Betzaida - Te Quiero Asi (CD)

All Music Guide

At Fonovisa and other labels that are heavily focused on the regional Mexican market, it isn't uncommon for artists to come out with two or even three new albums in the course of a year. But with Betzaida, there was a threeyear gap between her selftitled debut album of 2004 and her sophomore album, Te Quiero Así" (a 2007 release). That's very unusual for Fonovisa, but then, Betzaida is not typical of artists who have recorded for the Univisiondistributed company. Betzaida, unlike many Fonovisa artists, does not specialize in a Mexican style such as banda, norteño, mariachi or duranguense; her first CD was aimed at the Latin pop market at largenot the regional Mexican market specificallyand she continues in a commercial Latin pop direction on Te Quiero Así". But while Betzaida's selftitled debut emphasized songs that were written especially for her, Te Quiero Así is primarily an album of covers of Latin pop songs from the ‘80s. Some of the tunes are ballads, including "Ángel," "O Tú o N...ada," "Te Amaré" and the title track. But Te Quiero Así" has its share of uptempo offerings as wellmost notably, "Se Fué," "Sola No, Yo No Sé Estar" and "Tuya." But whatever the tempo, Te Quiero Así maintains its strong sense of ‘80s nostalgia even though Carlos Lara's production is not an exact replica of the ‘80s. Te Quiero Así sounds like it was produced in the 2000snot the ‘80sbut that doesn't mean that the album's spirit of ‘80s worship is any less evident. And while Te Quiero Así isn't mindblowing, it is a pleasant and noteworthy sophomore effort from Betzaida. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less