Soulful standards fill Secada's new discs
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
By MARIO TARRADELL
Music Critic mtarradell@dallasnews.com
Jon Secada did it backward. The Miami-based Cuba
native began his career in Anglo pop, simultaneous-
ly crossing over to Latin pop. He took the opposite
route of Latin crossover superstars such as Gloria
Estefan, Ricky Martin and Shakira.
"I was signed to sing in English first," says the 48-
year-old singer-songwriter by phone from Miami.
"The idea to record in Spanish was an afterthought,
really. But, thank God, because that's the reason
I've had an international career."
That early dual success with 1992's Jon Secada
and its Spanish-language counterpart Otra Dia Mas
Sin Verte, as well as 1994's Heart, Soul & a Voice
along with Si Te Vas set the stage for Secada's liveli-
hood. He's gone back and forth, as he's done with
the new discs, Classics and Clasicos.
On Classics and its Spanish-language companion
Clasicos, Secada interprets songs that have been
recorded in both languages, such as "Before the
Next Teardrop Falls," "Spanish Eyes" and "Que Sera
Sera."
Secada's voice is smooth and soulful during distinc-
tive covers of "What a Difference a Day Makes" and
"La Bamba."
"I just went through a Rolodex in my brain about the
kind of songs that I wanted to do versions of ...
songs that had been done in both languages, Latin
artists for the English market and vice versa. They
are standards of all times."
Secada spent most of his career recording for major
labels, but he's now enjoying the creative freedom of
an independent imprint, Florida's Big3 Records.
He grew up bilingual in Miami, he says, so he wants
Miami-
based
Jon
Secada
has
released
Classics
and
Clasicos.
that melding of cultures reflected in his music.
Without the pressures to be pop-radio savvy and
chase every sonic trend, Secada can pick and
choose.
"To be independent has a lot to do with it," he says.
"To be able to pinpoint a project and do specifically
what you want to do with that project, whether it's
English or Spanish or both, and work it that way. I
got used to working on different projects at the same
time early in my career. I grew up with such a fusion
of so many different flavors."
He'll record an Anglo pop CD later this year, then
one in Spanish for Latin radio.
A live concert CD and DVD, The Best of Jon Secada
Live From Rio, will be taped next month and
released in Brazil in October. Surely his radio sta-
ples – "Just Another Day," "Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte,"
"If You Go" and "Si Te Vas" – will be part of that gig.
Does Secada miss having the mainstream hits?
"I feel lucky in my career to have had them," he
says. "Those hits gave me the opportunity to do
what I do now."