In an unprecedented union for Colombian music, Carlos Vives and the legendary Grupo Niche premiered this Friday a salsa version of ‘La tierra del olvido’, a modern vallenato hit that celebrates three decades since its release.
The collaboration is part of ‘La tierra del olvido – 30 años (Remastered & Expanded)’, a commemorative edition that celebrates one of the most emblematic albums of Colombian music.
The song was presented for the first time during a concert serenade for the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Santa Marta, Carlos Vives’ homeland, where he performed it live with Grupo Niche in front of more than 100,000 people with the Caribbean Sea as a backdrop.
“‘La tierra del olvido’ allowed us to reconnect with our essence, and with Niche we managed to take that message to another musical universe: that of salsa,” said Vives in a statement, for whom this work is “a celebration of what we are as Colombians, of our diversity and cultural richness.”
Under the musical direction of José Aguirre, Grupo Niche added the strength of Pacific salsa to the vallenato essence of Vives, in what he described as “a dream fulfilled” and “a gift” for the followers of both careers.
Two weeks ago, when Carlos Vives released the new edition of ‘La tierra del olvido’, this song already appeared on the album, but the audio had been replaced by a trip behind the recording studios with laughter, tunings, jokes and rehearsals where they announced the song, but said that the full version would be revealed later.
The launch is part of a series of commemorative activities that include new music, concerts and unreleased content.
The song is already available on digital platforms and its video clip, recorded during the sessions at GML and La Torre de Lata studios, shows the good connection between the artists.
Vives, winner of 18 Latin Grammys and two Grammys, and Grupo Niche, with more than four decades of history, reported Agencia EFE, have been indisputable references of Colombian musical identity.
