Cristie - Puro Teatro

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Great singer, next album coming out in Britain !
Disadvantages:	She left Operacion Triunfo in 14th place

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This is one of my favourite artists of the moment, so I hope you enjoy this review.

I first saw Cristie in the 2002 Operacion Triunfo in Spain, and ever since, I have been her fan. If you don't know anything about Operacion Triunfo, see my review of it!

OPERACION TRIUNFO:

---Getting In---

In 2002, the 24 year old Cristie Velasquez (related to the artist) entered the Málaga stage of Operacion Triunfo. She went in to meet the judges, and she gave a heart felt performance of 'When You Believe' by Mariah and Whitney. Indeed, from that, she got through to the next round of Operacion Triunfo.

3 months later, and she was called up to be one of the 20 finalists. But she wasn't there yet. She had to perform infront a live audience to prove that she should be one of the 17 finalists (only 3 weren't going to make it).

---The Galas---

GALA 0 : This was the Gala (performance, once a week) where she had to prove herself. She gave a very good performance of Shakira's Suerte (Whenever Wherever, or Lucky in Spanish), and she indeed got through.

GALA 1: She sang One Day In Your Life by Anastacia with two other contestants Nika and Ainhoa (winner at the end). Cristie looked amazing during this performance and she sung really well. She got to carry on to the next week, while Ainhoa was up for eviction against Mai Meneses.

GALA 2 : She sang Devuélveme La Vida (Return To Me Life) by Alejandro Sanz with Miguel Nández. This was her chance to sing a Love Ballard, which was her speciality. She pulled it off well, and she got through.

GALA 3 : This week, she sang Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes with Tony Santos. She had been reluctant to sing this song, and she had rehearsed it all week without spirit as had Tony. On the night, she pulled it off well, but this left a sour taste with the teachers (they got to decide who was up for eviction). They decided to pick Tony Santos to be up for eviction, not her, as they thought she had potential.

GALA 4 : Cristie performed with Marey the song she auditioned with, When You Believe. She sang it just as well as she did then, but the teachers weren't impressed. She went up for eviction, mainly for her behaviour the week before.

GALA 5 : Cristie was up against Ainhoa, who had been up for eviction every week. But as we know, Ainhoa won in the end, so this was sadly Cristie's last week. She sang Caí (I fell) by Alejandro Sanz again. She sang it with amazing passion, but the Spanish public voted her off with 79% of the votes.

---Operacion Triunfo single (see my review to find out more!)---
She was the second girl out of the show, but this didn't deter her career. Her first single, No Quiero Suffrir (I don't want to suffer) came out in 2003. It was a typically flamenco Spanish song, where Cristie sings with her Andalucian voice. The single hit number 1, it sold 250,000 copies and things seemed good for Cristie. This gave her the chance to record her first album, Puro Teatro (Pure Theatre) which came out in February 2004.

LIFE AFTER OPERACION TRIUNFO

---Puro Teatro---

This was her debut album, which came out in February 2004. I bought it in Mallorca for E3.00 which was a bargain!

1. Pal Infierno (Hell Pal). This song was one of the songs of the summer in Spain. It was the first single of the album, and it got top 10. This song has lots of guitars, and chanting voices in the background. Brilliant. 9/10

2. Solea (I ought). This song was dedicated to Malaga, and this song is typically flamenco like, but with a New York beat. It wasn't a single, but it should have been. 9/10

3. Tonight. Penned by Lucie Silvas, and featuring the Spanish rapper Filiu, this song doesn't really work. It is in Spanish, amid it's English title. How many times can Cristie scream out ' Noche'? 3/10

4. Cambiar (Change). This is another song by Lucie Silvas. It is a real rock song. There is a distorted electric guitar at the beginning, but it doesn't take long for the song to go 1980s Ana Belen style. 5/10

5. Amame (Love Me) is the second single which came out in November. It didn't do very well, but it is the one of the strongest songs on the album. The chorus is very catchy, and it is nice to see that R&B and Spanish music work together. Oh, and she raps at the end. 9/10

6. I'm Not Your Girlfriend. Another Lucie Silvas song, but this time it is in English! Cristie's ability of English is very good, and it's nice to hear. This song still seems very dated, and the fact that a DJ spin appears every second ruins Cristie's attempt at R&B. 6/10

7. Se Que Estas (I know that you). My favourite of the album is the first Ballard. It is haunting, and Cristie attempts well to be Mariah Carey, her idol. She sings beautifully all the way through, and at the end, her voice climaxes bringing her ability to the full.10/10

8. No Hay Tiempo (There's No Time). Penned by the man who did her first single, No Quiero Sufrir, this song is the most pop Cristie gets. This was the third single, but it missed the Spanish top 40.The chorus is very catchy and the heavy electric guitars help a lot. 8/10

9. Puro Teatro (Pure Theatre). The title track is not what we'd imagine it to be. It is Spanish theatre which is a lot different. Spanish theatre in Andalucia includes a lot of people singing, guitars and pianos. Cristie's voice is flamencan again. This voice sounds to a westerner very weird, but when you get into to it, it is amazing. 8/10

10. No Más (No More). Another Cristie 80s mix. Not much to say here. The fact that there are a lot of midi violins might help 2/10

11. Solo Tuya (Only You). As on many Spanish singer's albums, the last track is their own, and Cristie has this. Cristie is singing Flamencan, but it works. Two guitars are panned to each side, and that is all the song is. It is fluent, and ace. 9/10

AV. 7.09/10.

---Tour---

In July 2004, Cristie did a tour around Latin America, Spain and France to advertise her album with fellow Operacion Triunfo graduate Hugo. It sold out quickly, and after Cristie's success in France, Pal Infierno was released and it did well.

---Websites---

Official Website :

http://www.portalmix.com/operaciontriunfo2/cristie/

- What's on the site?

. Biography section (interesting view of her likes/dislikes)
. fotos (8 pictures of Cristie as a child)
. wallpapers (doesn't exist!)
. postcards (doesn't exist too!)
. forum (very interesting and friendly. many members here)

-------------------------
Fansite:

http://www.cristiefanclub.com

-What's on the site?

. Fanclub area (join up and get exclusive videos and merchandize)
. Biography (+discography, Cristie contact, Agenda)
. Multimedia (Videos, Audios, photos, wallpapers - many of them!, lyrics and avatars)
. Guestbook (leave a message for Cristie!)
. Links (Official Site)
. Radio (Brilliant mix of Cristie's songs!)

- REMEMBER : in Spain, singers often have a fansite which are dedicated to the artist, and they are a lot better than the official sites.

--- What's left for Cristie?---

Cristie has finished recording her second album, and it will be out later in the year. There is life after reality shows. I recommend this album to anyone who learns Spanish, or anyone who wants to hear a mix of Flamenco , R&B and Pop. It isn't for sale in Britain, but if you go to Spain, get this!!