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As the world observes Holy Week 2024, Billboard Español has prepared a special selection of 31 new Christian songs in Spanish for the season. The list is comprised of established and emerging artists, encompassing the diversity of Latin Christian music in sound and message.
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The lyrics of these songs explore themes such as love, family and everyday life from the perspective of faith, thus providing an enriching experience for those who want to approach faith through music.
Among the highlights are a variety of popular genres, from worship songs such as “40CM” by the singer-songwriter CRYS together with Genock Gabriel, and the ballad “Vuelvo” by Marcela Gándara, produced by Julio Reyes Copello, which invites us to get closer to God in the most challenging moments. In addition, we included “Tu Presencia Me Llamó,” the Spanish version of the popular song “Me Atraiu” by the Brazilian Gabriela Rocha with the Guatemalan band Miel San Marcos. With this anthem, Rocha became the first woman in gospel music worldwide to reach 3.3 billion views on YouTube, according to Billboard Brazil.
Within the field of Christian urban music, songs such as “Flow Celeste” by Barajas and Alex Zurdo, “Te Siento” by Indiomar and “Locura” by Jay Kalyl stand out. While in Latin pop, there are gems such as Gilberto Daza’s pop vallenato “Seguir Vale la Pena,” and “Capulí”, which united the Ecuadorian Vaes with the Colombian band Alkilados.
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In addition, the list includes “Confía” by Farruko and Dalex, “Who Who” by Nino Freestyle and Emanuel Lara, and “Chica de Altar” by the latter, all part of the compilation album Transition, from Puerto Rican Farruko’s Carbon Fiber label, which took a new faith-based direction this year and features diverse emerging artists both Christian and non-Christian. This project also supports Billboard‘s forecast that 2024 could see more secular artists break into Latin Christian music.
Listen to our playlist of new Latin Christian songs for Easter 2024 below:
Santiago de Cali or simply Cali — the third-most populous city in Colombia after Bogotá and Medellín — is known as “La capital mundial de la salsa” (the salsa capital of the world) given the city’s love for the genre and more so, it’s talented artists. Among them is Grupo Niche, which was formed in Bogotá, but settled in Cali in 1982.
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Known for classic salsa tunes such as “Una Aventura,” “Gotas de Lluvia” and “Mi Pueblo,” Niche was founded 44 years ago by the late Jairo Varela. One the group’s most notable songs, however, is “Cali Pachanguero,” one that resonates with proud Colombians everywhere and is a must-play at any Latin party.
In celebration of the latter track’s 40th anniversary, the Latin Grammy-winning ensemble is on the road with its Pachanguero Tour, which has already made stops in Australia, Los Angeles, Panama, Peru and Miami.
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“It’s the new performance by Grupo Niche, with a new proposal and a new show on stage,” vocalist Alejandro Iñigo tells Billboard. “We’re going to perform at a jazz festival in New Orleans and we’re doing the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico, where we will take the legacy of the group to a new audience and a different market. The tour is full of surprises and big things.”
Niche, along with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, won the 2023 Latin Grammy for best salsa album with Niche Sinfónico. Now, the group is working on a new album that fans will love, according to vocalist Alex Torres.
“It will be a wonderful album that will surely reach a bigger audience,” he notes. “It will be with new songs and very modern, conserving the parameters and musical concept of the group.”
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Below, group members break down how “Cali Pachanguero” was created.
The Song’s Backstory
“This is a song that was composed by the maestro Jairo Varela,” José Aguirre, musical director and trumpet player of Niche says. “He composed it in a hotel in New York after talking to a friend at the time who felt an absence and lots of nostalgia [being away] from Cali. Talking to him, he got inspired to create this song. After that came the recording stage.”
The Lyrics & the Sound
The lyrics in “Cali Pachanguero” describe the city of Cali, Colombia — with its bustling carnivals, lively atmosphere and beautiful people — narrated by someone who’s far away and yearns to go back home.
“The rhythm, which had a very big boom in the ’70s in salsa and in the world, is a rhythm called ‘pachanga,’ and for that reason he titled the song ‘Cali Pachanguero,’” Aguirre explains. “It’s a very commercial melody that’s under the roof of the rhythms that make up salsa music. It was recorded in 1984 and not only was it an immediate success at the Cali fair, but also a success throughout Colombia, and abroad with such great force that today has become an icon of Latin music.”
The Song’s Impact
Aguirre continues: “This song was already born big. It came out at a very important time for Grupo Niche. Just by the success it had at the fair that year [1984], it began to move masses. It’s a work that has been gaining popularity. In fact, at the beginning of those years, the song was only played in Cali because it was from that city. But today, the song has to be played everywhere. It’s a must-play song [at our concert]. Everywhere [in the world], people assume it as their own.”
Its Legacy
“Maestro Jairo Varela left very strong foundations with his determination and discipline,” vocalist Luis Araque notes. “He’s always worked with that order of ideas. Respecting the music, respecting his concept and respecting what he’s done, I think everything with the group has gone very well. All of us in the group know that we have to arrive early, that we cannot get drunk, that we have to give a status to that discipline.”
Don Omar‘s 2011 smash hit “Taboo” has just earned him a new milestone. According to YouTube, the song’s music video, which includes footage from the blockbuster action film Fast Five, has surpassed one billion views, making it his second video in the Billion Views Club as a lead, featured artist or collaborator. Currently, Don Omar comes in at No. 87 on YouTube’s Global Top Artists.
Shot in Brazil and directed by Marlon P, the music video not only includes scenes from Fast Five, but also includes a storyline in which Don Omar is a waiter at a very fancy event, where he crosses paths with a childhood crush. Drama ensues when both leave the party and eventually reunite to rekindle their relationship.
“Taboo” peaked at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart in March 2011, where it sat atop the summit for five weeks. The samba-inspired track also ruled the Latin Airplay tally for five weeks.
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Currently, the Puerto Rican hitmaker is on his Back to Reggaetón U.S. Tour. The stint, produced by CMN, marks his much-awaited return to the stage, celebrating two decades of influential hits that have cemented his status as a global superstar. The tour, which launched in Reading, Penn., on March 7, includes stops in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and Houston.
In February, Don Omar accepted the Ícono Global Award at the 2024 Premio Lo Nuestro. After a riveting medley — which featured special guests Machine Gun Kelly, Anitta and Wisin & Yandel — he gave a heartfelt speech honoring urban artists. “This is for those who made urban music before me, for those who made urban music at the time I made it, for those who make urban music in the future and for all the countries where there is not even a single urban music artist,” he said.
Revisit his “Taboo” music video above.
Christian Nodal and Peso Pluma take over Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “La Intención” lands at No. 1 on the list dated March 30. Nodal and Pluma’s first collab springs from No. 5 to crown the chart with 8.3 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending March 21, according to […]
The countdown reached Times Square nine months early on Tuesday night (March 26), where thousands of people gathered at the iconic tourist destination, not to watch the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop but the Colombian superstar Shakira.
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The artist surprised her followers with a “pop-up” concert announced just hours earlier on her social media, and about 40,000 fans, according to figures provided by the organizers, responded to her call to celebrate her first LP in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, released last Friday.
A huge electronic billboard that covered part of a skyscraper announced the free show with a clock counting down to its start. At around 7:30 p.m. ET, the crowd enthusiastically chanted from ten to zero and two large doors hidden in the jumbotron opened to reveal the TSX Stage, and Shakira opening with her No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Hips Don’t Lie.”
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“Hola New York! Oh my God, this is amazing, absolutely insane,” she said immediately after in Spanglish. It’s so awesome to see you again, to sing for you… Nothing compares to this. Thank you so much for all the love that you’ve been giving me this week during the release of my new album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. And thank you, thank you, thank you for showing up.”
Dressed in black pants and top with silver embellishments, the self-proclaimed She-Wolf delighted the crowd by singing live — along with a band and a group of dancers — songs such as “Te Felicito”, “TQM”, “Cómo Dónde y Cuándo” and “Puntería”, before closing with the mega hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
“I’m happy to be here surrounded by my Latin people,” said the 14-times Latin Grammy and three-times Grammy winner. “Thank you New York. Until next time. I love you very much.”
Tuesday’s show was co-produced by TSX Entertainment, with presenting partners ViX, Vinfast and Sony Music Latin. It took place the day after Shakira’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed “Puntería” and spoke candidly about her former relationship with soccer star Gerard Piqué, and why it took her so long to release a new LP since 2017’s El Dorado. “Now I’m husband-less,” the She-Wolf declared. (Shakira and Piqué — who announced their split in 2022 — never married during their 11-year relationship, but share two sons.) “The husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free. Now I can actually work.”
Watch part of Shakira’s performance in Times Square below:
On Tuesday (March 26), the Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced a new category dedicated to Spanish representation in Christian music for their annual Dove Awards. The award for Spanish language worship recorded song of the year will debut at the 55th GMA Dove Awards, set to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Allen Arena in Nashville. Nominations will be announced on July 24.
The new award, which will recognize the talent of performers and songwriters of worship songs, joins two other pre-existing Latin music categories: Spanish language album of the year, established in 1998, and Spanish language recorded song of the year, created in 2017. (Bands Generación 12 and Miel San Marcos were the winners of these awards, respectively, last year).
The initiative responds to a 30% increase in Spanish-language music entries submitted to the awards show in the last five years, as well as the constant growth of Spanish language music in genres ranging including worship, urban, pop, and rock.
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“We have witnessed this genre boom internationally, without precedent or barriers,” Justin Fratt, executive vice president of the Gospel Music Association, said in a press release. “For us, it has been an honor to support our colleagues from various Latin American and Spanish-speaking countries, celebrating the greatness of their music.”
The effort was backed by other companies in the Latin Christian industry such as CanZion, Capitol CMG/Universal, Creation Music, Curb Records, Heaven and Sony/Provident, according to the release.
Henry Alonzo, CCO of Christian music publishing and distribution company Adarga Entertainment Group, tells Billboard Español that its audio and video streaming numbers have quadrupled recently, and that its artists — who have included Miel San Marcos, Alex Campos and Jesús Adrian — have reached the same stages as those in other genres of Latin music. “All this is thanks to the work done by the same industry that supports artists of this genre,” he said.
Since its foundation in 1964, GMA has served a highly diverse community of creatives and professionals within the Christian and gospel music industry. Its mission is to expose, promote and celebrate gospel music. Through the GMA Foundation and the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the association seeks to preserve the legacy of the genre’s pioneers, while celebrating the work of contemporary artists with events such as the Dove Awards.
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From the ranks of Los Temerarios to the emerging Los Esquivel, see the list below.
03/26/2024
Whenever, wherever, Shakira is going to share her truth. The Queen of Latin music appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Monday (March 25), and opened up about her former relationship with soccer star Gerard Piqué, and how it had hindered her from producing a full album.
The three-time Grammy winner, who was on the late-night show to promote her new album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran [Women No Longer Cry], told the comedian that the reason for the seven year gap between her latest collection and 2017’s El Dorado was her ex. “I’ve been putting out music here and there, but I think it was really hard for me to put together a body of work” the Colombian superstar shared. “I didn’t have time. It was the husband factor.”
“Now I’m husband-less,” the She-Wolf declared. (Shakira and Piqué — who announced their split in 2022 — never married during their 11-year relationship, but share two sons.) “The husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free! Now I can actually work!”
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The musician continued to open up in the interview, sharing her grieving and recovery processes. “I was trying to rebuild myself and music was the glue, but it felt like it was an alchemical process in which I was transforming pain and anger and frustration into creativity and productivity and strength and resilience,” the singer-songwriter explained while discussing the alternate covers of her new album, which are themed around precious stones. “The resilience of a diamond. So that’s why I picked the metaphor of the precious stones, because of the resilience that us women have today when we have to face adversity,” Shakira told Fallon.
The star also spoke about the societal expectations placed on women to hide their pain and to conform to certain standards of healing, a notion she firmly rejects. Her new album title embodies this sentiment, with the singer explaining, “It’s men’s turn [to cry] now. Now women [should] decide when to cry, how to cry and until when. No one is supposed to tell us how to cope with the hardship of life.”
During her appearance on The Tonight Show, the singer also performed “Puntería,” originally featuring Cardi B. Shakira, dressed in white baggy pants and a top with ropes, began her set seated. Amid iridescent curtains and a pearlesque backdrop that displayed a gigantic diamond on the screen, Shak was flanked by two female dancers, and as they got up they were joined by two more, all wearing matching outfits while dancing in unison to the electro-pop song.
Before the performance and interview, the show began with the superstar undergoing a playful lie detector test. “Everything hooked up?” Fallon asked Drew Barrymore, who made a guest appearance as the technician.
“We’re ready,” she replied.
“You know what to do, Shakira,” said Fallon over Shak’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Hips Don’t Lie.” With wires hooked to her hips, the Barranquilla hitmaker began to gyrate them in classic Shakira fashion.
“It checks out, they’re telling the truth,” replied a serious Barrymore.
“Her hips don’t lie,” added Fallon, nailing the punchline.
Check out the performance of “Puntería” and the lie detector test below, and Shak’s full interview above.
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After a one-year hiatus from the stage, Colombian vallenato star Silvestre Dangond is set to hit the road again — this time with his ‘Ta Malo Tour, which kicks off April 12 in Orlando. The 17-date stint, produced by Loud and Live, is a celebration of sorts. Not only does it mark Dangond’s return to […]
It’s only March, but Maluma is already dad of the year! The 30-year-old Colombian singer and his girlfriend, Susana Gomez, welcomed their first child together — a daughter named Paris Londoño Gomez — earlier this month, and Maluma took to Instagram to share a series of precious moments from his first few weeks of fatherhood. “My […]