Posted on 10/13/2009 8:07:20 PM PDT by caper gal 1
Coalition-building came with dance steps, sequins and plenty of rhythm at Fiesta Latina, a concert held Tuesday night in a tent on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the White House Music Series. From the open tent, the White House was the performers’ backdrop.
Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, José Feliciano, Los Lobos, the New York bachata band Aventura, the Mexican singer Thalía, the reggaetón singer Tito El Bambino and the percussionist Pete Escovedo each performed a song or two, sharing a backup band led by Sheila E., Mr. Escovedo’s daughter.
Most of the musicians were Americans, but they had roots in Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The program featured a deliberately chosen, international assortment of styles: the salsa and Latin pop passionately belted by Mr. Anthony, cumbia and Chicano rock and roll from Los Lobos, Dominican bachata, Spanish classical music.
“Although Latin music takes many forms, the spirit of diversity also unifies us,” President Obama said in an opening speech.
“Fiesta Latina” is to be telecast Thursday on PBS stations as part of the series “In Performance at the White House.” It is also to be shown Sunday on the Telemundo network and Dec. 25 on the V-me channel.
“Even though it’s constantly evolving, Latin music speaks to us all in a language we can understand about hope and joy, sorrow and pain, friendship and love,” Mr. Obama said. “It moves us, and it attempts to make us move a little bit ourselves.”
The musicians took him up on that. As Thalía sang “Amor a la Mexicana” (“Love Mexican Style”), she stepped off the stage to beckon Mr. Obama to dance, thanking Michelle Obama for letting him join her. Beaming at his moves, she approvingly said, “Macho.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I’ll give you one guess as to who paid for it.
HHmmmmmmm... could it be . . . you and me???????
Good guess!
Obama’s the “macho” man! Will the accolades never end?/s
Wait a minute - wasn’t the most famous musical quote of “I have got to be a Macho Man” sung by the Village People”?
When I see this kind of hootin and hollerin, I realize I’m not that kind of a Latin. I last 20 seconds on the Spanish language programming. I’m not even Cuban, but oh those newscasters and those morning shows! Horrendous
Sadly, this does make a difference. Whether we want to admit it or not, there are a lot of impressionable people in this country and a healthy percentage of them vote. To the extent that these concerts (and other entertainment-centered and programs)bolster Obama's cache with the general public, they really aren't anything short of in-kind contributions to Obama and the DNC.
It's depressing.
That doesn't even make sense. What a jackass.
I LOVE Gloria Estafan and would willingly pay mega bucks to hear her perform live. She is a lovely lady, with tremendous talent, who has lived an exemplary life, but if I am going to pick up the tab for her to perform, I would at least appreciate the privilege to see that performance.
let them eat cake
I wouldn’t get too depressed over this. These are court appearances only - the great unwashed are not invited to attend, so although they are promoted to great media fanfare, they are in reality a beltway only venue. I lived in DC for a number of years and saw firsthand what the playing rules are.
I’m sorry that Michelle and Barry had to suffer such incredible hardships to further the cause of coalition-building.
It must have been almost as great a sacrifice for them as hopping on a plane—or rather, two planes—and flying all the way to Copenhagen.
Oh, when will the suffering end for these two . . . we are not worthy.
I took 2 years of Latin and never heard any music! Sheesh!
diaagree strongly. Gloria Estefanis to Latin music what Chef Boyardee is to Italian food. And she pretends to be for the cause of Cuban freedom, but is best friends with ultra libs Rosie O’DOnnell and et al.
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