The unstoppable phenomenon of “Despacito”, the success signed by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee who has made history in the Latin scene and in global music, swept the Latin Grammys tonight by winning four awards and being crowned as the best song and the best recording of the year.
In the 18th edition of the Latin Grammy, which was held today in Las Vegas, “Despacito” made a poker by taking the prize for the best fusion / urban interpretation, for the remix with Justin Bieber, as well as the award for the best video musical short version by a clip that with more than 4,300 million visits holds the absolute record of viewings on YouTube.
The clubs around the world have vibrated this year with “Despacito” and today Luis Fonsi shared the extraordinary triumph of this song with reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee and composer Erika Ender.
“What a night, what a night! Thanks to the Academy, what a blessing, what a privilege that our work is to make songs and communicate through music,” he said.
In statements before the media, Luis Fonsi was proud to represent Spanish music “in the whole world” and assured that “Despacito” is “an anthem to Puerto Rico”.
A legend like salsa maestro Rubén Blades gave the bell when he won the album of the year for his album “Salsa Big Band”, his work with Roberto Delgado and Orquesta.
“I am extremely surprised and very grateful to the people who made this possible,” said the Panamanian, who also won the prize for best salsa record, before defending that success is not just “one-person stuff”.
The emerging talent of Dominican Vicente GarcÃa won three Latin Grammys, including the award for the best new artist.
Resident, who appeared as the favorite with nine nominations, finally won only two awards: best urban album (“Resident”) and best urban song (“We are abnormal”).
Also with two golden gramophones, the Mexican Natalia Lafourcade and the Colombians Diamante Eléctrico closed the night.
Resident had the honor of giving the kickoff to the ceremony with “Hijos del cañaveral”, which he dedicated to his homeland: “Most of these musicians are Puerto Rican, many of them lost everything on the island but came here with all the heart and with all the strength to tell the world that Puerto Rico does not rise because it has always been on its feet “.
The former member of Calle 13 also claimed that art is not just something quantitative based on business statistics.
“Artists are not numbers, figures, data: we do things we feel and throw them in the middle because we feel them with total honesty,” proclaimed Residente.
The Mexican aroma was borne by Natalia Lafourcade, who along with Los Macorinos and Mariachi Flor de Toloache embroidered “Beautiful Mexican” and “You know love me.”
But it was not the only sample of the musical wealth of Mexico, since the tables also paraded Lila Downs, Banda el Recodo and Alejandro Fernández.
The Latin Grammys did not give up one of the singles of the year as “Felices los 4” and the Colombian Maluma played it in the center of a black and white retro style scenography.
His compatriots Sebastián Yatra and Carlos Vives joined forces to sing “Devuélveme el corazón” and “Robarte un beso”, with which they also sent a message of solidarity to those affected by natural disasters in Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Ruben Blades soaked Las Vegas with salsa colors and flavors before Alejandro Sanz received the Person of the Year award from the Latin Grammys.
The Spanish launched a message in defense of undocumented youth in the United States known as “dreamers”, while Lin-Manuel Miranda, who won the Presidency Award of the Latin Academy for his contributions to the community, wanted to remind the White House that Puerto Ricans are also “human beings”
Juanes, who scored the Latin Grammy for the best pop-rock album for “My plans are to love you”, sang along with Alessia Cara and Logic the song “1-800-273-8255” about the prevention of suicides.
And with fire on stage and one of the most spectacular visual proposals of the ceremony, the star quartet formed by J Balvin, Bad Bunny, French Montanna and Steve Aoki raised the audience with the energy of “If your boyfriend leaves you alone” and “My people” as if it were a nightclub in the middle of the night.
With a surprising presentation inspired by colorful flowers, the Chilean Mon Laferte celebrated her Latin Grammy for the best alternative song for the sensual and tropical theme “Amárrame”.
Finally, and as a perfect touch to the dream night of “Despacito”, Luis Fonsi closed the great celebration of Latin music performing his song with Bomba Estéreo, VÃctor Manuelle and Diplo.
