Customer Reviews

Regalo Del Alma

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It is a great joy to be able to say a few words about this CD and the late Celia Cruz who left behind her heart and soul in the name of "salsa" and"son" two genres of tropical music that she mastered over an incomparable fifty year musical career. Regalo del Alma is a true gift. The gift of soul, cubanismo, sentimentalism and showcase of true love for tropical music and rhythms. I expected this album to be a platinum production just because of the circumstances under which it was initiated and finished. Once again Celia dared to be different but yet contemporary at the same time. Undoubtedly this is a salsa album but as usual Celia's albums always incorporate songs with other rhythms which shows her diversity across the genres. I liked the whole album. This is another one of hers where you can listen to whole cd and hit repeat afterwards. However, I would like to highlight a few songs that really made me laugh and just reminded that life is to be enjoyed (which is her philosophy). They are: Me huele a rumba, No estes amargao and Pa'la cola. In terms of the musicality just like "La negra tiene tumbao" this album has a lot of sounds that are more associated with Cuban salsa in particular. Especially the noted use of the "maracas" and la "clave" two instruments that distinguish Cuban salsa. This album is a treasure and not because I am a loyal fan of Celia Cruz but because this is just downright terrific salsa. Celia has left her footprints and this final album has a message from Celia which is: Rie y Llora because that's what life is all about. I will always be a fan of her music- high respect!

I bought this CD because I was curious about Celia Cruz¡¯s music. I had read a lot about her, but never seen her perform, or heard anything other than "Azucar!"

Before my purchase, I thought, "Well, here is another legend. I wonder if her reputation is all hype."

Well, I listened to the samples on Amazon, and picked this CD as my "Celia Cruz 101¡± After my first listen, I found that Regalo del Alma is truly a GIFT. If you love dance music, if you love Salsa, if you love good songs with great arrangements and great lyrics, Regalate REGALO DEL ALMA.

Here is my summary of the Best Things about this CD:

* Amazing Music

Wow, who would think that a lady who is old enough to be my granny can make such modern, lively HOT dance music?

Not only are the beats good, but the arrangements, backup singing and lyrics are wonderful, fun, interesting and meaningful. Celia Cruz's voice is also great. It¡¯s kind of rough and smooth at the same time. Unique and won-der-ful.

* Lovely Lyrics

Hey, Sony put all of the lyrics in the jacket of this CD. This is always a PLUS when I plunk down more than 5 bucks for a CD. KUDOS to SONY for including all of the lyrics!

* Other Fabulous Extras

In addition to good music, buyers of this CD get great Full Color pictures of Celia, and a sincere message from Ms Cruz at the end of the Insert.

If you are a fan, you will cry when you see the great Pix of your IDOL that are scattered throughout the CD Insert. Again, thanks to SONY for that.

If you are not a fan (like me, you will be after you hear this CD), you too will CRY when you read the heartfelt message written by Senora Cruz at the end of the insert.

In conclusion, if you purchase this CD, you will have years of singing and dancing enjoyment ahead of you! If Spanish is your Second Language, you will really appreciate the lyrics included in the CD jacket. Also, if you are a fan, you will definitely love the "extras" that come with these marvelous songs.

I whole heartedly recommend this CD. I guarantee that you will love it.

I buy all my Salsa CDs for dancing so I rate them based on the "danceability" of the songs. Celia's recordings are always the best because nearly everything she produced was made for dancing! She wasn't the "Queen of Salsa" for nothing! You could also pop this one in for listening enjoyment, but why would you want to do that when you can shake it, shake it, shake it! Here is the breakdown:

1. "Ella Tiene Fuego" is a hot, danceable Salsa with a modern infectious groove!
2. "José Caridad" is also a great danceable Salsa that is still modern in sound but more traditional sounding than the first track.
3. "Ríe Y Llora" is a sassy danceable Cha Cha Cha. One can't help but sing `Na na na na na na!" along with Celia. It's very contagious!
4. "Ay, Pena, Penita" is similar in feel to track two on the CD. This is also a danceable salsa.
5. "Diagnóstico" is slightly more up tempo than the previous tracks and is a danceable Salsa.
6. "La Niña De La Trenza Negra" This song is great to listen to, but it's a little harder to dance to than other tracks on the CD. It utilizes some voice distortion technology for Celia's voice that is interesting and very modern.
7. "Me Huele La Rumba" Don't let the word "Rumba" in the title fool you; Celia kicks it up a notch with this song! It's a fast, but still danceable Salsa. It's great for your very tight and tiny moves. The breakdown in the middle is great for showing off.
8. "No Estés Amargao" Not the best song to dance to on the CD due to a constant change in tempo and rhythm but still fun for listening.
9. "Pa' La Cola" is a danceable Salsa.
10. "María La Loca" is one more danceable salsa.
11. "Yo Viviré (I Will Survive) is a cover of the Gloria Gaynor disco classic. This one is a little too fast to Salsa to but makes a quick Cha Cha Cha. It's a fun track, so you may be tempted to try to Salsa anyway. If you do, you'll definitely need a break afterwards.

Summary: A great album for dancing! There are 7 danceable Salsas, and two Cha Cha Chas. It's also great album for listening. Not a "skip that one" track on the whole CD. I don't know how you could possibly keep your seat while this is playing. While writing this review, I kept getting up to dance myself! A great buy and "must have" in your Salsa and Celia collection.

I knew the world had truly lost an artist, a Diva, the moment I put this CD in the player. We may be treated to older, unearthed recordings, but we will never hear her swing to the the next evolutions of Cuban music, rap, dancehall - as certainly, they will evolve and be replaced by newer forms. In "Regalo del Alma," Celia continues to display her range as an artist that defies her contemporaries - the opening track, "Ella Tiene Fuego" is Salsa-Rap and Dancehall. The background for this is the Brazilian group, Axe Bahia. "Jose Caridad" is the double entendre, lyrical music of the old days; the tune is modern. Later, "Diagnostico" takes on a poignancy, a song of a sick patient being examined by a doctor who hears maracas, claves, and bongos in her pulse!! Alas, she is homesick. "Me Huele a Rumba", again, Celia remains rooted in the music of Cuba and is not afraid to spin contemporary music into it. Salsa Fans will neither be disappointed, esp. "Maria La Loca". The finale is a replay of her hit, "Yo Vivire" (I Will Survive). I would have left it off, the 10 previous, delicious, azucar-filled tracks speak for themselves: she will sobreviviendo. Her love of music for its own sake will continue to be infectious. Bendicion, Celia!

Many people would say that now that Celia is gone, we latinos are going to praise everything she ever did, even if bad. Well, it turns out that everything Celia ever put out on wax, tape, or CD was stupendous! This posthumous recording, "Regalo Del Alma", or gift from the soul, shows just how daring she was to try new things, and succeeded superbly. Celia experiments again with the Brazilian band Axe Bahia and comes out making a wonderful album full of brazilian beats, salsa, even flamenco with the daughter of La Faraona, Lola Flores. Mi Celia Querida, why did you go so soon? She definitely knew this was going to be her last album, because in it she talks about life, death, and how everyone's time has to come at one point,including her own. In this album she also gives the music everything she's got, and, although you can hear Celia's voice somewhat deeper and more tired, she has done a wonderful job for someone with 2 cancer operations and a brain tumor at the time of recording. Celia, you will be missed by all, and by me. I will never forget you lying peacefully in your coffin, although I prefer to remember you how you always were; happy and singing. Azucar para el cielo! Buy this album and help the Celia Cruz Cancer Foundation.
ALFONSO CAMINAS

Tremendo regalo nos dejo la Guarachera. Tremendas letras, tremendo ritmo, caballero, una senora de 77 anos cantando con el General! y lo bien que le queda el numero, la verdad que ella es Irrepetible. Y el duo con Lolita, para mi es el mejor del cd, esta precioso, que arreglos, que rumba flamenco. El que no baile esto, no tiene sangre en las venas. Por supuesto, que su despedida para el mundo es Rie, Llora, que a cada cual le llega su hora. No pudo decirlo mejor. Ai Negra, como te vamos a extranar.

This last album recorded by our late, beloved Celia Cruz is one of her BEST works yet! In this album she talks about life and in many ways her passion and love for music adn her Cuba. I'm a great admirere of Salsa, Son, music not only from Cuba but from Puerto Rico, and Colombia as well. This album I bought the day it was released and I asure you this is not only a collectors iteam but a must-have album as well!

This is a great CD with lots of songs that I love to blast in the car and dance to. You won't regret it.

Celia Cruz was taken from us far too soon, but her extraordinary talent will live on forever. She never gave in to trends, and remained tru to her musical roots right up to the end of her life. Sadly she will be missed, but her incredible way of interpreting a song will never be matched by any other entertainer as far as I'm concerned. She broke all musical barriers, and did Salsa the way it should be heard--in all its rawness. Never one to sell out, Celia's music will be a forever existing inspiration to us all.

Disco bien bonito, De una Cantante Cubana Linda. De La Patria Bella de Cuba.
Canciones Tristes Y Allegre Y Lindas. En Paz Descanse Celia, La Mejor de La Musica Latina.