguió su primer disco y “no vendí ni un disco” el dijo. Por eso es que ahora el no se lleva de la critica.
Su próximo lanzamiento, que sale en Agosto, incluyera Merengue y Bachata y colaboraciones con el cantante Dominicano Omega que es famoso por sus interpretaciones urbanas.
