Cuban Diva Looks Back on 60 Years

14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 • TAIPEI TIMES Cuban diva looks back on 60 years he frenzy over Faye impersonations of former (王菲) reported vice president Annette Lu T Wong’s rom her days as a pioneer of miscarriage continues (呂秀蓮). Chang says Ni was Cuban jazz music in the 1940s to unabated. According to the ahead of his time, being her legendary appearances with Liberty Times [the Taipei the first in Taiwan to come F the Buena Vista Social Club in the late Times’ sister paper], the up with the idea of canned 1990s and her following artistic revival, media wildfire has spread coffee over 30 years ago. singer Omara Portuondo has good reason from Hong Kong and Taiwan Milk, mortality, coffee — it all to celebrate. to China, where showbiz makes perfect sense. And this is what the 77-year-old Cuban gossip Web sites speculate But at least Chang knows diva has done with her new album, that Wong’s husband, his job is to take people’s Li Gracias, which was officially released (李亞鵬), was having minds off things like food Yapeng yesterday. Portuondo visits Taipei an affair with Chinese actress scares and cross-strait International Convention Center tomorrow (苗圃), which Miao relations. He gave a nod Miao Pu as part of a ��tour of Asia and ��urope. angrily denied. to Taiwan’s homegrown, “At this time, I am celebrating 60 Rumormongers then surprise box office hit, Cape years of an artistic career and that is an speculated that Wong, 39, and No. 7 (海角七號), noting the important reason for making this new Li, who turns 37 tomorrow, “progress of Taiwan’s film album,” said Portuondo in an e-mail were to divorce because industry.” He laughed, he interview last week with the Taipei the Mando-pop diva did cried and fancied appearing Times, translated from Spanish. not want to try for another in a blockbuster himself. He “I believe that the repertoire is going child because of her age. praised director Wei Te-sheng to touch many hearts, and for me the disc Li’s manager, (馬葭), (魏德勝), and said, “You could Ma Jia is very personal and special,” she said. angrily denied the scuttlebutt come and ask me to play in In Gracias, Portuondo pays tribute as “crazy,” the Liberty Times your next film.” to performers and songwriters that she reports. Wong’s friend, It’s no wonder Chang is has admired over the years, recording actress (劉嘉玲), looking Wei’s way. Cape No. Carina Lau what she considers “important” songs: echoed Ma’s denial, saying, 7 has broken the NT$100 the album begins with Yo vi, a Spanish- “I think it’s better for Faye million mark in box office language adaptation of a song by the Wong to talk about her takings, and the movie’s French crooner Henri Salvador, which matters herself.” stars are the center of she says “speaks of our island [Cuba].” Breathing a collective sigh attention. The male lead, The album includes a rendition of Cuban of relief are the members Amis pop singer Van Fan (范 composer �la O’Farrill’s Adios Felicidad, of girl band S.H.�. and 逸臣), celebrated the movie’s which Portuondo says has “lyrics that boy band Fahrenheit (飛輪 success by fulfilling a promise make me very excited. The music is very 海), who found out that the he made earlier to swim intense, just like me.” She also sings a yogurt drinks they endorse in naked at a beach in Kenting duet with Chico Buarque, the renowned China were not tainted with (墾丁) if the film grossed more Brazilian songwriter-turned-novelist. melamine, said the product’s than NT$30 million. The new album features fresh manufacturer Mengniu (蒙牛). As with many a big screen talent as well. Portuondo says she was The two groups, which star hit, there has been conjecture pleased to work with the Uruguayan pop in commercials for Mengniu, of romance among the cast. composer Jorger Drexler, who wrote will carry on as planned with A Liberty Times report the album’s title track. She sings duets Omara Portuondo is celebrating 60 a six-concert tour of China, speculates that Fan and the with her granddaughter Rossio Jimenez years in music, from the early days of but their record company film’s female lead, Japanese and son Ariel Jimenez on several tracks; Cuban jazz to a career revival as part says whether the groups actress Tanaka Chie, had flirts with more modern jazz sensibilities of the Buena Vista Social Club, with will continue with product engaged in some offscreen in collaboration with bassist Avashai a newly released album and tour of endorsements in the future method acting. Cohen; and salutes African music with Europe and Asia. PHOTOS COURTESY OF Da Da ARTS remains up in the air. At a celebration party Cameroonian musician Richard Bona, a All this talk of tainted at Fan’s pub in the eastern vocalist and bassist perhaps best known milk has got (張菲) district of Taipei, all eyes Chang Fei for his work with Pat Metheny. thinking — about himself. A were on the pair for outward CD next month. with her grace and an onstage verve that The album also sees Portuondo’s Liberty Times report reveals signs of inward stirrings. “For me Carnegie Hall is a very special defied her advancing years and tough continuing collaboration with two PERFORMANCE NOTES: the TV show host’s musings But they didn’t leave the place … It was very exciting for everyone touring schedule. What keeps her going? Brazilians, producer Ale Siquiera and on current events. party together. After all, Fan who was there … at that moment no one “I love my work deeply. �very concert I guitarist and musical director Swami WHAT AND WHERE: Cuban singer On a recent taping of his does have a girlfriend, saw it as an opportunity or the beginning do fills me with energy and, moreover, I try Jr, both of whom brought a subtle, Omara Portuondo in concert at the show Variety Big Brother the report said before of anything,” she said. to take care of myself as much as possible: contemporary touch to her 2004 release Taipei International Convention Center (綜藝大哥大), Chang declared mentioning the rumor “When I got on the stage and encoun- I don’t drink; I don’t smoke; I eat healthily; Flor de Amour. (台北國際會議中心大會堂), 1, Xinyi Rd Sec that he has stopped drinking that Chie was slated tered the audience applauding, shouting, and I exercise. I like to walk a lot and to As Portuondo looks back at a long 5, Taipei City (台北市信義路五段1號) pearl milk tea (珍珠奶茶), to star in Fan’s latest waving the Cuban flag, I quickly went back get to know the cities I visit. Music is my and accomplished career, it’s hard not WHEN: Tomorrow at 7:45pm and no longer takes milk in music video, but was inside ... I was afraid at that moment to inspiration and being able to give myself to notice that a decade has passed TICKEts: NT$800 to NT$3,200, available his coffee. Speaking nixed because of feel so many emotions. Juan de Marcos to my public in every concert is something since Buena Vista Social Club became a at ERA ticket outlets, www.ticket.com.tw, of coffee gave objections from [Gonzalez, the band’s musical director] had that makes me feel very lucky,” she said. worldwide sensation and propelled her to or at the door (if not sold out) Chang reason Fan’s girlfriend. to tell me to get [back on stage]. I cried Joining Portuondo on stage tomorrow international stardom. ON THE NET: www.dadaarts.net, to pay tribute to And finally, several times during the concert ... Many night are guitarist Swami Jr, bassist She still fondly recalls the ensemble’s www.omaraportuondo.com and his friend, the Wang Lee-hom (王 people cried during that magical night.” Felipe Cabrera, pianist Harold Lopez- legendary concert in 1998 at New York’s www.myspace.com/omaraportuondo deceased comedian 力宏) says he isn’t When she last appeared in Taipei in Nussa and percussionists Rodney Barreto Carnegie Hall, which will be released on Ni Min-jan (倪 gay. The Mando-pop 2005, Portuondo impressed audiences and Andres Coayo. — DAVID CHEN 敏然), best superstar, who played known for to 12,000 fans at his his uncanny Music Man concert in SEPT.12 TO SEPT.18 Aska Yang (楊宗緯) and Star! Start! Live Concert (星空傳奇) with Taipei City last weekend, TOP FIVE MANDARIN ALBUMS 3 7.4% Van Fan made told the Apple Daily that his mom even asked Ronald Cheng (鄭中基) and The Best of Ronald (怪胎) with 10.42 good on his Van Fan (范逸臣) and Wu Le Bu Tsuo (無樂不作) with 4.57% word to swim in him once if he were gay, 11 percent of sales 4 the buff. implying that it would be 為你而活 PHOTO: TaIPEI TIMES “OK” if he were. Fish Leong (梁靜茹) and Today Is Valentine’s Day (今天情人節) with Y2J and Live for You ( ) with 3.77% — DAVID CHEN 2 9.6% 5 ALBUM CHART COMPILED FROM G-MUSIC (WWW.G-MUSIC.COM.TW), BASED ON RETAIL SALES [ EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT ] returns to the stage with its adaptation available through NTCH ticketing until Oct 18, continues tomorrow night (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the- of William Shakespeare’s Othello. with The Campaign, a Japanese wall.com.tw for more information Theater The cast includes Lee Li-chun (李 The Baroque and Now (巴洛克與 documentary about a local city council 8pm tonight and tomorrow; 7:30pm A mad scientist threatens to launch 立群) and Chin Shih-chieh (金士傑), Highlight 現代), features the Hotshot Cello Choir election and the old boy club mentality on Sunday nuclear missiles against China to two of Taiwan’s most accomplished The Mercedes Amateur Jazz (名加大提琴合奏團), which returns to that prevails in Japanese politics.

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