This is an audience more likely to take its cues from NPR than MTV, and whose interests are often piqued by a sense of the exotic. And these days, Afro-Cuban music has become as sweetly seductive as the smoke of a contraband cigar. Still, the success of 'Buena Vista Social Club' is far beyond that of most world music releases.
Language is often the toughest barrier to widespread acceptance of international artists.
Buena Vista Social Club' includes a lavish booklet with informative liner notes and translated lyrics, but for those like me who are linguistically challenged, the vocals are destined to be heard more as musical sounds than literal language.