Information AboutTengo Fe |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TENGO FE | |
| 1997 albums | |
| latin music albums | |
| carlos vives albums | |
''Tengo Fe'' is the third major-label album by Colombian singer/composer Carlos Vives . Released on August 12, 1997 , it is Vives's eighth album overall (when counting earlier releases). The album follows La Tierra Del Olvido , with a sound that is less dance-oriented, further emphasizing Vives's desire to be taken seriously as a songwriter. The resulting album would be Vives's first major release without a hit single, and garnered a mixed reception due to a departure in Vives's sound and image. OVERVIEW The success of Vives's Vallenato and Rock fusion soldified his status as a major force in Latin American music. In the 10 year rise of Carlos's stardom, he had eclipsed his former success as a Telenovela star and romantic balladeer, and turned to his Santa Marta roots singing classic vallenato in the Escalona soundtracks. Clasicos De La Provincia followed, marking a breakthrough for Carlos, updating and rearranging Colombian classics to a new generation. La Tierra Del Olvido would be the turning point of Vives's career; his first major album of original music, and an album that gave the singer further acclaim. Carlos's desire to seek further credibility as both singer and songwriter would become a major theme in his subsequent album release. After numerous album sales, hit singles, and a successful tour, Vives took some time off from the public during the later half of 1996, and into the next year. During this time, his fans had grown hungry for his next release of infectious music. When Vives appeared the following summer to promote his newest album, many were shocked by what they saw. Gone was his trademark long hair, his rugged clothing, and his extensive jewelry. Instead, Vives appeared clean-cut and casually dressed, trading in his denim for a conservative suit. Aside from his physical appearance, Vives's musical direction would reflect another change, his desire to be heard as composer, and not just another pop singer. Upon the release of Tengo Fe (I Have Faith), the first single and video were released. "Que Diera" ("What I Would Give") featured rising Colombian model/actress Sofia Vergara as the object of Carlos's desire. The song itself would prove a change of pace from "La Gota Fria" and "Pá Mayté". Despite its rich melody and luscious rhythms, "Que Diera" was of a slower tempo, and sung in ballad form. Layered with the signature sounds of wah-wah guitar from Ernesto "Teto" Ocampo and Egidio Cuadrado's accordian, the song makes prominent use of the flute during the song's bridges. Despite its failure on the Billboard Charts , it is easily one of Vives's finest compositions. As it turned out, Tengo Fe was an album intended to be heard above all else. While "Clasicos" and "Olvido" maintained hip-shaking from party goers and dance enthusiasts, Tengo Fe was the album played when sitting at leisure or driving a car. The suprise came when "Que Diera", aside from "Amores Escondidos" (Hidden Love), turned out to be the album's more upbeat tracks. Songs such as the album opener and title track are piano-driven, accompanied with cellos to give the song a darker atmosphere. Though the middle of the song builds towards familiar territory, it reverts back to its somber tone, as Carlos repeatedly sings "fue tu amor" (it was your love), ending with an extended guitar solo. Other songs such as "Los Buenos Tiempos" (The Good Times), and "Pambe", make extensive use of piano-driven compositions, dealing with Carlos's commentary on innocence and nostalgia. Aside from Carlos's music dealing with love lost and memories of childhood, the album also explores an assortment of themes and sounds, with mixed results. The singer's struggle with fame and what is expected of both his sound and image in "Malas Lenguas" ("Gossips") is Vives's swipe at critics, where he claims after encountering critcism for his distinctive look, the same critics are now criticising him for his more conventional appearance. While tracks such as "Cumbia Americana" are enjoyable as Vives's stab at mixing hard rock with his Vallenato sound, the music itself does not resonate with the same toe-tapping rhythm of Carlos's previous dance numbers. Other songs such as "Interior" and "Sol de Mediodia" ("Midday Sun") do little to enchance the album's short length. The album concludes with a traditional cover of "Caballito" ("Rocking Horse"), a popular song in children's playgrounds. With Carlos's desire to spread his wings in both his writing and style, the album would result in a lukewarm reception. While many fans and critics found this album to be uncatchy and too much of a departure from the infectious Vallenato rock Vives was known for, others point out the music's darker and introspective tone resulted in one of Carlos's finest albums, giving him more versatility as a composer. Though newer listeners are better off buying the subsequent album El Amor De Mi Tierra or prior albums for a more definative Vives purchase, this album stands as an interesting addition in Carlos's effort in branching out his musical passions. TRACK LISTING # "Tengo Fe" – 3:43 # "Que Diera" – 4:12 # "Buenos Tiempos" – 3:51 # "Pambe" – 3:46 # "Amores Escondidos" – 3:41 # "Interior" – 3:33 # "Sol de Mediodia" – 2:59 # "Cumbia Americana" – 4:11 # "Malas Lenguas" – 4:15 # "Caballito" – 3:44 For soundbites and further information, go to http://www.carlosvives.com |
|
|