Juanes
Encyclopedia
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (born August 9, 1972), better known as Juanes (for the contraction of his first and second name) is a Colombian
musician who was a member of heavy metal
band Ekhymosis
and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien
won three Latin Grammy Awards
.
Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums. He has won seventeen Latin Grammy Awards
and one Grammy Award
. Juanes received the BMI
President’s Award at the 2010 BMI Latin Awards. Juanes is also known for his humanitarian work, especially with aid for Colombian victims of anti-personnel mine
s.
, Colombia
. When he was seven years old, his father and brothers began to teach him how to play guitar. His passion for the instrument led him to discover diverse genres of music such as traditional Latin sounds such as tango
and bachata, as well as Colombian folk music.
He grew up in Medellín
during the height of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar
's reign, when the city had the highest homicide rate in the world. During his childhood, Juanes witnessed a civil war in which thousands were killed. He was greatly affected by the violence; his cousin was executed by kidnappers, and his close friend was murdered by gunmen. This period of time shaped his social consciousness, saying "Colombia has suffered so much that the only way to go forward is to imagine a better country." His father also died of cancer when he was a child, which caused him to further retreat into music.
As a teenager, Juanes was greatly influenced by metal acts such as Metallica
. He started the metal band Ekhymosis
in 1988, and it released its self-produced debut album, Niño Gigante, the same year. The band released five studio albums during its career and shared the stage with acts including Alejandro Sanz
, Aterciopelados
, and Ricky Martin
; however in Juanes' words, the band "couldn't get out of Colombia" and remained "very local and confined to the Colombian market." Juanes disbanded the group in 1998 so that he could pursue a solo career.
(Take a Good Look), produced by Gustavo Santaolalla
. The album fared well in Colombia, spending ten weeks at the number one position, but was unsuccessful in other countries. The album earned him three Latin Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Rock Solo Vocal Album, and Best Rock Song, and Juanes performed at the award show. Later that night, Juanes brought demos for over forty new songs to Santaolalla's studio, ready to begin work on another album.
(A Normal Day), also produced by Gustavo Santaolalla who signed him with his first solo album, was released in 2002
and was highly successful in Latin America
. The album was certified gold in Colombia during its first day of sales and was certified platinum and multi-platinum in countries including Colombia, Mexico
, and Spain. The album spent 92 weeks in the top ten of Billboard
s Top Latin Albums chart, setting a new record, and spent a total of two years on the chart. The album was released after the eligibility deadlines for the 2002 Latin Grammy Awards, but the advance airdate for the lead single, "A Dios le Pido" ("To God I Pray"), allowed it to be nominated for three awards and win Best Rock Song.
"A Dios le Pido" topped the singles charts of twelve countries and spent 47 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks. The album also featured "Fotografía
" ("Photograph"), a duet with Portuguese Canadian pop singer Nelly Furtado
about the isolation between lovers. Juanes later worked with Furtado on a remix of "Powerless (Say What You Want)
", the lead single from her 2003 album Folklore, and on "Te busqué
" ("I Looked for You"), a single from her 2006 album Loose
. Juanes won the most awards at the 2003 Latin Grammy Awards, where he won each of the 5 awards for which he had been nominated, including Song of the Year
, Record of the Year
, and Album of the Year
.
(My Blood), was released in September 2004 and debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. The album produced three consecutive number one singles, which held the top chart position for a combined 6 months. The album's third single, "La camisa negra
" ("The Black Shirt"), was used in Italy in support of neo-fascism by relating it to the uniform used under the regime of Benito Mussolini
. In response, left-wing media network Indymedia called for a boycott of the song. Juanes later stated that "'La camisa negra' has got nothing to do with fascism
or Mussolini... People can interpret music in all kinds of ways I guess."
At the 2005 Latin Grammy Awards, Juanes won three additional awards to his nine previous Grammy awards. He took the award for Best Rock Song for "Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor
" ("I Am Worthless Without Your Love"), Best Rock Solo Album for Mi Sangre
and Best Music Video for "Volverte a Ver
" ("To See You Again"). On December 9, 2005, Juanes performed "La camisa negra" at an international gala in Germany celebrating the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Final Draw evening. In 2006, he recorded a duet of "The Shadow of Your Smile
" with Tony Bennett
for Bennett's Duets: an American Classic
.
, and their daughters Luna and Paloma. He was working on an album that was released on October 23, 2007. When asked about the possibility of recording an album in English, Juanes responded, "singing in Spanish is very important because it's the language in which I think and feel. I respect people that sing in English, but for now I'll keep my Spanish." Juanes planned to launch his own music label, named 4J, in October 2007, to be distributed by the Universal Music Group
. He also was working on a new album, titled La vida... es un ratico
(Life Is a Little Moment).
La vida... es un ratico
was released on Oct 23, 2007 with the first single being "Me Enamora
" (I fall in love). The second single was "Gotas de Agua Dulce
" (drops of sweet water), and the third single became the vallenato fusion of "Tres
" (three).
On December 11, 2007, Juanes performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert
in Oslo
, Norway
together with a variety of artists, which was broadcast live to over 100 countries.
On November 24, 2008, Juanes re-released the album as "La vida... es un ratico (en vivo)
" [Deluxe Edition][2 CD/DVD Combo]" The album aside the 14 original songs, contains two previously unreleased songs: "Falsas Palabras" (false words) and "Odio Por Amor
" (hate for love) which is also the current single. This new re-edition also includes seven live versions of songs played during his U.S. La Vida Tour. As another bonus added, Juanes also included a duet of his song "Hoy Me Voy
" (today I leave) with US singer Colbie Caillat
. The DVD contains the music videos of the four singles of the cd as well as a few live video recordings of the US tour.
Kickoff Concert, as well as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
in New York, New York. In addition, he released his album P.A.R.C.E.
which featured the #1 Billboard hit Yerbatero and the top-ten hit Y No Regresas. February 17, Juanes performed live on the third single from their fifth studio album Regalito
in the delivery of the Premios Lo Nuestro. The album has sold 1 million copies worldwide.
as one of the world's 100 most influential people. Juanes has supported former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe
, stating that "with this new government of Álvaro Uribe my country seems in better shape." On November 15, 2005, he was honored at the annual benefit gala for Sir Paul McCartney
's Adopt-A-Minefield
for his work as a Goodwill Ambassador for United for Colombia, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about the impact of land mine
s within Colombia.
On April 19, 2006, Juanes performed before the European Parliament
, as part of a campaign to increase awareness against the use of land mines around the world, including in his native Colombia. He was first singer to perform in the hemicycle where the European Parliament holds its plenary sessions. The Parliament gave a symbolic gift of €
2.5 million to demine Colombia and to rehabilitate victims of the landmines. In honor of his work and his music, he was given an escopetarra
(a decommissioned AK-47
converted into a guitar) by peace activist César López
; he later sold it at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills for US$17,000. Juanes held a benefit concert on May 24, 2006 in conjunction with KLVE
and Univision
which raised roughly US$350,000 to care for injured children and provide prosthetics, wheelchair
s, and land rehabilitation
.
On July 19, 2006, French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres awarded Juanes with the highest cultural honor given by France, L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
, declaring him "Knight in the order of Arts and Letters" for his work in social activism. In December 2006, work began on a recreational park for the rehabilitation of the handicapped named "Parque Juanes de la Paz" in Medellín. The 68,000-square-meter facility will cost COL$
10.6 billion, financed in part by the government of Medellín, and is to be completed by May 2007.
Juanes is also an activist for his native Spanish language; he has stated many times that while he respects native Spanish-speaking artists who choose to sing in English (such as fellow Colombian singer Shakira), he himself will not sing in English in order to best express himself (since he thinks and feels in Spanish) and to promote the Spanish language. One exception was his duet with Tony Bennett for the song "The Shadow of your Smile." Also recently his new song "Odio por amor" includes one line in English: "It's Time To Change". He also sang a few lines of English during a duet performance with John Legend during the 2009 NBA All-Star Game
.
On March 16, 2008, Juanes organized a free concert
as a response to the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis
. This concert took place on the Colombia-Venezuela border
. This was a free event and gathered an audience of 300,000 people. It was broadcast by Colombian and Venezuelan television stations. A Yahoo-Telemundo
partnership webcast
the event. The concert featured the well-known artists: Miguel Bosé
, Alejandro Sanz from Spain. Juan Luís Guerra
from the Dominican Republic, Ricardo Montaner
from Venezuela
, Juan Fernando Velasco
from Ecuador
and Juanes and Carlos Vives
from Colombia. The concert became a reality with the help of many private companies from Colombia and Venezuela. As an important remark concerning this event, Colombian president Álvaro Uribe had expressed days before the concert that he would attend the event. Juanes' manager replied that since it was an artistic event with no political affiliations they preferred the president not to be present. President Uribe replied in an official letter that he accepted Juanes' manager's suggestion.
In 2011, Juanes showed support to indigenous rights organization Survival International
. He modeled a t-shirt designed by the British artist Richard Long
in support of indigenous peoples
. Juanes has said, “By protecting tribal peoples, we are respecting our past, present and future”.
's storied Plaza de la Revolución
on September 20, 2009. The Cuban concert coincides with U.N. International Peace Day
and could feature up to 12 artists from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Cuban folk legend Silvio Rodriguez
and local salsa stars Los Van Van
will also be participating.
Juanes has received criticism on his potential concert by some in the Cuban-American/Cuban exile
community in Miami who believe it will be seen as an act of support for the communist government of Cuba. Juanes expressed in an interview for Univision that he has no affiliation whatsoever to the Cuban government or their political views and that he sees this only as an artistic performance and nothing more. Willy Chirino
, a Cuban American performer who has not been to Cuba in over 45 years, however came out in defense of the right of Juanes and others to sing in Cuba, a move also supported by Puerto Rican
artist Olga Tañón
. On August 14, 2009, Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcón's daughter, Margarita Alarcón, spoke of the controversy to CBS News
, remarking that:
On August 20, 2009, Juanes announced that he had considered canceling the peace concert citing "fears for his safety as well as his family", who reside with him in Miami on Key Biscayne
. Such fears are contained in an August 15, 2009, police report, and are the result of threatening messages Juanes has received from those he describes as "a very small number of extremists." However, John Reilly, Juanes' New York-based spokesman, has stated that plans for the concert have not changed and that "the vast majority of communication Juanes is receiving from both fans on Twitter and everyday people he comes into contact with in Miami continues to be overwhelmingly supportive. The concert "Paz Sin Fronteras"(Peace Without Borders) was a total success. Juanes closed it along with 15 other Cuban and international artists and with more than one million people attending the concert."
during the filming of his video "Podemos Hacernos Daño
". On August 6, 2004 they were married. The couple separated in May 2007 after three years of marriage due to unresolved differences, but reconciled four months later.
Juanes is of Basque
descent on his father's side.
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
musician who was a member of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Ekhymosis
Ekhymosis
Ekhymosis was a Colombian rock band formed by Juan Esteban "Juanes" Aristizábal Vásquez, along with friends Andrés García, Fernando "Toby" Tobón and José David Lopera from Medellín...
and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien
Fíjate Bien
Fíjate Bien is the debut album by the Colombian Latin music singer-songwriter Juanes, released on October 17, 2000. The album was produced by Gustavo Santaolalla, who is known for his contributions to Latin rock tracks. All the songs on the album were written by Juanes himself...
won three Latin Grammy Awards
Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...
.
Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums. He has won seventeen Latin Grammy Awards
Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...
and one Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. Juanes received the BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
President’s Award at the 2010 BMI Latin Awards. Juanes is also known for his humanitarian work, especially with aid for Colombian victims of anti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mine
Anti-personnel mines are a form of land mine designed for use against humans, as opposed to anti-tank mines, which are designed for use against vehicles...
s.
Early life and Ekhymosis
Juanes was born in Carolina del Príncipe, AntioquiaCarolina del Príncipe, Antioquia
Carolina del Príncipe is a municipality in the Colombian department of Antioquia, found 105 km north of Medellín, with an altitude of 1,807 m above sea level. Carolina del Príncipe is part of the subregion of Northern Antioquia....
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. When he was seven years old, his father and brothers began to teach him how to play guitar. His passion for the instrument led him to discover diverse genres of music such as traditional Latin sounds such as tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
and bachata, as well as Colombian folk music.
He grew up in Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
during the height of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
's reign, when the city had the highest homicide rate in the world. During his childhood, Juanes witnessed a civil war in which thousands were killed. He was greatly affected by the violence; his cousin was executed by kidnappers, and his close friend was murdered by gunmen. This period of time shaped his social consciousness, saying "Colombia has suffered so much that the only way to go forward is to imagine a better country." His father also died of cancer when he was a child, which caused him to further retreat into music.
As a teenager, Juanes was greatly influenced by metal acts such as Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. He started the metal band Ekhymosis
Ekhymosis
Ekhymosis was a Colombian rock band formed by Juan Esteban "Juanes" Aristizábal Vásquez, along with friends Andrés García, Fernando "Toby" Tobón and José David Lopera from Medellín...
in 1988, and it released its self-produced debut album, Niño Gigante, the same year. The band released five studio albums during its career and shared the stage with acts including Alejandro Sanz
Alejandro Sanz
Alejandro Sanz , is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician. For his work, Sanz has won a total of fifteen Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. He has won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year three times, more than any other artist...
, Aterciopelados
Aterciopelados
Aterciopelados , also referred to as los Aterciopelados on some albums and other promotional materials, are a rock band from Colombia. Led by Andrea Echeverri and Héctor Buitrago, they have been one of the first rock bands from Colombia to gain international notice and is among the country's top...
, and Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
; however in Juanes' words, the band "couldn't get out of Colombia" and remained "very local and confined to the Colombian market." Juanes disbanded the group in 1998 so that he could pursue a solo career.
2000-02: Fíjate Bien
In 2000, Juanes released his solo debut Fíjate BienFíjate Bien
Fíjate Bien is the debut album by the Colombian Latin music singer-songwriter Juanes, released on October 17, 2000. The album was produced by Gustavo Santaolalla, who is known for his contributions to Latin rock tracks. All the songs on the album were written by Juanes himself...
(Take a Good Look), produced by Gustavo Santaolalla
Gustavo Santaolalla
Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla is an Argentine musician, film composer and producer. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in two consecutive years, for Brokeback Mountain in 2005 and Babel in 2006.-Life and career:...
. The album fared well in Colombia, spending ten weeks at the number one position, but was unsuccessful in other countries. The album earned him three Latin Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Rock Solo Vocal Album, and Best Rock Song, and Juanes performed at the award show. Later that night, Juanes brought demos for over forty new songs to Santaolalla's studio, ready to begin work on another album.
2002-03: Un Dia Normal
The follow-up, Un Dia NormalUn día normal
-Charts:-Certifications:-Singles:-Charts:-References:...
(A Normal Day), also produced by Gustavo Santaolalla who signed him with his first solo album, was released in 2002
2002 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
and was highly successful in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. The album was certified gold in Colombia during its first day of sales and was certified platinum and multi-platinum in countries including Colombia, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Spain. The album spent 92 weeks in the top ten of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Top Latin Albums chart, setting a new record, and spent a total of two years on the chart. The album was released after the eligibility deadlines for the 2002 Latin Grammy Awards, but the advance airdate for the lead single, "A Dios le Pido" ("To God I Pray"), allowed it to be nominated for three awards and win Best Rock Song.
"A Dios le Pido" topped the singles charts of twelve countries and spent 47 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks. The album also featured "Fotografía
Fotografía
"Fotografía" is a song recorded by Juanes and Nelly Furtado for Juanes' second studio album, Un Día Normal .The duet, which was followed by another , was extremely commercially successful: it reached number one on the U.S...
" ("Photograph"), a duet with Portuguese Canadian pop singer Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
about the isolation between lovers. Juanes later worked with Furtado on a remix of "Powerless (Say What You Want)
Powerless (Say What You Want)
"Powerless " is a pop song written by Nelly Furtado, Gerald Eaton and Brian West for Furtado's second studio album Folklore . It contains a sample of Malcolm McLaren's "Buffalo Gals" which was written by Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn and Malcolm McLaren...
", the lead single from her 2003 album Folklore, and on "Te busqué
Te Busqué
"Te Busqué" is a song written by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado and Colombian musicians Juanes and Lester Mendez for Furtado's third album, Loose . It features Juanes and was released as the album's first single in Spain, and as the fourth in Latin America...
" ("I Looked for You"), a single from her 2006 album Loose
Loose (Nelly Furtado album)
Loose is the third studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. It was released in North America on June 20, 2006 by Geffen Records. Timbaland and his then-protégé Danja produced the bulk of the album, which incorporates influences of dance, R&B and hip hop...
. Juanes won the most awards at the 2003 Latin Grammy Awards, where he won each of the 5 awards for which he had been nominated, including Song of the Year
Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence, creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
, Record of the Year
Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
, and Album of the Year
Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year
The Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally...
.
2004-05: Mi Sangre
Mi SangreMi Sangre
Mi Sangre is the third studio album by Colombian Latin singer-songwriter Juanes, released on September 28, 2004.- Re-releases :...
(My Blood), was released in September 2004 and debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. The album produced three consecutive number one singles, which held the top chart position for a combined 6 months. The album's third single, "La camisa negra
La camisa negra
"La Camisa Negra" is a Spanish rock song written by Colombian singer-songwriter Octavio Mesa and recorded by Juanes for his third studio album Mi Sangre...
" ("The Black Shirt"), was used in Italy in support of neo-fascism by relating it to the uniform used under the regime of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
. In response, left-wing media network Indymedia called for a boycott of the song. Juanes later stated that "'La camisa negra' has got nothing to do with fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
or Mussolini... People can interpret music in all kinds of ways I guess."
Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor
"Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes from his album Mi Sangre. At the 2005 Latin Grammy Awards, the song won Best Rock Song.-Chart performance:...
" ("I Am Worthless Without Your Love"), Best Rock Solo Album for Mi Sangre
Mi Sangre
Mi Sangre is the third studio album by Colombian Latin singer-songwriter Juanes, released on September 28, 2004.- Re-releases :...
and Best Music Video for "Volverte a Ver
Volverte a Ver
"Volverte A Ver" is a song written and performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes. The song is the second radio single from his third studio album, Mi Sangre. The video for the single, directed by Gustavo Garzón won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video at the Latin Grammy...
" ("To See You Again"). On December 9, 2005, Juanes performed "La camisa negra" at an international gala in Germany celebrating the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
Final Draw evening. In 2006, he recorded a duet of "The Shadow of Your Smile
The Shadow of Your Smile
"The Shadow of Your Smile", also known as "Love Theme from The Sandpiper", is a popular song. The music was written by Johnny Mandel with the lyrics written by Paul Francis Webster...
" with Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
for Bennett's Duets: an American Classic
Duets: An American Classic
-Personnel:* Tony Bennett, guest artists - vocals* Bill Charlap - piano* Pinchas Zukerman - violin* Lawrence Feldman - flute* Chris Botti - trumpet* Paul Langosch - double bass* Gray Sargent - guitar* Harold Jones - drums* Johnny Mandel - arranger, conductor...
.
2006-09: La vida...es un ratico
In June 2006, Juanes began a year-long sabbatical to spend time with his wife, model Karen MartínezKaren Martínez
Karen Cecilia Martinez Insignares better known as Karen Martinez, is a Colombian actress and model. Known primarily as the wife of the hit Colombian singer Juanes....
, and their daughters Luna and Paloma. He was working on an album that was released on October 23, 2007. When asked about the possibility of recording an album in English, Juanes responded, "singing in Spanish is very important because it's the language in which I think and feel. I respect people that sing in English, but for now I'll keep my Spanish." Juanes planned to launch his own music label, named 4J, in October 2007, to be distributed by the Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. He also was working on a new album, titled La vida... es un ratico
La Vida... Es un Ratico
La Vida... es un Ratico is the fourth studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes, which was released on October 23, 2007.-Album history:...
(Life Is a Little Moment).
La vida... es un ratico
La Vida... Es un Ratico
La Vida... es un Ratico is the fourth studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes, which was released on October 23, 2007.-Album history:...
was released on Oct 23, 2007 with the first single being "Me Enamora
Me Enamora
"Me Enamora" is a song written and performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes. The song is the first radio single of his fourth solo studio album La Vida... Es un Ratico and it received three awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video at the Latin Grammy...
" (I fall in love). The second single was "Gotas de Agua Dulce
Gotas de Agua Dulce
"Gotas de Agua Dulce" is the title of the second single released by Juanes from his fourth studio album La Vida.....
" (drops of sweet water), and the third single became the vallenato fusion of "Tres
Tres (song)
"Tres" is the title of a pop song written and performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes. This song was released as the third single from his fourth studio album La vida... es un ratico.-Chart performance:...
" (three).
On December 11, 2007, Juanes performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert
Nobel Peace Prize Concert
The Nobel Peace Prize Concert has been held annually since 1994 on 11 December, one day after the date of Alfred Nobel's death, to honour the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The award ceremony on 10 December takes place in the Oslo City Hall, while the concert is in the Oslo Spektrum Arena, with the...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
together with a variety of artists, which was broadcast live to over 100 countries.
On November 24, 2008, Juanes re-released the album as "La vida... es un ratico (en vivo)
La vida... es un ratico (en vivo)
La Vida... Es Un Ratico is the second live album of Colombian singer Juanes. It was released on November 18, 2008 through Universal Music Latino.-Background:...
" [Deluxe Edition][2 CD/DVD Combo]" The album aside the 14 original songs, contains two previously unreleased songs: "Falsas Palabras" (false words) and "Odio Por Amor
Odio Por Amor
"Odio por amor" is the title of a song written and performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes. This song will be included on his first live album La Vida... Es un Ratico .-Song history:...
" (hate for love) which is also the current single. This new re-edition also includes seven live versions of songs played during his U.S. La Vida Tour. As another bonus added, Juanes also included a duet of his song "Hoy Me Voy
Hoy Me Voy
Hoy Me Voy is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes belonging to his fourth studio album La vida... es un ratico. It was released worldwide in 2008. The song is a collaboration with singer and songwriter Colbie Caillat....
" (today I leave) with US singer Colbie Caillat
Colbie Caillat
Colbie Marie Caillat is an American pop singer-songwriter and guitarist from Malibu, California. She debuted in 2007 with Coco, which included hit singles "Bubbly", "Realize", and "The Little Things". In 2008, she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy. Caillat released her...
. The DVD contains the music videos of the four singles of the cd as well as a few live video recordings of the US tour.
2010-present: P.A.R.C.E
In 2010, Juanes performed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
Kickoff Concert, as well as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
in New York, New York. In addition, he released his album P.A.R.C.E.
P.A.R.C.E.
P.A.R.C.E. is the fifth studio album by Colombian recording artist Juanes. It was released on December 7, 2010 through Universal Music Latino. The album's lead single "Yerbatero" was released on June 10, 2010 as a digital download. "Y No Regresas" was released as the second single on October 12, 2010...
which featured the #1 Billboard hit Yerbatero and the top-ten hit Y No Regresas. February 17, Juanes performed live on the third single from their fifth studio album Regalito
Regalito
"Regalito" is a pop rock song written and performed by Colombian singer Juanes, released as the third single from his fifth studio album P.A.R.C.E...
in the delivery of the Premios Lo Nuestro. The album has sold 1 million copies worldwide.
Activism
Juanes has said that: "these are your people, young people, people with families, and four or five of them are dying every day." Juanes established the Mi Sangre Foundation to help victims of anti-personnel mines In 2005, he was named by TimeTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
as one of the world's 100 most influential people. Juanes has supported former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
, stating that "with this new government of Álvaro Uribe my country seems in better shape." On November 15, 2005, he was honored at the annual benefit gala for Sir Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's Adopt-A-Minefield
Adopt-A-Minefield
Adopt-A-Minefield is a United Kingdom-based charity which raises awareness about landmines and their associated problems, and raises funds to clear minefields and help survivors of landmine accidents...
for his work as a Goodwill Ambassador for United for Colombia, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about the impact of land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
s within Colombia.
On April 19, 2006, Juanes performed before the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, as part of a campaign to increase awareness against the use of land mines around the world, including in his native Colombia. He was first singer to perform in the hemicycle where the European Parliament holds its plenary sessions. The Parliament gave a symbolic gift of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
2.5 million to demine Colombia and to rehabilitate victims of the landmines. In honor of his work and his music, he was given an escopetarra
Escopetarra
An escopetarra is a guitar made from a modified gun, used as a peace symbol. The name is derived from the Spanish words escopeta and guitarra...
(a decommissioned AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
converted into a guitar) by peace activist César López
Cesar Lopez
César López is a Colombian musician. For the past several years, López has been part of a group, the Battalion of Immediate Artistic Reaction, which consists of various other musicians and activists seeking alternatives to the ever-present violence that plagues Colombia and its capital of Bogotá...
; he later sold it at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills for US$17,000. Juanes held a benefit concert on May 24, 2006 in conjunction with KLVE
KLVE
KLVE , known as "K-LOVE 107.5 FM", is a radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, with an Spanish AC musical format. It is owned by Univision.-History:...
and Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
which raised roughly US$350,000 to care for injured children and provide prosthetics, wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
s, and land rehabilitation
Land rehabilitation
Land rehabilitation is the process of returning the land in a given area to some degree of its former state, after some process has resulted in its damage...
.
On July 19, 2006, French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres awarded Juanes with the highest cultural honor given by France, L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
, declaring him "Knight in the order of Arts and Letters" for his work in social activism. In December 2006, work began on a recreational park for the rehabilitation of the handicapped named "Parque Juanes de la Paz" in Medellín. The 68,000-square-meter facility will cost COL$
Colombian peso
The peso is the currency of Colombia. Its ISO 4217 code is COP and it is also informally abbreviated as COL$. However, the official peso symbol is $. As 20 July 2011, the exchange rate of the Colombian peso is 1750 Colombian pesos to 1 U.S. dollar.-History:The peso has been the currency of Colombia...
10.6 billion, financed in part by the government of Medellín, and is to be completed by May 2007.
Juanes is also an activist for his native Spanish language; he has stated many times that while he respects native Spanish-speaking artists who choose to sing in English (such as fellow Colombian singer Shakira), he himself will not sing in English in order to best express himself (since he thinks and feels in Spanish) and to promote the Spanish language. One exception was his duet with Tony Bennett for the song "The Shadow of your Smile." Also recently his new song "Odio por amor" includes one line in English: "It's Time To Change". He also sang a few lines of English during a duet performance with John Legend during the 2009 NBA All-Star Game
2009 NBA All-Star Game
The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on February 15, 2009 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Phoenix Suns. The game was the 58th edition of the National Basketball Association All-Star Game and was played during the 2008–09 NBA season...
.
On March 16, 2008, Juanes organized a free concert
Paz Sin Fronteras
Paz sin fronteras was the first in a series of benefit concerts that happened on March 16, 2008, on the Simón Bolívar Bridge, which borders Colombia and Venezuela, to celebrate the end of the Andean diplomatic crisis a week earlier on the Rio Group summit...
as a response to the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis
2008 Andean diplomatic crisis
The 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis was a diplomatic stand-off between the South American countries of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. It began with an incursion into Ecuadorian territory across the Putumayo River by the Colombian military on March 1, 2008, leading to the deaths of over twenty...
. This concert took place on the Colombia-Venezuela border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
. This was a free event and gathered an audience of 300,000 people. It was broadcast by Colombian and Venezuelan television stations. A Yahoo-Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
partnership webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
the event. The concert featured the well-known artists: Miguel Bosé
Miguel Bosé
Miguel Dominguín Bosé is a Latin Grammy-winning Spanish/Italian musician and actor.-Early life:Bosé was born in San Fernando Hospital in Panama City, Panama, the son of the famous Italian actress Lucia Bosé and the legendary bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguín. He is also a cousin of Carmen...
, Alejandro Sanz from Spain. Juan Luís Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer from the Dominican Republic who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards...
from the Dominican Republic, Ricardo Montaner
Ricardo Montaner
Ricardo Montaner is an Argentine-Venezuelan singer and songwriter. Starting his career in the early 80s, he has already released more than 15 albums with numerous successful singles and has sold over 22 million record worldwide.-Early years:Montaner was born as Héctor Eduardo Reglero Montaner, in...
from Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Juan Fernando Velasco
Juan Fernando Velasco
Juan Fernando Velasco is an Ecuadorian musician.-Biography:Juan Fernando Velasco was born January 17, 1972 in Quito, Ecuador. He never planned to be a musician, he was preparing to become an economist like his father...
from Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Juanes and Carlos Vives
Carlos Vives
Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo is a Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award winning-Colombian singer, composer and actor.-Biography:...
from Colombia. The concert became a reality with the help of many private companies from Colombia and Venezuela. As an important remark concerning this event, Colombian president Álvaro Uribe had expressed days before the concert that he would attend the event. Juanes' manager replied that since it was an artistic event with no political affiliations they preferred the president not to be present. President Uribe replied in an official letter that he accepted Juanes' manager's suggestion.
In 2011, Juanes showed support to indigenous rights organization Survival International
Survival International
Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples, seeking to help them to determine their own future. Their campaigns generally focus on tribal peoples' fight to keep their ancestral lands,...
. He modeled a t-shirt designed by the British artist Richard Long
Richard Long (artist)
Richard Long is an English sculptor, photographer and painter, one of the best known British land artists. Long is the only artist to be shortlisted for the Turner Prize four times, and he is reputed to have refused the prize in 1984...
in support of indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. Juanes has said, “By protecting tribal peoples, we are respecting our past, present and future”.
2009 Peace Concert in Cuba
On August 5, 2009, it was announced that Juanes would hold his second "Peace Without Borders" concert in HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
's storied Plaza de la Revolución
Plaza de la Revolucion
Plaza de la Revolución is a municipality and a square in Havana, Cuba.The municipality stretches from the square down to the sea at the Malecón and includes the Vedado district.- Square :...
on September 20, 2009. The Cuban concert coincides with U.N. International Peace Day
International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to peace, and specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military...
and could feature up to 12 artists from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Cuban folk legend Silvio Rodriguez
Silvio Rodríguez
Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez is a Cuban musician, and a leader of the nueva trova movement.He is considered Cuba's best known folk singer and known for his highly eloquent and symbolic lyrics. Many of his songs have become classics in Latin American music, such as Ojalá, Playa Girón, Unicornio and...
and local salsa stars Los Van Van
Los Van Van
Los Van Van is a Cuban band led by bassist Juan Formell, it is one of the most recognized post-revolution Cuban bands, while Juan Formell has arguably become the most important figure in contemporary Cuban music....
will also be participating.
Juanes has received criticism on his potential concert by some in the Cuban-American/Cuban exile
Cuban exile
The term "Cuban exile" refers to the many Cubans who have sought alternative political or economic conditions outside the island, dating back to the Ten Years' War and the struggle for Cuban independence during the 19th century...
community in Miami who believe it will be seen as an act of support for the communist government of Cuba. Juanes expressed in an interview for Univision that he has no affiliation whatsoever to the Cuban government or their political views and that he sees this only as an artistic performance and nothing more. Willy Chirino
Willy Chirino
Willy Chirino, born April 5, 1947 in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, Cuba, is an entertainer and singer in the salsa style.-Early Family Life:...
, a Cuban American performer who has not been to Cuba in over 45 years, however came out in defense of the right of Juanes and others to sing in Cuba, a move also supported by Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
artist Olga Tañón
Olga Tañón
Olga Tañón is a two-time Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy-winning Merengue and Latin Pop artist. Tañón has earned 5 Latin Grammy Awards and 19 Premios Lo Nuestro awards during her career.-Early years:...
. On August 14, 2009, Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcón's daughter, Margarita Alarcón, spoke of the controversy to CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, remarking that:
On August 20, 2009, Juanes announced that he had considered canceling the peace concert citing "fears for his safety as well as his family", who reside with him in Miami on Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is an island located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. It is the southernmost of the barrier islands along the Atlantic coast of Florida, and lies south of Miami Beach and southeast of Miami...
. Such fears are contained in an August 15, 2009, police report, and are the result of threatening messages Juanes has received from those he describes as "a very small number of extremists." However, John Reilly, Juanes' New York-based spokesman, has stated that plans for the concert have not changed and that "the vast majority of communication Juanes is receiving from both fans on Twitter and everyday people he comes into contact with in Miami continues to be overwhelmingly supportive. The concert "Paz Sin Fronteras"(Peace Without Borders) was a total success. Juanes closed it along with 15 other Cuban and international artists and with more than one million people attending the concert."
Personal life
Juanes met model/actress Karen MartínezKaren Martínez
Karen Cecilia Martinez Insignares better known as Karen Martinez, is a Colombian actress and model. Known primarily as the wife of the hit Colombian singer Juanes....
during the filming of his video "Podemos Hacernos Daño
Podemos Hacernos Daño
"Podemos Hacernos Daño" is a song written and performed by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes. The song is the second of three radio singles from his debut solo studio album, Fíjate Bien.-Track listing:...
". On August 6, 2004 they were married. The couple separated in May 2007 after three years of marriage due to unresolved differences, but reconciled four months later.
Juanes is of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent on his father's side.
His band
- Waldo Madera (drums since 2004)
- Felipe Navia (bass since 2000)
- Juan Pablo Daza (Guitar since 2010)
- Emmanuel Briceño (Keyboards and Vocals since 2002)
- Felipe Alzate (Percussion since 2000)
- Fernando Tobon (Guitar since 2002)
- Richard Bravo (Percussion since 2010)
Discography
- 2000 - Fíjate BienFíjate BienFíjate Bien is the debut album by the Colombian Latin music singer-songwriter Juanes, released on October 17, 2000. The album was produced by Gustavo Santaolalla, who is known for his contributions to Latin rock tracks. All the songs on the album were written by Juanes himself...
- 2002 - Un Día NormalUn día normal-Charts:-Certifications:-Singles:-Charts:-References:...
- 2004 - Mi SangreMi SangreMi Sangre is the third studio album by Colombian Latin singer-songwriter Juanes, released on September 28, 2004.- Re-releases :...
- 2007 - La Vida... Es un RaticoLa Vida... Es un RaticoLa Vida... es un Ratico is the fourth studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes, which was released on October 23, 2007.-Album history:...
- 2010 - P.A.R.C.E.P.A.R.C.E.P.A.R.C.E. is the fifth studio album by Colombian recording artist Juanes. It was released on December 7, 2010 through Universal Music Latino. The album's lead single "Yerbatero" was released on June 10, 2010 as a digital download. "Y No Regresas" was released as the second single on October 12, 2010...
External links
- Official website
- Juanes to Twitter in Cuba Despite Exiles By Alfredo Prieto, Havana Times, August 26, 2009
- Official Universal Music Latino Website
- Mi Sangre Foundation website
- Juanes Interview
- Juanes Interview on CorrienteLatina.com
- English version