The majority of Fonovisa's releases are aimed at the regional Mexican market, but occasionally, Fonovisa will put out a CD that isn't overtly Mexican-oriented -- something that is designed to appeal to Spanish speakers in general rather than focusing on regional Mexican audiences specifically. This self-titled debut album by Betzaida is such a release. Although the Chicago-based singer is part Mexican -- she has a Mexican mother and a Puerto Rican father -- Betzaida's album isn't dominated by banda, mariachi, norteño, ranchera or even grupero. "Ahora Te Dejo Yo" does have a grupero flavor, and Fonovisa provides a Tex-Mex remix of the melancholy "Te Tengo Que Aprender a Olvidar" along with the main Latin pop version of that song. But Betzaida isn't trying to be the next Jenni Rivera; that isn't the sort of approach that she's going for. Produced by the well-known Rudy Perez, Betzaida's debut is primarily an album of straight-up Latin pop; stylistically, she has a lot more in common with Ana Gabriel, Marisela, Gloria Estefan and even Madonna than she does with a hardcore banda singer like Rivera. And while regional Mexican music is an occasional influence on Betzaida, the Chicagoan has been influenced by other Latin styles as well. The infectious "El Moreno," for example, incorporates elements of Colombian-style cumbia (as opposed to the Tex-Mex interpretation) and Afro-Cuban salsa, as well as Spanish gypsy-flamenco. Betzaida's first album isn't as consistent as it could have been; not all of the tracks are as memorable as "El Moreno" or "Te Tengo Que Aprender a Olvidar." But the disc has more ups than downs and indicates that Betzaida is someone to keep an eye on. ~ Alex ...

At Fonovisa and other labels that are heavily focused on the regional Mexican market, it isn't uncommon for artists to come out with two or even three new albums in the course of a year. But with Betzaida, there was ...

Recording information: Mastermix Studios Monterrey, Mexico. Photographer: Jacobo Parra. Personnel: Carlos Goméz (trumpet). Audio Mixers: Mauricio Garza; Mauro Muñoz.

Track Listing of songs: Arriba, Arriba!; Arriba, Arriba!; Todos y Todo Ponte la Verde; Si Mexico Ganara el Mundial; Mexico, Ra, Ra, Ra; Vamos Al Mundial; La Copa Sera Tuya Al Final; Mexico Esta de Fiesta; Vamos Al Mundial; Vamos Campeon; La ...