The Latin Grammys came to town

It was very interesting Thursday morning last Sept. 19 when the Latin Grammy Awards night was shown live over E! Philippines. It was quite a surprise because we do not usually get live satellite broadcasts unless it is the Academy Awards or some important sports events like the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. For everything else you have to wait at least half a day, a few days, a week or even months; it’s a case you have already read all about it, watched the news and dissected what happened before you can watch it on local TV. I myself cannot think of any instance when we got even the usually star-studded Grammy Awards live on TV.

Well, the Latin Grammys was one instance. It was aired from 9 to 11 in the morning and it was quite a show with Santana, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Vives, Celia Cruz and other performing in grand production numbers including a tribute to the great Antonio Carlos Jobim, hosts Jimmy Smits and Gloria Estefan and lots of guests. So congratulation E! Philippines and we look forward to being treated to more important showbiz events aired live in the future.

Here are the winners of the 2002 Latin Grammy Awards as chosen by the members of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. I know that the names of the winners are unfamiliar but after watching that spirited presentation and taking note of the way the live telecast was heavily promoted, I feel it is only right to get them all down in this piece so that more people will know who they are.

Take a look at the names of the various categories. You will notice that these conform to the tastes and demands of the Latin market. Local award-giving bodies who pattern their categories to the American Grammys should consider making some changes to make them more Filipino. Take note too that the Brazilian market is so huge that its music has its own categories in the Latin Grammys. Here they are:

• Record of the Year: Y Solo Se Me Ocurre Amarte by Alejandro Sanz

• Album of the Year: MTV Unplugged by Alejandro Sanz

• Song of the Year: Y Solo Se Me Ocurre Amarte by Alejandro Sanz

• Best New Artist: Jorge Moreno

• Female Pop Vocal Album: Muchas Flores by Rosario

• Male Pop Vocal Album: Sereno by Miguel Bose

• Pop Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Sin Bandera by Sin Bandera

• Pop Instrumental Album: Canciones Ineditas by Chucho Valdes

• Rap/Hip Hop Album: Vivo by Vico C

• Rock Solo Vocal Album: Soy by Alejandra Guzman

• Rock Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal: MTV Unplugged by La Ley

• Best Rock Song: A Dios Le Pido by Juanes

• Best Salsa Album: La Negra Tiene Tumbao by Celia Cruz

• Best Merengue Album: Yo Por Ti by Olga Tanon

• Contemporary Tropical Album: Dejame Entrar by Carlos Vives

• Traditional Tropical Album: El Arte Del Sabor by the Bebo Valdes Trio with Israel Lopez Cachao & Carlos Pat

• Best Tropical Song: Dejame Entrar by Carlos Vives

• Best Ranchero Album: Mas Con El Numero Uno by Vicente Fernandez

• Best Banda Album: Puras Rancheras Con Cuisillos

• Best Grupero Album: Lo Dijo El Corazon by Joan Sebastian

• Best Tejano Album: Siempre Humilde by Jimmy Gonzales y El Grupo Mazz

• Best Norteno Album: El Numero Cien by Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte

• Regional Mexican Song: Del Otro Lado del Porton by Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte

• Best Folk Album: Lamento Negro by Susana Baca

• Best Tango Album: Sergio & Odair Assad Play Piazzolla by Sergio & Odair Assad

• Best Flamenco Album: Mis 70 Anos Con El Cante by Antonio Nunez "El Chocolate"

• Best Latin Jazz Album: Supernova by the Gonzalo Rubaicaba Trio

• Best Christian Album: Paz by Ao Vivo

• Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album: Falange Canibal by Lenine

• Brazilian Rock Album: Acustico MTV by Cassia Eller

• Samba/Pagode Album: Deixa A Vida Me Levar by Zeca Pagodinho

• Musica Popular Brasileira Album: Cambiao by Chico Buarque & Edu Lobo

• Best Sertaneja Album: Acustico-Ao Vivo by Bruno & Marrone

• Brazilian Roots/Regional Album: Sao Joao Vivo by Gilberto Gil

• Best Brazilian Song: Saudade De Amar by Nana

• Latin Children’s Album: Xuxa So Para Baixinhos Vol. 2 by Xuxa

• Best Classical Album: Adios Nonino by the Quarteto Amazonia Toca Astor Piazzolla

• Best Engineered Album: Alexandre Pires by Alexandre Pires

• Music Video: Suerte by Shakira

• Producer of the Year: Kike Santander