Romance

About

Released in November of 1991, <i>Romance</i> not only signified an existential turn in Luis Miguel’s career, but also expanded the horizons of Latin music. Under the guidance of maestro Armando Manzanero, LuisMi left behind his teen idol persona and discovered a new identity as a mature interpreter of classic bolero. Interestingly, the initial idea was to make an album of original compositions by Spanish producer Juan Carlos Calderón, his longtime collaborator. When the project was delayed indefinitely, LuisMi found refuge in one of Latin American music’s key genre, and he did so with the assistance of one its more sophisticated practitioner. At the time, boleros were a relic of the past. But Manzanero’s production—a duty shared with Luis Miguel—plus the velvety orchestral arrangements by Bebu Silvetti brought a warm, cosmopolitan tint to the repertoire, which also benefited from the technological advances of the ’90. In hindsight, the bolero was a perfect vehicle for LuisMi’s voice, with its elegant and gentlemanly mystique. The success of <i>Romance</i> is largely based on the astute selection of song, from “Inolvidable”—a tune that Tito Rodríguez had transformed into a hymn of unrequited love in the mid-’60s—to “Contigo en la Distancia,” a gem from the Cuban songbook written by César Portillo de la Luz. In the world of <i>Romance</i>, the tropical textures of Afro-Caribbean bolero breathe right next to the tenderness of legendary trio ensembles (Los Pancho, Los Tres Ases) and songs by Mexican songwriters such as María Grever (a delicious rendering of “Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado,” with funky touches of percussion and ba, is featured here). .

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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