Luis Miguel › Nada Es Igual

Personnel: Luis Miguel (vocals); K. Cibrian (acoustic guitar, guitar, synthesizer); M. Landau (guitar); D. Shumbach (cello); J. Nathansson (saxophone); J. Hey, G. Grant, B. Reikhenbauer, B. Fields (horns); F. Loyo (piano, keyboards); R. Buchanan (keyboards); L. Carrillo (bass); V. Loyo (drums); T. Aros (percussion); Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Recorded at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, California.

NADA ES IGUAL was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance.

NADA ES IGUAL contains more of the smooth-as-silk Latin pop that has made Luis Miguel a worldwide star. Miguel, winner of multiple Grammy Awards, is a sensual crooner whose songs combine cool, breezy melodicism with slick, seamless production. On tunes like "Si Te Vas" and "Abrazame," sparkling keyboards and punchy horns provide an elegant backdrop for the singer to work his magic, and work it he does. There is not a single moment on NADA ES IGUAL where Miguel sounds less than 100 percent committed to every word that comes out of his mouth. He invests every song with enough emotion to communicate to any listener, whether they speak Spanish (as Miguel does), English or Martian.

Personnel: Kiko Cibrian (guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, programming); Michael Landau (guitar); D. Shumbach (cello); Bill Reikhenbauer (brass); William Ross (Fender Rhodes piano); Cleto, G. Vodky (background vocals).

Recording information: Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, CA.

Director: Jerry Hey.

Unknown Contributor Role: Alejandro Asensi.

Arrangers: Kiko Cibrian; Jerry Hey; Walter Afanasieff.

Luis Miguel's 1996 album Nada Es Igual was the follow-up to his hugely successful live album El Concierto, and his first pop album since 1993's Aries. The album, albeit a pop album, has a definite jazz feel to it, evident on some of the more upbeat numbers such as "Si Te Vas" and "Todo Por Su Amor," which utilize ample amounts of horns. There are also the requisite ballads, similar in style to the standards that have helped make him a worldwide superstar, such as "Abrazame," "Nada Es Igual," and the lovely "Que Tu Te Vas." Miguel ups the ante on a few numbers, notably the hit "Dame," with its underlying hip-hop rhythms, and "Como Es Posible Que a Mi Lado," which incorporates elements of house music. Also included is the song "Suena" which, when performed under the title "Someday" by the vocal group All-4-One and used as the theme for the Disney film The Hunchback of Notre Dame, became a hit in the U.S. However varied the musical styles, this album is basically middle-of-the-road, romance-themed music, which is what his legions of fans have come to expect. ~ Jose F. Promis

Genre:

• World

Music Categories:

• International: Bolero