Versatility is a rare gift in the world of Latin music, where performers are easily pigeonholed into a specific genre. The son of ranchera legend Vicente Fernandez, Alejandro has forged a successful career for himself switching between two equally rich musical categories: traditional Mexican and Latin pop. Whereas his richly textured, highly expressive voice is perfect for mariachi material, his devilish good looks have also made him a star in the pop arena.
A 1996 recording, MUY DENTRO DE MI CORAZON is a ranchera collection, as the cover image of Fernandez dressed in an elegant charro outfit can attest. And yet, this is a very different ranchera aesthetic than the one you would find in a Vicente Fernandez record. The compositions have a glossy sensibility to them, and part of their appeal lies in Fernandez's wise choice of songwriters. Armando Manzanero, Mexico's foremost living romantic composer, is represented here with two songs, "Dentro de mi Corazon" and "Como Puede Ser." Elsewhere, Fernandez returns to the roots of Mexican music on the bouncy "Es La Mujer," and takes a journey to the Caribbean on the Cuban-themed "Popurri Caribeno."