The benefits will be used to build a children’s hospital

SD. For the young Haitians that work in construction of buildings in this city, it surely was Mackandal’s spirit –the one who turned into a serpent, into a bird, into a fish, after fleeing from the stake- that made the “A song of hope for Haiti” possible after a day of rain.

Juan Luis opened the concert at full steam with “La Travesia” and the public welcomed him with an ovation, after that he followed with the very Caribbean song “A pedir su mano” and then concluded with “Las Avispas”. Then he left the stage to Miguel Bose.

Picasso’s protégé came in singing “Amante bandido” accompanied by members of his band and 440. After thanking the public for supporting Haiti’s cause, he sang a much applauded “Te amaré”, and from his latest disc: “Un canto a la libertad”, a beautiful theme that in its rhythmic and philosophical essences has to do with what gathered so many people at the Olympic Stadium. “Sing strongly brother, call for freedom!” he said, and presented Maridalia Hernandez.

Maridalia’s voice, at almost 9pm, sang “Te ofrezco”, with lots of applause. After that she talked to the crowd: “Tonight’s a night of love, this is an act of love...” Then she sang “Quien no sabe de amor no sabe nada” (Who doesn’t know about love knows nothing) in a duo with Adalgisa  Pantaleon, a marvelous duet, which was –musically speaking- the best of the night.

Without being announced (Maridalia forgot to present), Luis Fonsi came out. “Quien te dijo eso” was chanted by the thousands that attended during a night in which stars shun between fading clouds.

Enrique Iglesias came in slow but strengthened like a tropical cyclone. During the first song he went down into the crowd and invited a young man to sing with him. Ruben said, “My birthday is the day after tomorrow, so this is my gift” ¿What song do you want to sing? “Heroe”, said Ruben, who didn’t know it by heart; but the artist did his show with Ruben. It was probably Enrique Iglesias who gave more participation to the crowd.

Then merengue came in the voice of its queen, Milly Quezada, who sang “Para darte mi vida” and made many dance with two more songs from her repertoire. The n Alejandro Sanz took possession of the stage and thanked the Dominicans “for this great step you’re taking to get close to your Haitian brethren”.

He ended with “Corazón partío” and “Looking for paradise” with a young black woman with a voice similar to that of Alicia Keys, although not as intense.

Juanes asked God that if he were to die it would be out of love; that with the whole crowd waiting for him and his guitar that’s sensitive to rock and cumbia. He thanked the Dominican people “for all they’ve done in helping rebuild Haiti”, right away he sang “It’s time to change”. He breathed the sour air of goodbye by singing “La camisa negra”.

Juan Luis returned to the stage with the first strains of “Como yo te quiero”, and then sang “Bachata en Fukuoka” for the first time”. Then he followed with the traditional “El Farolito”. The Olympic asked for one more so he announced the last song and invited everyone on stage to raise two flags, one Haitian and one Dominican to sing “Ojala que llueva cafe” (We hope that it would rain coffee), the best song  of hope for poor islands.

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Source: Diario Libre and Listin Diario