With a notable absence of awards and a call to young people from the United States to support causes such as the fight for arms control, legalization of “dreamers” and the denunciation of the separation of immigrant families on the border, Miami today celebrated the Fifteenth edition of the Premios Juventud.
During the four-hour broadcast, testimonies of young activists alternated with musical numbers of the most popular artists on the streaming platforms and with the official presentation to the Latin audience of a catchy rhythm known as “cubatón”.
“We came to demonstrate that we are much more than the generation of cell phones and emojis,” Manolo González Vergara, son of the well-known Colombian actress SofÃa Vergara, who was one of the presenters, said at the beginning of the ceremony.
“We are the engines of change,” added his partner MarÃa Elena Dávila, daughter of Venezuelan presenter Chiquinquirá Delgado and singer Guillermo Dávila.
Together and holding hands, the drivers of the night stressed that young people want a world “without violence, without weapons, inclusive, without bullying, without fear and with united families.”
The transmission of the Premios Juventud had started minutes before with “Te boté”, a piece performed by Ozuna, Casper Mágico and Nio GarcÃa, while Bad Bunny accompanied them on a screen from Madrid, where he is on tour.
Zion and Lennox sang their hit “La player” and then joined J.Balvin in their collaboration “It’s not fair.” They ended up accompanied by dancing children doing the “floss dance”.
Maluma for his part moved with his premiere of “Sailor”, which followed with the remix of “Bella” with Wolfine and closed his number with “The loan”, dressed in total black and sleeveless shirt.
Becky G. was one of the artists who spent more time on the stage, singing “Sin Pijama” with Natty Natasha, “Mal de la cabeza” with Mau and Ricky and also premiered “Zooted”, her first song in English in several years.
Daddy Yankee released “Zum Zum”, his new track with RKM & Ken-Y and Arcángel, while CNCO also sang their new single “Se Vuelve Loca” live for the first time.
The romantic part was in charge of the Mexican Joss Favela, Carlos Rivera and the Puerto Rican Kany GarcÃa, who vocalized some very applauded ballads.
Although some Mexican regional music was missed, which after reggaeton represents the most successful musical genre among US Hispanics, the audience received with great enthusiasm a set of Cuban urban music known as the “cubatón”, which combines the reggaeton base with pop and salsa and was represented by the artists El Micha, Jacob Forever, El Chacal, El Taiger, Yomil and El Dany, IAMChino and Lenier.
The introduction to the urban artist segment of the island was done by Pitbull from a screen through a recording.
In addition, Yulién Oviedo with El Micha, Chacal and Miss Dayana sang “Cuba is in fashion.”
Eight activists from causes such as organ donation, women’s empowerment and biculturalism also played their part.
The speech by MÃa Sánchez, daughter of Colombian singer Charlie Zaá, who is a survivor of the shooting massacre at the Marjorie Stone Douglas school in Parkland, north of Miami, was especially moving.
“The label ‘Never Again’ means that we will never again sit idly by in situations of violence,” said Sánchez, who said he owes his life to Professor Scott Beigel, who died in the February 14 massacre of this year.
During the broadcast and on social networks, Univisión promoted its campaign “Se habla USA”, in which it defends the biculturalism of Latinos and the free use of Spanish in the United States, and called on young people to register in the electoral centers and participate in the legislative and local elections of coming November.
There was no award ceremony this time. The curtain came down shortly before midnight.
