Search - Xiomara Alfaro :: Cuban Originals

THE ORIGINAL CUBAN CAMP

Polly Chinela | Miami, FL | 08/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love Xiomara Alfaro. I love her in spite of and because of her campiness. She is the epitome of Cuban camp. She is the queen of Cuban kitsch. She never made up her mind whether she wanted to sing legitimately or be a pop singer, so she opted for both, combining a classically trained voice with a pop repertoire to produce an Yma Sumac kind of je ne sais quoi hybrid. Indeed, she was Cuba's answer to Yma Sumac, although she was never as far-out as the Incan Diva. Her mix of coloratura high jinks and popular music is what ultimately endeared Xiomara Alfaro to several generations. Who can forget her rendition of the italian standard Luna Rossa complete with coloratura runs? Her version of Siboney is equally tacky, with a display of staccati at the end that must have ruffled Maestro Lecuona's feathers. The woman was never a linguist. Just what language is that she uses for Luna Rossa? It is definitely not Italian or any of its dialects. Her portuguese in Baia is equally laughable. Apparently nobody advised her at the time of the recording sessions that in the word abraco the c is pronunced as an s, as it is marked with a cedilla.But no problem. None whatsoever. The essence of Xiomara Alfaro is not musical perfection or linguistic prowess. She is to be enjoyed and treasured precisely for what she is, a lovely reminder that whatever the Cuban artists of her time lacked, they certainly were not lacking in originality. So to that end, I proclaim her the Queen of The Cuban Originals Series.I play Xiomara Alfaro and she immediately puts me in a groovy, mellow mood (how sixties!). She brings me joy. She makes me laugh out loud at her awfulness. She's better than Prozac. I strongly recommend this CD to anyone who is depressed.I also strongly urge BMG Us Latin to continue its Cuban Originals series and show the world that there is more to Cuban music than The Buena Vista Social Club. They can start by giving us the RCA recordings of another artist who reigned supreme in the field of camp, Bola de Nieve, whom I also adore. And let's not forget the RCA sides of Gonzalo Roig (In A Cuban Garden comes to mind) and El Cuarteto De Aida.A great big kiss to Xiomara Alfaro and a big thanks to BMG US Latin for preserving her recorded legacy. After all is said and done, I, being a Cuban myself, would prefer that we be remembered for artists like Xiomara Alfaro, rather than for second class non-entities like Omara Portuondo and company."