Para Ti
Amazon.comSinger/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra applies his tropical big band magic on Christian-themed tunes on this CD but the result is the same — infectious rhythms that induce dance fever. Guerra’s strength has always been his seamless blend of the spicy salsa and carnivalesque merengue rhythms and layering the music with elaborate vocal and horn arrangements to produce irresistible melodies. Guerra penned all 12 songs here; thay all deal thematically with God and devotion. Highlights include “Eres,” which blends blues sentiment and gospel fever. Crisp piano and powerful horns drive the title track and “Las Avispas,” a tune about walking with renewed confidence. Acoustic guitars introduce “Tan Solo he Venido,” a mellow song about willing to give it all up for the Lord. As a singer, Guerra in top shape, his vocals conveying the variety of emotions from pain and longing to hope and celebration. As a bandleader Guerra hasn’t lost his edge. He is a musical genius who knows how to fuse complex arrangements with tuneful hooks. — Ramiro Burr Para Ti
Short URL: http://www.typerion.com/?p=19667
Posted by 
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!
Rating: 5 / 5
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.
Rating: 5 / 5
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.
Rating: 3 / 5
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.
Rating: 5 / 5
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 very much!
Rating: 5 / 5