Luis Miguel was only 17 when he released his fifth studio album in the summer of 1987. Considering the many hits that followed in the singer’s career, these songs stand out because of the freshness of their pop hooks and the extraordinary production skills of Juan Carlos Calderón. Soy Como Quiero Ser is vaguely conceptual: a sentimental journey through ’80s cosmopolitan pop that combines original compositions with a clever selection of covers. Interestingly, LuisMi picked two ’60s anthems from the UK made famous by the legendary Dusty Springfield: “Ahora Te Puedes Marchar,” the album’s splashy hit, recreates to perfection the reckless chorus of “I Only Want to Be With You.” Anchored on electronic drums and a vibrant bassline, “Yo Que No Vivo Sin Ti” was also Dusty’s biggest commercial moment (she sang it as “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”), adapting a 1965 Italian song co-written by the great Pino Donaggio. Far from feeling intimidated by the artistic pedigree of these pop classics, Luis Miguel employs his considerable vocal range and emotional depth to match the bravado of the previous versions. “Perdóname (All By Myself),” a Spanish rendition of Eric Carmen’s 1975 power ballad “All By Myself,” underscores the original’s nocturnal melodies by Rachmaninoff, while the jazz-soul standard “Sunny”—covered by hundreds of artists—closes the album with a ray of sunlight. A Calderón original, “Eres tú” brims with the transformative energy of gospel. The cherry on top that confirms Soy Como Quiero Ser as a rightful classic is the couple of duets that LuisMi performs with guest vocalists. “Sin Hablar” brims with the chemistry that he shares with British singer Laura Branigan. “No Me Puedo Escapar de Ti” is an intimate ballad that grows in intensity with the charismatic presence of diva Rocio Banquells. More than just a youthful experiment, this album projects the same warm emotional landscapes that would define Luis Miguel’s output during the rest of his career.