Shakira in World Cup closing ceremony

Shakira will performWaka Waka (This Time for Africa) at the closing ceremonies of the World Cup. She will be joined by Freshlyground who created the official World Cup video prior to the start of the games.

"While the opening ceremony was more traditional in its approach, in order to do justice to Africa's heritage, the closing ceremony will have more contemporary and youthful themes," said Derek Carstens, chief marketing officer for the organizing committee.



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Viva Espana! Spain semi-final win

MADRID — The whole of Spain erupted with joy as the national side reached the World Cup final for the first time ever with a 1-0 win over Germany -- and the fiesta looked set to last all through the night.

"It's over! We are in the final of the World Cup! It's historic, what joy!" shouted a commentator from the television channel La Cuatro as the final whistle went.

"It's not a dream, Spain is in the final!" the Madrid daily ABC said on its website.

A cacophony of firecrackers, vuvuzelas, car horns and cheers rang out across Madrid, where Spanish red and gold flags adorn balconies, roofs and bars.

Thousands of ecstatic fans sang and waved flags outside Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium where the match was broadcast on giant screens.

The crowd shouted "Yes, yes, yes, this year, yes!" and "I am Spanish, Spanish, Spanish!" to celebrate the win, which takes Spain into the final against Holland on Sunday.

"We're euphoric, we deserved to win," said Julia, 17.

Spain "opened up the match" and "had far more chances than Germany," said Juan Sierra, 17.

Spain "dominated the match and in the second half the German team was already tired, and with the changes we made we were fresher," said Tomas Vasquez, a 41-year-old father who was watching the game with his son.

Carles Puyol's 73rd-minute goal was greeted with red smoke from firecrackers.

The city was earlier gripped with excitement and anticipation ahead of what sports newspaper AS said was "the match of our lives".

The streets were empty ahead of the game as residents rushed home or into bars to watch the game.

Police also set up barriers around the fountain in the Spanish capital's Plaza Cibeles, where Real fans traditionally celebrate their victories.

Almost all towns and cities throughout the country installed giant screens for people to watch the match.

One notable exception was in Barcelona, the capital of the nationalist-minded region of Catalonia, even though seven players in Spain's starting line-up for Wednesday's game are from the Barcelona team.

"The best team, Spain, qualified for the final," radio Cadena Ser said on its website.

The Catalan daily La Vanguardia said "Spain achieved world glory" by beating Germany so easily.

But while most people in Spain were ecstatic, one corner of the country was in despair, as tens of thousands of German tourists in a Majorcan beach resort were left with broken hearts.

Cries of "Nein!" (No!) erupted throughout Playa de Palma, a traditionally German resort in the Balearic island, as Puyol scored.

But after the final whistle, glum faces and a few moments of stunned silence were quickly followed by music, including a German version of "Viva Espana!", fireworks and more glasses of beer.

"We lost to Spain in Euro 2008, now we've lost to them in the World Cup. Twice in important matches is too much," complained Judith, an 18-year-old German tourist in the Deutsche Eck (German Corner) bar and restaurant.

"Now we have to at least beat Uruguay for third place," she said, a garland in Germany's red, yellow and black colours round her neck.

"If we'd had (suspended player Thomas) Mueller, we wouldn't have lost," said her boyfriend Pierre, also 18, wrapped in a German flag.

In sweltering heat, Germans crammed into overflowing bars and restaurants along the Playa de Palma beach to watch the match.

Majorca is nicknamed 'Germany's 17th Land' because of the millions of tourists from that country who visit every year.

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Shakira Waka Waka FIFA World Cup 2010

Shakira Waka Waka FIFA World Cup 2010 Theme Song YouTube Video.  Latina singing sensation Shakira sang the song Waka Waka for the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup.  The song was a tribute to the African people in addition to those from her native Colombia. Why Colombia?

The chorus of Waka Waka is in Fang, a Cameroonian language.  The words come from a song that was made popular during the 1980’s, and those in Colombia and throughout Latin America and the world partied to the song, as it was more or less a dance song.

Not sure what Waka Waka means? The words mean “do it” as in a task.  We have more in depth meaning of what the song means available here.

Shakira’s performance was a great way to kick off the multicultural World Cup tournament.  There are so many people from so many countries, it’s a great cumulation of thoughts, ideas, and ways of life.

So who will win the World Cup? During the star studded opening ceremony of the World Cup soccer tournament that wasn’t really on anyone’s mind…the music and performances were much, much better.

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Don Omar to hit Medellin

Puerto-Rican reggaeton artist Don Omar is set to give an exclusive performance in Medellin, where he will perform at the official opening night of new nightclub Dollhouse International on Friday. The singer - officially known as William Omar Landron - is considered one of the world's leading reggaeton performers. His 2006 release "King of Kings" was the highest-ranking reggaeton album ever in the U.S. music charts, while his debut album earned him a Latin Grammy nomination.

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Aventura: ‘We don’t want to be sell-outs’

A day before the 2010 Billboard Latin Music Awards be held in Puerto Rico for the first time ever tonight, Aventura is clear on one thing: Recording new material in English is not an option.

The New York urban group of Dominican origin — dubbed “The Kings of Bachata” and last year’s biggest-selling tropical act (according to Nielsen Soundscan) — said on Wednesday that it is not interested in making a crossover into the Anglo mainstream market with English material because it wants to keep its winning musical formula intact and genuine.

“If we ever decide or have the chance to collaborate with, say, Justin Timberlake or Usher, I would like them to sing bachata in Spanish and step into our Latin culture first so they can appreciate our Hispanic traditions and way of life and not the other way around,” said the group’s lead singer Anthony “Romeo” Santos on Wednesday during a one-on-one interview with Leila Cobo, Executive Editor of Latin Content and Programming for Billboard, on the second day of the Billboard Latin Music Conference being held at a Condado hotel.

“We don’t want to be sell-outs,” he added.

The group of two brothers and two cousins — all with the last name Santos — broke into New York’s underground music scene 14 years ago, but it wasn’t until some five years ago that it burst successfully onto the international music scene, becoming the best-selling tropical act today for its infectious fusion of romantic bachata, R&B, hip hop and pop.

In 2005, the band signed a distribution deal with Sony Music, and since then its music has reached the far corners of the world, including Holland and Dubai, among other European and Middle Eastern countries.
Among its most popular hits are “Hermanita,” “La Guerra” and “Obsesión.”
But the road to success was all but a walk in the park for Aventura.

“When we started, we took our music to several multinational record labels (which I’m not going to mention), but no one was interested in it,” recalled “Romeo,” who has become a sex symbol for legions of female fans throughout the US and Latin American markets.

“With ‘Obsesión,’ we became an underground hit, but we really never entered the mainstream market. It was tough . . . we began with nothing, and we never imagined we would be where we are today. It was hard work, but we eventually pulled it off,” he added.

With its 2009 concert tour titled “The Kings: Live,” the band played a record-breaking, five-concert series at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Hato Rey, and a four-night gig at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“Even Marc Anthony had a hard time bursting onto the mainstream music scene when he started . . . music execs would say that he was not singing salsa,” said “Romeo,” adding that it would be interesting to collaborate with Daddy Yankee.

“And look who’s Marc Anthony today,” he added.

Although Aventura members — Mikey, Lenny, Henry and Anthony — will continue working as a team, they also said that this year they plan to embark on solo careers as well.

“The most important thing for us is Aventura, but we also want to record solo albums as well and do our own thing,” said “Romeo,” who’ll begin recording songs for his upcoming record as a soloist in four months.

“None of us ever thought that we would pack Madison Square Garden, much less four nights,” he said.

“But I think that having chemistry as artists and musicians has helped us a great deal.”

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Oscar De La Hoya To Receive Award:

For Achievement in Hispanic Television At The 8th Annual Hispanic Television Summit
 

Acknowledgement for De La Hoya's Contribution To Television Targeted To Hispanic Viewers

Award To Be Presented by Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at the Hilton New York

NEW YORK, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading television industry publications Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News have announced that the 2010 recipient of their coveted Lifetime of Achievement in Hispanic Television Award will be Oscar De La Hoya, the Olympic gold medalist (1992), 10-time boxing world champion, author, Latin Grammy-nominated recording artist, entrepreneurial businessman, and philanthropist.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100503/NY96843 )

The award will be given in acknowledgement of De La Hoya's outstanding contribution to television targeted to Hispanic viewers.  Among his many achievements are record-setting pay-per-view bouts, which have traditionally attracted a large base of Hispanic fans.  One of the most notable events was the fight against Felix Trinidad in 1999, which broke the previous record for pay-per-view revenues. Another was the bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr, in 2007, which generated hundreds of millions of dollars from 2.4 million pay-per-view buys. The 2007 fight set the current record for the greatest number of orders ever for a boxing event.  De La Hoya continues to make his contribution to Hispanic television through his boxing business, Golden Boy Promotions, and ventures like the Major League Soccer team, Houston Dynamo.  

"Oscar De La Hoya has had a remarkable impact on the television business, especially with Hispanic viewers. We feel strongly that he deserves to be recognized for the role he has played, and continues to play, in helping to generate significant revenues for the industry," said Larry Dunn, Group Publisher for Broadcasting & 
 Cable and Multichannel News.  

The two TV trade publications annually present the Hispanic Television Summit during which they collectively bestow the award for a Lifetime of Achievement in Hispanic Television. There is only one recipient per year. This year, the award will be presented at a luncheon ceremony during the Summit, on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at the Hilton New York Hotel.

Previous recipients of this award include Sabado Gigante host, Don Francisco; sportscaster Andres Cantor; host of Al Rojo Vivo, Maria Celeste Arraras; talk-show personality and host of El Show de Cristina, Cristina Saralegui; network news journalist and anchorman, Jorge Ramos and General Manager of North America Marketing at Procter & Gamble, Edgar Sandoval.

"We at Golden Boy are proud that Oscar will join the esteemed ranks of the previous Award honorees", said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.  Schaefer went on to say, "The Hispanic viewer is to be credited for much of Oscar's success. Now, through his philanthropic ventures, Oscar has been "giving back" to the audience that has given so much to him.  We are pleased to see that Oscar is being acknowledged for what he has achieved so far, both in the ring, and out."


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Enrique Iglesias - New Music Featuring Pitbull

We have all new music from Enrique Iglesias. The all-new dance track that features Pitbull is set to hit radio stations on Monday, but the song was leaked on the Internet early Saturday morning. The song titled I Like It also includes a cameo performance by Lionel Richie. He performed a bit of his classic 80s song, All Night Long, to be included in the song.

The song is a first single off his next to be released album. He has been writing new material for the effort for the last four years apparently. Enrique had the following to say about the process: "I can’t wait to finish making this album. It’s like nothing I’ve ever done before. It taps into so many different styles of music - it’s been really exciting for me to experiment and explore new territory."

Check out the new single by Enrique Iglesias below. What do you think? Do you like it?


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Flex Releases Third 'Romantic Style' Album

Panamanian urban sensation Flex is hoping to wrap up his 'Romantic Style' trilogy with the release of his third studio album titled 'Romantic Style Parte 3: Desde La Escencia." Back in 2008, the reggaeton star dominated every corner of Latin Pop radio with his hit 'Te Quiero,' which spent 20 weeks at the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks chart. The song also earned him a Latin Grammy award, and worldwide recognition. In fact, Panama had not imported an international star since Ruben Blades.

Unlike most reggaeton artists, his songs avoid social dilemma and egocentric tones to instead, concentrate on heart-warming pieces. This variation in the genre is noticeable when comparing the urban sounds coming out of Panama, to those coming out of Puerto Rico. His first album was so successful it's hard to imagine Flex surpassing it. While the reactions to his sophomore album 'La Evolucion' were lukewarm to say the least, it's hard to deny the advancement in production, lyrics and visual offerings.

Flex recruited Kumbia All Starz member Ricky Rick for the album's first single titled 'Besos de Amor.' Both artists had collaborated before when A.B. Quintanilla III invited Flex to take part of Kumbia All Starz's enormous hit 'Por Ti Baby.' Judging from the single, Flex will continue to drop hits on the radio, reinforcing his accessible and adolescent appeal.

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Watch the video 'Besos de Amor' after the jump.

Selena's death still stings 15 years later

No other pop star of the 20th century has been more inextricably linked to Houston than Selena. Born in nearby Lake Jackson, her career reached its apotheosis at a 1995 concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which attracted over 65,000 fans to the Houston Astrodome.

During her rapid rise to fame, Selena maintained an admirable social conscious: While on tour in Houston, the singer donated time to civic organizations such as D.A.R.E. and planned a fund-raising concert to help AIDS patients.

It was 15 years ago today that Selena passed away. On March 31, 1995 in a Corpus Christi Days Inn, the Queen of Tejano fell victim to a violent murder by Yolanda Saldivar, former president of the Texas fan club and the Selena-brand boutique manager (Saldívar had embezzled from Selena's successful franchise). Selena died two days before her 24th birthday.

Since then, the fallen star has received a stream of tributes that attest to her talent and infectious personality. Two weeks after her death, on April 12, Texas Governor George W. Bush declared Selena's birthday, April 16, as Selena Day in Texas. In 1997, a biopic film starring a little-known actress, Jennifer Lopez, met critical acclaim and catapulted JLo's own career.

Houston's Reliant Stadium hosted a memorial concert, Selena ¡VIVE! on April 7, 2005, a week after the 10th anniversary of her death. Once again, over 65,000 fans poured into a stadium to enjoy Selena's celebrated repertoire, performed by such high-profile artists as Gloria Estefan, Thalía and Paulina Rubio. The event was broadcast across the nation and became the most-viewed Spanish-language program in American television history.

Despite her untimely death, Selena's iconic melodies still incite joy for listeners. Her loyal Houston fan base speaks to the city's rich Latino heritage and passion for culture.

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Baby Rasta Shot Outside Studio

SAN JUAN – Puerto Rican singer Baby Rasta, one of the pioneers of reggaeton, was wounded by gunfire early Tuesday outside a recording studio in Carolina, a city in the San Juan metropolitan area, police said.

The singer, whose real name is Wilmer Alicea Curras, was hit in the abdomen, right arm and leg, and in the back.

He was taken to a hospital in Carolina.

The 33-year-old musician began his singing career performing with Gringo on “MC Non Stop Reggae” and “The Noise,” which were the creation of veteran Puerto Rican producers Playero and DJ Negro.

The singer is in stable condition after undergoing surgery, Baby Rasta’s representative, Waldo Diaz, told Efe.

Two other men were also shot outside the recording studio.

Raymond Fuentes Echevarria, whose age is not known, was shot in the mouth and right thigh, and Ivan Nuñez Cotto, 34, was shot in the right hand.

Police found more than 100 bullet casings at the crime scene.

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Ricky Martin: 'I Am a Fortunate Homosexual Man'

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- After years of keeping quiet about his personal life, pop star Ricky Martin has announced that he is gay.

"I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man," Ricky said in a message posted on his offical Web site. "I am very blessed to be who I am."

Ricky said writing his memoir and thinking about his two twin sons led him to go public.

"To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where [sic] born with. Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment," he wrote.

Though the 38-year-old kept his sexuality private throughout most of his career, Ricky said he drew strength from that time.

"These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed," he continued. "What will happen from now on? It doesn't matter. I can only focus on what's happening to me in this moment. The word "happiness" takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution."

Earlier this month, Barbara Walters told The Toronto Star that her 2000 interview with the "Livin' La Vida Loca" singer, where she grilled him about coming out, was a misstep on her part.

"In 2000, I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to admit if he was gay or not, and the way he refused to do it made everyone decide that he was," she told The Toronto Star. "A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now, I feel it was an inappropriate question."

Ricky also Tweeted a link to his coming out announcement on his Web site, simply writing, "my life."


In an earlier Tweet on Monday, the singer posted a quote attributed to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. M.L.K.Jr.," he wrote.

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Hispanics confused w/ census question

The latest government census form is fairly straightforward, but question No. 9 has proved troubling for some Hispanics.

Valenzuela, like a lot of people, isn't quite sure where she fits in.

"Obviously, I'm not white," said Valenzuela, 37. "I would consider myself Hispanic or Mexican-American, but definitely not white. The form doesn't really leave you with another option, though."

In Monterey County, the distinction could prove important to many residents because there is a large population of people who are both Hispanic and American Indian, including Triqui and Mixtec residents.

"I think the question gets to the subgroups," said Monterey County Supervisor Simón Salinas.

Currently, there aren't clear numbers on the population of Hispanics in the area who are also members of indigenous communities.

But the question of race — which comes after people answer "yes" to being of Hispanic origin — will face an estimated one out of every two Monterey County residents. According the American Community Survey, 53 percent of the county's population, or about 217,007 people, is Hispanic or Latino.

It can be confusing because Hispanic, under the Census definition, can include people of any race and from anywhere in the world.

The issue is not a new one, said David Swanson, a professor of sociology at the University of California-Riverside, and chairman of the Census Advisory Committee of Professional Associations.

"They've been trying to play catch-up for several years," Swanson said. "This issue has never been an easy one."

One reason it's so thorny? People's thoughts on the subject change throughout the years. In the 1930 census, for example, "Mexican" was considered a race all to itself.

It also indicates how society's view of Americans of Mexican descent has evolved through the years. Many were taught in schools they belonged to the white race. Others, looking at the indigenous roots of many Mexicans and other Latin Americans, disagreed with the label.

"It's been confusing for everybody ever since," Swanson said. "The census is always trying to keep up with changes in American culture, yet it needs to retain some consistency."

The first attempt to comprehensively tabulate people who are Hispanic didn't happen until 1970. Since then, an increasing number of Hispanics have marked "some other race." In the 2000 census, 48 percent of
Hispanics described themselves as white while 42 percent chose "some other race."

"In this century, some people feel comfortable calling themselves Latinos, because it's all-encompassing," said Leo Cardenas, a manager for the Census Bureau. "Other people want to be Chicano, others want to be Hispanic. ... If you're looking at the form and you're thinking, 'That's not who I am,' that's your chance to identify yourself and state how you view yourself. It's self-identification, and you will be counted."

And, Salinas said, the most important thing is that every Monterey County resident is counted.

The decennial count is used to divvy up federal money and create political districts. An estimated $526 million that came to Monterey County in 2008 was distributed based on census data. For every one person that sits out, the county could lose about $1,288 each year that could have been spent on education, health care and road improvements, according to a study by the Brookings Institute.

Those that struggle with Question 9 — race — after answering "yes" on Question 8 — Hispanic origin — should try to quickly find an answer, even though there may be no easy one.

In fact, Swanson said, there is no wrong response to the question.

"There is no set definition as to what race and ethnicity is," he said. "There's social categories, social constructs, self-identification, maybe some voting-rights acts, but there's no hard-and-set definition as to race and ethnicity."

Some people think of leaving the question blank, which doesn't solve the problem, either. An accurate count helps determine which communities receive funding and helps determine congressional districting.

"I think the key is to get counted," Salinas said. "This is significant."

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Juanes and Shakira support Cuban dissidents

Colombian pop icons Juanes and Shakira are both demonstrating their serious sides, issuing statements in support of Cuban dissidents "The Ladies in White."

The Ladies in White, or Damas de Blanco, are a Cuban protest group made up of wives and relatives of jailed dissidents.

Shakira on Thursday posted a statement on her website saying "Today I join the call to action ... to support the Ladies In White, who are true heroines of our time." The singer went on to criticise Cuba's "repression and violation of human rights."

"I hope that this rising up for the freedom ... plants seeds of liberty in all the young people of the world, because it is us who justice depends on," proclaimed the "Hips Don't Lie" singer.

Meanwhile rock star Juanes said on Thursday in an emotional post on his Twitter page ""Amnesty, forgiving and forgetting ... I am with you Damas de Blanco, I'm with you families of abductees, I'm with you ... Freedom!"

Juanes went on to call for “Freedom for all the political prisoners, USA, CUBA, VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA ... wherever they may be ... freedom, please.”

Shakira is no stranger to serious political commentary, pronouncing in January that the problems of Latin America could be blamed on its colonial history.

Juanes has also been known to involve himself in world affairs, holding a peace ceremony on the Colombia-Ecuador border in December, in which he exchanged national flags with an Ecuadorian musician and urged the two countries to "never give up on the cause of non-violence and brotherhood."

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Julio Iglesias smitten by beauty queen?

MANILA, Philippines - Latin crooner Julio Iglesias is reportedly smitten once again by a Filipina beauty.
Iglesias chose Binibining Pilipinas International 2010 winner Krista Kleiner, who is known by her screen name "Krissa Mae," to join his 15-city world tour. 

The music legend gave an on-the-spot audition to Krissa Mae during his concert at the Araneta Coliseum over the weekend and he immediately gave her a 3-month contract to perform with him worldwide.
"I couldn't be happier and more excited and more thankful," Kleiner told ABS-CBN News.

But Krissa Mae was quick to deny rumors that she and Iglesias are romantically involved.

"I really don't think so... He's the same age as my father and he was showing me pictures of his beautiful wife and beautiful, beautiful kids. He's very proud of his family and he's not trying to be malandi nang ganun," she said.
Kleiner is the girlfriend of prince of RnB, Jay R.
Iglesias was once married to Filipina socialite Isabel Preysler and they had 3 children, including pop star Enrique Iglesias.

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George Lopez to voice Speedy Gonzales

The comedian is attached to provide the voice of the fastest mouse in all Mexico for a politically correct live-action/CG hybrid feature set up at New Line Cinema.
The Looney Tunes character debuted in the 1950s as a regular nemesis of Sylvester the Cat. A 1955 short about the tiny hero, "Speedy Gonzales," won the Academy Award for best short subject, (cartoon). Pat Boone even released a hit song about the famous mouse in 1962.

Over the years, Speedy appeared in the live-action/animation features "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "Space Jam" and "Looney Tunes: Back in Action." But the character has often courted criticism that the ethnic characterizations of him and his compatriots (especially lazy cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez) are stereotypically racist and severely outdated.

Aware of this, New Line and the producers plan to update the brand with a modernized sensibility.

"We wanted to make sure that it was not the Speedy of the 1950s -- the racist Speedy," said the comedian's wife Ann Lopez, who will serve alongside him as a producer. "Speedy's going to be a misunderstood boy who comes from a family that works in a very meticulous setting, and he's a little too fast for what they do. He makes a mess of that. So he has to go out in the world to find what he's good at."

That path becomes clearer once Speedy befriends a gun-shy race-car driver.
"Garfield" scribes Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen will write the script.

Lopez hosts "Lopez Tonight" on TBS and appears in New Line's ensemble hit "Valentine's Day," which has grossed $158 million worldwide after two weekends. He also recently starred in "The Spy Next Door" and provided a voice for "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

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Chayanne rolls out new album

Following a two-year break from the recording studio, Puerto Rican pop singer Chayanne is back with a new album titled “No hay imposibles” that's faithful to the artist's romantic side.

The first cut is “Me enamoré de ti,” already a popular radio track in several US markets and the theme of Corazón Salvaje, a Mexican soap opera that will be distributed to more than 60 countries worldwide.

The follow-up to the Puerto Rican heartthrob's 2007 “Mi tiempo,” the set features 12 unreleased songs, including “Si no estás,” “El hombre que fui” and “Por si mañana,” among others.

The artist's new album follows the release of his first live DVD/CD ever last year, “Chayanne-Vivo.”

Recorded between Miami , Puerto Rico, Los Angeles , Bogotá, and Buenos Aires , No hay imposibles features renowned producers Julio Reyes, Sebastián Krys, Pablo Durán, René Toledo and Javier Díaz, who headed the production.

Currently, Chayanne is in Puerto Rico on a promotional tour of the album.

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Pitbull Named King of "Calle Ocho"

The biggest Hispanic festival in the nation is paying tribute to a leader in Spanish Hip-Hop.
Cuban American rapper Pitbull has been named the king of the annual Carnaval festival's biggest bash.
Carnaval festival takes place in Miami from February 27-March 14 and includes contests, tournaments, arts and jazz concerts.

Pitbull will take his crown during the festival's finale bash Calle Ocho on March 14.
The popular block party will have food, performances, music and of course dancing.

Speaking on the esteemed honor of being King for a day in a press conference, Pitbull says that he feels a “tremendous source of pride."

“For me, a Miami kid raised in Little Havana, it's a tremendous source of pride to be here because [Carnaval Miami] shows the unity of the cultures that come here.”

For more information on Carnaval visit CarnavalMiami.com

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Aventura Continues Streak At #1 On Billboard

Los Angeles, CA, United States (CNS) - After 14 weeks on the chart, Aventura spends its 7th week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart with their hit, "Dile Al Amor." "Dile Al Amor," the group's fourth single from their album "The Last," is their fourth #1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs. The group recently picked up five major awards at "Premio Lo Nuestro," including Artist of the Year and Best Tropical Album for "The Last."

At #2 for another week are Banda Los Recoditos with "Ando Bien Pedo," while Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga is at #3 for another week with the former #1 single, "Me Gusta Todo De Ti." Up a spot from #5 last week are Carlos Baute Con Marta Sanchez with "Colgando En Tus Manos" at #4 this week, the single's peak position.

Camila is down a spot from #4 last week to #5 with "Mientes" from the album "Dejarte de Amar." Shakira climbs back into her peak position of #6 for her latest Spanish single, "Lo Hecho Esta Hecho (Did It Again)."

She just released the single and video for the follow-up, "Gitana (Gypsy)," also from her album "She Wolf."
At #7 this week is La Arolladora Banda El Limon with "La Calabaza," down a spot from #6 last week. Alejandro Fernandez continues at #8 this week with "Se Me Va La Voz," from his latest album "Dos Mundos: Evolucion."

Two new entries climb into the Top 10 this week. Don Omar moves up from #11 last week to #9 with "Hasta Abajo." The single, from his album "Prototype 2.0," has already spent 5 weeks at #1 on the Latin Rhythmic Airplay chart. At #10 is the first single from Chayanne's latest album, "No Hay Imposibles," "Me Enamore de Ti." The single, which served as the theme for the soap opera "Corazon Salvaje," moves up from #13 last week.

Billboard Hot Latin Songs For the Week Ending March 6th, 2010

1. "Dile Al Amor," Aventura
2. "Ando Bien Pedo," Banda Los Recoditos
3. "Me Gusta Todo De Ti," Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga
4. "Colgande En Tus Manos," Carlos Baute Con Marta Sanchez
5. "Mientes," Camila
6. "Lo Hecho Esta Hecho (Did It Again)," Shakira
7. "La Calabaza," La Arrolladora Banda El Limon
8. "Se Me Va La Voz," Alejandro Fernandez
9. "Hasta Abajo," Don Omar
10. "Me Enamore De Ti," Chayanne

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Ricky calls for focus on human trafficking

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico needs more effective legislation to halt human trafficking in the U.S. Caribbean territory, Latin superstar Ricky Martin said Monday.

Martin was visiting his native island to present a study conducted by the nonprofit Ricky Martin Foundation, a group advocating children's rights globally.

The 91-page report concludes that sex tourism and human trafficking are serious problems in Puerto Rico, and that the island is used as a transit point for smuggled women and children.

"This is happening on our island," said Martin, a winner of multiple Grammy awards, as he presented the study at the University of Puerto Rico. "We cannot turn our back on the victims."

Luis Cdebaca, director of the U.S. State Department's division of human-trafficking monitoring, praised the singer — perhaps best-known for his "Livin' the Vida Loca" single — for bringing attention to human trafficking and other forms of modern-day slavery. He said traffickers are thriving in Puerto Rico and across the U.S. mainland.

"What we are dealing with is a situation where people are suffering because no one is hearing their voice," he said.

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We Are The World Spanish Version

Everyone’s anticipation for the remake of Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie’s “We Are The World” was boiling over the top by the time it premiered on television during the 2010 Olympics opening ceremony. With a new generation of “all-stars” lending their voices, we all wondered how it would turn out. The results: It raised a generous amount of money to go towards Haiti and is still #1 on iTunes, but the general reception hasn’t been as great. If you still haven’t checked out the new video, you can watch and listen to it  here.


However, it looks like we have yet another version of new peace anthem coming out. A Spanish version of “We Are The World” is slated to premiere on The Cristina Show which pulls in as many viewers as Oprah does.  A few artists such as Shakira has been confirmed to be a part of it.

According to the Associated Press, the song will also raise funds for Haitian relief and in addition to Shakria, Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana, David Archuletta, Gloria Estefan, Chayanne, Juan Luis Guerra are also on the roster to participate. The track is also produced by Quincy Jones and Univision with the help of Latino music mogul, Emilio Estefan. The Spanish version of the track will also be under the patronage and guidance of the We Are The World Foundation.

Even if you don’t speak or understand Spanish, there is a possibility that this version to premiere on Monday might even be better than the first 2010 remake. It’s also a great way to pull in people around the world for a good cause through a great melody.

What do you think of these artists making a Spanish remake of “We Are The World?”

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Univision award show celebrates fan favorites

Are you a big fan of salsa and merengue? Or is there more reggaeton in your iPod?

Whatever the case, here's your chance to celebrate all genres of música latina.

On Thursday, musicians will take the stage for Premio Lo Nuestro -- Univision's Latin music awards show.

This year's nominees include Daddy Yankee, Shakira, Paulina Rubio, Nelly Furtado, Juanes, Luis Enrique, Aventura, Grupo Mania, Elvis Crespo, Juan Luis Guerra, Alicia Villareal, Diana Reyes, Jenni Rivera, Wisin y Yandel, Luz Rios, Paquita la Del Barrio, Fanny Lu, Gloria Trevi, Laura Pausini, Sonohra, Tati, Victor & Leo, Beto Cuevas, La Secta Allstar, Maná and Motel.

The bilingual show, which will be broadcasted live in English and Spanish, will be hosted by salsa star Victor Manuelle and Ana Barbara.

The show starts at 8 p.m. but if you want to check out what the celebs are wearing head over around 7 p.m. for the red carpet arrivals.

Premio Lo Nuestro, 8 p.m. Thurday, AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; ticketmaster.com. Watch it at home from 8-11 p.m. on WLTV-Univision 23.

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Selena Gomez Covers Her Namesake

Selena Gomez paid tribute to late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez — her namesake — by covering one of her songs during her weekend concert.

On Saturday, Selena was in San Antonio where she performed the slain songstress' 1995 hit "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" in front of a wide-eyed crowd, including her on-again beau Nick Jonas.

The 17-year-old Wizards of Waverly Place has said that to her family — her father is Mexican and her mother is of Italian descent — it's "really a big deal" that she is "named after such a wonderful person." And it's been reported that she met the late Selena's brother, later recounting: "It was very emotional when he came up to me and said my sister was named Selena and I said I was named after her. It was a really powerful moment."

In addition to the Selena cover, the Texas native — dressed in a white-and-silver dress and sparkly black vest — did versions of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold.“

As for Nick, he was trying to go incognito wearing a black cowboy hat, but concertgoers immediately had his number -- and you can see him on the end of the video below.

In an interview last week, Selena was completely at a loss for words when she was asked about Nick.



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Eva sends Her Twitter Followers to a Porn Site

Eva Longoria Parker finally joined the rest of the world and signed up for Twitter.com last week. She attempted to link to her husband Tony Parker's Twitter account, but made quite a mistake in copying and pasting the link. Instead of linking to his Twitter account, she sent her followers to a porn site!
After realizing her mistake, Eva urged her followers to stay away from the site, tweeting:

"Oh noooo! I put the wrong Twitter site for my husband!! The one I put earlier goes to some porn site!!!! Don't use it!"

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Wilmer Seeks to Bring Census Awareness

Beginning in March, Americans will receive a form in the mail to fill out and return to the U.S. Census Bureau. Every decade, many wonder why it's so necessary to participate in the census. From alloting seats in the House of Representatives to dispersal of billions in federal spending, there are numerous reasons. But the word isn't getting out to everyone.

This is especially true for Hispanics -- who are the fastest growing minority in the United States. Being counted in the census can potentially provide additional representation and funding for developing communities.

On Tuesday's "Washington Unplugged," actor Wilmer Valderrama joined Nancy Cordes to discuss his work with the non-profit organization Voto Latino, co-founded by actress Rosario Dawson. The organization aims to increases voter turnout and political involvement among Hispanic youth.

Valderrama and other Hispanic celebrities are meeting with House lawmakers Wednesday, unveiling a new campaign urging Hispanics to take part in the census.

"Rosario Dawson and I started this amazing campaign last year to register people to vote and inspire the youth to understand that voting is important. We knew that the census was coming in 2010 and that it's very important thing for the community to embrace," Valderrama said.

Valderrama also notes that Hispanics have much to gain from participating in the census. "It dictates the funding of public services, schools and hospitals. Depending on how many people are in the area, funding is distributed."

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Alba Making Sure Honor Grows Up Bilingual

Jessica Alba is reconnecting with her Mexican heritage – and, with a new Spanish teacher, is making sure 19-month-old daughter Honor grows up appreciating her roots, too.

In the latest issue of Siempre Mujer magazine, Alba says she recently hired a Hispanic studies professor to teach her and Honor Spanish. The actress says she wants to help her daughter avoid the criticism she endured when she was 18 and her non-fluency in Spanish made headlines. "God knows that I wish I was raised bilingual," Alba says. "But it wasn't to be."

She also opened up about her pain from the media criticism, saying she "cried all night" over her portrayal in the press. "I tried to explain to [journalists] that in this country I'm considered Latina and, thus, I consider myself Latina as well," Alba, 28, says. "I identify with Mexicans. It's in my blood whether or not I speak Spanish."

When asked what she'd like to change about herself, Alba switched to a lighter note, wishing for fewer stretch marks – and the ability to "turn my brain off every once in a while. I'm too analytical."

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Romeo 'Honored' By Lady Gaga Comparisons

NEW YORK — There's been an array of homegrown talent, from Rev. Run of Run-DMC to Marc Anthony to Jay-Z, who could make the claim that Madison Square Garden is their house. Rev. Run even made a song about it back in the day.

But Dominican Bachata group Aventura — all raised in the Bronx — are making a case of their own right now. The quartet is currently in the midst of a four-show run at the Garden, selling out each date and leading local tabloids to laud their feat, particularly over another Gotham act, Lady Gaga, who recently had a successful four-show run at the smaller Radio City Music Hall.

So what do the guys of Aventura think of the lofty praise?
"It's definitely an honor to be compared to artists like Marc Anthony and mainstream artists like Lady Gaga that are out and have done big stuff in New York City," Aventura frontman Anthony "Romeo" Santos told MTV News. "I hate it when they make it a competition though, because it's really totally different worlds. She's doing big things and if I wouldn't have had four concerts I would have probably been at one of her [dates] just enjoying her show."

The collective is touring in support of their fifth album, The Last, which has already spawned four hit singles, from the Akon-assisted "All Up 2 You" to current chart-topper "Dile al Amor." "Dile al Amor" is their fourth song to top the Latin charts.

"It's really overwhelming what's happening right now in Aventura's career," Romeo said. "We don't take anything for granted. I think that it's been a long journey, but we got motivated to keep going and never be satisfied with the status that we're in at the moment."

On Monday and Tuesday (February 1 and 2) the group will complete the New York City leg of their tour. According to Romeo, he and the other three Aventura members (Lenny Santos, Henry Santos Jeter and Max Santos) are looking forward to closing out the run with more surprises. They've been joined by Anthony, Akon and fellow Latin artists Wisin Y Yandel on stage so far.

"We try to make sure that everyone that's present leaves feeling like it was worth it," he said. "And with four nights at the Garden, I feel like we're halfway through and everyone has actually — from what I hear, the comments — left with their money's worth, 'cause we've given [the audience] what they expect but then we also brought some surprises, like Marc Anthony, Akon and Wisin Y Yandel."

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Christina Aguilera writes songs with Le Tigre

How’s this for odd couples: Pop glamour goddess Christina Aguilera has written songs with feminist electro pop act Le Tigre. Not even Oscar and Felix can beat that eccentric but oh-so-wonderful couple.

According to Pitchfork and Johanna Fateman’s blog, a “couple of songs” that the feminine collaboration wrote over the winter may make the cut for Xtina’s new album, dubbed Bionic. Despite the at-surface level of implausibility regarding this most unique of pairings, Fateman said they all had a lot in common, especially since “Deceptacon” is apparently Aguilera’s “jam”.

“[We] found a ton of common ground in our aim to make upbeat danceable tracks celebrating female friendship, strength, and of course, PARTYING,” and, “The songs have a lot of elements we’re known for like a garage guitar sound, schoolyard chants, new wave-y synths, electro beats, and somehow it all sounds crazily right with Christina’s unbelievable voice. For a feminist band obsessed with pop music, it was pretty much a dream come true.”

Add Le Tigre to an album that will also see collabos with Goldfrapp, M.I.A, and Santigold, and we’re pretty sure this could be the most dynamic pop record of 2010. While Bionic doesn’t have an official release date, some blogs are saying it could be out as early as April. The first single, supposedly called “Glam”, could hit radios early this month.

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Eva Mendes Goes ‘Above’ and Beyond

Eva Mendes poses for renowned photographer Peter Beard in the newest issue of Above magazine, on newsstands next week!

Photos of the stunning 35-year-old actress are juxtaposed with Peter’s images of African wildlife in the photo spread.

Eva is a huge animal supporter - she posed for Peta in 2007 to speak out against wearing fur!

Be sure to catch Eva next week on newsstands - click here to find out where to find Above near you!

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JLo questioned about sexuality in court

The announcement came as the ongoing dispute between Lopez, 40, and Noa faced another round in court with a judge rejecting the actress’ attempt to send the matter to arbitration. Noa has been attempting to win the right to use a home video of Lopez for commercial gain, but her attorneys have so far managed to obtain an injunction blocking him using it.
 
Now Ed Meyer, who is Noa’s business manager and executive producer for his in-development movie, is turning up the pressure, and has revealed that the home video shows Lopez kissing girls. “The first question I plan on asking Jennifer Lopez on the stand is if she is bi-sexual,” Radar Online quoted Meyer as saying on January 29 after the court ruling.
 
But while Meyer refers to the video as “sex tapes”, as source, who has seen the tapes, has revealed that they do not depict sex and, at best, some portions could be considered “racy”.

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Hispanic celebrities bring 'Hope for Haiti'

Latino stars are coming together through various projects and fundraisers to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

The Jan. 22 “Hope for Haiti” telethon organized by actor George Clooney raised more than $57 million with the help of dozens of performers, including Christina Aquilera and Shakira. The “Unidos Por Haiti,” a special edition of “Sábado Gigante” that aired Jan. 23, was expanded from its originally planned four-hour telecast to five hours so producers could accommodate all the stars who wanted to participate, including Thalía, Gloria Estefan and Daddy Yankee.

Other Hispanic celebrities have done their part to help the Haitians still struggling to recover from the devastating earthquake that struck the island country Jan. 12. Here's a look at some of the contributions made and how you can help, too:
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Shakira has announced that she will help build a new school through her children's educational non-profit foundation Pies Descalzos. Shakira founded Pies Descalzos in 2003 to help disadvantaged children and their families in her native Colombia through education and income-generating projects. For more on Pies Descalzos, visit fundacionpiesdescalzos.com.
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Musical group Aventura made a personal donation of $25,000 to the American Red Cross for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, latina.com reports. To find out how you can help the American Red Cross help those in Haiti, go to redcross.org, or call (800) 842-2200.
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Several Mexican musicians are lending their voices to a special album to raise money for earthquake relief. Among the musicians participating on the double-disc “Voces Por Haití” are Alejandro Fernández, Vicente Fernández, Julieta Venegas and Alejandra Guzmán. The album should be in stores by early next month, Univision reports.
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Singer Ricky Martin has traveled with Habitat for Humanity to Haiti to help with clean-up and rebuilding efforts there. For more on Habitat for Humanity, visit habitat.org.
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Comedian and talk show host George Lopez is organizing a Feb. 4 benefit concert in Los Angeles to raise money for Haitian relief efforts.

Lopez has asked some past guests of his “Lopez Tonight” show, including Andy Garcia, Slash, Samuel Jackson and Kobe Bryant, to participate in the concert. Even if you can't travel to Southern California to attend “Help Haiti with George Lopez and Friends,” you can still help the comedian with his cause. Visit lopeztonight.com to make a donation.

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Don Omar and Jackie Guerrido Reunited

Your favorite couple is back together!

It looks like the reconciliation took place during the Christmas Holidays.

Sources tell us that there had been a lot of disaccord in their marriage thanks to Don Omar’s tempestuous temper and jealous rages.

Didn’t he know that men wouldn’t stop admiring Jackie Guerrido and giving her attention even, regardless of wether she was married or not.

Give us a break!

Anyway, something tells us that this patching things up is not going to last! We wish this couple well though.

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Daddy Yankee Signs with Sony Music Latin

Daddy Yankee has singed a contract with Sony Music Latin. The urban artist who has sold more albums in this decade announced with Ruben Leyva, president of Sony Music U.S. Latin, that he signed a recording contract with the multinational recording label. The agreement took place at Club 50, the famous Viceroy Hotel in Miami, Florida.

“My music is global. The position of Sony Music Latin and its success as market leaders are in line with what I want to achieve with this new record with an international focus. I know it is a successful union and that together we will revolutionize urban music, “said Daddy Yankee.

Meanwhile, Ruben Leyva said that “at Sony Music Latin, we are happy that an artist as highly respected like Daddy Yankee will join our family and we know that this alliance will be a great success for all.”

The new album “DADDY YANKEE MUNDIAL” has various influences of international rhythms. This album will be in stores in the spring of 2010 and also be a worldwide success that is currently taking of the radio worldwide.

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Juanes to Receive (BMI) President’s Award

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Juanes will receive the BMI President’s Award at the 17^th annual BMI Latin Awards slated for March 4, 2010 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Assistant Vice President, Latin Music Delia Orjuela, the invitation-only ceremony will recognize the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s top BMI Latin songs played on American radio and television.

The BMI President’s Award recognizes Juanes’ profound influence on Latin music on the worldwide stage and anticipates his future contributions to global culture. In receiving the BMI President’s Award, Juanes joins a small but elite list of past honorees that includes Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Willie Nelson, and 2009 recipients Taylor Swift and Brooks & Dunn.

Juanes is redefining international superstardom. While many contemporaries have recorded bilingual or English-language projects in the hunt for crossover success, Juanes has continued to write and record exclusively in Spanish. Soon after the release of his album Fijate Bien, Juanes has garnered 13 BMI Latin Awards, 18 Latin Grammy and Grammy awards, and Billboard’s title “Latin Star of the Decade.” Also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine, Juanes is a leading humanitarian.
Through his Fundación Mi Sangre (Mi Sangre Foundation) and participation in Paz Sin Fronteras (Peace Without Borders) concerts, Juanes lends his voice to an array of socially conscious calls-to-action.

In addition to the presentation of the President’s Award, the ceremony will also recognize the Latin Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year.

Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works.

BMI reported $905 million for its 2009 fiscal year in performing right collections. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for 70 years. The U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.

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Julio Iglesias to tour Asia, Australia

MADRID — Julio Iglesias will perform in Australia and four Asian nations later this year as part of his "Starry Night" world tour, the Spanish singer's official website said Thursday.

The 66-year-old Grammy winner will kick off his tour of the region with a concert in Manila on March 20 followed by three performances in Australia -- in Sydney, Hunter Valley and Melbourne -- between March 26 and 29.

He will then perform in Kuala Lumpur on April 1 and in three Japanese cities -- Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya -- between April 5 and 12.

Iglesias, the biggest-selling Latino recording artist in history, will wrap up his tour of Asia with a concert in Seoul on April 17.

"The tour is focused on the emblematic songs of the artist, songs dedicated to his fans around the world, in gratitude for their unconditional love," his website said.

In 1985, Iglesias was honoured with a star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and three years later he received a Grammy Award for best Latin singer with his album "Un Hombre Solo".

He has released nearly 80 albums which have sold around 300 million copies over his four-decade-long singing career.

In addition to Spanish, Iglesias has recorded albums in German, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Tagalog and Japanese.

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Sofia Vergara Sizzles at People's Choice Awards

There are plenty of celebrities who count Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's The Row among their favorite labels, but when Sofia Vergara (of ABC's Modern Family) stepped on to the red carpet wearing a bodycon dress from a recent collection, it was one of the first major red carpet moments for the burgeoning brand.

Sofia paired the minimal, sexy dress with a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, vintage jewelry, and a vintage clutch. She also joked that she was vintage, too - but even if that were true, she doesn't look it. Not in that dress, no.

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Shakira: Living it Up in Uruguay

Getting in some all-important quality time with her man, Shakira was spotted out and about at Punta del Este in Uruguay yesterday (January 5).

The “Hips Don’t Lie” songstress strolled along the beach with Antonio de la Rua, attracting the attention of the paparazzi almost instantly.

After they’d had their fill of sunshine, Shakira and Antonio stopped into a bar to grab some grub and drinks before heading off into town.

She looked cute and casual in a black Led Zeppelin t-shirt with sweatpants, sunglasses, and black boots.

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Jennifer Lopez New Year's outfit

Jennifer Lopez New Year’s outfit: JLO New Year’s outfit pictures. There’s a buzz going on in the internet about Jennifer Lopez New Year’s Eve outfit. Of course the world wants’ to see JLO’s beautiful body curve revealed in a skiing tight outfit.

Jennifer Lopez New Years outfit stunned millions because they found out that she is still beautiful and that her curve is just perfect enough to be captivated to. Lopez always has the ability to transfixed her audience through her looks and outfits.

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