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| This incredible photo courtesy of Nenyta Rivera |
Translation by Candela
The Puerto Rican singer lent his voice to the villain Flynn Rider in "Tangled."
The last time he put his body into a film, twelve years ago, he ended up with 28 stitches after an elbow hit him in the face at a shooting of "Dance with me." Choking at the memory, Chayanne warns that his new job on the big screen is "less risky and more charming" as the voice of Rider in “Tangled.”
Elmer Figueroa Arce has an old affair with Disney. When he started his career at the age of 10 as part of Los Chicos, the group sang in the theme parks in small shows. And in 2001, he fulfilled the dream of creating music for the film “Atlantis” with the theme “Where is your dream?” In Dance with Me, with Vanessa Williams, he spent hours practicing his choreography and it was very demanding both physically as well as mentally. For “Tangled” I did not have to wear any make-up, dress up, look a certain way, or change locations…I could record in my pajamas if I wanted”, he laughs.
The dream of hundreds of his followers, as explained by the Puerto Rican press agents in Miami, was to call a phone number from a staff reporter for the “Latin Michael Jackson”. And indeed, the unit rings and on the other side listens a modest Chayanne. “I am here in cold Miami, is it summer over there yet? If the Puertorrican artist can accomplish sensuality with the tone of his voice and with his charm he attacks with equal power. What type of thief did he give his voice to? A mischievous man who is always on the defensive, but hides a big heart”.
And he shows his romantic side as well: “The big inviting message behind the story is that there is always a great love. You may have grown up alone, but must give life a chance, try to find happiness as you walk. Out knowing love comes a kinder side”.
Chayanne knows that being part of 50 Disney films is not just a detail. "It is a fact that immortalizes you, a film that will be seen by your grandchildren and great-grandchildren," he boasts. And dreams of projects like "El Zorro", "The Black Corsair," "The Three Musketeers.”
What do you think of the theories that point to Disney as a world that is too white and harmful, or that reproduces only an American ideology of power?
“No, Disney for me is a magical place. Behind this great illusion is a huge company that does a tremendous job…an admirable undertaking”.
In the film, the voice of Chayanne interacts with the Mexican Danna Paola (Rapunzel), 27 years his junior. The actress also starred in her country in the Aztec version of the children’s movie "Ugly Duckling", which they later titled “Dare to dream.”
At 42 years of age, with 25 million albums sold and three decades of battling on stages, Chayanne has become a sex symbol whose performance exceeds his choreographies and his performing as a singer, and knowing that bringing his image to this type of product will expand his audience, with the majority being women.
"I think of my own children and all children that have always enjoyed the Disney magic and this makes the project extremely special," and belies the recent news of purchasing vineyards in Mendoza. "The wine from your country, I just drink it" he laughs.
Without uttering opinion about his performances in Ferro this year (there were complaints about the brevity of one of his concerts and the bad sound), he celebrates feeling like a child while doing this project. The name Chayanne (derived from Cheyenne) means "one who knows how to take advantage of every situation." Once again he lived up to his nickname.
