As soon as the opening riffs of “Me Enamora” were heard in the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, Colombian singer Juanes immediately proved why he is a Latin rock legend. When making his appearance back to Houston, Juanes brought his deep-rooted traditions with a setlist that covered many decades of his career.
During the whole performance, constant interaction with the fans helped to establish the link between the singer and the crowd, something he acknowledged: “We may not know each other, but we are connected through the music.” After the explosive early songs such as “La Paga”, “Yerbatero”, and “Mala Gente”, Juanes often took pauses to give short, moving speeches. In these pauses, he expressed his deep thanks to his fans, provided some personal background for the lyrics, and regularly checked up on the atmosphere in the room to make sure each member of the audience felt directly connected.
One of the best moments of the show came when Juanes left the main stage while singing “Para Tu Amor”. He then went straight to the center of the crowd and gave a deeply heartfelt and simplified performance, which was watched in high anticipation by the fans. The fact that the fans were only a few steps from the artist as they sang along, made it an unforgettable moment for all those around.
Moving through tender serenades and high hits, Juanes performed his classic hits including “Es Por Ti,” and proceeded to pay tribute to Joe Arroyo with “Rebelión,” and sang his signature hit “La Camisa Negra.”
A highlight of the evening came just before it ended with “La Luz.” For the live performance, Juanes combined rich rhythms from Dominican Republic cumbia with lively cumbia influences from Colombia and Mexico that had everyone dancing. It was full of tropical accordion melodies, strong percussions, and the driving bass lines, all of which raised the atmosphere so much. Juanes ended with a victorious performance of “A Dios Le Pido.”
Juanes gave an unforgettable performance, striking a perfect balance between the kind of energy expected at a large venue and a genuine, personal connection with his fans. Even though the Smart Financial Center is a large venue, the fact that he kept interacting with his fans, told honest stories, and boldly walked into the crowd turned the enormous hall into a warm and intimate event. Together with a highly energetic and dance-oriented setlist, it became a successful celebration of music and community that made each fan feel as though they were a part of the show.
About Author
