Juanes Music Changes the World

Colombian singer Juanes is never afraid of a little controversy. Recently, he decided to hold his second "Peace Without Borders" concert in the historic Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana, Cuba, on September 20th. The artist has received a lot of criticism for this, especially from Cubans living in Miami. Many see this as support for the communist government of Fidel Castro. Others disagree.

Despite the protests, the dynamic musician is incredibly popular throughout the world. Juanes has won 17 Latin Grammy awards, more than any other artist. He has sold more than ten million albums. The charismatic performer is also known for his humanitarian work, especially with aid for victims of the anti-personnel mines from terrorist groups like FARC. He has raised millions of dollars to help innocent people hurt by the violence.

Juanes was born in Medellin, Colombia, August 9, 1972, as Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez. As a boy, he learned to play the guitar and started with the traditional Latin styles such as bolero, tango, cumbia, and vallenato. He lost several people in his family because of terrorism and illness. His music has a dark sound because of this and the influence of American heavy metal. Despite the English influence, the talented latino writes and sings only in Spanish.

Juanes started a rock band called Ekhymosis in 1988. The band released five albums but performed only in Colombia. They disbanded in 1998 and the singer pursued a solo career. His first solo album Fijate Bien had good success and won three Latin Grammy Awards. The following album Un Dia Normal was certified platinum. The lead single topped the charts in twelve countries and won a Latin Grammy for Best Rock Song.

His third album Mi Sangre also did well, and the tireless singer promoted it on a tour with over 200 performances. This great album produced three consecutive number one singles. The song La Camisa Negra generated controversy after being used as a symbol for Italian neo-fascists. Some people called for a boycott of his music. The song was also banned in the Dominican Republic for its sexual undertones. The fiery Colombiano performed the song at an event in Germany celebrating the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Juanes established the Mi Sangre Foundation to help the victims of anti-personnel mines. In 2005, he was named by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people. In 2006, the passionate singer performed before the European Parliament as part of a campaign to increase awareness against the use of land mines around the world. The same year, he received the highest cultural honor given by France for his work in social activism.

The artist is also an activist for his native Spanish language. He says that while he respects artists like Shakira who also sing in English, he sings in Spanish to better express his thoughts and feelings and to promote the Spanish language.

In 2008, Juanes organized a free concert on the Colombia-Venezuela border to promote peace and better relations between the two countries. This gathered 300,000 people. The concert also featured other well-known artists such as Alejandro Sanz and Juan Luis Guerra. Colombian President Uribe even offered to attend but they decided to exclude politicos.

The controversial performer receives a lot of criticism because many see his actions as support for unpopular government leaders like Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. Others see it as a way to open dialogue and entertain the people with new ideas.

What do you think??