Countries are run by morons

Spanish singer ALEJANDRO SANZ faces a second Venezuelan ban after government officials confirmed they're trying to cancel a rescheduled concert there later this month (Feb08). Sanz was slated to perform in Caracas in November (07) but that show was scrapped over comments he made against Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. The Spaniard has regularly expressed his dislike of the President, and once stated he'd only perform in Venezuela when Chavez's term in office had ended. But the singer reconsidered his stance when fans begged him to perform. However that concert was scrapped due to government opposition and now it looks as if the rescheduled show could be cancelled too. Members of the Caracas Mayor's office want to prohibit the 14 February (08) concert. Mayor's spokesperson Evelio Arrieta tells PeopleenEspanol.com, "I think Sanz should be brave and recognise what he said about not giving a concert until Hugo Chavez is out of power."

Really?! This again? Would you let it go already and let the man do what he is so good at doing?!

On a lighter note, here's a great review of one of his shows.

Though fellow Latin pop superstars Juanes and Shakira have cracked the American mainstream, Spain's Alejandro Sanz remains a somewhat unknown quantity.

But creatively, he's every bit their equal. And Sanz is maybe even better a musician, as his concert Sunday night at the Rosemont Theatre attested. While leading his 10-piece band in a standout show, Sanz soloed on guitar (flamenco-acoustic and electric), percussion and keyboards, and most important, kept the emphasis on conducting the concert as a performance of collaborators. While some superstars put on shows that are all about themselves, Sanz steps back and lets his bandmates share the spotlight.

Whether building to a salsified clave bridge on "Corazon Partio" or creating a Cuban-style descarga on "Labana," the spirit of collaboration defined the evening. The arrangements took their cues from "El Tren de Los Momentos" (2006), Sanz's latest studio disc, on which his trademark flamenco pop veers in the direction of jazz.

Throughout his craggy yet soulful voice anchored the rhythmic diversity. Reaching back to his early hits for a medley of "La Fuerza del Corazon," "Amiga Mia" and "Y Si Fuera Ella," Sanz segued seamlessly into a one-two-three punch of the soaring ballad "El Alma al Aire," the vocally demanding "A La Primera Persona" and the hip-hop-infused "Try to Save Your Song."

Sunday's show served as a makeup date because Sanz, suffering from exhaustion, had to cancel the U.S. leg of his "El Tren" tour last summer. With those recent trials and tribulations behind him, Sanz looked refreshed and sounded upbeat, even though he was competing against the distractions of the Super Bowl and a raging snowstorm outside.

For the encores, Sanz took a rare solo turn on grand piano and sang a medley including the ethereal "Lo Ves?" Then the band came back out and powered through the sultry "Te Lo Agradezco Pero No" and his signature hit, "No Es Lo Mismo." It all capped off a triumphant night for a true champion.