September, 1999
Giovanni: Are you ready for this, this is very exciting Kim.
Kim: I'm SO ready.
Giovanni: A-List Celebrity, A-List Company, Gloria Estefan. Good morning Gloria.
Gloria: Good morning!
Giovanni: How are you?
Gloria: I'm good! How are you?
Giovanni: Excellent! Great to have you on PROFM this morning, say "Hi" to Kim Zandy, my beautiful co-host.
Gloria: Hi Kim, how are you?
Kim: Hi Gloria! Great!
Gloria: Good.
Kim: Very happy to be talking to you. You are promoting a new movie, Music of the Heart.
Gloria: That's right, my debut in film actually....
Kim: OH!?!
Gloria: ....and it was really, really a thrill to do this, i mean, my first onscreen scene is with Merryl Streep. I'm spoiled now, what can I tell you (gloria laughs). But it was great. I really had a fablulous experience, great message in the move, what I've been waiting for for a long time. Small role, but an incredible cast. My favorite, one of my favorite directors, because I'm a horror buff, is Wes Craven....
Kim: Oh, COOL!
Gloria: Yes, first straight non-genre film so I'm thrilled.
Kim: So you've wanted to get into acting for a long time then?
Gloria: Yeah, I mean, I've been looking at scripts for years and ah.......for me I obviously carry a lot of baggage from this career and I wanted it to be the right thing and the right moment in my life and this all came together for me perfectly so it definitely told me this was the right thing.
Kim: I've heard Merryl Streep is, is just one of the.....just not only one of the best actresses, she's obviously a legend, but one of the nicest people to work with too.
Gloria: She truly is, you know, such an incredible experience just to observe her in action. We talked a lot about our kids because we both have sons that just left home and ah, mostly mommy stuff we talked about. A really down-to-earth, great person and a consumate prefessional. Really incredible. Some of her best performances were given for the benefit of the people who were playing the audience. You know, she wasn't even on screen and she was just there 1000%.
Kim: Wow, that is cool.....Merryl Streep and Gloria Estefan talking about their kids.
Giovanni: How about that?
Kim: Gotta love that!
Giovanni: Now you just did a song for the movie with N' Sync. What was that like?
Gloria: Yeah, that was great! My friend Dianne Warren wrote it, it came from the heart. She wrote it inspired by a teacher in her life who was really instrumental in shaping her character and she still stays in touch with her so it came from a very real place. Kinda like a 90s (can't understand the word) and meant to be given to all those people that inspire kids like teachers and parents, obviously anyone that is an inspiration to kids to strive and do better.
Kim: Do you feel like you're an inspiration?
Gloria: Well, they tell me that a lot, that's a wonderful thing. That's probably the best part of my career, being able to communicate with people that I don't even know and somehow influence them in a positive way. To me that's the best part of what I do and I'm thrilled and privileged to be able to do that.
Giovanni: Gloria, I have an email from some of our listeners....
Gloria: OK!?!?!
Giovanni: ....and they wanted to know.....these girls wanted to know....
Gloria: (laughs)
Giovanni: ...I guess, I guess they know a lot about you.....
Gloria: Uh-oh!
Giovanni: They say that you go online sometimes and go....
Gloria: Oh yeah.
Giovanni: ....into chatrooms and disguise yourself and they wanted to know if you were still doing that. I don't know much about it. I'm just going by what they said.
Gloria: Oh, you don't know about the internet, huh? Well, I use to. In the beginning when you get involved you kinda get blown away. You spend hours at this stuff. At this point it's already old hat to me and I really haven't had much time to do it recently but, yeah, I lurk sometimes in some of the......especially one, it's Conga Online....(all DJs start laughing....in my email i briefly explained about conga....they thought it was funny that she said it on her own with out them mentioning it)......a lot of fans of mine. They have gotten together for four years (DJs still laughing). Sometimes I'll lurk and see what they're talking about.
Giovanni: Yeah?
Gloria: I don't participate in any way or try to manipulate. It would make me feel REALLY BAD (gloria and Djs laugh). Although it might be fun, that I could tell you (gloria and DJs laugh).
Kim: It would be funny if you got on there and said, "Yeah, Gloria really sucks!" (laughs)
Gloria: (laughing really hard) YEAH EXACTLY!!!!!!!
Kim: See what they say...
Gloria: Yeah! They get riled up...you wouldn't believe it, man, they get up in arms!! (everyone laughing)
Kim: That's hilarious!
Gloria: Amazing! (laughing) But they discuss EVERY DETAIL....your hair, whether its short, long, curly, straight. It's amazing these details that people really look at, you know!?!
Giovanni: How can you sit there and read that stuff, it would make me crazy! (laughs)
Gloria: Yeah, well, I only look at that. I don't even read interviews or stuff that comes out...
Giovani: Yeah.
Gloria: ...because I don't want to look at myself as a third person. It's kinda weird.
Kim and Giovanni: Yeah!
Kim: I can imagine. Have you ever changed like your hair? Made it shorter, made it longer because of something you saw on there?
Gloria: Oh god no, because there is just as many people on the opposite side. (DJs laugh)
Kim: True!
Gloria: No, Whatever changes I've made have been the natural progression of a woman, maturing, experimenting, trying different stuff, you know, but ONLY things that I wanted to do. No one has ever told me, "wear this or put this on". And when I have listed to stylists and have had doubts myself, it never turns out right. So at this point I've learned that you really have to wear what you want and feel right about it and, you know, and everyone can comment as they will.
Giovanni: Now you said eariler that you're a horror film buff. I would not expect that from you.
Kim: NO!
Giovanni: So what's your favorite horror film?
Gloria: Oh my god, there's so many!
Giovanni: Yeah.
Gloria: I like mostly psycho thrillers, you know, things that are a challenge. And I always figure them out......I have yet to find a movie that I haven't figured out... (DJs laugh)...the surprise ending or whatever. My sister goes, "I an't stand going to movies with you!" because I'll tell her, "Look at this....this is going to happen and this is going to happen" and it's true. It ends up being that way. I like all kinds of stuff. I like old.....The Haunting, but the original one. It's a spectacular film, AH, Psycho, of course the originals. All the Hitchcock stuff I really love and, you know, the first ones like Freddy Kreuger, which was directed by Wes Craven as well and written, I liked but, man, I can't stand a villian you can't kill!!! (everyone laughs)
Kim: Yeah, no kidding!
Gloria: You can't get rid of these guys so why bother. So those things I'm not too thrilled with. Oh well.
Kim: Did you see the remake of Psycho?
Gloria: The what?
Kim: The remake of Psycho.
Gloria: I didn't see the remake because I thought, I saw the original, I really, you know....
Kim: I heard it was horrible, I just wanted to know what you thought about it.
Gloria: Yeah, well I don't like to see remakes of films that I love because they why bother....you know. I doubt they're gonna do it better. If they're gonna do it exactly like the original and just in color or whatever. Those things don't really call my attention.
Giovanni: Ok Gloria, hold on for one second. We just have to take a short break......(blah, blah) We'll be right back Kim, with more Gloria Estefan......
Kim: YAY!
Giovanni: ...here at PROFM.......(blah, blah)
Giovanni: Gloria Estefan patiently standing by. Now let's get back to our conversation with her.
Kim: Well back to, kinda getting back to your movie that is coming out, Music of the Heart. What kind of role, you said it was a small role...
Gloria: Yeah, in fact, don't go to the bathroom because you might.....(everyone laughs)...if you've seen the trailer, you saw my role (laughter).
Kim: Is it dramatic? Is it funny? Do you have to cry or ah?
Gloria: Ah, well actully I had to be sad at one part. One part has a really funny line, the first scene which obviously they don't show the whole scene in the trailer but it's kinda cute and... I'm sort of Merryl Streep's, ah, the first friendly person for her in this school that she comes into as an outsider. It was great. It's a teacher in spanish harlem and I don't get too much time to really, you know, grow the character but actually, it got a great reaction. Maybe because people know me already (laughs). That might be a clue but it was a good role. IT starts 10 years back so I play a teacher 10 years ago. They age you 10 years which 10 yours is not much to age. Oh well. I had to wear those horrible 80s clothes. (DJs laugh). My god was there anything salvageable from the 80s? I don't think so! (everyone laughs).
Kim: You don't have any of your Miami Sound Machine outfit left? (laughs)
Gloria: They're stashed away but sometimes I look at that stuff and go "What were we all thinking. My god." (laughs) You know, like they say, "Yesterdays fashion is today Halloween costume."
Kim: Yeah, you're right! (everyone laughs) You're absolutely right. You know, it's kinda, it's great to hear that it ws well received because sometimes, I don't know if you've experienced this or maybe it's just as an outsider, I feel this, but sometimes when you're as big a star and as big of a celebrity as you, the critics almost want you to fail.
Gloria: Well of course, that's natural. I haven't seen any reviews yet because really, I mean, only a couple of people have seen it but that's the risk you take and in order to grow and eveolve in anything, especially in the public yey, there is always gonna be somebody that doesn't like what you do. That's why I stay away from really following reviewers or anything of that nature because I do what I do because I loved it and I'm not gonna change it. So you just do it for your fans and for yourself. That's the only thing you can do and for me it's the great evolution. It's something that I enjoy throughly. It's the only thing that I do now, things that I enjoy and this acting venue is really, really fun for me and I hope to do more of it and in a small way that would be growing little by little because I don't like pressure and really was the perfect thing for me. So you just jump into it and hope for the best.
Kim: And go!
Gloria: I had prepared though, let me tell you.....for years. I didn't just do this cold.
Giovanni: Any more music coming out besides the Music of my Heart?
Gloria: Oh yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, righ now we have a number one on the Latin chart with "Santo, Santo". It's a duet I did with So Pra Contariar. It's a brazilian group. We recorded in Spanish and Portuguese.
Giovanni: Woo!
Gloria: I've got a Christmas, two Christmas songs. One on Target record coming out. It's an original that we wrote called, "Love on Layaway". Us and several other Sony artists. Kinda Latin oriented but in English and I've also got a duet with Rosie O'Donnell on her Christmas record that's for charity for all kids on her foundation board. It's a funny thing. It's the first time I've ever gotten to record a parody that I wrote. It's a parody to a song that no one's heard. It's a Christmas song we wrote original but it's called, "Gonna Eat for Christmas".
Kim: Oh jeez, that's hilarious! (laughs)
Gloria: And it was so much fun to go with Rosie. We had a ball doing that. A new spanish album, I'm almost done with. It'll be out early next year. Really, really cool stuff and I'm thrilled.
Kim: I'm glad you have a new spanish album coming out because that "If We Were Lovers" you do the spanish version. Oh my god, I love that song!
Gloria: Oh, I'm glad! (surprised) Thanks.....it's really cool!
Giovanni: Gloria, any teaming up with Ricky Martin?
Gloria: Oh man Ricky. I love Ricky.
Giovanni: (laughs)
Gloria: Well, we haven't really done anything together yet but you never know. I'd love to. He's a greay guy. Really nice guy too, spiritual, deep. Not just all hips there althought that's quite enough I might add.
DJs: (laugh)
Kim: Yeah, and he's hot! Yeah!
ALL: (laugh)
Gloria: Ya know, I love it because all the men get jealous of this guy. Even my trainier, Tony, who's like, everytime a friend and I will be training and talking about Ricky. He goes, "Enough with Ricky Martin already!" I go, "Ohhhh, you guys get so jealous."
DJs: (laugh)
Kim: That's hilarious!
Gloria: Oh my gosh.
Kim: Hey, speaking of you and Rosie. One of my favorite things you've ever done in your career is when you hosted the Rosie O'Donnell Show.
Gloria: (laughs) Oh I love that! I had a blast!
Kim: Are you going to do that again?
Gloria: You never know! Ya know if Rosie takes some time off I'd love to do it. I really had a blast!
Kim: You're so funny and it's great to see you in that...
Gloria: Well, I'll tell you...
Kim: ...so relaxed and funny and just being yourelf. It's great!
Gloria: Well, thank you very much. I love that stuff and a lot of people don't get to see that side of me. But humor in my life is the number one thing and ya know sometimes I don't share because I'm pretty warped.
DJs: (laugh)
Gloria: My sense of humor is pretty thick. Sometimes a little too dirty for public consumption.
Kim: WHOA!
Gio: (laughs)
Gloria: So I have to control it. My private sector knows me a lot better so when they saw Rosie, they knew it was me. I think some people got surprised even though I stayed pretty...ya know...pretty normal.
Kim: Yeah, you have to be a little calm on Rosie's show but she can be pretty dirty off air too.
Gloria: Oh please. Rosie and I together are like...
Kim: Oh yeah, the standup.
Gloria: are dangerous combo.
Kim: The standup I think Rosie does is just.....wooo. That's filled with raunch.
Gloria: Yeah, at the Grammy's in between the appearances on TV she was wailing. We were having a blast in there. But of course none of that stuff gets to air. But those are really funny.
Kim: Well, except for, except for the part where they forgot to tell her she was on and she said, "Aaron Neville, get your ass in the seats!"
Giovanni and Gloria: (laugh)
Gloria: Well, that's the mildest thing that was said between takes.
Kim: I'm sure.
ALL: (laugh)
Gloria: It was great. I love Rosie, she's fabulous. A really incredible entertainer and a super heart. She's got, helps so many children a million ways and I really love her. She's my neighbor now!
Kim: I heard.
Gloria: Yeah, we have a great time.
Kim: Spent the summer.
Gloria: Yeah, we had a great summer.
Giovanni: Superstar Gloria Estefan thanks so much for being on with us this morning.
Kim: Ahhhhh, so great to talk to you.
Gloria: Thank you! And I've got to say before I go that those guys from N SYNC are so cute and so nice. I really had a blast. I felt like I was on tour with my band again like a long time ago when we were all just hangin' out together all the time. They really are, they're great singers and they were super nice to work with.
Giovanni: Are you gonna ask Kim?
Kim: I have to ask.
Giovanni: Kim always asks this question.
Kim: I do. I do. Who do you think is the cutest N SYNC boy is?
Giovanni: (laughs)
Gloria: The cutest? Oh, god you're putting me on the line.
Giovanni: I knew it! (laughs)
Gloria: Ya know. Ah, I can't, ah, there's so much, they, they each have their own style and all very cute in their own right. What can I tell you....I can't say.
Giovanni: There's the politically correct answer. There you go. (laughs)
Kim: Very nice, but of course Gloria knows that Lance is the cutest.
Giovanni: (laughs)
Gloria: Lance is....well, I'll tell you one thing. Lance and I hit it off very well.
DJs: OOOooohhhhh!!!!!
Giovanni: Well...
Kim: Very nice!
Gloria: We had some fun there....we all did.
Giovanni: I'm sure Emilio would not have been happy about that though.
Gloria: Emilio has nothing to worry about
Kim: Emilio knows he's got it
ALL: (laugh)
Giovanni: Gloria Estefan, thanks very much for being on the show today.
Gloria: Thank you very much and "Hi" to everybody! Thank you so much for all your support through the years and all the love you throw my way and I'll keep trying to do things you like.
Giovanni: All right. There goes Gloria Estefan.
KIm: Try to do things we like.....I don't think Gloria has done anything I haven't liked.
Giovanni: Probably not.
Kim: At least me. I don't know, that's just my opinion.
Giovanni: That's your opinion and your entitled to it.
Kim: That's right.
Giovanni: Very nice to have her on this morning.