Singer wows fans, even without the lyrics

Colombian pop rock singer and guitarist Juanes delivered energy and a generous dose of effusive emotion at Allstate Arena in Rosemont Wednesday.

He played with gusto, performing his most popular hits with infectious good spirits, but also forgot the lyrics to his songs -- twice.

No matter, said fans like Juanita Klassy of Elgin.

"It can happen to anyone," she said. "I don't care, he can change the words. I love him."

Juanes played an hour-and-a-half, well-attended -- but not sold out -- show to a crowd of mostly Latinos from Chicago and the suburbs. Many waved Colombian flags with a smattering of flags from Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

The singer and his band mates -- on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, key-board, drums and percussion -- performed songs spanning his repertoire of pop rock infused with Latin sounds and the occasional hard edge, a remnant of Juanes' early days in a heavy metal band.

The Colombian is a superstar in his native country and popular throughout the Spanish-speaking world. He has sold more than 10 million albums and won 12 Latin Grammy Awards. His fourth album, "La Vida … Es Un Ratico," was released in October 2007 and peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Bill-board chart.

The Rosemont concert was the sixth stop on his 27-city U.S. tour, to be followed by dates in Morocco, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

In the early stages of his career, Juanes sported a flowing mane and a bulging physique that he liked to show off sans shirt. While gone are the long hair and -- one can't help but notice -- the muscles, the singer has since evolved into a social activist. Last month, he helped organize a free concert at the Colombian-Venezuelan border to pro-mote positive relations between the two countries.

During the show, one of his songs was accompanied by a slideshow of black-and-white images by Spanish photo-journalist Gervasio Sanchez depicting children and adults maimed by anti-personnel mines throughout the world.

Chicago resident Karen Betancourt, who moved from Colombia two months ago, said the singer is well-respected at home because of his commitment to promot-ing Colombia's image throughout the world.

"His songs are about his land and his themes that are relevant for all of Latin America," she said.

Juanes also fulfilled his role of bone fide Latin heartthrob by clutching the outstretched hands of his -- mostly female-- adoring fans, leaning over and crooning into the microphone for them.

But unlike other demanding and conceited celebrities, Juanes is a down-to-earth, simple guy, said Marengo resident Alicia Rocha. She works as an agent for American Airlines and met the singer on the morning of the concert at O'Hare International Airport -- and had a photo on her cell phone to prove it.

"He is as humble as he is gorgeous," she said. "I was a fan before, and now I like him even more."