Trinidad Rising

Confidence, charisma, a nice voice and angelic good looks can converge to become a phenomenon.  If you have any doubts about that just ask Trinidad Cardona.  After posting a playful video of himself singing in a public bathroom, the 18-year-old ended up with 7 million Facebook views last year and a self-proclaimed mission to produce a “real” song.  The resulting 2.0 version of Jennifer, the song that propelled him into cyber fame, is polished, breezy and brimming with youthful swag.  To these ears, it only achieves true lift though during the last 60 seconds when he unleashes his rap chops.  Too bad it’s explicit.

More promise comes peeking through with his latest effort, Dinero, a sweet little tune about a guy who tries to please a girl by spending money on her.  Sparks fly as he opens in Spanish rolling on smooth piano chords and then switches to English and ups the rhythm to a hot Latin beat.  The song’s mischievously playful and layered and fun.  And be sure he’s more than wise to the folly of his romantic ploy.