 The most commercially successful Spanish singer of all time,
Alejandro Sanz earned a reputation as an industrious hitmaker in his native
country during the 1990s, and by
the decade's end, he'd expanded his fan base internationally as he broadened his
style beyond romantic ballads and began collaborating with fellow Latin
superstars, most memorably Shakira. A talented songwriter with handsome looks,
Sanz proved immensely popular even with his debut album, Viviendo de Prisa
(1991), which was a number one hit in Spain. It wasn't until several albums
later, Más (1997), that he was able to break into the international market,
however, thanks to a key hit single, "Corazón Partío," that transcended his core
female audience. He began focusing on the Americas during the early 2000s,
beginning with MTV Unplugged (2001), which was recorded in Miami and
subsequently released as an album intended to showcase the highlights of his
back catalog as well as a newly written single, "Y Sólo Se Me Ocurre Amarte." He
then retreated to his studio to record his most broadly appealing album yet, No
Es Lo Mismo (2003), which found him breaking away from audience expectations and
exploring his own musical interests. He did much the same on his next album, El
Tren de los Momentos (2006), which was highlighted by "Te Lo Agradezco, Pero
No," a passionate duet with Shakira, whom he'd collaborated with the previous
year on her massive Grammy-winning hit "La Tortura." Even as Sanz broadened his
style over the years, he never ventured far from his strength: romantic songs,
generally ballads, tinged with flamenco and sung wholeheartedly with his
distinct voice.
Born in Madrid, Spain, on December 18, 1968, Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro was the
youngest son of María Pizarro and Jesús Sánchez, both of whom are Andalusians.
His father played guitar professionally and was a significant influence on
Alejandro, who learned to play guitar as a boy. As a teenager, Sanz performed at
local venues and eventually became acquainted with Miguel Angel Arenas, a music
industry maven perhaps best known at the time for his association with Mecano, a
successful Spanish pop/rock group of the 1980s. Arenas helped Sanz find work in
the recording industry, and the young performer initially signed a contract with
the Spanish label Hispavox, which issued Los Chulos Son Pa' Cuidarlos (1989), an
album that was met with indifference upon its release and is now a curious
collector's item. Sanz was billed as Alejandro Magno on the album. Remaining
aligned with Arenas, Sanz subsequently moved to WEA Latina, where he began
recording music under his present billing. His early albums -- Viviendo de Prisa
(1991), Si Tu Me Miras (1993), Basico (1993), and 3 (1995) -- were loaded with
hit singles and consequently were all successful, each reaching platinum status
many times over in Spain. Comprised largely of romantic songs, these early
albums connected well with sentimental listeners, particularly women, who tended
to be as taken aback by the music as they were by Sanz's handsome looks. "La
Fuerza del Corazón," from 3, was his first major hit to have an international
reach, opening a door to greener pastures.
The stage was now set for the breakthrough success of Más (1997), which boasted
"Corazón Partío," a hit so big it changed the course of Sanz's career. Driven by
the across-the-board appeal of "Corazón Partío," as well as additional singles
"Y, ¿Si Fuera Ella?," "Amiga Mía," "Aquello Que Me Diste," and "Siempre Es de
Noche," Más became the most successful Spanish pop record ever, selling millions
worldwide. El Alma al Aire (2000) was a comparable commercial success, selling
well internationally. However, the album wasn't as solid as its predecessor and
accordingly spawned fewer hits: "Cuando Nadie Me Ve," "Quisiera Ser...," and "El
Alma el Aire," each of which was a big hit nonetheless. By this point, Sanz had
garnered a sizable following across the Atlantic, and his next recording, MTV
Unplugged (2001), was a clear effort to further his growing popularity in the
Americas. The intimate concert performance featured a newly written single, "Y
Sólo Se Me Ocurre Amarte," which became a hit, as did "Aprendiz," a song written
by Sanz previously recorded by Malú in 1998. MTV Unplugged moreover showcased
the bounty of career highlights Sanz now had to his credit, as one hit after
another was performed during the concert.
When Sanz returned to the studio to begin recording his next album, No Es Lo
Mismo (2003), he decided to broaden his musical style to reflect his own
interests. The album is harder-hitting and more street-savvy than past ones,
even including a bit of rap and touches of electronica. The romantic songs are
still front and center, granted, but Sanz wrote an album that is far from
generic, illustrating his growing reluctance to cater to the expectations of his
audience (for the first time, he co-produced the album himself). Though bolder
than before, No Es Lo Mismo was yet another international smash success,
reaching number 128 on the all-inclusive Billboard 200 album chart -- a notably
high ranking for a Latin pop album circa 2003 -- and generating several hits,
none bigger than the title track, which broke the Top Five on the Hot Latin
Tracks chart (the first time Sanz did so since 1998) and was licensed by
Coca-Cola for a promotional campaign in Latin America. Furthermore, No El Lo
Mismo won a Latin Grammy in 2003 for Best Latin Pop Album, and Warner Music
Latina issued a special CD/DVD edition of the album the following year in
commemoration of Sanz's Latin American tour. In 2004, Warner also released a
pair of greatest-hits compilations, Grandes Éxitos 91_96 and Grandes Éxitos
97_04, as well as a three-disc package, Grandes Éxitos 91_04, that includes a
disc of rarities.
Sanz didn't release the follow-up to No Es Lo Mismo, El Tren de los Momentos,
until late 2006, but in the meantime, he was featured in the biggest Latin hit
of 2005, Shakira's "La Tortura." He co-wrote the Grammy-winning song and
co-starred in its heavily aired pair of videos, which featured the two Latin pop
stars in some rather sultry positions. "La Tortura" exposed Sanz to an even
greater audience, and when he finally released the lead single to El Tren de los
Momentos, "A la Primera Persona," the reception was rapturous. The song was
among his biggest hits yet, his first to break into the all-inclusive Hot 100
chart, and El Tren de los Momentos was likewise well received. Stylistically
similar to No Es Lo Mismo yet significantly more refined, El Tren de los
Momentos is notable for its several superstar features, which include
collaborations with Shakira, Juanes, Alex González of Maná, and Residente of
Calle 13.
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