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Chocolate (band)

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Years active
  
1997–2004

Members
  
DJ Sneak

Active until
  
2002

Albums
  
Mayonesa

Chocolate (band) cloud10todocolecciononlinemusicacdstc201210

Labels
  
Fonovisa Inc Obligado Records

Origin
  
Montevideo, Uruguay (1997)

Genres
  
Cumbia, Tropical music, Music of Latin America

Similar
  
Mayonesa, Nietos del Futuro, Kaliente, Coyote Dax, Cuarteto Continental

Chocolate was a Uruguayan band from Montevideo, specializing in cumbia music. They released 3 studio albums, and at their peak, became a huge success in South America, even touring the United States in 2001. In Argentina & Uruguay, they achieved 2 Gold & 3 Platinum discs.

Contents

Members

  • Paulo Fernández
  • Carlos Sosa
  • Claudio De La Fuente
  • Alejandro Scatone
  • Douglas Castillos
  • History

    Formed by producer Juan Carlos Cáceres, the five-member band first released material in 1997, an album entitled Cariñito. Their material was heavily influenced by local rhythms such as murga and candombe, but recognized internationally and referred to more frequently as cumbia. Their first efforts were usually covers of other artists' tracks. Lyrically, the content was restricted to uplifting themes, often making full use of a flirtatious attitude towards women, and the feelings associated with love and lust. Much use was made of local Uruguayan lunfardo. One band member commented that when they travelled internationally, "on the radio and at press conferences we have to explain the lunfardo", which was not fully understood outside their native Uruguay.

    With the release of their Greatest Hits album in 2001, led by the single "Mayonesa", they achieved international success, which had previously been restricted to Uruguay and Argentina. This came following the move to Obligado Records and the opportunity to write their own material. The song became a hit throughout Latin America and Spanish-speaking North America, often referred to as one of the 'songs of the summer' of 2001. It reached #42 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. Literally meaning mayonnaise, it likens the sensation of falling in love with the process of making the dressing, namely beating your heart as you would mayonnaise. The song was accompanied by a catchy dance routine.

    The song's release was accompanied by a marketing campaign, which saw the band achieve success which few Uruguayan artists have experienced. They toured Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Spain and the United States. It was featured as the sound track to the Spanish version of Big Brother 2. In late 2001 they participated in the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile.

    The band disintegrated in 2002, as various members decided to form their own projects. The line-up had already changed from the original five, and that happened at the height of their success. Speculation surrounded the split, with accusations of bad feeling between the singers and manager Juan Carlos Cáceres. Remuneration was also allegedly an issue.

    Legacy

    In 2016, the multinational telecommunications company Vodafone of Spain used the song "Mayonesa" as soundtrack in an ad for a new premium music service.

    Discography

  • Cariñito 1997
  • Fuego Contra Fuego 1998
  • Grandes Éxitos 2001
  • Songs

    Mayonesa2001
    Arriba Malena
    Llorando - Llorando

    References

    Chocolate (band) Wikipedia