Salsa and vallenato will collide in one of the most anticipated performances of Premios Juventud 2025, as Grupo Niche and Carlos Vives join forces to debut the salsa version of “La Tierra del Olvido”. The reimagined classic pays tribute to Colombia’s cultural diversity while honoring a song that transformed Latin American music three decades ago.
Originally released in 1995, “La Tierra del Olvido” marked a turning point for Colombian and Latin American music. The album not only paved the way for modern vallenato but also positioned Colombia as a creative epicenter in the global music scene. Now, thirty years later, the track is reborn in salsa under the musical direction of José Aguirre, blending Niche’s signature orchestral power with Vives’ unmistakable energy.
The salsa version was recorded at GML Studios in Bogotá, where Niche and Vives crafted a sound that honors the original while introducing the rhythmic elegance of salsa. The live staging at Premios Juventud will be produced by none other than Sergio George, the legendary figure behind some of Latin music’s most iconic performances.
This world premiere promises to be more than a performance; it’s a historic cultural moment, bringing together two of Colombia’s most influential musical lineages on the same stage.
- Grupo Niche, the pride of Cali, has carried the salsa flag across the world with timeless anthems like “Cali Pachanguero” and “Gotas de Lluvia”, cementing themselves as cultural icons.
- Carlos Vives, Colombia’s musical storyteller, celebrates 30 years of his groundbreaking album La Tierra del Olvido with a commemorative edition that includes new versions, collaborations, and unreleased gems.
The performance at Premios Juventud will mark the first live presentation of this salsa version, fusing the cadence of Niche with the narrative voice of Vives. It is more than a musical collaboration; it is a cultural reaffirmation of Colombia’s vitality, creativity, and richness in global music.