Aside from being the most popular bachateros of the decade, Aventura’s acting skills are unparalleled. At their prime, which happened to fall in the horny early aughts – a faint memory which reek of axe and gel – songs from these four Dominican romanticos soundtracked awkward dance lessons with crushes, and played endlessly at the local billar spot. The best songs in their discography, which we can only hope will continue to grow, were paired with excellent visuals.
In celebration of their reunion, and imminent tour, here is a roundup of some of the visuals we are still obsessed with, “Obsesión” aside. The leather jackets, lush lighting and glass cases of “Inmortal” have nothing on these guys.
"La Boda"
This list is in random order, but you better believe this is the best one. I have about 100 screeners waiting for me at home ahead of award season, and reader – I need not watch any, porque ya tu sabes que this is the most Oscar-worthy one. Juan Basanta, Dominican director and producer whose worked on films like “Dark Horse” and the upcoming “La Máquina,” is to thank for this one. The smooth transition from sepia tone to black and white every few seconds in the introductory scene? The audience who may be at a funeral or a wedding – an unintelligible detail thanks to their blank expressions? The spoken monologue? There is no match. This 2005 classic will make you feel all the things.
"El Perdedor"
Is it a novela? Is it a concert? Why, it’s both.
Please take a moment to acknowledge Henry Santos’ twists, and then envision yourself in the audience – a very real possibility come February.
"Mi Corazoncito"
“Está de luto por tu amor.”* An ex is an ex forever unless he and his cousins show up at your stoop avec chordal instruments, singing acapella, sporting a baby pink suit. They said it, not me.
*Romeo Santos voice
“Un Beso”
The opening scene of this classic will feel familiar. Like in “Mia,” or a couple of covers in Farruko’s “En Letra de Otro,” a crowd of people gather in the front lawn of a home en el barrio to bring the party home. If you watch this video sans sound, you’ll think you’re watching an urbano video. The lip syncing is on point, but the dancing is not. It’s safe to say not a single viewer has an issue with that, though. We’re all distracted by the fact that Romeo Santos single-handedly makes your abuelo’s Kangol cap look sexy.
“Dile Al Amor”
Stay tuned for my essay on how this 2012 music video inspired the entire Hunger Games series and cancelled love. Yes sir.*
*Romeo Santos voice
“Su Veneno”
What a simpler time. It’s finally hitting me that the decade really is coming to a fin. Who in Latin music – if anyone – has managed to perfectly bottle the essence of the toxic love Britney Spears warned us about? “Your favorite group, baby. Who else?”*
*Romeo Santos voice
“El Malo”
Why watch novela’s which last *checks notes* an average of seven months, when you can watch bite-sized, euphoric, cinematic works of art from these guys? That was a rhetorical question. There is no no acceptable reason (unless that novela is La Reina del Sur). This video, introduced as the “dirty version,” features moments of subpar acting without the cushion of the track to prevent a crash landing. It’s beautiful. My only gripe is at 5:05 when Henry Santos sends the lovely female lead an all-caps “LOVE U” text… from *checks notes* Microsoft Word on his computer. Confusing, but I guess in Aventura’s world – anything can happen. “So nasty.”*
*You guessed it, Romeo Santos voice