Shaman by Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana bridged the chasmic divide between Tito Puente and Jimi Hendrix in Woodstock more than 30 years ago. To that generation he will always be the venerable older statesman of fusion who can go from Fuente’s Oye Como Va to Fleetwood Mac’s Black Magic Woman with his eyes closed. He was the icon whom they expect to dish out the same old tunes in every concert.

That icon is now under threat. After being a formidable pop patriarch for so many years, Santana bounced back to the top of the charts with the 11 million-selling Supernatural. That feat turned him into a demigod of sorts. As a result critics and music lovers now expect only the best from Santana. In other words, the divinity has turned human and whatever he comes up with can now be subject to scrutiny like other artists.

It is no wonder then that Santana chose to stick to a tested formula with Shaman, the eagerly anticipated new album. This formula sees Santana interacting with a newer batch of pop idols. It is a clever device that enlarges his fan base and also allows for some experimentation. A most successful example is the Grammy-winning Smooth with matchbox ’20s Rob Thomas. It sounds like vintage Santana but is also new. It greatly contributed to the success of Supernatural.

Because of this, there has been probably no end to the number of artists wanting to be part of Shaman. Santana did get several of them into the act and the album is bursting with big names in an exciting mode of creative partnership. In fact the first single out of the album is The Game of Love featuring one of the year’s most exciting pop discoveries, Michelle Branch. Other hot tracks that might make it as singles are Hoy Es Adios with Argentinian superstar Alejandro Lerner and Amore (Sexo) featuring Macy Gray.

Other collaborated cuts in the album are Nothing at All with Musiq, You are My Kind with Seal, America with P.O.D., Sideways with Citizen Cope, Why Don’t You & I featuring Chad Kroeger, Feels Like Fire with Dido, One of These Days with world music stars Ozo Matli and Novus with tenor Placido Domingo. Rob Thomas, who must by now be an unofficial member of Santana, wrote You are My Kind and co-wrote and co-produced Nothing at All. Santana goes solo spot with Adouma, Foo Foo, Victory is Won, Let Me Love You Tonight and Aye Aye Aye.

Admittedly, Shaman suffers from comparison with the wonderfully-crafted Supernatural. It is also not easy to summon up the likes of Smooth or Maria, Maria at every turn. But the album does not lack for star power and presents more varied fare. As always, Carlos Santana’s technique and artistry remain flawless and the entire band plays like a dream. Shaman does not disappoint but Santana obviously played it safe.

World’s favorite songs

The East Asian leaders have named their choices for World’s Favorite Songs. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri both chose Frank Sinatra’s My Way. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s favorite is I Have You by the Carpenters. It is Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender for Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Natsagiin Bagabandi, the president of Mongolia, likes the Beatles’ Let It Be while President Xanana Gusmao’s song is Hero by Mariah Carey. For Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, it is the theme from Once Upon a Time in America by Ennio Morricone. President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea is the only one among them to choose a song native to his country, Pioneer.

You too can vote for the World’s Favorite Songs. Simply log on to BBC World Service which is conducting the survey on the Net on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. There are prizes in store for lucky voters. A total 1,200 songs have already been nominated including 21 by the Beatles. Votes have been received from 141 countries including two from the continent of Antarctica. The World’s Top Ten Songs will be announced on Saturday, Dec. 21 on the Net and over the Wright Around the World program with Steven Wright.

As of this writing, the leading contenders are Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu from India, We Don’t Talk Anymore by Cliff Richard; Believe by Cher; Imagine by John Lennon; Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatarji; Bohemia Rhapsody by Queen; Chaiyya Chaiyya by Sukhvinder; Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin; Yesterday by the Beatles; and Hotel California by the Eagles.