nd fabled Spanishbullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguin, Bose grew up surrounded bypremier cultural figures of the day, from Pablo Picasso to filmdirector Luchino Visconti. His pedigree made him nearly royalty-- a media darling whose every move was chronicled by tabloidssince birth. It was no surprise, then, that Bose's TV debut asa singer, in April 1977, catapulted him to stardom. Aftercovering "Linda," a pretty love song originally recorded byItalian group I Pooh, Bose's success was instant and worldwide.
What is surprising, however, is that 30 years later, theboy who sang about innocent love has morphed into one of themost respected and adventurous purveyors of Latin pop.
Singer, composer, actor, dancer, producer and all-aroundprovocateur, Bose, at 51, continues redefining and pushing theparameters of Spanish-language pop music.
From cuter-than-cute teen idol to respected pop icon,Bose's trajectory inspires legions of fans and musicians. Hislatest album, "Papito" (Warner Music), is a collection of 30hits representing 30 years in music, each performed in a newversion with different guest artists, from Shakira and RickyMartin to Paulina Rubio and Julieta Venegas.
In the midst of his world tour in support of "Papito," Bosetook a break to speak with Billboard and reflect on the meaningof fame and artistry.
Q: "Papito" has been a stunning success, topping charts inseveral countries. You hadn't had such a successful album inyears, in fact. Was it a surprise?
Bose: "I think no one thought it would be this successful.Everyone thought it would be a desirable project; they were allwell-known songs, newly produced, all refreshed in some way.Even the structure changed in some. And obviously, withextraordinary guest artists.
"But no one expected this kind of response, particularly atthis moment for the industry. Also, this wasn't a project I wasplanning. It's the kind of project artists don't think about.You need a team to observe things from the outside at the righttime. In my case, it was my label (Warner) and my managementwho proposed it.
"Truth is, I was writing new material for a new album. AndI don't even celebrate my birthday, much less 30 years in theindustry."
Q: So what made you take the plunge?
Bose: "One always has a pending assignment that'sappealing, which is to revise oneself. Look today at thosethings that have been done for years and say, 'How would Iwrite them; how would I construct them?'
"Time has to go by, and you have to find the moment to doit. In the end, many things made sense.
"And it's not everybody who reaches 30 years in thisbusiness maintaining a certain level. Not everybody has hadsuch a diverse career, and along with an audience that hasgrown with you and has been by your side when you've taken hugerisks.
"My career is based on risks. It's atypical. It hasn'tfollowed rules or norms. You have to thank that audience thathas stood by you. And when I began to ask my friends what theythought, I saw enormous enthusiasm. Many of the people in thisalbum grew up with my music. And they were very, very excitedto celebrate by my side."
Q: So how did you "revise" yourself?
Bose: "In the end, I had a drink, I sat in my house, tookall my discography, and listened to all of it in chronologicalorder. And all the boxes of memories, the perfumes, places,people, anecdotes started to open up. In the end, I was veryhappy.
"I felt at 19, I had done music befitting a 19-year-old. At25, music befitting a 25-year-old. At 30, music befitting a30-year-old. And there was a great coherence as far asdeveloping a very personal, very unique language and verydistinctive music productions."
Q: Alec Baldwin once said he thought most of his films weremediocre. Did that thought cross your mind with any of yourwork?
Bose: "The thing is, actors and composers go through verydifferent channels. When you're the author of what you write,what you compose, you're the star and the creator. You are theperson who is always expressing himself and attempting totranslate himself. The language is yours, the risk is yours,the ideas are yours. When you're an actor, you get a role onpaper. You don't make the movie; you don't direct it. When youcreate your art, it has sense because there is a line of growthand everything you do has its moment."
Q: Many people still think of you as a film actor. But youactually haven't done films in years. Why?
Bose: "I haven't done film in 20 years. My life is here. Inmusic. This is really what I'm passionate about. What I like.I've done film and I've been in great movies, but I don'tbelong there. I'll probably do film again in the future, but mycharacter isn't made for that. Among other things, I don't havethe patience for those long waits. Music goes by very quickly,and you can correct things immediately."
Q: But you studied theater and dance, and judging by yourshows, you still love that, don't you?
Bose: "It's part of the whole package. My music has avisual component where everything is important. Lights.Atmosphere. Perhaps I don't need to do film because I includethat element in my shows."
Q: Did you ever consider being a bullfighter, like yourfather, Luis Miguel Dominguin?
Bose: "Never in my life. What I wanted to study as a childwas marine biology. I wanted to be an oceanographer. That'sstill my great passion, and I work with foundations -- likeOceana -- that (protect) our oceans."
Reuters/Billboard
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