DAYTIMER'S LATIN MUSIC AWARDS FOR 2003

Below is a list of singers and groups that I have CD's of. I ranked them in the order of preference. I like everything listed, or it
would not be listed. In many cases, it was difficult listing one singer or group above the other, but since ranking was the point, every one got ranked.

The most difficult category to declare a winner was in the Traditional category. Conjunto Primavera ended up on top, but it was nearly a coin toss between the top three groups.

The Popular Group category easily went to Maná as the top group. La Oreja de Van Gogh was a surprise to me for being so good and taking
the number two spot. Sin Bandera took the third spot. This duo has amazing talent.

The top award went to Pilar Montenegro as the female singer of the year. Her voice is amazing! Shakira is so hot that she ended up in
the number two spot. Noelia is ranked much higher than most would rank her because she is not played a lot, but I think she is great.

The top award for male popular singer goes to Marco Antonio Solis. Everything he sings is great and his popularity with the chicas is
enormous. Chayanne was a surprise second. I liked him much better than I thought I would. Joan Sebastian was a strong third in the listing.

Here is the complete list:


Traditional Music

Conjunto Primavera
Intocable
Banda La Pirinola
Los Tigres del Norte
Los Angeles de Charly
Los Tucanes de Tijuana
Banda Cuisillos
Grupo Bryndis
Los Angeles Azules
Banda El Limón
Banda El Recodo
Los Originales de San Juan
Los Huracanes del Norte
Los Razos
Julio Preciado
Pancho Barraza
Jesse Morales
Nico Flores

Popular Groups

Maná
La Oreja de Van Gogh
Sin Bandera
Enanitos Verdes
Kabah
OV7
Kumbia Kings
Los Rabanes
Pandora
Hombres G
Aroma

Popular Female Singers

Pilar Montenegro
Shakira
Noelia
Alejandra Guzmán
Paulina Rubio
Patricia Manterola
Laura Pausini
Thalia
Olga Tañon
Lucero
Jennifer Peña
Fey

Popular Male Singers

Marco Antonio Solis
Chayanne
Joan Sebastian
Juanes
Manuel Mijares
Pepe Aguilar
Vicente Fernandez
Enrique Iglesias
David Bisbal
Luis Miguel

Daytimer,

You've got an interesting list. I agree with you on about 70% of your selections excluding the traditional. I might have to go back and check out or re-listen to a few artists and groups on your list.

Just as two hombres can look at the same chica with one calling her a "10" and the other one thinks she's a "5-6", it's the same with music. For me, I don't like ranchero or traditional Mexican music. That being said, here's my list of my current favorite Latin CDs from my collection (which is a collection in progress) in no particular order:

* DIEGO TORRES. "Un Mundo Diferente" (All of his CDs are good, but I especially like this one.)

* LA OREJA DE VAN GOGH. (You can't go wrong with any of this group's CDs.)

* NEK. (All of his CDs are very good, but be sure to get the Spanish version and not the Italian. This guy reminds me of Sting so if you like Sting, you'll like Nek's CDs.)

* STING. "Nada Como El Sol" (One of my favorites because I can almost understand everything in Spanish being sung.)

* ELLA BAILA SOLA. "Grandes Exitos"

* SOLEDAD. "Yo Si Quiero A Mi Pais" & "Libre" (This singer gives a Tango-flavor to her songs. Her CDs are hard to find. I had to get them in Buenos Aires.)

* RICKY MARTIN. "Almas Del Silencio" (This one is one of my all time favorite.)

* JUANES. "Un Dia Normal" (There's a reason he swept the Latin Grammy Awards.)

* AMARAL. "Estrella De Mar"

* MOENIA. "Televisor"

* ELY GUERRA. "Lotofire"

* SORAYA. (All of her CDs are good.)

* ERICA GARCIA. "Amorama"

* SHAKIRA. (All of her CDs are good.)

* THAILIA. "Arrasando" & "Thalia" (Her other CDs I did not like.)

Yujin.....Thanks for your list. You gave me a lot of music to explore. I am still fairly new to collecting Latin music. Some on your list I never heard of, so I am anxious to explore those.

I have heard a little of Soraya, she is an awesome singer. She is on my "soon to explore list".

I tend to end up with lots of banda music because my amigas tend to favor banda music.

Exploring Latin music is like treasure hunting. Sometimes I run across singers and groups who blow me away. La Oreja de Van Gogh is one of those groups. I like everything they do. If the lead singer sang in English, I think the group would be a hit in the US.

Being familiar with Latin music makes listening to the music at the clubs more enjoyable. I frequently recognize songs and performers.

dt

Daytimer, gotta agree 100% re: Amaia Montero of La Oreja de Van Gogh. You've probably heard it already, but the duet she did with Alex Ubago "Sin Miedo de Nada" is a great frickin' song. GREAT voice on that girl.

Julieta Venegas' song "Andar Conmigo" is also quite popular right now in NE Mexico. I like it.

Music from the last year or so that they play in the clubs in Monterrey:

Daddy Yankee 'Gasolina' (remix)

Elefante 'Desde que Llegaste' (from film Ladies Night)

Tiziano Ferro 'Tardes Negras' (original is Italian)

Alex Ubago y Amaia Montero (from La Oreja de Van Gogh) 'Sin Miedo a Nada'

An excellent latin music video is "La Ley - MTV Unplugged". It's available on VHS or DVD. One of those rare finds where every song is good...

Also have to agree with the recommendation of Nek (especially "Tan Solo Tu" - his duet with Laura Pausini).

And no list would be complete without Alejandra Guzman - particularly "Hacer el Amor con Otro". Every time I hear it I get the feeling this girl is the latina Janis Joplin.

Reyli Barba, "Desde que Llegaste", from the 'Ladies Night' soundtrack, and "Amor del Bueno" are some of the best ballads en espanol that I've ever heard. His made up 'doo be doo be do' type lyrics (as a Mexican friend described them to me) are just AWESOME!

Daddy Yankee's 'Gasolina' is now a staple in the clubs in Angeles City, Philippines. Small damned world!