Amor Y Suerte: Exitos Romanticos (Bonus Dvd)

Gloria Estefan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony U.S. Latin
• ASIN: B0002XL2B6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,720 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Gloria Estefan may have fallen out of commercial favor with English-speaking audiences over the past several years, but her musical output has hardly reflected a change. It's particularly true of her Spanish-language recordings, on which she has continually evolved and explored new, diverse sounds. Amor y Suerte--Exitos Romanticos chronicles that impressive path, culling some of Estefan's best work from the past decade. Notable are a trio of duets that find the Cuban diva holding her own against the formidable voices of Alejandro Fernandez ("En el Jardin"), Jon Secada ("Por Amor") and Jose Feliciano ("Tengo Que Decirte Algo"). The compilation also features "Hoy" and "Tu Fotografia," two stellar singles from Estefan's unjustly overlooked Unwrapped album. Lush production values and Estefan's plaintive-yet-longing delivery unify the entire project. It ends with "Ay, Ay, Ay Amor," a new track that pulses to a rousing salsa-dance beat and signifies another exciting direction for Latin-pop's premiere songstress. --Joey Guerra

Product Description

Spanish greatest hits with limited edition PAL DVD. Sony. 2004. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sets the Ideal Romantic Mood (For the Most Part), November 21, 2004

By 

Rudy Palma "The Writing Fiend" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Amor Y Suerte: Exitos Romanticos (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

Gloria Estefan is a true anomaly. She brought her successful "Live and Re-Wrapped" tour, her last grand-scale traveling concert, across our nation from the summer through the early fall, yet doubtless few are aware of "Amor y Suerte: Exitos Romanticos (Love and Luck: Romantic Hits)" a retrospective that chronicles her evolution recording in her native language of the past decade plus.

Selections included that stem from her record-breaking "Mi Tierra (My Homeland)," album are instant highlights. "Con Los Años Que Me Quedan (With The Years I Have Left), which she wrote with her husband Emilio, finds her smooth-as-silk vocals accented throughout by an enchanting Spanish guitar solo that is as heart-stirring as ever. The guitar playing is impressive likewise on "Hablas De Mi (You Talk About Me)," and "Mi Buen Amor (My Good Love)" remains an elegant performance ripe to play at weddings.

Two recent #1 hits on Spanish radio, "Hoy" and "Tu Fotografia," Gian Marco's Spanish interpretations of Estefan's own lyrics in "Wrapped" and "Your Picture," two magnificent tracks from 2003's criminally ignored "Unwrapped," are splendid inclusions. The former passionate and slow-burning and the latter melancholic with soaring vocals, it is easy to see why they put her on the top of the charts. However, it must be pointed out that "Tu Fotografia" is a cathartic reflection on the death of a loved one - hardly romantic subject matter.

Finding inclusion for the first time on an Estefan disc are duets with Jon Secada, and Alejandro Fernandez. Secada, who notably penned Estefan's 1992 smash "I See Your Smile," sounds excellent alongside his friend and contemporary on "Por Amor (For Love)," originally included on his 2002 album "Amanacer." "En El Jardin (In the Garden)," which stems from Fernandez's 1997 "Me Estoy Enamorando" album, is similarly rhythmic and vibrant. "No Pretendo (I Don't Try)," the Spanish interpretation of "Steal Your Heart," the arguable highlight of 1996's "Destiny" album, also makes its first album appearance. In addition, "Ay Ay Ay Amor," a rapturous newly recorded salsa number, concludes the disc with a loud bang.

Though a superb compilation, "Amor y Suerte" still falters. Notably, "Mas Alla (Beyond)," a yearning ballad she performed for the Pope from her 1995 "Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors)" album, is missed. Also, "No Me Dejes De Querer (Don't Ever Stop Loving Me)," a massive hit from 2000's "Alma Caribeña (Caribbean Soul)" would have been more appropriate than "Por Un Beso (For a Kiss)" from the same album, where she bitterly condemns her former love for his betrayal. Likewise, the inclusion of the limited edition DVD is only validated by its salsa version of "Hoy" performed for AOL.

When all is said and done, however, a purchase of "Amor y Suerte" is a wise move if you're interested in having previously obscure material from Estefan on one disc along with hits and fine album tracks that, for the most part, set the ideal romantic mood.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Estefan At Her Most Effective-Songs From A Cuban Heart, October 29, 2004

By 

John B. Valeri (Portland, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amor Y Suerte: Exitos Romanticos (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

After conquering mainstream America in the 1980's and early 1990's, Gloria Estefan returned to her Cuban roots with 1993's historic "Mi Tierra" album. Twelve # 1 Latin singles, three Grammy-award winning Spanish albums and a decade later, Estefan offers "Amor Y Suerte: Exitos Romanticos," a collection of her best-loved ballads. Included in this retrospective are seven chart-toppers, including the classic "Con Los Anos Que Me Quedan" and last year's Peruvian-influenced smash, "Hoy." Also found here are the non-Estefan album singles "No Pretendo," "En El Jardin" (w/ Alejandro Fernandez), and "Por Amor" (w/ Jon Secada), as well as "Ay, Ay, Ay Amor," the lone new song, which finds Estefan experimenting with Mexican sounds while giving her upper-register a workout. (This track alone makes the CD worth its price tag.) While mainstream success has been elusive of late, "Amor Y Suerte" showcases the artist at her most effective, solidifying her status as the voice of her people's generation. Spanish is truly the most romantic of languages, and nobody conveys that better than Gloria Estefan, who fully embraces her native-tongue to perform with a passion and assurance that is unparalleled in her contemporaries.

MIA: The beautiful "Mas Alla."

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Collection!, October 27, 2004

By 

J. Abud - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amor Y Suerte: Exitos Romanticos (Bonus Dvd) (Audio CD)

Gloria Estefan hand picked these songs herself, and it shows! The songs show Estefan in her most passionate and glorious state. These romantic love songs take the listener on a roller coaster of emotions, from the feeling of eternally blissfully in love in Con Los Años Que me Quedan, to the tragic betrayal of a faithful love in Por Un Beso and Tengo que Decirte Algo, and even to the story of two lovers who never had the chance to proclaim their love in the amazing new track, Ay Ay Ay Amor. It is definately a beautiful album, full of memories for any Gloria fan.