Track Listing

1. COLDPLAY - Clocks
2. JACK JOHNSON - Better Together
3. ARCTIC MONKEYS - Dancing Shoes
4. DIDO and FAITHLESS - One Step Too Far
5. IBRAHIM FERRER - As Time Goes By
6. U2 with COCO FREEMAN - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
7. MAROON 5 - She Will Be Loved
8. KAISER CHIEFS - Modern Way
9. OMARA PORTUONDO - Killing Me Softly
10. VANYA and RDM featuring QUINCY JONES - Ai No Corrida
11. STING - Fragilidad
12. VANYA and RHYTHMS DEL MUNDO - Don't Know Why
13. AQUILA ROSE and IDANIA VALDEZ - Hotel Buena Vista
14. FRANZ FERDINAND - The Dark Of The Matinee
15. LELE featuring RADIOHEAD - High And Dry
16. IBRAHIM FERRER - Casablanca (As Time Goes By)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23465 in Music
• Released on: 2006-11-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

Album Description
This unique compilation project brings together the legendary musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club & some of today's most popular music stars Chris Martin (Coldplay), Dido, Franz Ferdinand, Sting, Bono, Radiohead among others, performing collaborations of some of their classic hits.

Amazon.com
Created as a benefit project for Artists' Project Earth, an organization devoted to protecting the environment, reversing climate change, and tendering disaster relief, this compilation pairs Western pop stars (U2, Sting, Artic Monkeys, et al) and their hits with all-new arrangements performed by members of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club plus other Havana-based talent. The overall effect is of a well-meaning but not entirely simpatico mutual admiration society. Coldplay's "Clocks" is a good example; the lead vocal is coolly lethargic, engulfing the spiky crags of the rhythm section like syrup on a waffle. But then, most of the singers sound strangely unconnected to the frisky 1-2-3/1-2 of the clavé beat. The contrast between the two groups of players could have been bracing, and to many ears it perhaps will be, but most of the time, they seem to transmitting from parallel universes. Not surprisingly, the best tracks are those in which hometown icons are left to do what they do best. But the late, great Ibrahim Ferrer's marvelous interpretation of "As Time Goes By" (his final recording) and Omara Portuondo's wistful yet powerful cover of "Killing Me Softly" only serve to further showcase what’s amiss with the rest of the album. --Christina Roden

Amazon.com
Created as a benefit project for Artists' Project Earth, an organization devoted to protecting the environment, reversing climate change, and tendering disaster relief, this compilation pairs Western pop stars (U2, Sting, Artic Monkeys, et al) and their hits with all-new arrangements performed by members of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club plus other Havana-based talent. The overall effect is of a well-meaning but not entirely simpatico mutual admiration society. Coldplay's "Clocks" is a good example; the lead vocal is coolly lethargic, engulfing the spiky crags of the rhythm section like syrup on a waffle. But then, most of the singers sound strangely unconnected to the frisky 1-2-3/1-2 of the clavé beat. The contrast between the two groups of players could have been bracing, and to many ears it perhaps will be, but most of the time, they seem to transmitting from parallel universes. Not surprisingly, the best tracks are those in which hometown icons are left to do what they do best. But the late, great Ibrahim Ferrer's marvelous interpretation of "As Time Goes By" (his final recording) and Omara Portuondo's wistful yet powerful cover of "Killing Me Softly" only serve to further showcase what’s amiss with the rest of the album. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Del Mundo review
Clocks is killer, and maroon five and she will be loved is really nice.
ARtic monkey have a great dance tune, best line of the whole album :Put on your dancing shoes, you sexy little swine."

very nice.

Some great renditions, some mediocre
When I first heard Buena Vista's rendition of "Clocks" on the radio earlier this year, it drew me in I was immediately intrigued by the idea of this album. I love Cuban salsa, and many of the fusions are really excellent, such as Clocks, Dancing Shoes, One Step Too Far, and Modern Way. The Spanish-sung tracks that really shine are Ain No Corrida, Fragilidad, and The Dark of the Matinee. For a compilation album, that's a pretty substantial list. The others are okay, nothing special -- the "remixed" Jack Johnson and Maroon 5 tracks don't meld as well, but the original songs are so good they kindof make up for what's lacking in the Cuban aspect of the pieces. Maybe it's my age, but some of the classic songs just end up sounding boring and dated, and I wasn't that impressed with the vocals on many of the other tracks. Overall, I'm glad I bought the CD, the proceeds benefiting our environment, instead of picking and choosing tracks off of iTunes.

I dare you to sit still while listening to this!
Wow, what a great "smash up" between some of my favorite songs and a cuban beat. Listening to it at work makes me dance in my chair. I think it would be impossible not to move while listening to this. We played it at a party recently and it was a big hit.