El Otro Lado de Mi [ENHANCED]

Soraya

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 1, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: EMI Latin
• ASIN: B0007MSUFS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,308 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Struggle and success have energized Colombian singer-songwriter Soraya. She chronicled her life-threatening battle with breast cancer via a 2003 self-titled disc, which yielded the No. 1 pop hit "Casi" and earned her a Latin Grammy. El Otro Lado de Mi, the vibrant follow-up, finds Soraya spreading her musical wings and exploring deeper, more complex sounds. She traveled to Colombia to make the record, and the result is a batch of colorful rhythms and arrangements. It's all anchored by highly personal songwriting and a crunchy rock instrumentation that frames many of the album's 12 tracks. Traditional Colombian guitars and heavy percussion mark many of the album's best moments, including "Ser," "Llevame" (also featured in English), and the spirited title cut. "Alma de la Calle" is the poignant story of a real-life, award-winning poet who shines shoes on the streets of Bogota. The song is indicative of Soraya's thoughtful approach to music: It's not just creative expression, but a living, breathing entity within her soul. --Joey Guerra

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soraya leads us to her best work yet!, April 9, 2005

By	M. Alvarez "World Music Aficionado" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This fifth release is by far Soraya's best effort yet. If we consider that her albums all follow that traditional line of female singer/songwriter: introspective lyrics, avoid overexposure, great singles chosen. But with "El otro lado de mi" she has captured an element that kind of stepped aside after the release of "En esta noche/ On nights like this". A creative side that seemed present on her next three albums, but not with the impressiveness that it has on this cd. Ideally this new album should've been the follow up to her debut album, if we consider the potential it has. It contains by far her best lyrical work, the arrangements are risky and the content is again, following her "En esta noche" release, the best up to date.

The lead single "Llevame" has a great hook to it which commands your attention. She has revealed an edgier side: "Ser", "El otro lado de mi", and one of my favorites "La promesa", all add a stronger, more rock-driven feeling than we've experienced before. But she does not let down on her intimate side: "Un mundo sin prisa", "Un segundo lento (second chance)" and my favorite "Como seria". They all continue to show that Soraya is by far one of the best contemporary lyricist when crafting love songs. Ballads that are creatively simple, songs that leave you speechless with the content.

"El otro lado de mi" also calls for social introspective. "Alma de la calle" speaks of a real experience she had meeting a 'soul' in the streets of Colombia. While "Gotas de perdon" asks you: Where is the world leading to? What is happening around us? She calls for reflection and understanding.

Soraya don't lose the muse you've found. Let's hope this release will later on see the light as an English album. The way she has done with all her previous efforts.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soraya, different but WONDERFUl, again!, March 24, 2005

By	Karen Abraham (Hoboken, NJ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this album. She does more rock, more upbeat tempos, in this album than most of her others. But it's a lot of fun, and the lyrics are wonderful as always. I love the first three tracks, but I really don't dislike any of them. Overall, it's just a great album.

And while you're at it, get all of her albums. Or at least also get "cuerpo y alma" and her self-titled album.

If you like female singer-songwriters as I do, even if you don't speak spanish, you won't be disappointed!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars different but still beautiful!!, March 15, 2005

By	Oropel (Lima, Peru) - See all my reviews

Esperaba este album con muchas ganas y aunque la diferencia siempre desconcierta al principio , este me ha encantado. Si bien no llega a ser mi CD favorito de Soraya (hasta ahora "Cuerpo y Alma" es insuperable, al menos para mi gusto), el Otro Lado de Soraya es un lado muy lindo también. Al escuchar el CD se nota claramente la influencia del productor Sebastian Krys: los sonidos y arreglos me hicieron recordar en algunos breves pasajes al album "Unwrapped" de Gloria Estefan.
En general diría que este disco se destaca mucho más por las melodías que por las letras (no son malas pero no tan bellas como en anteriores).

"Ser" es un gran canción como para iniciar el disco y marcar el rumbo y decirnos qué nos espera. La temática es muy similar a la de "El Cruce"(Torre de Marfil) y son similares también en lo agresivo de sus arreglos (me encantaron las palmas).

"Llevame" ya la hemos escuchado en la radio y me encanta el sonido de las guitarras combinado con los demás instrumentos. La versión original en inglés "Lead me" está incluso mucho mejor.

"Cómo sería" es una balada "a la antigua" por llamarla de alguna manera (no quiere decir que no me guste), lo digo por su ritmo y la forma de escribir: desgarrada, triste, como las baladistas de los 80s. Es más creo que podría funcionar como sencillo.

"Segundo lento" una de mis favoritas, una canción típica del lado de Soraya que ya conocíamos, no de este "otro lado" . Me recuerda la atmósfera de una de mis canciones favoritas de Soraya, "Dance of the Waiting"


"La Promesa" , muy ritmica, podría ser un sencillo. La percibo como la versión alegre de "Miento". Los seguidores de Sorarya espero me den la razón.

"Un mundo sin prisa" WOW, me encanta!!!!

"Alma de la Calle" y "Gotas de perdón" generalmente no me gustan las canciones con temas sociales pero estas están buenísimas. En "Alma..." podemos disfrutar limpiamente de la hermosa voz de Soraya mientras que "Gotas..." me sorprendió gratamente, diría que es mi canción favorita del disco. El arreglo de voces en los coros hace que su voz suene distinta, más distante, como si estuviera cantando desde la distancia con un poco menoso de calidez pero espectacular.