Juan Luis Guerra

Juan Luis Guerra

It is a vexing musical problem. Diplomats speak through interpreters, books are translated, movies are subtitled. But music jumps language barriers more awkwardly: the catchall term “world music” is in most cases shorthand for “music whose lyrics we can’t understand.” Mr. Guerra may have plenty of non-Spanish-speaking admirers — his current tour includes stops in Stockholm and Amsterdam — who love him for his gentle voice, catchy melodies, booming brass section and beguiling tropical rhythms but who have little idea what the songs are about.
That wouldn’t be so much of a problem if Mr. Guerra’s songs were of the “Bésame Mucho” variety, which (in case you didn’t know) means “Kiss Me a Lot.” But with Mr. Guerra’s songs people are actually missing something.