Viva la Vida: Pistas Originales

If someone who didn't speak a word of Spanish and knew nothing about Rabito's background heard Viva la Vida, he/she would have no idea that the lyrics have a Christian message. Musically, Viva la Vida is quite typical of the more adult-oriented Latin pop albums that came out in the early 2000s. Sleek, smooth, and polished, Viva la Vida has the type of sound that is essentially a Latin equivalent of adult contemporary — it's no coincidence that a lot of bilingual Latinos who are fans of José José and Rocio Durcal also listen to Celine Dion. But lyrically, Viva la Vida is hardly typical of adult-oriented Latin pop (or Latin adult contemporary, if you prefer). While José José, Durcal, and Julio Iglesias specialize in songs about romantic love, Rabito brings a Christian perspective to tracks like "Le He Prestado la Mano a Jesus" and "Me Voy a la Montaña." Viva la Vida is every bit as Christian-minded as a collection of Mahalia Jackson or Clara Ward recordings, although a non-Spanish-speaking listener who heard one of Rabito's songs playing in the background in a Latin restaurant (and knew nothing about his history) would have no idea that he wasn't a secular romantic singer. Someone who doesn't understand Spanish would have no idea that the title "El Hombre Necesita de Dios" means "a man needs God," or that "Escuche la Voz" is urging people to hear the voice of a higher power. And it isn't surprising that a Christian singer would use Latin pop to get his message across — these days, Christian music can be anything from heavy metal to urban contemporary to country. Those who are open to hearing a religious message will find Viva la Vida to be a pleasing, if somewhat predictable, album of adult-oriented Latin pop.