MI ABUELO, JULIO SÁNCHEZ VANEGAS, CONVERSA CON HERNÁN PELÁEZ SOBRE SU CARRERA EN EL CAFÉ CARACOL

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LA NOCHE

La noche se funde sobre vagos recuerdos,

Recuerdos de un pasado que pasó hace pocas horas.

La cama espera, alentadora, con un suspiro de calor,

En esta noche que tiembla del frío y del horror.

La noche no admite preocupaciones pero las genera,

Es el momento en el que los humanos nos rendimos ante su poder,

Un poder atemorizante y aun así, el más confortante,

El poder que nos arrebata todo y al alba lo devolverá, intacto, como si nada hubiera pasado.

Los vagabundos suspiran por la ciudad,

Las prostitutas construyen sus calles,

Y en el balcón, una mujer llora de soledad,

Y nadie la podrá consolar.

La noche es el momento más honesto del día,

Pues jamás ha sido parte de él.

En el día, la mentira invade nuestras vidas,

Y en la noche, las mascaras caen desde arriba.

Mañana será otro día,

Y otra máscara tendré que usar.

Sólo espero que venga la noche,

Y que me la venga a arrebatar.

Copyright 2010 Emilio Sánchez Enterprises Inc.

VUELO

Dedicado a Kiko Veneno, Ana Belén, Manzanita y Federico García Lorca.

Vuelo sobre lunas blancas,
Vuelo sobre hierbabuena y mar,
Vuelo sobre las montañas,
Vuelo sobre todo tiempo y azar.

Vuelo sobre el tren del tiempo,
Vuelo sobre cielo, arena y mar,
Vuelo sobre todo esto,
Vuelo porque yo te quiero amar.

Vuelo sobre espejismos,
Vuelo sobre agua y fuego al cantar,
Vuelo sobre las verdades,
Vuelo sobre lo que nadie puede ocultar.

Copyright 2010 Emilio Sánchez Enterprises Inc.

ESCRITO EN INGLÉS: THE DEATH OF MICHAEL JACKSON AND MY INVOLVEMENT IN ITS CONSEQUENCES

Nota: Este artículo puede parecer escrito vanidosamente. Sin embargo, para hablar de un tema tan universalmente impactante como éste, siempre es mejor hacerlo de la manera más personal posible. Para aquellos mencionados en este escrito: por favor no se sientan ofendidos. Considérenlo un simple recuento de los sentimientos más profundos que generó el fallecimiento de Michael Jackson en mí, y acéptenlo como un humilde regalo de un fanático a otro.

Note: This article may seem vainly written. However, in order to speak about an issue as universally shocking as this one, it is always better to do so in the most personal way possible. To those mentioned in this work: please do not feel offended. Consider this a simple retelling of the deepest feelings generated by Michael Jackson's death and me, and accept it as a humble gift from one fan to another.

In Memoriam: Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

June 25th, 2009. 4:30 pm. I'm getting ready for a photo shoot for Jet Set magazine that is to take place in half an hour. A message from my mother: "Michael Jackson is in hospital." Not an uncommon thing for a man who slept in a hyperbaric chamber, among many things. That is what crosses my mind at that exact moment.

6 pm. Still at the shoot and getting ready to leave again. Minutes later, i'm on my way home with my image consultant Sonia Márquez, who gets a message on her cellphone: "Michael Jackson is dying." 6:30 pm. I'm at home. I turn on the TV. One minute later, Michael Jackson is pronounced dead. Images and questions immediately surround me. Why? How? Wasn't he rehearsing for fifty unprecedented concerts? I sit still for an hour. I cry. I'm invited to a party which I refuse to attend, at the displeasure of many. I officially mourn his death.

About two hours later, I get a phone call from a friend, Paola Ovalle, who works at Caracol TV. Instant flashback: March 2009. Michael has announced ten concerts at London's O2 Arena, which will soon become fifty and will sell out in three days. I'm one of those people who can honestly say they know what it feels like to see Michael live, as I had the pleasure and privilege of attending his now classic 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden. At this precise moment, i'm hosting and directing a series of musical soireés titled Dopolavoro at the restaurant La Famiglia. I immediately decide to do one in honor of Michael Jackson, knowing that a genius has just announced his comeback to the stage. Paola attends this one, and immediately approaches me to ask me if I would be interested in collaborating on an MJ special that she is producing. I say yes. On June 25th, Paola is the one who asks me to appear the very next morning on Caracol's 7 am news show, talking about Michael Jackson. I immediately agree.

7:30 am, June 26th. I'm on the show, talking about what it feels to have gone to a Michael Jackson show, next to Vanessa Mendoza, who talks about her visit to the Neverland Ranch. Before I head back home, the producers ask me for another interview for the midday news show, this time at my home, with my music and DVD collection. I say yes and tell them to come at 11 am. 8:30 am. RCN, the competition, wants me on their own news show. 10 am is the time at which they agree to come.

10:30 am. No sign of RCN. 10:35. They arrive. Knowing that in minutes the rival will be there, I order the doorman not to let them in until RCN has left. The interview begins. 10:40 am. Caracol arrives. Bad luck as they will have to wait for another hour. 11:40 am. RCN has left and I tell Caracol to come up. I apologize for the lateness without going into any details. The interview begins. 12:30. They're done. Finally I can get some lunch...or so I think. 12:31. Phonecall from my father. Yamid Amat, a very important journalist from my country, has asked Eva Rey to interview me for CMY'S 10 pm news show. Can they come in half an hour? I say yes. 1 pm. She's there. This is a fast one. At 1:20, she's done. Lunchtime. Again, i'm to be interrupted.

1:30 pm. Call from Caras magazine, wanting an interview. I gently ask them to call me back in an hour. 1: 31 pm. Call from LA X 103.9 FM, the station which has signed an agreement with me that is supposed to start in August, asking me to participate in an MJ forum at 4 pm. I agree. So my comeback to the radio business has been moved in a way.

2:15 pm. Caras is already calling back. I tell them that an hour is an hour and not 45 minutes. They simply have to wait. 2:30. I call them and a half-hour interview takes place. The questions range from "What was it like to see Michael Jackson in concert?" to "Did you ever meet him?". 3 pm, I tell them I must hang up.

4 pm. Forum time at LA X. To give them a taste of what to expect, I come in with my entire collection, which you'll only find when I'm around. Five editions of the Thriller album (original 1982 vinyl, first CD edition, 2001 Special CD Edition, 2008 25th Anniversary edition on both vinyl and CD), three of Bad (original 1987 CD and Vinyl, 2001 Special CD edition), three of Off The Wall (1979 vinyl, first CD edition and 2001 special edition), three of Dangerous (the standard 1991 CD, a collector's edition and first printing of the original 1991 CD, and the 2001 special edition CD), two of Invincible (2001 CD and vinyl), two of HISTory (1995 Double-CD and vinyl set), etc. Add to that: Japanese-imported remix CDs, the 2004 Ultimate Collection box set, vinyl singles (at both 45 and 33 and 1/2 rpm speeds), the only official Michael Jackson live album (recorded with the Jacksons in 1981), and the very first album with Michael's name on it, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson Five ... just to name a few. This is supposed to be a five-man show that goes until 8 pm, but by 6:30, i'm already alone. And i'm not scared about the following hour and a half. I could talk about Michael Jackson forever. The show is an instant success. Finally I can rest ... for a few hours.

10 am, June 27th. Call from Mariangela Rubbini, director of Shock magazine, wanting an article on Michael for a special edition. I tell her that it should be about the concert I attended. She says no. Sandro Romero Rey, who saw a Dangerous Tour show in 1992, wants to write that one. That show might have featured Michael, but my show featured him and the following treats: the Jacksons reunion, a Michael solo set, and special guests Liza Minnelli, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, James Ingram, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Britney Spears, Marlon Brando, Slash, Usher, Al Jarreau, etc. AND it happened in New York, right before 9/11. I finally get the authorization and the magazine comes out in a way that to me, resembles an italian meal. Appetizer: Alejandro Marín's article on how Michael impacted his life, Pasta: Sandro's article, which is now somewhat more analytical on Michael's career (in a way, the article they originally wanted ME to write), and the fish: my article.

Sometime around September. I get another call from Mariangela, this time asking me to participate at the annual Premios Shock De La Música (Shock Music Awards), presenting a tribute to Michael from the groups Systema Solar, Bomba Estéreo and Chocquibtown. I immediately agree to it, and on October 7th, at Bogotá's Palacio De Los Deportes (in English, "sports palace"), the actress Maria José Martínez and I present the mentioned segment.

For months now, i've tried to figure out the one reason why everyone has wanted me to participate in the celebrations of Michael Jackson's legacy. I still can't find one simple answer and I don't want to. But the following text, written by myself and published several times after Michael's passing may give you a clue or two:

THE WAY YOU MADE US FEEL ( A FEW WORDS FOR MICHAEL JACKSON)

You made the world want to scream,
And you made them beat it,
With shiny gloves and Billie Jeans,
You asked us "Can You Feel It?".
You taught us our A-B-C's and our Do-Re-Mi's,
You rocked our world,
We rocked with you,
And still we just can't stop loving you.
You were a thriller,
And a dangerous one at that,
Cause after all, you made us bad,
And you gave us all you had.
We will always remember the time,
When we first heard you,
When you taught us that we are the world
And that we must heal it.
That was the way you made us feel,
You made us shake our body down to the ground,
You made us blame it on the boogie,
And you made us dancing machines.
We never got enough,
You were simply off-the-wall.
With this said, I conclude: I never can say goodbye but you were gone too soon.

And a year later, such is still the truth.

P.S. To this day, everytime I get a call from an unknown number, there are three options: A) Someone who dialed the wrong number, B) Someone who I haven't seen in a long time, calling to offer condolences on Michael's death, and C) Someone who wants me to share my knowledge and passion for Michael's work. I'm glad to say that in most cases it's either B, C or both.

Copyright 2010 Emilio Sánchez Enterprises Inc.

QUIET RAIN

Quiet rain,
Gentle pain.
Quiet Rain,
Lonesome days.

Softer clouds,
Sweeter doubts.
Drifting clouds,
Not so loud.

Darker skies,
Skies of night.
Darker skies
By my side.

The weather’s cold,
The day feels old.
But I’m not cold,
And I’ m not old.

Why is that?
What’s the fact?
Why is that?
Well, the fact is…

… I’m with you,
Lovely you,
I love you,
All for you.

Copyright 2010 Emilio Sánchez Enterprises Inc.

ESCRITO EN PORTUGUÉS: JOYCE, NÃO MUDA NÃO

Dedicado a Joyce Moreno, a melhor cantora do Brasil.

"Samba, samba
quando James Joyce ouviu um samba, samba
descobriu que a Lapa era na Irlanda, landa (...)" - Joyce Moreno, Samba do Joyce

Joyce,
Beleza pura.
Joyce,
Fina mistura.

Joyce,
Musa serena.
Joyce,
Rainha da cena.

Joyce,
Coisa maluca.
Joyce,
Daqui a Tijuca.

Joyce,
Madame feminina.
Joyce,
Mulher marina.

Joyce,
Tarde carioca.
Joyce,
Maluca e louca.

Joyce,
Samba-jazz e outras bossas.
Joyce,
‘Slow music’ da nossa.

Joyce,
Mulher do Brasil,
Joyce,
Doçura gentil.

Joyce,
De Tutty e Clareana,
Joyce,
Me leva ao Nirvana.

Joyce,
Não muda não,
Você é
A cantora de sempre, do futuro e do now.


Copyright 2010 Emilio Sánchez Enterprises Inc.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA:

Joyce. "Samba do Joyce." Joyce Moreno. Joyce Moreno, 2003. Web. 8 Jun 2010. http://joycemoreno.com/musica/samba-do-joyce.html.

EL SAMBóDROMO DE TOCANCIPÁ

Como hace algunos años y con bastante éxito, mi compañero Karl Troller y su inseparable esposa Eduardo Arias lograron fundar la Orquesta Sinfónica de Chapinero, me puse a pensar en los riesgos de fundar instituciones con tradiciones musicales externas dentro de Colombia. Es así que surge dentro de mi imaginario El Sambódromo de Tocancipá. A continuacion un analisis de sus tentativas actividades.

En este sambódromo, se toca samba, o mas bien, se tocan zambas, y todas con las manos de hombres. En los descansos no se juega futbol. Ni siquiera 'fuchibol', como le decimos en nuestro venerado portuñol. Se juega 'jutbol'. Y 'Ronaldiño' se escribe tal como ya lo acaban de leer. Eso me lleva al clasico diminituvo del 'iño', que se usa en Colombia para terminos desde 'guiño' (pequeña pero sujestiva mirada) hasta 'niño' (joven entre cero y catorce años de edad), pasando por 'mariño' (no el apellido, sino un pequeño mar), hasta 'frutiño' (hecho con pequeños extractos artificiales de frutas) y 'guariño' (sencillamente algo que se tiene que tomar en pequeñas dosis si queremos seguir viviendo).

Los muchachos no serian negros y llenos de rastas o trenzas, sino A) blancos como la leche, B) café con leche. Llego a la parte de los instrumentos musicales: no habría el famoso tambor del 'surdo', sino más bien varios zurdos tocando tambor. Los bombos serán de banda de guerra. Algunos integrantes serán LLILBERTO LLIL, MILTON NACIMIENTO, CAETANO VELOZ OH!, y muchos otros. Repertorio: en vez de "Magalenha", tocan "Traiga Leña". "La Chica De Ipanema" será "Tan Chica La Panela". El "Tic Tic Tac" lo tocarian con el nombre que le pusimos aqui en Chibchombia: el horrendo, estrepitoso, inmundo Carrapicho. Pero bueno, existe una cancion que une la cultura brasileña y la chibchombiana: "La Brasilera" de Rafael Escalona. Solo hay un problema: es un vallenato. Y gritar "ay hombe" en portugues debe ser absolutamente imposible.

Y hay otro problema: en Rio, Bahia, Salvador y tantas ciudades de Brasil, los sambodromos entrenan a sus integrantes para competir en sus respectivos carnavales. A los del Sambodromo de Tocancipa tocaria enviarlos al Carnaval de Barranquilla. Pero eso seria poner la samba del Brasil al lado del currulao, de Joe Arroyo, y de mil tipos vestidos del chavo del ocho. Fusionar a Colombia con Brasil pero al mismo tiempo con Mexico...peligroso, peligroso.

Es por eso, que despues de este detallado analisis, llego a la siguiente conclusion y peticion: favor no fundar El Sambodromo de Tocancipa.

Copyright 2010 Emilio Sanchez Enterprises Inc.