An uplifting "comeback"

Into The Light is a very enjoyable CD. There are thirteen songs on here (the last one is actually a Spanish version of the hit "Coming Out Of The Dark.") The music is very diverse and has an even mix of fast, slow and mid-tempo songs. It's a very inspiring CD, especially since it was released after Gloria recovered from her bus accident. The songs are uplifting and lighthearted, but also contain important messages about not giving up, etc. I'm grateful for this CD and that Gloria was able to record it.

Into The Light (1991) Glorita Estefan

In 1990, while the band was on tour, Gloria was in a serious bus accident, where she broke her spinal cord. The accident was supposed to have left her paralyzed, but the doctors managed to prevent that by inserting two metal rods into Gloria's lower back.

In 1991, a year after the accident, Miami Sound Machine became just a back-up band for Gloria, as she became a solo act. In 'English' terms, Gloria stayed with the band, but they dropped 'Miami Sound Machine', so that Gloria can go on as a solo artist. Gloria released her fifth album, Into The Light, in the same year as the band change. This album, which was Gloria's fifth when you count the first four with Miami Sound Machine, reflects on what happened when Gloria got into her accident. This is another one of my favorite albums.

COMING OUT OF THE DARK
The first single from the album. This is the song that mainly has the album reflecting on her accident. It's not a bad song.

SEAL OUR FATE
Although the message in this song has been used many times over the years by different acts, but just about everybody has to have a song with this message and Gloria took the liberty of making herself the next person to record a song with this message. When you are going for something that you want in life, then don't put it off until tomorrow, because if tomorrow comes, you may wake up tomorrow and find out that your chance was taken away from you. If you want to reach for your goals, then do it while you have the chance. Don't you dare put it off until you decide you have the time to get around to it.

WHAT GOES AROUND
Another song with a great message. This message is being said to everyone in this everyday world. What goes around, most definitely comes around. Whatever you do onto other people, the other people will do onto you. That's best way I could put it.

NAYIB'S SONG (I AM HERE FOR YOU)
Nayib is Gloria and Emilo's son, who was born in 1980, which would make him eleven years old when this album was released. Gloria decided to have written and recorded this song for her son and I thought it was a great gesture.

REMEMBER ME WITH LOVE
A pretty song.

HEART WITH YOUR NAME ON IT
Not bad.

SEX IN THE 90's
A great dance song.

CLOSE MY EYES
Another pretty song.

LIGHT OF LOVE
Okay.

CAN'T FORGET YOU
The second single from the album. This is yet another beautiful song.

LIVE FOR LOVING YOU
The third and final single from the album. This was yet another one of my favorite songs and it's another song that takes me back to my childhood.

MAMA YO CAN'T GO
Not a favorite.

DESDE LA OSCURIDAD (COMING OUT OF THE DARK)
This is the Spanish version of the song. It was nice to have her open the album with the English version and close the album with the Spanish version, but I prefer the English version.

I love the concept of this album and every Gloria fan should have it.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

The tunnel in question is the long rehab period Gloria went thru after her 1990 accident.
She took her time out, wrote a whole new album and it turned out to be one of her best works.
She is as mainstream as ever: SEAL OUR FATE brings a rock flavour to her work she never experienced before, CAN'T FORGET YOU is a great AC Top 40 ballad as much as the Diane Warren-penned HEART WITH YOUR NAME ON IT is a pop-oriented one.
Warren provides help also on the latin-influenced LIVE FOR LOVING YOU.
She also delivers a track called LANGUAGE OF LOVE that appears as a bonus track on the European release of the cd.
Dancefloor fans will be delighted with WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND and SEX IN THE '90'S.
COMING OUT OF THE DARK is definitely the strongest point of the whole album, being the most auto-biographical one, full of gospel reminescences.
Gloria proves more than just a latin artist, this album is the proof.