Destiny - Gloria Estefan

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Great vocals, excellent lyrics
Disadvantages:	One or two weak tracks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This is my first venture into the world of the album review, so please be gentle with me! However, I would really appreciate some feedback via comments to know what I could improve for future reference. Forgive me for quoting lyrics from each individual track, but given that it’s the lyrics that make this album special for me, I felt it important to include them.

I could describe my music tastes as “eclectic”, but I’ll stick to saying they’re just very middle of the road and somewhat varied, with a penchant for strong female vocalists – e.g. Dido, Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet, Gloria Estefan, to name but a few. I like what I like and make no excuses for it.

I came across the album “Destiny” by Gloria Estefan several years ago. In fact, I think I bought it in some kind of boot sale type thing at work. I’ve no regrets though and it gets played on a very regular basis.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SINGER

Gloria Estefan was born in 1958 in Havana, Cuba, so is now 46 years old. I would describe her as a classically handsome woman who wears her age well.

“Estefan’s father, José Manuel Fajardo, was a bodyguard to President Fulgencio Batista at the time of her birth. The following year Fidel Castro and others overthrew Batista and installed a Communist government in Cuba. The Fajardo family quickly fled to the United States. José Manuel Fajardo was then recruited by the CIA into a band of anti-Castro Cubans sent to invade Cuba. The invasion took place on April 17, 1961, at the Bay of Pigs. It failed, and Fajardo was taken prisoner. After President John F. Kennedy won the release of the prisoners, Fajardo returned to the United States, joined the U.S. Army, and served two years in the Vietnam War.”

Estefan sought solace in music, but after taking guitar lessons, discovered she was much more interested in poetry. She went on to meet her husband Emilio Estefan, a keyboardist with the band “Miami Latin Boys”. It was after he heard her voice, he asked her to be lead singer for their band which eventually led to the launch of her hugely successful solo career.

Gloria Estefan experienced a devastating setback in March 1990, when her back was severely injured in a tourbus accident that led to her having to endure a 4-hour operation to insert steel rods into her spine. Recovery from such an injury is slow, but it is testament to Gloria Estefan’s strength of character that she marked her return to performing by appearing on the American Music Awards in 1991. Quotes and additional information obtained from “Gales Database”.

THE ALBUM

DESTINY

“if I had to walk away from you, I know that it would be no use, cause you’re so deep inside of me,
can’t deny, I never want to be set free, the more you give the more I need, you can’t change what is meant to be, no you can’t change destiny”

The cover track and my all time favourite of the album. For me, it has a definite continental guitar riff running through it that reminds me of holidays in Spain, Portugal or somewhere like that. Gloria’s voice is full of underlying passion in this song that appears to talk about the destiny of a love possibly lost and re-found. The lyrics are sublime. This is the kind of song that reminds me of past love affairs and what might have been. 9/10

I’M NOT GIVING YOU UP

“we’ll find a way to be together
however long it takes, wherever
if it means having you for only a moment
a moment might just be enough
I’m not giving you up, no
No, I’m not giving you up.

The introduction here still has that continental feel, with a soft cha cha cha beat. For me, it conjures up images of sexy, sultry Latin American dancers. Once more, this is a semi-sad love song that talks about “not giving up” and finding ways to be together despite the odds being stacked against you and your lover. I adore the emotion that Gloria demonstrates in her voice and the range she achieves in terms of tone and depth. 8/10

STEAL YOUR HEART

“I don’t mean to be the teardrop
spilling over your resentments
don’t intend to be the cry
with which you voice your discontentment”

One of the weaker tracks on the album in my opinion. It has the strongest Latin American feel to it so far. The music has a hard percussion feel to it, and in my opinion is not entirely complimentary Gloria’s voice on this occasion. The weakness of the music/voice combination is really quite disappointing as the lyrics in this song are quite outstanding and I wonder what could have been achieved with a slightly different setting. The song itself is about breaking down the barriers and allowing yourself to love again when a past hurt keeps getting in the way. 5/10

THE HEART NEVER LEARNS

“it’s the heart that will awaken all the senses
and the senses light up the soul
but we hide what we feel with more pretences
than the pride that comes before the fall”

A classic love song. The continental feel is still here, but is very muted, the instrumentals are softer and much more complimentary to the softness of range utilised in Gloria’s voice in this song. Lyrics are pretty average, but it’s a nice easy listening song. 7/10

YOU’LL BE MINE (PARTY TIME)

“when the sun is setting in the sky
everybody knows it’s party time
and when the moon is rising high
I’ll be yours, I know you will be
Mine (party time)”

This is probably my least favourite track on the album. The tempo increases significantly and has a definitely “Brazilian” feel to it, with a strong drum theme running through the track. The depth and tone of the song is rather flat and doesn’t do justice to the range and tone of Gloria’s voice at all. I suspect it’s meant to be a “fun”, “filler” song, but I just don’t feel it works in any way, shape or form! On the plus side some of the work on drums is excellent if you concentrate hard enough to listen out for it. 3/10

PATH OF THE RIGHT LOVE

“when in the long run
what’s meant to be will be
those things we ask for
become our destiny
but while we’re living
our souls cannot be free
eventually we will come to see
to find the path of the right love”

This is a very “strange” song and depending on the mood I’m in when I listen to it, I either love it or hate it. There’s no middle ground here. The instrumental is weak, presumably in order that the listener can appreciate the full, rich tones of Gloria Estefan’s singing voice? Well, for me, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t and unfortunately I can’t explain why. This song is about that classic search that we all become involved in at one time in our lives and that is the search for the ultimate partner – looking for the “right love”. The lyrics I would say are “average”. 5/10

ALONG CAME YOU (A SONG FOR EMILY)

“you were sent to me
by angels up above, I’m certain
I thought I’d show you what love can be
But what did I know
Until along came you
To teach me about love
Oh yes, along came you
To teach me about love”

This is another favourite track from the album It appears to be about someone coming into one’s life and teaching us what “true love” is all about. This is the slowest song on the album and the Latin American theme has gone completely. Children’s voices are used in the backing track and it makes me suspect this song was inspired by the birth of one of Gloria’s children. And what a tribute that is! 9/10

HIGHER

“I saw a girl today
could tell from what she say
she was a liar
she walks a wire
I tried to make her see
That this was not the way
Of getting higher”

The tempo here steps up a gear massively. This is a real “carnival” song and it conjures up images of Brazilian carnival, frenetic dancing and vibrant colours. To be honest, it makes me want to get up off my bum and just dance round the room. It’s great! And so different in terms of the context of “love” in the rest of the album, that although it doesn’t “fit”, it’s kind of a welcome break. 8/10

I KNOW YOU TOO WELL

“baby it’s nothing that you’ve said
but I know it’s not just in my head
you’re changing baby, and you don’t think I see
I feel you drifting away, a little bit further every day
Don’t tell me baby, don’t tell me it’s jut me
I see it in the look that’s on your face
Something’s not the same inside
You can’t keep it from me, no matter how you try”

The passion and sheer emotion is evident in Gloria’s voice here as she sings about losing her lover; about suspecting it’s over, but her partner not being strong enough to admit the love has gone. It’s about when you know someone so well, you can read him or her and what he or she is feeling and you feel her despair as she admits to this knowledge. Sublime lyrics, although the instrumental is slightly weak. As someone who might soon have to admit their marriage is over, this song holds very special meaning for me, and as I sing along to it I even feel my voice break. 9/10

REACH

“some dreams live in on time forever
those dreams you want with all your heart”

The official song for the Summer 1996 Olympic Games. This is a song of aspiration and ambition, of loyalty and spirit and doing the best that one can. In my opinion this is the song that demonstrates the range of talent that is Gloria Estefan’s voice and once again she sings with passion. A strong percussion theme here, on this occasion does not detract from the strength of Gloria’s voice. A truly inspirational effort. 8/10

CONCLUSION

This is one of my favourite CD’s in a strange music collection. I would estimate that it gets pulled out and played at least once a week, which is pretty impressive for an album of this age. I love it and to be honest, I don't know why I don't have any of her other albums ... so I must put that right!

“Destiny” was the first fully English speaking album Estefan had recorded for some time and was released in 1996.

Produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr., Lawrence Dermer, Kike Santander, Jorge Casas, Lawrence Dermer, Clay Ostwald.

Recorded at Crescent Moon Studios and Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida; Gettings Studio, Ocoee, Florida; The Power Station and Right Track Studios, New York, New York.

Available new from Amazon for the bargain price of £2.50, or used copies available for £1.99.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

© Christina ;-) x