ENRIQUE IGLESIAS ~ King of Latin Pop ~

Attention!!!

All Sri Lankan Latin Pop fans are waiting excitedly for the reigning king to take the stage this December. So it is high time that I do a review of his songs before his arrival. Enrique Iglesias is the most popular best selling artist to perform in Sri Lanka. Although artists such as Bryan Adams, UB40, Sean Paul and Olivia Newton-John have all performed here, none of them trump Iglesias in terms of success. Iglesias has been in the music scene for almost two decades and still going strong. To get down to the nitty-gritty details, Iglesias has released ten studio albums, five compilation albums, forty-six singles, and forty-one music videos. He is one of the best live performers and also one of the most influential artists at present in the world. 

Enrique

Iglesias began his career in Spanish and released three Spanish studio albums - Enrique Iglesias, Vivir and Cosas Del Amor - with immense success in the Latin countries. However, it was Enrique his debut English studio album which launched his international career. It produced the global smash hits Bailamos and Be With You as well as hits such as Rhythm Divine and Could I Have This Kiss Forever a collaboration with Whitney Houston. This album was more or less heavily Latin Pop based with the beat, style and rhythm all corresponding to the genre. 

Escape

Then we have his second English studio album Escape which charted within the top five in most countries, peaking in UK, Canada and Australia while reaching No.2 on the US Billboard 200. Through this Iglesias managed to appeal to a wider audience by inculcating more pop elements. It produced the mega hits Hero and Escape as well as minor hits such as Don't Turn Off The Lights and Love To See You Cry.

Mixing it up, Iglesias next released another Spanish album - Quizás, which won him a Latin Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Album. It produced the Latin hits Mentiroso, Quizás and Para Qué La Vida all of which topped the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks Chart.

7

Insomniac

Then we see Iglesias' descent in terms of appealing to the mainstream as he failed to produce extremely successful hits from his next two albums - 7 and Insomniac. These were a mishmash of genres with Iglesias attempting to keep up with the changing times and the mainstream music taste by incorporating R&B and Synthpop into his music and failing monumentally. From 7 he released Addicted and Not In Love featuring Kelis and from Insomniac he released Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song) and Tired Of Being Sorry featuring Nadiya and although not commercially successful still fan favourites - Push featuring Lil Wayne and Somebody's Me. Then we have his compilation album - Greatest Hits, which included the new single Takin' Back My Love featuring Ciara which became a minor hit worldwide.

Greatest Hits

Euphoria

Then in 2010, Iglesias finally made his much anticipated comeback with his first bilingual album - Euphoria. For this he collaborated with RedOne, the producer who was behind the success of Lady Gaga, Kat Deluna and so many other artists who produced hit singles in the latter part of the 2000s. I Like It featuring Pitbull was the lead single off the album which was a major hit across the Americas, Europe and Asia. This was followed by Heartbeat featuring Nicole Scherzinger, Dirty Dancer featuring Usher and Lil Wayne and the dance anthem Tonight (I'm Fuckin' You) featuring Ludacris & DJ Frank E. The album was heavily based in Electropop and Dancepop incorporating elements of House. The contrast between the English and Latin singles are quite clear and we see that Iglesias has finally found his niche.

Sex and Love

With his next album Sex and Love which is also bilingual, Iglesias proved that he is quite capable of evolving as well as maintaining his Latin roots. The first single off the album released in 2012, Finally Found You featuring Sammy Adams was a minor hit and this was followed by Turn The Night Up, Heart Attack and I'm A Freak featuring Pitbull which were all minor hits. In this album it was evident that Iglesias had stressed more quality on his Latin tracks and with his next single Bailando featuring Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona he proved that he is in fact the King of Latin Pop. Bailando reigned for a record breaking 41 weeks atop the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks Chart. It's video went viral and became one of the most watched videos of the year. More recently Iglesias collaborated with Nicky Jam on the hit El Perdon which was also a major Latin Hit.

Some of his other good songs in no particular order include:

• Ring my bells
• You're my #1 
• Dev - Naked (featured)
• No me degas que no (ft.Wisin & Yandel)
• Pitbull - Come n' go (featured)
• I like how it feels (ft.Pitbull & The WAV.s)
• Beautiful (ft. Kylie Minogue)
• I have always loved you
• El Perdedor (ft.Marco Antonio Solis)

Iglesias has sold over 137 million records worldwide, making him one of the best selling Latin artists ever. Iglesias has scored over 150 number-one hits across all of the Billboard charts and he has had five Billboard Hot 100 top five singles, including two number-ones, and holds the record for producing 26 number-one Spanish-language singles on the Billboard '​s Hot Latin Tracks. He also holds the record for most number-one hits and the longest running number-one hit on that chart. Iglesias also has 13 number-ones on Billboard's Dance charts, more than any other male artist. He is also the best selling Latin artist in the UK and the best selling international artist in India. He has won about 200 awards from various ceremony including 23 Billboard Music Awards (with 9 times nomination) and 36 Billboard Latin Music Awards (with 45 times nomination), as well as 7 American Music Awards (with 6 times nomination), 1 Grammys (with 3 times nomination), 5 Latin Grammys (with 4 times nomination), 10 World Music Awards (with 2 times nomination) and 6 MTV awards.

And so now we wait for Iglesias to return to the studio and perform his magic and deliver that perfect mix of Latin Pop modernized with EDM, Electropop and Hip-Hop to suit our dance floors. All hail the king!!!

Till the next review...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - April 2015

Attention!!!

Well April did have its moments in terms of major drama and breakups. First up, Miley Cyrus split from a five month relationship with Patrick Schwarzeneggar and this was followed by Big Sean and Ariana Grande's breakup. A lame twitter spat between Diplo and LTTE terrorist supporter M.I.A. over her being signed on to a major label was also the subject of unwarranted media hype. 

The 50th Academy of Country Music Awards was held in April where Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert emerged as the biggest winners of the show. Luke Bryan who co-hosted the show alongside Blake Shelton won the Entertainer of the Year. Miranda Lambert took away the Female Vocalist of the Year and Jason Aldean won the Male Vocalist of the Year. The other winners are:

• Album of the Year: Miranda Lambert - Platinum
• Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert - Automatic
• Vocal Duo of the Year - Florida Georgia Line
• Vocal Group of the Year - Little Big Town
• New Artist of the Year - Cole Swindell
• Single Record of the Year: Lee Brice - I Don't Dance

The 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards was also held in April where Enrique Iglesias and Romeo Santos ruled the night. Enrique Iglesias took 9 awards including Latin Pop Album of the Year for Sex & Love and his global hit Bailando won the award for Hot Latin Song of the Year, Airplay Song of the Year, Digital Song of the Year, Streaming Song of the Year and Latin Pop Song of the Year. Romeo Santos bagged 10 awards to seal his title as the most nominated artist in the history of the awards. In what seemed a very emotional performance for her, Jennifer Lopez stole the show when she paid tribute to Selena, who was tragically murdered 20 years ago.  The significant winners included:

• Artist of the Year: Romeo Santos
• New Artist of the Year: J. Balvin
• Social Artist of the Year: Shakira
• Hot Latin Songs Male Artist of the Year: Romeo Santos
• Hot Latin Songs Female Artist of the Year: Natalia Jimenez
• Billboard Spirit of Hope Award - Carlos Santana

The 2015 Radio Disney Music Awards were also held in April with performances by Fifth Harmony, Nick Jonas, Sheppard, Natalie La Rose and Shawn Mendes. The Song of the Year went to Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea's Problem while the Hero Award was awarded to Jennifer Lopez. Other winners of the night included:

• Best Female Artist: Ariana Grande
• Best Male Artist: Ed Sheeran
• Best Group: Fifth Harmony
• Best New Artist: Charli XCX
• Best Band: 5 Seconds of Summer
• Best Collaboration: Demi Lovato ft. Cher Lloyd - Really don't care 
• Best Song to Dance To: Taylor Swift - Shake it off 

The much anticipated 2015 Billboard Music Awards are to be held next month with Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea opening the show with her newest single Pretty Girls, which is hyped up to be one of the biggest collaborations this year. Taylor Swift leads the nominations with 14 followed by Sam Smith with 13, Iggy Azalea with 12 and Meghan Trainor with 9. Mariah Carey is also to perform for the first time since 1998 at the show. 

In the US Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk ruled for the first three weeks of the month completing 14 weeks at No.1 and tying at second place with 6 other songs behind Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's One Sweet Day which holds the record for staying 16 weeks at number one. However, Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth's See You Again taken from the Furious 7 soundtrack dethroned Uptown Funk's reign. This tribute to Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker who died in a tragic car accident in 2013 once again shows that this year the Billboard Hot 100 is more tolerable to soundtracks as it comes in the wake of the success of Ellie Goulding's Love Me Like You Do and The Weeknd's Earned It from the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. Flo Rida ft. Sage the Gemini and Lookas' G.D.F.R., Natalie La Rose ft. Jeremih's Somebody and Walk The Moon's Shut Up and Dance all managed to enter the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. 

In the UK the month started off with Jess Glynne's Hold My Hand at the top the position of which it kept till Wiz Khalifa's See You Again claimed the top spot in the UK as well. During the month Ed Sheeran's Bloodstream, Nick Jonas' Jealous, and OMI's Cheerleader all peaked at No.2. Sia's Elastic Heart also achieved a peak of 10 and Steve McCrorie's Lost Stars a peak of No.4 during the month. 

Some of the other songs that became during the month are:

• Jason Derulo - Want to want me
• David Guetta ft. Afrojack & Nicki Minaj - Hey mama
• Little Big Town - Girl crush
• Skrillex & Diplo ft. Justin Bieber - Where are u now
• Major Lazer & Dj Snake ft. MO - Lean on
• Carly Rae Jepsen - I really like you 
• Iggy Azalea ft. Jennifer Hudson - Trouble 

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!

Best Dance Hits of 2014

Attention!!!

2014 has been an extremely lousy year for dance music. With traditional pop music gaining momentum in the mainstream music scene, proper dance music has taken a back seat. Happy, All About That Bass and Shake It Off proved to be extremely popular at parties whereas Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Harwell the only EDM artists who came up with good hits this year failed to impress anyone. Robin Schulz was definitely the DJ to follow as he came up with two brilliant remixes. Hip hop music managed rather poorly to come up with hits like Anaconda, Wiggle and Don't Tell 'Em, but those hits do not stand out compared to those of yesteryear. Latin dance music scored rather well together with the FIFA World Cup Songs and Anthems by Shakira, Pitbull, Wisin and Enrique Iglesias.

However, the best dance hit this year goes to Turn Down for What by somewhat unknown DJ Snake and rapper Lil Jon. Heavily reminiscent of Baauer's Harlem Shake. Second place is now the heavily overplayed Bailando by Enrique Iglesias ft. Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno and Sean Paul. So here are the Best Dance Hits of the 2014:

1. DJ Snake & Lil Jon – Turn down for what
2. Enrique Iglesias ft. Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno & Sean Paul – Bailando
3. Calvin Harris – Summer
4. Lilly Wood and the Prick – Prayer in C (Robin Schulz Remix)
5. Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – Problem
6. The Chainsmokers – #SELFIE 
7. DVBBS & Borgeous ft. Tinie Tempah – Tsunami (jump)
8. Shakira – Dare (La, la, la)
9. David Guetta ft. Sam Martin – Lovers on the sun
10. Jason Derulo ft. Snoop Dogg – Wiggle
11. Pitbull ft. John Ryan – Fireball
12. Martin Garrix & Jay Hardway – Wizard
13. will.i.am ft. Miley Cyrus, French Montana & Wiz Khalifa – Feelin’ myself
14. Hardwell & Joey Dale ft. Luciana – Arcadia
15. AronChupa – I’m an Albatraoz
16. Wisin ft. Ricky Martina & Jennifer Lopez – Adrenalina
17. Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne – Rather be
18. Calvin Harris ft. John Newman – Blame
19. Nicki Minaj – Anaconda
20. Taylor Swift – Shake it off
21. Inna – The cola song
22. Hardwell ft. Matthew Koma – Dare you
23. Enrique Iglesias ft. Pitbull – I’m a freak
24. Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj – Bang bang
25. Ariana Grande ft. Zedd – Break free
26. Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding – Outside
27. Alesso ft. Tove Lo – Heroes (we could be)
28. Cheryl Cole ft. Tinie Tempah – Crazy stupid love
29. Meghan Trainor – All about that bass
30. Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – Fancy
31. Afrojack ft. Wrabel – Ten feet tall
32. Jeremih ft. YG – Don’t tell ‘em
33. Tiesto – Red lights
34. Mr. Probz – Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)
35. Jennifer Lopez ft. Iggy Azalea – Booty
36. David Guetta & Showtek ft. Vassy – Bad
37. Pharrell Williams – Happy
38. Iggy Azalea ft. MO – Beg for it
39. Cash Cash ft. Bebe Rexha – Take me home
40. Krewella – Enjoy the ride  
41. DJ Fresh vs. Jay Fay ft. Ms. Dynamite – Dibby dibby sound
42. Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga – Loyal
43. Tiesto ft. Matthew Koma – Wasted
44. Kiesza – Hideaway
45. Oliver Heldens & Becky Hill – Gecko (overdrive)
46. Pitbull ft. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte – We are one (ole, ola)
47. David Guetta ft. Skylar Grey– Shot me down
48. Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – Uptown funk!
49. Bobby Shmurda – Hot nigga
50. Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake – Love never felt so good

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!