2004 |
  |
|
 |
Source: www.musicstation.com / VH1.com Presents
Rock on TV - July 30, 2004
TW Correspondent: Tonchi
Giving her cross-over career a big push forward, Thalia is set to guest on the ABC morning show The View on August 4, 2004 at 11:00 A.M. Set your vcr's folks. That's another Thalia special appearance to watch out for.
Source:
Brandweek.com - July 15, 2004
By: Sandra O'Loughlin
Photo By: Robin Buckson / Detroit News
TW Correspondent: Tonchi
Kmart next week will launch the first TV spots in its cross-marketing campaign with the WB television network. Two 30-second spots, "Thalia" and "Route 66," via Grey Worldwide, New York, will feature Kmart's proprietary Thalia and Route 66 collections in fast-paced commercials that resemble music videos. The ads will break on Monday, July 19, and air for six weeks on CBS, ABC, MTV, VH1 and other networks, in addition to the WB. Media buy for the marketing agreement, unveiled in May, is valued in the $25-30 million range, per Adweek.
 |
The "Thalia" spot shows stars from the WB's The Mountain as they are getting dressed to go out to a club or a party. "Route 66" shows the stars of Seventh Heaven and Reba dressing for a rooftop party on a studio lot. Creative plays up the "K" in text that appears on screen, such as "Knockout," "Heartbreaker" and "Get a look." A voiceover at the end calls out that the apparel is all new and available exclusively at Kmart. The "Thalia" spot features music by Iffy and "Route 66" plays music by The Raveonettes. Music from those bands will be sold in Kmart stores for six months. The ads are part of an integrated campaign that includes print ads for all five of Kmart's proprietary apparel collections, including Joe Boxer, Gear 7 and Athletech.. |
Print will run in August and September in 18 publications, including Teen People, Elle Girl, InStyle, Lucky, Marie Claire, Seventeen and others. Creative shows the stars of the shows wearing the apparel. One ad, for example, shows three stars of WB's One Tree Hill wearing clothing from the Thalia Collection and the tagline "Triple take," with the "K" highlighted for Kmart. Billboards in New York and Los Angeles and a national radio buy also support the effort. "This is all about the launch of our new proprietary apparel brands," said Paul Guyardo, svp/CMO, Kmart. "It is our first effort to drive consumers back into the stores and achieve profitable sales."
The campaign
targets 12-24 year-olds with a look a feel that will resonate
with the younger demo as part of an effort to broaden Kmart's
customer base. "The way we created the TV spots and the
print ads and where they are running, as well as the entire
affiliation with WB, makes a strong statement to that consumer,"
Guyardo said. "We want them to know Kmart is in the fashion
business."
Hershey's ad featuring Thalia debuts in U.S. magazinesSource:
thalia.com - June 18, 2004 Hershey's and Thalia recently launched the ad campaign marking the start of Thalia's career as the official Hershey's pitch-person. The picture on the right is running in various U.S. magazines these days. |
 |
 |
Thalia Eyewear presents Thalia GirlsSource:kenmarkoptic.com
- May 25, 2004 Thalia, the internationally renowned actress and singer has launched her line of Eyewear and Sunwear through Lancer International, a division of the Kenmark Group. In 2004 Thalia is introducing an exciting new girls collection of eyewear, Thalia Girls; a sassy collection for fashionable girls. To the left, Thalia models a stunning eye shades model from her collection. |
Source:
Associate Press - May 20, 2004
By Sarah Karush
TW Correspiondent: Luisa
Stars of five shows on the WB television network will sport clothes from Kmart's revamped apparel lines next season as part of the retailer's strategy to set itself apart from ever-expanding competitors. More than a dozen cast members from returning shows "7th Heaven," "One Tree Hill," and "Reba," as well as from the new shows "Summerland" and "Blue Collar TV," will wear clothes from the new back-to-school lines in multiple episodes, Kmart and the WB said Thursday. They will also appear in Kmart Holding Corp.'s advertising. The revamped clothing lines and partnership with the WB will help Kmart distinguish itself in consumers' minds, chief marketing officer Paul Guyardo said.
"Proprietary apparel helps build loyalty," Guyardo said. "We have to constantly ask ourselves as a retailer, what's the reason why people are going to drive past Target and drive past Wal-Mart to shop at a Kmart? One of the reasons is because you can only get these brands at Kmart." The links with the television shows are also aimed at attracting younger consumers, he said. Troy-based Kmart, which emerged from bankruptcy in May 2003, posted a profit in the first two quarters of 2004 and has won praise for its financial turnaround. However, it continues to lose market share, and the company is banking on redesigned merchandise to help boost sales.
| The five Kmart clothing brands featured in the shows will be Thalia, a women's line named after the Mexican pop star; Route 66, men's and women's casual wear and denim; Joe Boxer; Athletech sportswear; and Gear 7, which Kmart describes as "men's urban and hip hop-inspired apparel." The parallel ad campaign is set to begin around July 25 and last through Sept. 16. Each brand has been matched with specific shows to reflect a particular image, Guyardo said. For example, the young, "sexy, trendy" female characters on "One Tree Hill" will wear Thalia clothes, he said. The apparel lines at the focus of the WB deal will provide the first glimpse of efforts by chief creative officer Lisa Schultz, to freshen the designs of Kmart's merchandise. Schultz, who was appointed in September, previously worked for Gap Inc. |  |
"We've moved to great quality merchandise that you would expect to see in specialty stores," Guyardo said. "No more polyester." Guyardo said the exclusive lines help improve profit margins because they have no direct comparison in competing stores, thus reducing pressure on prices. However, a decision to handle all the design in-house will help keep the clothes inexpensive, he said. Looking beyond the back-to-school campaign, Kmart will bring out a new baby line, Small Wonders, in the fall, Guyardo said. The Sesame Street brand of children's merchandise and the Jaclyn Smith clothing line aimed at women over 40, have also been redesigned, he said.
Source:
Hollywood Reporter - May 18, 2004
By Darryl Morden
Photos: Super Estrella 107.1
TW correspondent: Luisa
 |
Thalia's show before a predominantly Spanish-speaking audience was a reminder that she was already a big star when she married high-powered music executive Thomas Mottola four years ago. Born Ariadna Thalia Sodi Miranda, Thalia (pronounced tah-LEE-ah) started out in Timbiriche, one of Mexico's most popular teen pop groups of the '80s, then became a breakout star at 19, appearing in Spanish-language TV soaps -- a launching pad for a solo recording career. More than decade later, the 32-year-old star is now selling her own apparel line and eyewear via Kmart, has a new magazine named for her and just released a "Greatest Hits" collection on EMI Latin, following last year's semi-English crossover bid and success with her Virgin Records debut. The 90-minute performance was a mix of glitz and true intimacy, which came during the moments she spoke at length with a loving audience. At one point, she wiped away some genuine tears as a swelling chant of her name rose up from the rear of the house to the stage. And all she had to do was mention Mexico and another echoing, rising wave of voices came back at her. |
| The concert opened with the singer's silhouette on video screens, then the six-member band kicked in, and she made a grand entrance through swirling mist for a medley of Spanish dance-pop hits, somewhat more teasing than thoroughly satisfying, while another medley later also came off as rushed. The set mostly featured her hits in Spanish, though she did perform the tepid "I Want You," with rapper Fat Joe's cameo surfacing on the video screens behind her, but overall, she pretty much passed up her much weaker English material. Still, the crowd went wild for the Spanish songs -- including "Cerca de Ti" and clear favorites "Amor a la Mexicana" and "Piel Morena" -- often singing along loudly, especially when Thalia encouraged them. She even strapped on and strummed an electric guitar for the rocking and spirited "Tu y Yo," while "Arrasando" mixed Latin and disco thump. Although some of her ballads come off as too generic, her upbeat numbers are full of spunk and high spirits. Too often, however, her dancers got in the way, costumed in mostly comical or campy outfits, with cheesy and even clumsy choreography recalling the worst Spanish- or English-language variety shows. |  |
 |
The male fans were more obsessed than women, and several times, when Thalia wiped herself down with a towel and then tossed it into the audience, the men virtually battled to claim it. They also could be seen scampering down the aisles toward the orchestra pit area to snap shots like giddy schoolboys. She invited one fan holding up white roses to come up onstage, and he got down on one knee to present the bouquet, receiving a kiss as his reward. Thalia has a sweetly sexy charm and a beaming smile, cute as cute can be, and when she sings, her voice shows some dynamic range without any self-indulgence -- except, perhaps, for some multiple wardrobe changes, which were stylish rather than the typical skin-showing outfits of many female pop artists. But she truly doesn't need the lame dancers, who weren't missed whenever they went away, so she could just perform with her band. And even the rear video screens, displaying colorful images or showing her video clips, were somewhat extraneous. Thalia is ultrapersonable all on her own. |
Source: El Paso
Times May 13, 2004
By: Maria Cortés Gonzalez
TW correspondent: Luisa
With fans ranging from pig-tailed girls to grandmotherly types, it appeared Thalía's "High Voltage" concert in El Paso on Wednesday night would be a fun, all-ages show. But while it was certainly lively, the Mexican pop singer wasted no time in bringing out the sensuality she's known for during her more-than-an-hour set at the El Paso County Coliseum. Not that any of the more than 5,000 attending -- especially the men -- complained.
Appearing in the first of several shimmery costumes, the pop singer took the stage with a medley of songs from her decadelong career, singing bits from "Love," "Reencarnacion" and "Regresa a Mi." Taking perhaps too much time to welcome her fans, Thalía tried to set the pace for the concert. "Se vale todo (Everything is game)," she cooed, encouraging men and women alike to take off any excess clothing.
 |
Throughout
the night, she brought fans to their feet with a number
of hits from the '90s, including "Gracias A Dios,"
"Quinceañera" and "No se si es Amor."
But one of the clear favorites was "Si no es Ahora,"
which probably brought back memories for all and Thalía
from her days in the teeny group, Timbiriche. Men and
women alike seemed to still know the lyrics. She also
brought back her days of soap opera stardom, singing the
title songs of her famed trilogy, "Marimar,"
"Rosalinda" and "Maria La del Barrio."
While clips from the Mexican soap operas played, fans
joined her in dancing to the salsa-filled rhythms of the
tunes. Toward the end of the show, she brought out her
greatest hits, including "Amor a la Mexicana"
and "Piel Morena." Thalía spent about as much time singing as she did disappearing for quick costume changes while her band finished her songs. Her looks ranged from the hip, denim outfits and pleather pant suits to the more flattering and elegant midknee dresses. And while she imparted the sexy, purring tone in her songs and greetings to the audience, Thalía got her own treat in a muscular fan's striptease -- which, of course, she encouraged. |
Source:
suntimes.com -May 10, 2004
By: Laura Emerick
TW correspondent: Luisa
With hair bigger than Pam Grier's in her "Coffy" era, a disco-glam attitude out of the P-Funk playbook and a megawatt smile brighter than that of any of her rivals, Latin pop star Thalia knows how to conjure up an essential element of any performance: a sense of total abandon. That proved to be the case Friday night when Thalia performed at the Rosemont Theatre on her first extensive U.S. tour. Not many stars could dance convincingly under the weight of what looked like a 5-pound afro, but Thalia pulled it off with ease during the encore "A Quien Le Importa" ("Who Cares"), while her dancers scampered across the stage dressed in Mad Hatter ensembles (perhaps to accent Thalia's own shrink-wrapped Charlie Chaplin-style getup).
A star since childhood, with stints in the bands Timbiriche and Din Din under her belt, Thalia knows how to work a crowd. But after 20 years in the business, the 32-year-old Mexican-born star faces much stiffer competition, not only in the Latin pop field but also in the crossover market, which she hopes to conquer like Shakira and Enrique Iglesias before her. Another crossover contender, Paulina Rubio, Thalia's rival from their Timbiriche days together, might have drawn a bigger crowd (there were stretches of empty sections at the Rosemont). "Pau-Latina," the latest from La Chica Dorada, is lodged at No. 9 on Billboard's Top 20 Latin albums chart, while Thalia's "Greatest Hits" follows not too far back at No. 14.
In any case, Thalia took the stage Friday like the million-dollar diva that she is, in a blaze of lights and a blast of sound (generated by a surprisingly modest six-piece band). Promising at least 15 costume changes (I lost count after about eight) and lots of crowd interaction, Thalia whirled through hit after hit in her 90-minute show. For the most part, Thalia remains the image of the sexy girl next door, while Rubio, with her tarty demeanor (accented by her ultra-short skirts), comes off like someone who's been around the block a few times. But would the girl next door pour water suggestively down strangers' throats? And when Thalia tossed a towel into the crowd, the guys down front grappled for the terry cloth drenched with her sweat. That incident occurred, appropriately enough, during "Cerca de Ti" ("Close to You"), but in between the towel-flinging, Thalia managed to showcase her strong vocal capabilities.
Though she concentrated on her Spanish-language singles, Thalia offered a few in English, including "I Want You," her hit with rapper Fat Joe (who sang along via the video screens onstage). Her English diction sounds near-perfect (and much better than native speakers like J. Lo, who needs to lose that Bronx accent if she expects anyone to take her seriously). Also effective were a salsa-flavored medley from her telenovela days (including "Rosalinda" and "Maria del Barrio") and the cumbia-pop of "Amor a la Mexicana" and "Piel Morena." At times, Thalia's hit medleys droned on, with too many hair-metal flourishes and choreography like something out of a bad theme park show (only much tackier). She came off best on recent hits such as the aggressive rocker "Tu y Yo," and even picked up an electric guitar for a few rudimentary strums (memo to stage crew: plug in guitar for maximum effect). The set-closing "Arrasando," which magically fuses the distinct Latin styles of merengue, cumbia and Brazilian axe, turned into a disco aerobics session, punctuated with a blast of multicolored confetti. It underscored the multicultural phenomenon that is Thalia: a star at home in all worlds.
Source:
Chicago Sun Times - May 7,2004
By: Laura Emerick
TW Correspondent: Luisa
In between editing a magazine; designing clothes, accessories and housewares; promoting chocolate and soft drinks; acting in telenovelas; touring the world; recording hit records, and being married to a music industry mogul, you might wonder if Latin pop superstar Thalia ever gets any time off. After all, she's become a one-woman industry, much like her self-professed idol, Oprah Winfrey (and even Miss O, the very definition of a one-person enterprise, doesn't have her own line of clothing or perfume). "I want to expand my vision in all the aspects of business," said the always cheery Thalia, speaking in English, during a recent phone interview. "Besides, my mother used to tell me, 'You have to be a warrior.' "
So for her latest plan of attack, Thalia has launched her first extensive U.S. concert tour, which stops tonight at the Rosemont Theatre. After childhood stints in the bands Din Din and Timbiriche during the late '80s and early '90s, Thalia began her solo career in earnest with "Amor a la Mexicana" (1997), so you might also wonder what took her so long to hit the road. "Yes, it's kind of the first time, I've done showcases and concerts here and there, and basically, I toured a long, long time ago with Timbiriche, but this is the first time I've put together a full tour," she said. But it won't be just any tour. After all, she's dubbed it "High Voltage." Thalia promises at least 15 costume changes, "the best-ever" light show and "an environment where I can interact with my fans." And of course, her music, from her early days to her latest effort, "Thalia's Greatest Hits" (EMI Latin).
| The tour
coincides with an especially busy time for the star, who,
in her most recent business venture, launched her own
magazine. Published by American Media, the conglomerate
behind the gossipy tabloids the National Enquirer and the
Star as well as the Spanish-language Mira!, Thalia the
magazine is aimed at young Latinas, with an emphasis on
beauty, health and fitness, fashion and celebrity. (One
coverline touts some diva-to-diva chisme: "Jennifer
Lopez . . . Habla con Thalia!") American Media plans
to publish three trial issues before it makes a final
commitment. As editorial director, Thalia maintains final
control over all content. The magazine, Thalia insists,
"just happened." But she's always loved
writing, so this move seemed like a natural progression.
"I met people from American Media and told them they
don't have anything for Latinas," she said. "They
fell in love with the idea, and now we have the first
three issues. The magazine has its own personality.
Visually, it's fantastic, and the content ranges from the
spiritual to medicine, fashion, el amor. It's very
human, not so gossipy." Thalia the magazine, she
hopes, will become the Spanish-language version of O: The
Oprah Magazine. "Oprah is one of my biggest
inspirations," Thalia said. "She's like an
industry, but she also has a commitment to society.
That's important." |
 |
With her various ventures, Thalia aims for the kind of market penetration previously known only to Anglo establishment stars, like Winfrey and fellow "omnimediaist" Martha Stewart. Thalia sees no reason for the clubhouse to be exclusive. "I'm trying to start a new tradition," Thalia said. "There are lots of Latinos here in the U.S., but often there is nothing [targeted at] them. I want to have projects for all my people," she said. "Besides that, my name is part of them, they first saw me when I was 9 years old. I'm the girl next door for my people."
Born 32 years ago in Mexico City as Ariadna Thalia Sodi Miranda, the youngest of five girls, Thalia has parlayed her wholesome yet sexy image into a series of career progressions: first, music, then acting, especially in the telenovelas known as "Las Tres Marias." In each of these three soap operas, she played a heroine named Maria, a peasant girl who eventually overcame all obstacles, slipping into the glass slipper and finding her Prince Charming. In real life, Thalia captured her own prince, Tommy Mottola, the former head of Sony Music. Her husband approves of "the general direction of my career, but we really try to not talk about business." Mottola has advised her on her business projects, including her signature line for Kmart. "We started out last year in 400 Kmarts and now we are going to expand to 1,500 stores this fall. It's taking off beyond my expectations," she said. "We offer fashions in good materials at a good price. We like a lot of spandex."
Like that stretchy fabric, Thalia sees her music expanding in all directions. "I've been one of lucky ones who've been able to evolve over time," she said. "In addition to Latin pop, I've done everything from rap to R&B to salsa." Guided by ace producers Corey Rooney, Estefano and Emilio Estefan Jr., Thalia has developed a pan-Latin sound that transcends all boundaries. "I did the crossover thing way before, like in '92 in Spain, Greece, Hungary, Turkey or Lebanon or even Africa," she said. "It's the feeling you put into songs, it's about how you give [of] yourself in each song. It's a fusion of different elements -- Latin, rock, pop, tropical. That's why I think I have the chance to sell albums in all different parts of the world. "I have already sung in French, Portuguese, Tagalong. I would love to continue singing in other languages. I'm popular in Japan, so why not in Japanese?"
Right now, Thalia hopes to expand her presence in the United States. Few Latin stars, like Shakira and Enrique Iglesias, have broken through to the Anglo mainstream. But for Thalia, who released her English-language debut last year, the journey remains the objective, not crossover success itself. "I think that whatever you do musically, it's important not just to follow others," she said. "You have to be yourself, arrive at your own destination at your own time. It's about giving the best you can." As for giving, she once received the gift of a great name -- belonging to one of the Greek muses. "I thank her every day," she said with a laugh. "When my mom was pregnant with me, she was reading lots of Greek mythology. And so the name Thalia stuck."
Source: San
Antinio Express News - May 6, 2004
By: Ramiro Burr
TW correspondent: Luisa
Global superstar Thalía is pushing her own line of apparel and eyewear through Kmart. She is launching her own national magazine, Thalía. And the U.S. leg of her tour began this week, with three Texas dates still to come. Her English-language crossover album from last year, Thalía, peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200, and her Greatest Hits album made it to No. 1 on the Latin pop charts. And, of course, she's married to one of the most influential men in the music industry, Tommy Mottola. It might seem to some that all of this has come easily to Thalía, a Mexican native. But in a recent interview, she recalled moments of doubt about her career path.
"I remember being very young; I think I was 9," she said in Spanish. "I was in a small group with two little boys and two little girls; we were called Din Din." According to Thalía, during a promotional tour of Acapulco, the kids were given concert fliers to pass out. They had to walk from one end of the beach to the other inviting folks to their nightly shows. "It was a hot afternoon, and we were dressed in these little clown outfits, but imagine the sun and the heat we had to walk in," she said. "We were sweating in those costumes. I will never forget it. Anyway, they made us do that several times. And it was really hard for us." She was young and unsure if she wanted to continue, but she still found inspiration. "It was a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice, and a lot of anguish for me, but what kept me going was the love I felt when I performed on stage. That's when you forget everything that happened before."
As the group's popularity grew, Thalía became a celebrity, especially when she began acting in telenovelas and later joined the popular teen group Timbiriche. But with fame came the occasionally unwelcome spotlight. "When I released my first album as a soloist (in 1989), that was another time I began to think, `No, this is not for me,' " Thalía said. She had just finished another popular telenovela, Quinceañera, the first soap opera for teenagers on Mexican television. Her character was all sweetness and innocence. "So when I came back on the scene with my first album, I came back as a rocker, and more like a sex symbol," she said. "But the press reaction was bad. They were asking, `Where is the sweet person we knew on TV? We want that sweet child; we do not like the rocker.' " The controversy became fodder for the tabloid press, which is always eager to examine the lives of those too powerful, too beautiful, too famous, too rich. "I had made that album with a lot of love. I had thought about the image I wanted, and here they are tearing me apart with their reports and reviews," she said. "They could not understand that teenagers grow up. I was going through what Britney (Spears) had gone through in her career. From a sweet little child that they knew me as, I wanted to grow up to be a woman and say, `Hey, I am changing."
Thalía said her mother's guidance was the key to getting past this rough patch. "I got terribly depressed," she said. "But then my mom sat me down and told me, `OK, listen, we have two choices -- we can continue in this career, and you're going to work hard to be No. 1 and you will confront all this in a way that none of this criticism will touch you. Or we can pack it up and move to another country so you can start anew in school and maybe do what you always wanted to do, become a psychologist or biologist. Whichever way we go, I will support you.' " Thalía said she's learned to cope with extraordinary demands. "I am more confident now. All the problems I had made me become a superorganized person and surround myself with an enthusiastic team," she said. "I used to suffer a lot; I didn't see my family, or I didn't have time to do the things I really liked. "But today I learned how to enjoy Thalía the person, as a priority, to be with my families and friends, and have a good time, talk and laugh."
Source: Star
Ledger - May 4, 2004
By: Enrique Lavin
Photo: AP /Reuter
TW correspondent: Luisa
| If the
Britney and Christina rivalry is the thing of American
gossip columns, about a decade earlier, a dueling Thalía
and Paulina Rubio were Mexican tabloid fodder. The
American stars may have come out of the Disney factory,
but the Mexican divas were part of Timbiriche, the
biggest Latin teen pop group of the '80s. Born Ariadna
Thalía Sodi Miranda in 1972, Thalía (tah-LEE-ah), at 19,
became a household name wherever Spanish was spoken when
she starred in the popular telenovelas "María
Mercedes, Marimar" and "María la del Barrio."
The latter became another springboard for her music as
she sang the show's title song. Rubio has had mild
crossover success in this country with her Europop-styled
dance songs, but Thalía's star has soared since 2000
when, at 28, she married then-52-year-old music mogul
Tommy Mottola -- Mariah Carey's starmaking ex-husband.
Will she be the next Mariah? Thalía puts things into
perspective. "Singing a song in English is hard, but it's really not as hard as what I had been doing in previous years," she says in her Mexico City Spanish. "I took my music in Spanish to Asia and Europe, having Filipinos sing (her hits) 'Amor a la Mexicana,' the French sing 'Piel Morena' and the Greeks, 'Gracias a Dios,' with them not even knowing Spanish. I think that's the real crossover." While her voice may not have the range or strength to be a constant focal point, say the way Carey's or Aguilera's may be, Thalía's divergent sound, showmanship, model-like looks and work with the right people has made her career. In a few months, she says she'll be back in the studio to work on her next album in English. In the meantime, she kicks off a national tour tonight in support of a "Greatest Hits" double CD, the second disc featuring her videos. Singing everything from rap and R&B to disco, typical romantic ballads and the Mexican regional music form, banda, Thalía's a versatile performer. "I've always liked to change things up, experimenting with various rhythms. I like to make fusions -- cumbia with a little pop, rock with a little rap," says the 32-year-old singer, who performs tonight at the Beacon Theatre. "I don't like to marry myself to one single sound." |
 |
A businesswoman in the vein of Oprah and J.Lo, Thalía has taken her star power and branded it to a series of products. This month, she launched an eponymous women's monthly magazine, containing ads for her clothing line, eyewear and makeup. "Oprah has been a major influence on me, someone who's made something from nothing and created an industry with a social conscience," she says. Beyond the pages filled with sex and fashion advice, she reveals her vulnerability in a column about finding her spirituality. "Fame, glamour, the latest car, a dream home ... didn't fill the deep emptiness that I felt in my chest," she writes. "Having all these (business and creative) outlets means I have to be honest," she says.
Thalía has thrived by following in the footsteps of the pop icons that she listened to in the '80s, like David Bowie, Prince and Madonna, whose scope in music is as varied as their identities. A natural chameleon, in her videos, the star turns into the subjects of her songs -- from girlish flirt in "Amor A la Mexicana" to Harlem flygirl in "I Want You" to a classy songstress in "Entre El Mar y Una Estrella." "Being a sex symbol is part of my personality, it's part of my essence," she says. "though I just see myself as a young person with dreams and goals, and a hyperactivity toward creativity."
Source: Sun-Sentinel.com
- May 4, 2004
By Edgar Sandoval
TW Correspondent: Luisa
In a way, Thalia is like three or four celebrities all rolled into one. But just who the Mexican pop star really is depends on who you ask. For homemakers in Latin America, Thalia is the innocent poor girl in the Spanish-language telenovelas who always, somehow, ends up wealthy and marrying a heartthrob. For young men and women, she is the sex symbol who sings about love, lust, a little domination here and there, and every now and then about freedom of expression and corruption. For English speakers, she is one of Latin music's newest stars, someone who sings salsa and raps -- and seems to come right out of the Bronx. So, which one is she? All of them, she answers cordially. People are not good or bad, quiet or outspoken, sexy or not sexy. They are all of the above, the 33-year-old singer says -- and she is bringing all her personalities to a Wednesday show at Miami's James L. Knight Center. Thalia's High Voltage tour comes just weeks after she released her latest album, Greatest Hits, on EMI Latin. It continues to climb the Billboard charts.
 |
"I
am a woman without a mask. I'm a lot of things at once. I
want my audience to choose the side they like most about
me," Thalia says. "I'm just honest." In
Miami, she does not promise a concert, but a show in
which she wants the audience to interact with her and the
songs that have made her a star in the past 10 years. She
plans at least 15 costume changes and a light show better
than any she has done before. Many of her songs are
backed heavily by horns and layers of percussion that
complement her sensual voice. This style made worldwide
hits of Piel Morena (Brown Skin), Amor a la Mexicana (Love
the Mexican Way) and Mujer Latina (Latin Woman). But the
singer says she gets as much satisfaction from singing
about hope, misfortune and love in softer tones as she
does showcasing her powerful voice. Thalia also says she likes playing with the image of a girl next door. But few girls next door have sold millions of records, gained a little over a billion viewers for starring roles in Spanish-language soap operas and built an empire that includes clothing and magazines so far-reaching they are a brand name. Thalia has. Despite all of her success and her marriage to music mogul Tommy Mottola, Thalia says she never forgets what motivates her as a person and star. "I came from a middle-class family in Mexico from a household full of women, in a country that is very machista," she says, referring to the sexism prevalent in her homeland. "It has been a long and difficult road." Indeed, Thalia has had her share of misfortunes: beginning with the death of her father, a respected scientist in Mexico City, when she was 5. Her first fiance and first solo producer died when she was in her early 20s, and most recently, she weathered the kidnappings and release of her two older sisters in Mexico. A combination of past sour experiences and her positive outlook is reflected in songs like Echa Pa' Lante (Take a Step Forward) and Y Seguir (To Go On). The first song talks about corrupt politicians who steal money from the poor and the second asks listeners to find strength after facing difficult moments. "That I need to renew my skin, to try again," she sings in Y Seguir. Unless, of course, she happens to be in a sexier more rebellious mood, in which case, she shakes her head, letting her hair fall over her face as she sings: "Who cares about what I do? Who cares about what I say? This is how I am! I'm never going to change!" on A Quien Le Importa (Who Cares?) a recent hit on Spanish-language radio. |
Of the rumors that she married Mottola to reach superstardom, Thalia giggles and dismisses the idea. After all, she has been a performer for more than two decades. She began in Mexico City at age 9 with a children's group, Din-Din. She then moved on to a popular teen band, Timbiriche, where she immediately stood apart. Only two Timbiriche alums continue to thrive in the music industry. Paulina Rubio, her pop music rival, is the second. She went solo in the early '90s, changing her image from sweet innocent girl to sex symbol. She began singing about tasting her boyfriend's Saliva (that's the name of a song), to beating and later caressing a love interest in another. Mexican radio banned her songs at first, accusing her of being too raunchy. But fans followed. She recorded two more albums with similar themes in the early '90s, with hits about a guy's sweat, Sudor, and another about her blood, Sangre. But in was not until the mid '90s when she paired with producer Emilio Estefan that she became a household name in Latin America. By the time her son-based song Piel Morena traveled all over Latin American in 1995, Thalia had been taking roles in Spanish-language soap operas. She captured not only the young market, but also the older, more mature audience that watches television.
Her trilogy of soaps, each of which featured her playing a different character called Maria, told the story of a poor peasant girl who overcame all sorts of obstacles, including jail sentences (she was always wrongly accused), difficult pregnancies (babies were either lost or stolen), and evil women who tried to steal her boyfriends (Can't they get their own men?). Her music career expanded from Latin American to Asia and Europe with the release of other Spanish language albums, Amor a la Mexicana, and the second CD titled Thalia. Her English-language effort, the third CD named Thalia, propelled her to English-language airwaves with her Top 10 hit I Want You, featuring rapper Fat Joe. Though the album reached the No. 11 spot in the Billboard English-language charts, Thalia did not become a household name in the American market as she had hoped. Her English-language Thalia sold about 189,000 units in the United States. But Thalia says she is not done yet with her English album. She just released her third English single Don't Look Back. She also signed recently a deal with chocolate giant Hershey to launch her own candy line. She wants to do it all, she says, and keep changing. "Look, a lot of singers find a musical genre people like and stick with it," she says. "That's being a conformist. I sing ballads, rock, salsa, rap. When you stick to one style, is like sitting down and scratching your ribs. I like being a lot of things at once."
Source: Tribune
Media - May 1, 2004
By: Magaly Morales
TW Correspondent: Luisa
Televisa recently launched production of its first telenovela being made completely on U.S. soil. Tentatively titled Inocente de Ti (Innocent You), the teledrama is expected to premiere later this year on Univisión, partly owned by Televisa. Inocente de Ti stars Valentino Lanús and Camila Sodi in a remake of Televisa's María Mercedes, a 1992 Cinderella story that featured Mexican singer-actress Thalía, who is Sodi's aunt. Produced by Salvador Mejía and shot at the Fonovideo studios in Miami, Inocente de Ti features the return of several Mexican actors to telenovelas, including Helena Rojo, Salvador Pineda, Alma Delfina and Leonardo Daniel.
|
 |
|
|
 |
Disclaimer
All news and information contained are verified and correct as of date of posting. All articles and photos are taken from public sources.We do not claim exclusivity of content on posted material unless otherwise specified. Credit is given to sources whenever possible. Photos, videos and articles remain the copyrighted property of the publication or television production. The Ankh Chronicles does not represent Thalia or her organization, Televisa and its member companies in any way. personalal viewpoints of writers do not reflect the feelings or views of the aforementioned people. Its accompanying logo and concept pages remain the property of this website. No portion of this site may be used in any form of print and electronic media without written consent of site owners. For comments and suggestions, please email our NEWS DESK
