Customer Reviews

Para Ti

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Para los admiradores no religiosos de la musica de Juan Luis, acostumbrados a saborear cancion por cancion la BELLEZA de sus letras, su sensualidad, sus imagenes poetico literarias tan originales y emotivas, al oir su intencion de escribir un album de contenido sacro-religioso nos hizo vacilar, dudar y rascarnos la cabeza y decirnos: 'Ya la Rego, Juan Luis".
Sin embargo, en esta nueva propuesta suya, su genialidad lirica, sus pegajosos coros, su uso impecable de la percusion merenguera, y la calidad sonoro musical que permea cada cancion del album, confirma a Juan Luis como un compositor especial, y un creador historico en la musica latino-caribena.
En "Para Ti"...Las letras son religiosas, pero sin caer en lo panfletario, ni lo enteramente sacro, cada cancion refleja su vision espiritual de manera jocosa, alegre, optimista y convincente.
"Las avispas" es uno de los mejores merengues que se han hecho en los ultimos anos. Con un ritmo contagiante, con un zigzagueo y rejuego vocal de primera, con un mambo arrebatador, y siempre las armonias sofisticadas y los arreglos de primera que evitan la caida en lo cursi y trivial.
Aleluya habra de convertirse en un clasico interdenominacional de la musica gospel latinoamericana, el arreglo coral y la evolucion de la cancion es mas bien una cantata sublime de adoracion magico-mistica. Por otro lado sus baladas son el vehiculo adecuado para presentar una vision mas clara de su pensamiento religioso, pero la calidad musical nunca decae.
Ninguna cancion es un desperdicio o un relleno, lo cual hace notorio el perfeccionismo de Juan Luis y el cudiado que pone en todo cuanto presenta al publico.
Este es un album que sorprendera a muchos y que probablemente sera unos de sus mas populares. Enhorabuena, Juan Luis!

We were very excited about this album and put it in the car CD player within seconds after buying it. However, while the songs are of adequate quality and some have nice melodies, I must agree overall with those who say he's holding back on this album. The impression I had was that this man, for all his experience and talent in Latin music, didn't seem sure what to do with himself in writing explicitly Christian material.

"Avispas" comes the closest to the familiar JLG style, with a merengue rhythm and lyrics offering a humorous metaphor as assurance that God doesn't ignore those who harm people he loves (sending wasps to sting the tempter). The other songs tend toward the forgettable, as much for bland lyrics as for anything else. While we know JLG for his rhythms, his turn of a phrase and clever extended metaphors are also key to his success. How many people can write a romantic hit about bilirubin, for goodness' sake? Here on "Para Ti" there's the usual repetitive Christian vocabulary that you'd find on a standard worship album: love, praise, God, serve. Those all are important, but the most effective artists find new words to express these ancient concepts. JLG can do it, I think -- he just hasn't yet given himself permission.

We can only hope that after this first foray into directly Christian territory, he'll find a way to loosen up a little and use the verbal and rhythmic gifts God's given him, in a field that could use innovators like Juan Luis.

Tengo el CD "Para Ti" de Juan Luis. En lo que se refiere a musica y composición: Juan Luis Guerra es un hombre bendecido con tanto talento e inspiración junto con 4:40. Nadie deberia categorizar este CD como religioso porque Juan Luis no esta cantandote doctrinas. Simplemente, él esta cantandole a Dios y nos comparte sus inspiraciones y con el respaldo definitivo de Dios. Para el que sabe de musica y sin ser religioso, comprelo. Apreciará musica bien hecha de la A a la Z.

I have the Juan Luis Guerra's CD " Para Ti." Regarding to music and composition: Juan Luis is a blessed man with musical skills and inspiration along with the group 4:40. Nobody should categorize this CD as a merely religious collection because Juan Luis is not singing religious doctrines. He's humbly singing to God and he's sharing his good inspirations with us. Besides, I can feel he's having the absolute endorsement from God himself. To those who know about what good music is: Buy it. You'll listen good music from A to Z.

I have listened to Juan Luis Guerra for six years now. When I was in the store I saw Para Ti and bought it. I had no idea it was a Christian Album.

But I have to say it was a pleasant surprise! I have read reviews criticizing Juan Luis Guerra because it wasn't his "normal" album. I have not been able to stop listening to this album since I purchased it. I have had friends and co-workers listen to various songs from the album.

Listeners need to remember this album was written to praise the Lord; not for the adoration of men. But if we like it...that's nice too!

If you don't want to listen to the Lord being praised...don't buy this album. If you do...you will enjoy this album tremendously!

One day I was in a store and heard some music that caught my attention. I asked the store owner what I was listening to. It was "Ojala Que Llueva Café" by Juan Luis Guerra. At the music store I asked for help in finding it. "That's a good one, but `Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Igual' sells a lot more." So I bought both and was glad I did. They are both full of lively happy music. When I bought "Para Ti" I was blown away by the music. JLG is a great writer, fine singer, and has a wonderful supporting cast of musicians. I listen to it again and again, not understanding the lyrics, but lost in the joyful sound.

To be sure, Juan Luis Guerra remains one of the world's finest singer-songwriters. On "Para Ti" he proves that no words can possibly escape his sixth sense for delivering a a message in a complex, yet enjoyable way. Though I've enjoyed other JLG albums more - perhaps due to their universal focus on them es like love, laughter and the human spirit - I consider this more of a Latin gospel album than anything else. While I don't begrudge the artist's deeply felt need to sing and write about his love of God, the album is so intensely personal and overtly religious, it almost fails to have an impact as a grand collection of merengue and bachata classics. "Las Avispas" - to be sure - is a terrific first single, that will have you moving to a Latin beat, regardless of the fire and brimstone lyrics that suggest God will send wasps to sting the sinners. Yet, so much of the album is steeped in religious righteousness, it ultimately fails to bring the songs to life in Guerra's usual, inimitable way. To be sure, Guerra has lost none of his poetic majesty, and for that alone, he merits 4 stars. But, I find myself longing for the Guerra who used to find God in life's simplest pleasures - the birth of a child, the thrill of finding true love, the challenges of life documented in "No Es Lo Mismo" (his previous 5-star opus). There's no "El Niagra en Bicicleta" or "Ojala Que Llueva Cafe" or "Burbujas de Amor" here, but rather repeated homages to Jesus Christ. Like Mel Gibson, Juan Luis has created his own "Passion". For the most part, the ingenious lyrics and melodies overcome the hit-you-over-the-head prayers he offers to his God. The man's god religion, and that's all right with me. But, for anyone looking for fun, "Para Ti" disappoints.

I'm not a fan of Spanish language music, and I'm not a fan of contemporary Christian family friendly music, but I happen to like this CD.

The first time I heard "Soldado", I was riding in a car with a bunch of people, and everybody from seven year old Jennifer to her grandmother sang along and enjoyed the music. The music has a solid beat and the lyrics definitely express the joy of someone who recently gave his heart to the Lord.

I'm not surprised that it won at the Grammies.

I've been a huge fan of JGL since my sister first introduced me to him 10 years ago. I own all but one of his albums and that's only because Ojala is out of print. Anyway, I don't know Spanish too terribly well so I don't know most of what he's saying in his songs, but the music is incredible enough that I don't mind not knowing what he's saying half the time. I know I'm missing out on a lot, etc, but it has relevance in this review, too.

Without even knowing what the words are, you can tell that these songs are Gospel songs. Why does one of the greatest songwriters I've ever heard have to resort to tired Gospel cliches just because he's singing about God? The chorus backing him up on a few songs, like Soldado and Gloria, is so awful and so poorly orchestrated it's nauseating. And Alleluya is so bad I have only listened to it once. Based on other reviews, it's a good thing I don't know Spanish because the lyrics would probably make me puke, too, but that's another story.

I just think it's really interesting that you can tell it's a Gospel album just because it sounds so much like the crappy gospel music we are subjected to here in the states. There are some seriously great songs, don't get me wrong. Despite the choir, Soldado does bring some of JGL's usual awesome rhythm. Las Avispas is awesome, and Extiente Tu Mano is beautiful. But my God, Alleluya and Mi Padre Me Ama and Gloria are so sappy, cliched and just overall poor they leave a stain on his previous work. I'm not kidding, they're that bad. If finding God also ennabled him to find such awful songs, then he should lose Him.

After a long abscence of more than 6 years, Domincan singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, returns with what is his first record of christian music. "Para Ti" is the artists most personal record yet, and masterpiece of religious music. Juan Luis Guerra has composed an album that will lift the souls and enlighten the spirits of listeners, while not losing focus of his Merengue/Pop dance floor sounds. Guerra also makes an attempt at gospel and slow balads, with an amazing amount of success, which could easily be heard at a local baptist churches. Yet again, the record never becomes boring, due to some excellent Merengue songs, and a new Salsa song which should have listeners dancing and begging for more.

The only downfall to the record, is that it is missing some of Juan Luis Guerra's trademark Bachata songs, for which he is known to be the king of the genre. While some secular music lovers may disapprove, "Para Ti" delivers something new and innovative for Guerra's longtime fans, and at the same time capturing the hearts and souls of religiois music lovers.

Do you like Christian Rock? What if one of your favorite groups came out with a Christian album, would you buy it?

If yes, and you have any interest in merengue, you'll like this CD. If no, the lyrics just don't interest you for whatever reason, then avoid this album.

I ordered this CD "blindly" thinking "all-right, Juan Luis Guerra has come out with a new album!", listened to it once thinking "what the heck?", and promptly gave it to my brother-in-law who happens to like Christian music. If he were giving this review, I'm sure he'll give it a 5. I'm giving it a 2 because, while the music is good, I just didn't care for the lyrics.

If you are at all interested in Juan Luis Guerra, and he does have some great albums out there, I recommend listening to "Ni es lo mismo, Ni es iqual" or "Arieto". If you are at all interested in Christian music, then by all means buy "Para Ti". It's just not my cup of tea.