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Christian Nodal is now at home recovering from a “strong stomach infection” that led to his recent hospitalization in Mexico, the singer announced on Thursday night (Oct. 3) in a press release. His shows scheduled for this weekend in Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of his Pa’l Cora Tour have been postponed.
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“Through this statement, we want to deeply thank the expressions of affection, concern, and prayers towards our artist Christian Nodal,” said the statement on the singer’s Instagram stories. “We inform you that he is already home, where he must take a few days of absolute rest, while continuing with the treatment received to eradicate the strong stomach infection, which had him under observation in the emergency room in the past days.”
“As he recovers, we unfortunately must announce that the dates scheduled for this weekend in Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, will be postponed until November,” it added. “The tour will resume next Monday, October 7, at the palenque in the City of Guadalajara, as part of the Fiestas de Octubre.”
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Christian Nodal was recently hospitalized in Mexico, where he was scheduled to perform on Wednesday (Oct. 2) at the Palenque de la Feria de Pachuca; the show was rescheduled for Oct. 14. His publicist, Conchita Oliva, told Billboard on Wednesday that the Mexican star — who had performed a concert last weekend in Los Angeles — began feeling ill upon arriving in Mexico.
Oliva also posted a photo of Nodal in a hospital bed with his eyes closed and a woman’s hand, presumably his wife Ángela Aguilar, caressing his head.
The performer whose hits include “Dime Cómo Quieres” and “Adiós Amor” has more dates scheduled in Mexico and the U.S. throughout the month. On Oct. 20, he is slated to perform at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., followed by a gig at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Oct. 26.
During a routine process of conservation and digitization of tapes, Sony Music Mexico audio engineer Edson R. Heredia discovered “Ya No Pienso en Ti,” an unreleased track by José José, out Saturday (Sept. 28) exclusively through Spotify Singles, on the fifth anniversary of the beloved Mexican singer’s passing.
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“It was a magical moment,” says Heredia, who then set out to research more about the recording, finding that it was made on Nov. 9, 1978, in England, with David Hunt as the sound engineer and Tom Parker as the producer.
“Ya No Pienso en Ti” — which means “I No Longer Think of You” — is a heartfelt ballad about heartbreak in which José José, with his exquisite interpretative quality, sings about his recovery process after a breakup. “I’ve convinced myself that a long long time ago, I lost you/ I’ve resigned myself to not counting on your love’s support/ I’ve gotten used to not seeking you when I miss your warmth,” he sings in Spanish.
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For the release, Latin Grammy-winners Edson R. Heredia and Memo Gil did a new mix so that the voice of the dubbed Prince of Song could be revived in 2024 as a gift for his fans five years after his departure.
“These are the kinds of discoveries that they keep sending us from heaven,” actor and singer José Joel, the son of José José, exclusively tells Billboard Español. “It’s something very beautiful that allows us to continue remembering my father despite his passing. We are very grateful to the company (Sony Music Mexico) because they keep finding ways to perpetuate José José’s legacy.”
“We as a family also do it every year at the place where he grew up,” he adds. “This Sept. 28, we will be at Parque de la China, in the Clavería neighborhood of Mexico City, paying tribute with my mother Anel Noreña and me, along with the fans who have always supported us.”
José Joel, who is currently on tour in Mexico performing songs from his repertoire and that of his father — with whom he shares a great vocal resemblance — will sing for the first time at the event “Sangre de tu Sangre,” which he describes as a response to the unforgettable “La Fuerza de la Sangre” that father and son recorded for the 1994 album Grandeza Mexicana.
José José is undoubtedly one of the most important references in Spanish-language music. Known for hits like “El Triste,” “40 y 20” and “Amar y Querer,” he sold millions of records and filled iconic venues such as the Madison Square Garden and the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Throughout his over 55 years career, he recorded 36 albums, released 30 greatest hits compilations, as well as conceptual projects.
His records sold, according to his label, more than 100 million copies, receiving multiple gold, platinum, and diamond certifications. He also received some of the most important awards in the industry, among them the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and the Person of the Year Award of 2005 from the Latin Recording Academy. He also unveiled his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.
On the Billboard charts, he placed 20 hits on Hot Latin Songs, 13 of them in the top 10 and four at No. 1, including “Soy Así”, “Y Quién Puede Ser,” “Amnesia” and “Quién Como Tú,” which spent 10 weeks at the top in 1989. He also had 20 entries on Top Latin Albums, reaching the top 10 in 2003 with El Príncipe Con Trío Vol. 1, which peaked at No. 7.
The star, whose real name was José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz, died on Sept. 28, 2019, at the age of 71 after having confirmed in March 2017 that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. His music continues to be a part of the lives of thousands of fans around the world, as evidenced by his 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Listen to the newly released song by José José “Ya No Pienso en Ti” below:
Metallica continued its tribute to Mexican bands during their trek in Mexico on Friday (Sept. 28). On their third of four shows in the capital city, the metal legends honored legendary rock band El Tri by performing a unique cover of their famous song “A.D.O.,” once again with bassist Robert Trujillo doing the vocals.
Just as last week, Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett surprised the 65,000 spectators gathered at the GNP Seguros Stadium, according to figures from promoter Ocesa, with their own version of a classic from the Mexican popular songbook. On the first night (Sept. 20), Metallica paid tribute to the norteño music group Los Tucanes de Tijuana by playing the song “La Chona.” Two days later (Sept. 22), they honored the rock band Caifanes with their cumbia hit “La Negra Tomasa.”
“A.D.O.,” by the band led by veteran rocker Alex Lora, refers to the Autobuses de Oriente (ADO) central bus station, one of the largest in the country.
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“Mom, turn on the recorder because #Metallica is singing A.D.O. Long live rock and roll!” tweeted user @Orlas33 on X, paraphrasing Lora, along with a video of the moment.
On Sept. 21, during a private talk by photographer Ross Halfin with a group of Metallica fans attended by Trujillo and Hammett, the bass player of Mexican descent hinted at the possibility of including a song from El Tri as part of the covers they would perform during their shows in Mexico City.
With 55 years of history, El Tri is one of the pioneering bands in the Mexican and Latin American rock scene. It has sold more than 30 million records over the years, and has received four Grammy nominations for best latin rock album. In 2022, Lora received a Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Metallica’s history with Mexico began three decades ago with the tour of their 1991 self-titled album (often referred to as The Black Album), which included five dates at the Palacio de los Deportes in 1993. Since then, the band has maintained a very close relationship with the country, where they recorded their live DVD Orgullo, Pasión y Gloria (2009), which portrays three spectacular nights at the Foro Sol (today GNP Seguros Stadium) in June 2009.
Their fourth and final show in Mexico City as part of their M72 World Tour, which brought them back to the Latin American country after seven years of absence, is Sunday (Sept. 29).
Metallica gave its first concert in Mexico City in seven years on Friday (Sept. 20), and the band’s bassist, Robert Trujillo, took the opportunity to pay tribute to his Mexican roots by performing a peculiar song: “La Chona,” by famous corrido group Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
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“This is a great party,” Trujillo said in Spanish to the 65,000 people who packed the GNP Seguros Stadium, according to figures from promoter Ocesa. “It is an honor to be here with all of you, with the spirit of 72 Seasons. Kirk [Hammett] and I are going to play something for all of you. We are very nervous, so if you know this song, please help us by singing it.”
Immediately, they started playing the first chords of the classic by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, included in their 1995 album, Me Robaste El Corazón, which has transcended several generations in Mexico and the U.S.
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The long hair of Metallica’s fans swung to the northern rhythm, while Trujillo and Hammett, Metallica’s guitarist, swayed to the surprise and applause of much of the audience. The bassist, who on several occasions during the night wore a traditional mariachi hat, took charge of the vocals.
The moment was quickly trending on social media, where users celebrated the rock band’s gesture to its Mexican fans. “La Chona is national heritage and Metallica knows it,” wrote user @virian_avaa on her X account. “The most surreal thing, Metallica playing La Chona,” added user @Amackdiel. Both posted videos of the moment.
Metallica is giving four performances in Mexico City as part of its M72 World Tour, in support of their 2023 album 72 Seasons. The next shows at the GNP Seguros Stadium are scheduled for Sunday (Sept. 22), and Sept. 27 and 29.
Metallica’s history with Mexico began three decades ago with the tour of their Black Album (1991), which included five dates at the Palacio de los Deportes in 1993. Since then, the band has maintained a very close relationship with the country, where they recorded their live DVD Orgullo, Pasión y Gloria (2009), which portrays three spectacular nights at the Foro Sol (today GNP Seguros Stadium) in June 2009.
Metallica’s production team filmed the entire show on Friday and, according to the Mexican newspaper Reforma, next week it will make special shots at tourist spots such as Teotihuacán, the Historic Center, Chapultepec, Coyoacán, and San Ángel.
Watch Trujillo and Hammett play “La Chona” below.
Billboard Latin Music Week is returning to Miami Beach on Oct. 14-18, with confirmed superstars including Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz and Peso Pluma, among many others. For tickets and more details, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.
The music of the late Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel will resonate in Mexico City’s Zócalo on Sunday (September 22), when his concert Mis 40 en Bellas Artes is projected at a free event organized by the capital’s Secretary of Culture. “After the cancellation of the second screening at the Cineteca Nacional scheduled for September 14, […]
As she celebrates the first decade of her career as a soloist, Ángela Aguilar has chosen to honor Mexico by showcasing a collection of striking traditional dresses she has worn throughout the years.
The regional Mexican singer, who on Tuesday (Sep. 17) received a nomination to the Latin Grammy Awards in the album of the year category for her set Bolero, kicked off in recent days an exhibit at the Mexican Consulate in Houston, which specially arranged an area for visitors to enjoy the collection titled “Ángela Aguilar: 10 Years Singing and Dressing Mexico.”
The show is free and open to the public indefinitely, from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (local time). It includes 25 outfits, including the one she wore in the music video for “Solamente Una Vez,” a song included in her newly nominated album.
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Other dresses that have marked important moments in Aguilar’s career — from her beginnings singing “La Chancla” to a recent one with rebozos used at an awards ceremony — are part of this interactive experience, which includes QR codes on each piece to share information about the moment they were used.
Not to be missed is the short red dress she wore in the video for “Dime Cómo Quieres” alongside her now-husband, regional Mexican star Christian Nodal. Another notable piece is a tehuana from the state of Chiapas, hand-embroidered by artisans, which she wore for the cover of her album Primero Soy Mexicana.
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Ángela Aguilar, who is the daughter of Mexican music icon Pepe Aguilar and granddaughter of the legendary Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, made her onstage debut at only 3, while she and her family accompanied her father on tour. Five years later, she released her first album at the age of 8 — a joint album with her brother Leonardo titled Nueva Tradición that was powered by banda, mariachi and norteño sounds.
Her solo debut was in 2014 with the Christmas album Navidad con Ángela Aguilar, which was followed by Primero Soy Mexicana (2018), Baila Esta Cumbia (2020), Que No Se Apague La Música (2020), Mexicana Enamorada (2021) and Bolero ( 2024).
Visitors to her fashion exhibit in Houston will also see the tricolor dress, in honor of the Mexican flag, included on her family’s Jaripeo Sin Fronteras Tour, as well as the princess cut dress that the singer wore in front of Queen Sofia of Spain, which also showcased her Mexican roots.
Designers who have worked for Aguilar and contributed to this unique collection include Nelly de Anda, Iann Dey, Diego Medel, Enrique Samartin, Felipe Alvarado, Anayeli García Cruz and Felipe Botello, among others.
The Mexican consulate in Houston is located at 3200 Rogerdale Rd. in Houston, Texas. Watch the video with part of Ángela Aguilar’s dresses collection above.
Billboard Latin Music Week is returning to Miami Beach on Oct. 14-18, with confirmed superstars including Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz and Peso Pluma, among many others. For tickets and more details, visit Billboardlatinmusicweek.com.
Carlos Vives now has his double at the Wax Museum of Mexico City. The Colombian star helped unveil his figure on Thursday night (Sep. 5) night at the institution, where it will share space with other iconic Mexican cultural figures, like painter Frida Kahlo and wrestler El Santo.
“I’m happy with this recognition that the Mexican people give me, that’s how I feel,” Vives said during the ceremony, evidently moved. “We have come to Mexico so much, our hearts have been touched by its music, by its art, by its cinema, its television.”
He added: “Being here in the museum, next to so many figures from the world, but above all next to the Mexican stars, who from my childhood and my youth had been a great example and inspiration — being here with them is the greatest honor I’ve received from the Mexican people.”
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The new wax figure shows Vives looking a bit younger and taller than the real artist. It carries a guitar and wears fitted leather pants and a black t-shirt emblazoned with his name and the title of his sixteenth album, Cumbiana (2020). It’s located in the main hall of the museum, close to those of Vicente Fernández and Marco Antonio Solís.
Vives — who is performing this Saturday, Sept. 7 before 10,000 people for a sold-out show at the National Auditorium in Mexico City — shared the honor with the Colombian musicians who inspired him in his youth and who are part of his history. “They are here with me and represent what I wanted to show the world: a beautiful and diverse oral tradition like our country,” he said.
His addition to the museum comes two months ahead of his honoring as the Latin Recording Academy 2024 Person of the Year in November, during the 25th anniversary of the Latin Grammys in Miami.
Born in Santa Marta, Colombia, Vives is one of the most respected artists in Spanish-language music and a pioneer of a new Latin American sound, redefining traditional Colombian vallenato by incorporating to it pop and rock sounds. With No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts such as “Volví a Nacer,” “Fruta Fresca” and “La Bicicleta” with Shakira, among others, he has become an ambassador of Colombian and Latin American culture around the world.
“He has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of people and today he will be immortalized at the Wax Museum of Mexico City,” said the museum in a press release prior to Thursday’s ceremony.
Located in the central neighborhood of Colonia Juárez, in an old Art Nouveau style mansion, the Wax Museum of Mexico City celebrates this year its 45th anniversary. In its 14 thematic rooms, visitors can appreciate some 260 wax figures of characters from history, art, politics, and sports, from Diego Rivera and Salvador Dalí, to Bill Gates, Ronaldinho, Hugo Sánchez, ‘Canelo’ Álvarez; Gene Simmons, Michael Jackson, Chaplin, Alex Lora, Chabelo, and more.
According to the museum, the wax figures are made by its team of sculptors and many wear clothes that belonged to the real character. The creation of each figure takes approximately four to eight months.
Watch Carlos Vives unveil his wax figure below:
Fito Páez has been forced to cancel his September shows in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Bogotá. The acclaimed Argentine musician announced Wednesday (Sep. 4) on his social media that he broke five ribs over the weekend at his home. “On Sunday morning, I had a domestic accident that resulted in the fracture of five ribs,” […]
Two assignments in three decades. Mexican businessman Alejandro Soberón Kuri, CEO of Mexican promoter OCESA, asked architect Pepe Moyao to build a venue on a simple soccer field on the east side of Mexico City to host a show for British legend Paul McCartney in 1993, which later became the iconic Foro Sol. Thirty years later, Moyao was tasked with the remodeling of the same venue for its transformation into the new Estadio GNP Seguros.
“Wouldn’t you like to see a permanent building here? Why don’t you do it? If it’s done, I’ll pay for it!” Moyao recalls Soberón saying when he invited him to create the original project.
Interestingly, it was not the ex Beatle who finally inaugurated the stadium in 1993 but Madonna, who at that time was touring with The Girlie Show to promote her album Erotica. Four years later, in 1997, it was named Foro Sol and its opening under that name was officiated with a concert by rock icon David Bowie. Since then, a myriad of international stars have performed at this place.
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But Moyao, who at that time was in his 30s and a decade earlier had won a youth architecture competition organized by UNESCO, not only built the most important music forum in Mexico, but also a place to hosts events beyond concerts.
“From the beginning, I thought it could fit a baseball stadium, which could also accommodate a racing track, so I thought of creating a multifunctional building, where the stage changes, is removed, moves,” explains the architect. “For six years, this place has been considered the best F1 circuit in the world.”
This year, after a six-month renovation, the renowned Estadio GNP Seguros opened its doors with three mega-concerts by American pop star Bruno Mars, held last August 8th, 10th, and 11th, with an attendance of 65,000 people each night, according to OCESA.
After this, a series of international stars including Metallica, Paul McCartney, The Killers, Eric Clapton, Twenty One Pilots, and Iron Maiden, as well as Latin stars like Feid and Natanael Cano, will perform at the stadium in the coming weeks and months. (For a list of concerts scheduled this year in Mexico, click here).
Below, five things you should know about Estadio GNP Seguros, told to Billboard Español by its creator, architect Pepe Moyao.
1. A Multifunctional Venue
Since its inception, when it was called Foro Sol, the place was designed as a multifunctional building that could adapt to the needs of the event, whether it be a mega rock concert or as the F1 home in Mexico.
“It is a multifunctional building where the stage changes, is removed, moves. It has been recognized six times as the best F1 circuit globally, and it is the only circuit where 30,000 people can watch the award ceremony up front, not done in the pits as in other countries,” Moyao says. “After the F1 ends, you can change it and produce a concert, it has that multi-functionality. It is a unique place in the world, a stadium designed exclusively for entertainment.”
2. Rainwater Reuse
With a capacity of up to 65,000 attendees, the stadium offers new benefits to provide greater comfort and services to fans, including a new 13,800 square meters (148,500 square feet) roof for sun protection and rainwater storage for subsequent reuse.
“The place had an expansion of more than 33,000 square meters of additional construction. From the top of the stands, we have a roof of over 13,000 square meters that will harvest rainwater, and what is captured will go to a cistern that will feed the bathrooms, be used for washing and watering planters, so we can reuse the water,” explains the architect.
3. Greater Comfort for the Viewer
The remodeled venue includes more comfortable seating for the audience, as well as new and improved spaces for the general audience and corporates.
“Previously, people sitting in the stands had to go down about 9 and a half meters to get to the bathrooms. Today, you go down 3 meters,” Moyao points out. “Let’s say that everything is focused on people’s greater comfort.”
4. Cutting Edge Technology
More than 280 state-of-the-art screens were installed in the venue to improve the visualization of the shows and provide more timely information to attendees. This is in addition to internal and peripheral stadium lighting for greater visibility and security.
“All installations, both electrical and hydraulic, are cutting edge, none of the old was preserved. There are LED lamps and low electricity consumption equipment,” said the architect.
5. 177 Days Construction & More Numbers
Although the renovation project of Estadio GNP Seguros lasted about two years, the remodeling took 177 actual days. Additionally, Moyao highlights over 710,000 man-hours went into this; the work of about 1,000 people; 15 companies working simultaneously. During that time, 24,436 shell-type seats were installed.
Eden Muñoz is back with a new album simply titled Eden. Released on Thursday (August 15), the set contains 15 songs in which he fuses the genres that formed him musically — such as folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and, of course, banda sinaloense, corridos and cumbia.
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In his second studio LP via Sony Music Mexico and third in his discography as a solo artist — after a decade fronting the successful group Calibre 50 — the Mexican singer-songwriter released playful titles like “Me Rento” (or “I rent”), “No Sabes La Que Te Espera” (“You don’t know what’s ahead”) with Luck Ra, “¿Cómo Te Fue Sin Mí?” (“How did it go without me”), “Todo Me Vale Madre” (Mexican slang for “IDGAF”) and bonus track “Traigo Saldo y Ganas de Rogar” (“I got money and a desire to beg”).
“If I don’t have fun, people won’t have fun either,” Muñoz tells Billboard Español. “I’ve never been so happy recording an album, I wanted to push my own boundaries. Ten years ago neither my audience nor I would have achieved something like this.”
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Eden follows 2023’s Como En Los Viejos Tiempos, whose song of the same name reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart last January. The tour of the same name kicks off in the United States on Friday (August 16) in San Antonio, Texas, and will take the regional Mexican star to cities such as Houston, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Phoenix, San Jose, Reno and Denver, ending on November 27 in Irving, Texas.
Also, on October 19, he will perform for the first time as a solo artist at the Arena Ciudad de México, a venue only the greats aspire to. “It is a great dream for me to be in such an important place and at the same time a great responsibility,” says Muñoz.
In Mexico he will also have concerts in Monterrey on November 9, at the Citibanamex Auditorium, on November 30 at the Telmex Auditorium in Guadalajara, for which tickets are already sold out, and on December 7 at the GNP Auditorium in Puebla.
Below, Eden Muñoz breaks down 5 essential songs from his new album, Eden, here. (Listen to the full album here.)
“Mi Lugar Favorito”
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“Mi Lugar Favorito” (“My favorite place”) is definitely No. 1. I never thought I would write a song for my children, and the moment arrived. I consider this the most beautiful piece of work I’ve done so far. Maybe they don’t understand it yet because they are six and three years old, but it will remain as a legacy and they will understand it when the time comes. Musically it is very calm, but the lyrics are very deep: It talks about unconditional love and what we are capable of doing as parents for those beings that fill our world. I believe that many parents will feel seen and that will be a great satisfaction — that they will also dedicate it and share those feelings that I express in the song.
“Mi Momento Más Ex-Quizofrénico”
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I love it because it’s risky, because it’s something different up to a certain point in the song, but then a chorus comes in, very much in the style we’re used to. It’s a crazy song [“My most ex-schizophrenic moment”], but without going out of line. It starts with an intro like a horror movie and then suddenly I start singing the blues for a few seconds — and later I mix it with the regional Mexican music that has always characterized my project. I think it was a good mix, it will surely attract attention.
“Mezcal de Calzón”
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“Mezcal de calzón” (Mezcal of calzón) is inspired by one of my favorite Beatles songs, “Twist and Shout.” I wrote it in London last year when I was on vacation there. Let’s say it’s a similar sound, but with the lyrics a very Mexican with double entendres, as we speak. I have to think about people 60 years old or older who also want to enjoy the music they like, and with this song they will probably even dance to it. That’s the idea — that everyone has fun and enjoys my music as much as I enjoy it. The lyrics talk about someone who is in love and thinks that maybe they gave him something to drink because he can’t stop thinking about the person. It’s kind of funny but very colloquial.
“Mi Situación Actual”
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It is the song with which I close the album. I confess that I went out of the line there; it was a whim because I love rock, electric guitars and everything that goes with it. I used a lot of tools that I’ve been getting to know in the last few years when I’ve been getting into producing. I mix, I get involved in everything and I don’t say that with a desire to be the protagonist, I do it because I’m aware that everything has to be right. Also in this song a part of it is rock and continues with regional Mexican music. The song [title meaning My current situation] talks about someone who has existential problems, who feels bad and doesn’t know where to go, something that happens to all of us at some point.
“Traigo Saldo y Ganas de Rogar”
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“Traigo Saldo y Ganas de Rogar” is also one of my favorites because I feel I have the responsibility to present songs with banda because it is the music I grew up with and was formed with. Banda music opened a very big path for regional Mexican music and I have a lot of respect for it. For this reasons it is the bonus track, it is my essence, what represents the genre. I do not speak neither good nor bad of what the new generations are doing, I also sang corridos alterados at some point when I was very young. Today, at 33 years old, I know that this is what I want, to make fusions but to not abandon our musical roots. This is the typical song of someone who is in love and is not ashamed to beg the person. Once again, we are talking about something that happens to a lot people: when they are drinking and want to make an impression on a special someone.
Eden Muñoz
Courtesy of Sony Music