MUSIC ROUNDUP: Enrique Rules, Gloria and Ozo Do Reality TV, and Calle 13’s Back!

Cop It: Enrique Iglesias’ 95/08

Enrique’s latest release is more than just a greatest hits collection. Here are the top three reasons why it’s our album pick of the week:

Reason #1 – The disc features all of his chart-topping hits in Spanish, so instead of drowning in the sappiness of “Hero” and the cheesiness of “Rhythm Divine, you can bask in the romanticism of “Héroe” and the euphoria of “Ritmo Divino.” Bottom line: Everything sounds better in español.

Reason #2 – It’s got two spanking new songs, including the hit single “Donde Esta Corazón,” a ballad about love lost that actually gets us misty-eyed. Apparently it’s doing the same for a lot of folks too, because the song is sitting pretty at #1 on Latin radio in the States.

Reason #3 – It also comes in a Deluxe Edition that includes a DVD featuring 8 of Enrique’s sexiest music videos and a behind-the-scenes documentary about his 2007 World Tour. Sign us up for the chance to watch Enrique while listening to him anytime, anyplace!

Gloria Estefan Joins All-Star Lineup for "Idol Gives Back"

American Idol’s special “Idol Gives Back” episode raised $78 million for charities throughout the world in 2007—just another testament to the show’s behemoth-like power, and a logical explanation for why they’d want to do it all over again. The second annual “Idol Gives Back” episode will air live on April 7, and among the top acts performing in the name of countless worthy causes is Gloria Estefan. The Cuban legend will join co-host Ellen DeGeneres and the likes of Bono, Carrie Underwood, John Legend and other performers who are equally palatable to people ages 10-80.

Ozomatli Signs Up for Dancing With the Stars

Gloria on Idol, we can understand. But Ozomatli on DWTS…what the hell? Yes, the Cali collective is slated to perform live on the ballroom dance contest during the April 16 episode, and to stave off potential for an unresponsive audience who hasn't the slightest clue who they are, Ozo is giving 40 fans the chance to join DWTS’s studio audience that night. If you’re over 16 and will be in LA on the night of the show, just send an email to info@ozomatli.com and cross your fingers! Since we’re in New York, we’ll be checking it out on TV, waiting for the moment when Cristián de la Fuente does the cha cha to “La Gallina” and we henceforth lose our ability to make sense of the world.

The Return of Calle 13

Elite reggaeton fans, rejoice! (We know there aren’t that many of you out there, but hey.) According to a rep for Calle 13, Residente and Visitante are back in the studio working on a new album, which is expected to drop in the fall. But it’s not like they’re keeping us waiting all that time for new beats. Calle 13 just released a new single called “Un Beso de Desayuno,” and the music video for the song—which was reportedly inspired by the steamy Spanish movie Lucía y El Sexo—will premiere March 27 on mun2 and AOL. Look out for it, and get back in touch with your inner Latin hipster.

--Monica Herrera

Comments Login or register to post comments

'I'm confused...the writer didn't even say anything bad about Ozo, just that it's a bizarre combo for them to be playing Dancing with the Stars, which is true! Why's everyone all offended by the obvious? ' MonKiwi, April 17, 2008 - 8:37pm

'Ms. Herrera - I hope you learned a valuable lesson after watching last night's show. The audience LOVED Ozomatli. In an audience that large, 40 Ozofans would not have been able to make all that noise alone - admit it, they ROCKED and you now have a nasty case of foot-in-mouth disease. ' Mejicanita, April 16, 2008 - 11:37am

'Ms. Herrera -- I am suprised that you are unaware of the breadth of Ozomatli fandom. Jazzercisers all over the world have been rocking it to "Can't Stop" since last spring when that infectious dance tune was included in the official Jazzercise choreography. If Ozo can be used in jazzercise, they certainly belong on a show like DWTS!!' mimigeo, April 2, 2008 - 2:42pm

'Ms. Herrera, you obviously have never been to an Ozomatli show, if you had, you would know that it doesn't matter whether the audience doesn't "have a clue" as to who they are, they will instantly be up dancing to their great music. There is no such thing as an "unresponsive audience" where Ozomatli is concerned. How you could go to print without doing your research on the band is what doesn't make sense to me.' Mejicanita, April 2, 2008 - 11:18am

'To the Author of this article: I don't know if it's because you are in NYC so you don't know they DO have a STRONG fanbase, but your paragraph about OZOMATLI being featured on DWTS is rather mean! Contrary to your comment about losing ability to make sense of the world b/c of OZO performing on DWTS, that's an absolute privilege for the AUDIENCE to get to see the infectious energy of Ozomatli!! Obviously the show producers and the dancers using an OZO song don't agree with your ignorance, thank goodness. The fans/friends, also known as Ozo Familia (a lot of us have been fans for 10 yrs.+) is rather bothered about this. ' RubyChampagne, April 1, 2008 - 3:00pm