Rap-rock duo Illya Kuryaki & the Valderramas lead the nominees for Argentina’s Gardel Awards, sweeping six categories, including album of the year, in the nominations announced today (June 5) in Buenos Aires. Awards are nice, but perhaps more important for future U.S. sales of their latest album, “Chances,” this week Oprah Winfrey tweeted her love of their song “Ula Ula,” which is featured in a new summer Target ad.
I love this ooooola OOOLa commercial! Started singing it at odd times.Thanks @target
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) June 3, 2013
“Ula Ula”, (which Oprah excitedly spelled “ooooola OOOLa”) is catchy and provocative -the video for the horn-driven dance track with a retro vibe features a hula dancer wearing nothing under her grass skirt. The single is off “Chances,” the long awaited comeback album from IVK, comprised of Dante Spinetta and Emmanuel Horvilleur, known as the funkiest dudes in Argentina.
“Chances” came out last year in Argentina and is now available digitally in the U.S., with a physical release July 16 on Sony Music Latin. The album includes a collaboration with Mexican group Molotov (“Madafaka”). It is dedicated to the memory of Luis Alberto Spinetta, father of both Dante and Argentine rock , who died in 2012.
Childhood friends Dante Spinetta and Horvilleur formed IKV in 1991, and became known for a mix of soul, hip hop, funk and raunchy humor previously not found in Argentine’s more straight up rock scene. Bootsy Collins played on their 1999 album “Leche.”
The winners of the Premios Gardel will be announced August 21 at the Opera Theater in Buenos Aires.