Que Hermoso Es by Angel Javier: A Pop Gem That Still Hits Different
Alright, let’s get real for a sec. If you’re into raw, heartfelt vocals wrapped in that early '90s pop vibe, Que Hermoso Es by Angel Javier is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. Released back in 1990 under EMI in Spain, this sucker doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel—it just does what it does with soul. And honestly? That’s why it works.
First off, the title track “Que Hermoso Es” slaps harder than it has any right to. It’s not overly produced or flashy—just Angel Javier pouring his guts out over some simple instrumentation. The melody sticks to your brain like gum on a hot day, and his voice? Damn. You can tell the dude means every word he’s singing. It’s one of those songs where you’re like, “Yeah, I’ve heard a million love ballads, but THIS ONE…this one feels different.” Maybe it’s the sincerity, maybe it’s the fact that it’s kinda cheesy in the best way possible, but either way, it hits.
Then there’s another banger (well, semi-banger) called—uh, well, actually, screw it, we’ll stick with “Que Hermoso Es,” because honestly, that’s the standout here. But hey, don’t sleep on the rest of the album. There are moments where Javier leans into this almost theatrical vocal style that feels straight outta a Spanish telenovela soundtrack—and I mean that as a compliment. It’s dramatic as hell, but it never crosses the line into cringe territory.
Here’s the kicker though: listening to this record now feels like stepping into a time capsule. Like, you can practically smell the hairspray and see the neon windbreakers while you’re hitting play. But weirdly enough, that nostalgia trip makes it even better. It’s not perfect, sure. Some tracks drag a bit, and yeah, the production screams ‘90s in all the wrong ways sometimes. But who cares? This isn’t about perfection—it’s about feeling something.
And look, maybe I’m biased because I grew up jamming to stuff like this with my abuela blasting it in the kitchen, but damn if Que Hermoso Es doesn’t still give me goosebumps. So next time you’re scrolling through Spotify looking for something old-school yet fresh, throw this bad boy on. Just don’t blame me when you start belting out lyrics at 2 AM like nobody’s watching.
Oh, and random thought: wouldn’t it be wild if Angel Javier randomly dropped a remix version of this album today? Imagine autotune meets ‘90s Spain. Now THAT would be worth losing your mind over.
