Queen Conga Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound

Rip It Up, Issue 149, 1 December 1989, Page 2

Queen Conga Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound

Miami, it's my kind of town. - Elmore Leonard sets his novels under its bright sun, television has its designer cops chasing drugbarons. And let’s not forget De Palma’s Scarface; Miami as the - American dream covered in snow. ‘But that’s just one side. Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine paint a different picture. Like Dr Beat and Do The Conga, Latin-infused pop music that had crossover written in every groove. Then the big one, 1987’s ‘Let It Loose’, which gave us the heat of Miami without the usual dirt. Now we have Cuts Both Ways,a collection of strong ballads and fun dance songs with a sense of mature sophistication that has Gloria Estefan turning into the Latino Streisand. She’s a real superstar. And like all superstars, she spends alot of time sitting around in hotel rooms waiting for the phone to ring.

Hi Gloria, what’s it like living in Miami? “Well, Miami has been full of Hispanic immigrants for along time. It seems to be the melting pot where alot of Central South Americans, as well as Cubans, have gone.llove Miami, and I love the fact that it has such diverse cultures and the fact that everyone is there together for one common goal -- that is, to make it awonderful city.” Like I'said, the media has always had certain romantic conceptions about Miami and its Hispanic population. In most cases, the bad, and not the good, is shown. Ms Estefan herself is quite rightly used asapositive role model for Hispanics. “They say I am. I'm very proud to uphold that rule. I think that shows like Miami Vice have given Miami a very bad rap, as well as Latins, who have been stereotyped and

typecasted to the point where everyone is thinking that all Latins are drug dealers who come to Miami to make it rich. I don’t think that’s true at all. If am a role model, I think that with my success and my chance to travel the world, I've taken a bit of thatand proven that there are a lot of people out there willing to make things happen and to become successful -- rather than just become an economic burden on the city.” The desire for economic self-improvement is common amongst Americans, and even more $o amongst immigrants from countries far different from their new home. Certain social and political viewpoints must develop... “Well,” says Gloria, “I try to keep my political viewpoints to myself because they don’t really mix with what I'm doing or who I am. I left Cubabefore the Castro regime came in,so I didn’t live through communism. I still remember Cuba being a beautiful country and a beautiful place to live. Unfortunately, my father was very much a part of that. He was in the army and part of the Bay Of Pigs invasion. I think that it’s changed my views in that I don’t agree with communism and I never

will. I think oppression of the masses is no way to control things or to live. “But Idon’t know if it has changed the way Ifeel, like I say, I didn’t really live through it. I did live through moving to a different country and having to re-establish ourselves, and Ifelt what my parents went through, but because I came to the States when Iwas 14 months old, I grew up asan American.”

No matter where you come from, ifyou live in America, you come under its influence. Throughout Miami are many bands playing Latin music with a healthy mixture of American pop. One such band was the Miami Latin Boys, led by Emilio Estefan Jr. I just wondered if the addition of Ms Gloria had anything to do with the group adopting a more American feel, more pop orientated .. “They hired me because they were looking for a female vocalist and looking to get into a more pop genre than what they were into at the time. I guess I did have key role in changing the way they performed and the songs they did. But, I think it was a mutual growth we did together. As you can see, it came off for the best.”

Sure did, Gloria. Another thing that worked was the name change and promotion of Gloria as the star figure. lasked in a cagey way if this change - was the result of artistic developments or maybe just smart marketing. “Marketing reasons, pure and simple. It was just easier for the audience to focus on one person than on the nine of us up on stage -- and because I was the only female, and already doing the interviews and everythingelse.” : The “everything else” might refer to the impressive collection of songs Gloria Estefan has written over the years. Infact, in 1988 she won the BMI Songwriter Of The Year award. “That was an incredible time, especially to be named one of the top writers in the country. I spend a lot of time writing and I think that’s what I enjoy the most, rather than actual studio work. I did write the bulk of the songs on Cuts Both Ways, however Miami Sound Machineis | still very much part of me, and very | mucha part of what my musicis, . because they help create it.”

GloriaEstefanhasareal skillin creating ballads that work in a strong emotional way, bringing the listener: into their warm worlds:

“Ballads are, of course, songs that | people can identify with. Because when you have an uptempo or dance song, 90 percent of the time people * don’t know what the lyrics are i anyhow. Or they sing themina | chant, almost, without really ; listening to what it says. The ballads - get to peoples’ hearts, and the ones that make people think of the relationships that they have had or situations that they’ve beenin in their lives. A ballad that’s written with emotion and honesty, something that comes from within, will always be successful because everyone will always relate to it. That’s what really makes a ballad successful. But, unfortunately, most people in their lives have had more bad relationships than good ones, so ballads usually end up being about bad relationships.” The new album has manysuch ballads, like ‘Here We Are’, ‘Nothin New’ and the superb title track ‘Cuts Both Ways’. In fact thisalbumhas quite a serious edge over the fun and games of Let It Loose, a certain sense of sad resignation hangs over things, but also a new maturity. “Ithink so. We underwentabig change from Let It Looseto Cuts ~ * Both Ways. We worked previously with a team of writers and producers that did most of our workforus. I think on the new album you see much more of Miami Sound Machine, much more of ourselves because it was completely produced and : compiled by everyone in the band. I think we have finally come to terms with the kind of music we want to play and sing. That might be the difference that you see. I love every songon Cuts Both Waysandl'ma P

P> part of every song. had a hands-on approach to it, rather than going into the studio and singing something - thathad already been produced.” - She’sanother woman in complete control of her art. After three English _pop albums and seven Spanish - language albums, the time is right for GloriaEstefanand Miami Sound Machine to set the world on fire with their special brand of Latin fireworks.

KERRY BUCHANAN