Track Listing

1. Abriendo Puertas [Opening Doors]
2. Tres Deseos [Three Wishes]
3. Mas Alla (Beyond)
4. Dulce Amor [Sweet Love Club Mix]
5. Farolito [Little Star]
6. Nuevo Dia [New Day]
7. Parranda [The Big Party]
8. Milagro [Miracle Extended Mix]
9. Lejos de Ti [Far from You]
10. Felicidad [Happiness]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35958 in Music
• Released on: 1995-09-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

From Amazon.com
After re-establishing her Latin identity with Mi Tierra, her tribute to Afro-Cuban music, Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan made yet another surprising move, this time exploring the music of Latin America, mostly Colombia. What started as a modest, end-of-the-year holiday album became perhaps the most artistically satisfying album of her career. Aided by Colombian arranger and producer Kike Santander (who also wrote most of the material), Estefan explores vallenato (the title track and "Dulce Amor"), merengue ("Tres Deseos"), currulao, a Colombian rhythm ("Farolito," the highlight of the album) and, of course, salsa ("Nuevo Dia"). For fans of her ballad singing, Estefan also includes the elegant, "Mas Alla." A quirky Gloria Estefan album, yet one of her best. --Fernando Gonzalez

Customer Reviews

Pure joy - one of the best in any language
It's amazing what happens when artists (re-)connect with things that are really meaningful to them. With "Mi Tierra" Gloria got back to the Cuban side of her Hispanic heritage and produced a milestone album. With "Abriendo Puertas" (opening doors) she mines the huge wealth of Colombian music to produce a veritable treasure trove.

The songs are based on different local styles, as the liner notes usefully explain. There's an amazing variety of rhythms - all irresistible. The melodies are catchy and Gloria delivers them with her customary warmth and assurance. This is an album with no truly dud tracks. Admittednly Mas Alla veers a bit too close to sugarville for my taste, but there are plenty of tracks that knock me out every time I hear them.

You don't need to understand the words in Spanish to enjoy this joyful music, but it's a real bonus if you do. It's notionally a seasonal album but unlike so many this one goes beyond the cliched trappings (chestnuts roasting, jingle bells etc.) and really connects with what the festive season is really be about - reconciliation, new beginnings, generosity, shared memories and good times together.

I bought this album seven years ago and loved it then. Playing it again a few days ago, I loved it even more.

"Abriendo Puertas" is perfect for any day of the year when body and soul need a little refreshment. GLORIOUS!!

Salsa music as is should be done.
Just lovely, she is in her prime and warmly, true to her roots.
The best of the best, backing a true classic salsa singer.
I don't even speak cuban-spanish and don't care,
this is superbly performed music regardless of language.
Also hear her album Mi Tierra.