Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we explore two very different landmarks in Latin entertainment: a masterpiece of Colombian literature and a Latin pop debut from the world of professional wrestling.

First, we travel to the "World Capital of Salsa," Cali, to unpack Andrés Caicedo’s cult classic novel, ¡Que viva la música! (published in English as Liveforever). We discuss the tragic history of Caicedo, who committed suicide on the very afternoon the book was published in 1977, and analyze the journey of his protagonist, María del Carmen Huerta, as she descends from high society into a "bottomless pit of debauchery" fueled by rock, drugs, and salsa.

Then, we switch gears to 2007 to review ¡Quiero Vivir!, the debut studio album by WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia. We reveal how a performance of the national anthem for Vince McMahon led to this Spanish-language project, produced by Tim Mitchell and George Noriega, and featuring duets with Latin Grammy-winner Jon Secada.