Furtado gains in translation

Nelly Furtado admits that writing her new, all-Spanish album, “Mi Plan,” wasn’t in her plans at all after finishing a hectic tour to promote her last chart-topping record.

“I was physically tired and I wasn’t feeling inspired. It was almost as if I lost my pop inspiration to write in English,” she says. “I just needed a new outlet, and I found it by writing in Spanish.”

The Grammy-Award winner, who vaulted up the pop charts with such tracks as “I’m Like a Bird” in 2000 and “Promiscuous” in 2006, is set to deliver a new fleet of mostly up-tempo, melodic tunes on “Mi Plan.”

Furtado says her fourth full-length album, set for release Sept. 15 on her own Nelstar label, more intimately explores the passion that fuels relationships

“I think this album has some of my first true love songs ever,” says the 30-year-old daughter of Portuguese immigrants.

“They’re not complicated. They’re not over-intellectualized, and I found it liberating to be able to sing in the Latin language and to express myself from my Latin soul.”

Two singles, “Manos Al Aire” and “Mas,” have already hit the airwaves, and two more are expected to be available on iTunes in advance of the album.

Classical singer Josh Groban’s cameo on “Silencio” was a “huge blessing,” Furtado says.

“I thought it was important to sort of showcase on this album an artist that people know more for their English recordings,” she says. “So, I thought by working with Josh would actually elevate my point that language isn’t a barrier when it comes to music.”

The birthday bunch

Actor David Warner (“Titanic”) is 68. Musician Geddy Lee (Rush) is 56. Filmmaker Ken Burns is 56. Singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen) is 56. Actress Alexandra Paul (“Baywatch”) is 46. Country singer Martina McBride is 43. Actor Wil Wheaton is 37. Actor Stephen Dorff is 36. Actor Josh Radnor (“How I Met Your Mother”) is 35. Musician Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley) is 32. Actress Allison Mack (“Smallville”) is 27.