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Drake, Jennifer Lopez and Adam Lambert have joined the increasingly lengthy list of performers who’ve signed an open letter asking President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress to push for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and the militant terror group Hamas. Last week the Artists4Ceasefire letter was sent to Biden and Congress urging […]
More than halfway through Carlos Vives’ sold-out show at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday (Oct. 28), the very loud audience — which had been on its feet for nearly an hour — suddenly got even louder during the Colombian singer’s rendition of “La Bicicleta,” his 2017 hit with fellow Colombian star Shakira.
Vives, clearly thinking it was in response to his urging crowd participation during a musical interlude, moved forward, waving his arms. With his back turned to the giant screen on the back of the stage, he missed the real cause of the commotion, as Shakira stepped on stage from the back entrance and started singing a part of the chorus. Still unaware, Vives turned toward his band, and did a visible double-take when he saw Shakira inches from him.
His first reaction was to run away from Shakira. Then he ran toward her. She pulled his arm. They hugged. They danced as a couple Colombian style. “He didn’t expect it!” a delighted Shakira told the crowd. “You didn’t expect it!” she told Vives.
He didn’t. The truly surprise appearance had been hatched just the night before between Shakira and tour promoter Loud and Live, and kept a total secret save for a handful of people in production. Shakira, now living in Miami, was approached to see if she might be interested in singing with Vives during his important Miami stop. Yes, but keeping it a secret. And so it was.
With no rehearsal or soundcheck, Shakira arrived to the Kaseya when Vives was already well into his set, posting live video on her Instagram feed where she delightedly told fans what she was going to do. Dressed in sparkly loose jeans and a crop top, she sang with Vives, then stayed on stage for an extra song as he serenaded her.
“Surprising my brother Carlos Vives onstage tonight,” Shakira wrote on her Instagram, to which Vives replied a few hours later: “Shak. I can retire. Now, chao. I leave happy. Nothing tops this. You made me the happiest man. I love you. WHAT A SURPRISE.
It was an exquisite moment for an exquisite night. Vives’ show in Miami, home to a huge Colombian diaspora and where he sometimes has spent months at a time, was as expected, a sell-out. The show, part of his El Tour de los 30, which celebrates the 30 years since the release of his turning-point album Clásicos de la Provincia, has included a free, massive show in Madrid’s Puerta de Alacalá and will culminate with a show in Colombia’s Estadio El Campín in December.
Watch the Shakira-Vives moment on Instagram below.
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Eslabon & Gabito on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Eslabon Armado made its late-night TV debut this week on Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. The renowned Música Mexicana group was joined by Gabito Ballesteros—also his first time on Fallon—to perform their hit collaboration “La Fresa.” “‘The Tonight Show’ is one of the top shows in the entire country, and I’ve grown up watching the show since I was a kid,” frontman Pedro Tovar said in a statement. “I’ve always seen the biggest stars be on the show, and being able to perform on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon is a major milestone crossed in our career.” Their performance comes on the heels of Eslabon’s performance on Good Morning America, where they made history as the first Musica Mexicana group on the show. Watch their performance on Fallon Tonight below:
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Pipe Bueno Pops the Big Question
After many years of dating, Pipe Bueno and Luisa Fernanda W announced their engagement this week. The Colombian power couple—he’s a pioneer in the música popular genre and she’s a famed social media influencer—shared photos and videos of their special proposal that took place at the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai. “Yes a million times,” Fernanda expressed on Instagram. “I love you infinitely, only God knows these hearts and knows why he brought us together to share this beautiful life. I love you Andrés Giraldo (Pipe’s real name).” Fernanda and Pipe, known for hits such as “Entre Botellas” with Grupo Firme and “Tequila” with Maluma, have two children together.
Pipe Bueno & Luisa Fernanda
Santiago Agudelo
A Supportive Husband
Other lovebirds who made headlines this week are Lele Pons and Guaynaa. Pons, who’s currently a competitor in ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, shared a piece of her latest dance number on social media, where she and dance partner Brandon Armstrong are dancing to the 90’s ballad “I’ll Stand By You.” “This dance is about feeling lost and finding someone who lifts you up and stands by you! My favorite dance by far!” she said of the contemporary dance. “This is one of my favorite parts of the choreography,” she added, sharing the ending of the presentation where her husband and Puerto Rican artist, Guaynaa, meets her in the dance floor, hands her a red rose, and kisses her.
Latin Artists at the 2023 BBMAs
Many Latin artists are finalists at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, presented by Marriott Bonvoy and set for Sunday, Nov. 19. The top Latin finalists are Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma with six nominations each, followed by Eslabon Armado and Karol G with five. The four acts are finalists in the top Latin artist and top Latin albums categories alongside Fuerza Regida in the former, and Fuerza and Ivan Cornejo in the latter category. Other Latin finalists include Shakira, Grupo Frontera, Yng Lvcas, and many more. Overall, Taylor Swift leads the pack as a finalist in 20 categories. You can click here to see the full list.
A Bichota Initiative
Karol G continues to give back to her fans and community, and this time, she’s joined by professional race car driver Tatiana “Tata” Calderón. In benefit of the singer’s Con Cora Foundation, “Tata” will be donating a replica of the helmet she wore at the 2022 Formula 2 for an auction. Designed by the Con Cora Foundation and signed by Karol G herself, the “symbolizes the unity and success of women who, through their hard work, are positively influencing the lives of many more women,” according to a press statement. Currently on display at the paddock of the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2023, the helmet is designed with Karol signature barbed heart, a butterfly representing “Tata,” and the Colombian flag. The auction will take place from November 17 to 30 on the Bonhams Cars platform.
This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — is powered by new music from Chayanne, Jay Wheeler, Laura Pausini and more. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Notably […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Chayanne, Bailemos Otra Vez (Sony Music Latin)
Chayanne, a.k.a. “Latin America’s eternal boyfriend,” presents his highly anticipated 20th studio album, Bailemos Otra Vez, marking his first set in nine years. In the diverse nine-track journey — home to previously released tracks “Bailando Bachata” and “Te Amo y Punto” — the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter reinvents his sound while keeping his essence intact.
If the former, his first-ever bachata, was an indication, he isn’t afraid to navigate from ranchera music in “Necesito Un Segundo” to the rhythmic cumbia in “Como Tú y Yo,” a song that celebrates true love amidst an ocean of disposable relationships (and even samples his own 1998 hit “Dejaría Todo”). “De Tanto,” on the other hand, is a classic Chayanne ballad. Recorded in Miami and penned by the artist, Bailemos Otra Vez boasts a wave of Latin hitmakers adding their magical beats and penmanship, including Andrés Torres, Édgar Barrera, Elena Rose, Florentino Rivera, Julio Reyes, Maffio, Mauricio Rengifo and Rafa Pabón. — INGRID FAJARDO
Laura Pausini, Almas Paralelas (Warner Music Italy/Gente Edizioni Musicali)
Five years after her last studio album — the 2018 Latin Grammy winner for best traditional pop vocal album, Hazte Sentir — Laura Pausini returns like a typhoon with Almas Paralelas, a 16-track set inspired by real stories, of her own and others, which displays an artistic and personal evolution, both vocally and lyrically. Featuring a more guttural interpretation, but without losing her essence, Pausini opens the album with “Cero,” a dance-pop number full of energy and empowering lyrics like “From now on I will not settle for less/ Give me only emotions different from zero.” She closes it with “Frente a Nosotros,” a sensitive piano ballad — which the Italian pop superstar walked down the aisle to when she married producer Paolo Carta last March, after 18 years together. In between, she takes us on a passionate and compelling journey addressing topics as basic as love, forgiveness, motherhood, and family.
“It is a truly conceptual album that… celebrates diversity and the right to individuality, which in my opinion should be respected more being citizens of the same streets but with different souls, different dreams, different desires,” Pausini tells Billboard Español weeks before being honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s 2023 Person of the Year. “In this world represented [on the album cover] by the street and its zebra crossing, I’d like there to always be respect and love between the individuals who inhabit it, and I would like for the listener to fall in love with the human beings who live like souls on a parallel path.”
Available in Italian as Anime Parallele, Almas Paralelas also includes the previously-released singles “Un Buen Comienzo,” dedicated to those who’ve had people in their lives trying to bring them down; “Durar,” about the love and daily commitment of a couple who decides to build a life together; and “Hogar Natural,” an emotional piece that marks her first duet with her daughter Paola. It is, overall, a pop gem that will make you dance and laugh, heal and reflect. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Jay Wheeler, TRAPPii (Linked Music/Dynamic Records/EMPIRE)
In a striking divergence from his more romantic repertoire, as evinced by albums like Platónicos (2020) or last year’s R&B-infused El Amor y Yo, Jay Wheeler embraces a grittier, more provocative allure on this week’s TRAPPii. In typical trap fashion, which revels in the pleasures of excess, the Puerto Rican trap star manages to maneuver the juxtaposition of raunch, vulnerability and desire across a dozen tracks. “TRAPPii,” featuring Arcángel, serves as the album’s high-impact introductory track. Exuding a raw, hard-hitting beat with a pulsating bassline that demands attention, Jay Wheeler and Arcángel make a powerful statement about wealth, materialism and the true value of knowledge and integrity over material possessions.
Infused with subtle drill undertones, courtesy of Botlok, Yeziell, Dimelo Suru and DJ Nelson, “Repeat” sees the singer yearning to reconnect with a special someone who’s moved on to a new partner. On “Jumping Out the Window,” equipped with melodic guitar arpeggios, the Puerto Rican artist swaps to English, a risqué track that hints at the emo rap style popularized by SoundCloud rappers. Then there’s the earlier single “Gangsta Luv,” featuring newcomer Anubiis, where the protagonists allude to the perilous lifestyle of their chosen subculture. While Wheeler maintains his distinctive fusion of irresistible sensuality throughout the LP, he injects unabashed intensity. In other words, TRAPPii glitters in the dark. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Lenny Tavárez feat. Sergio George, “El Yate” (Warner Music Latina/Kristoman)
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Lenny Tavárez has brought a fan-favorite track to life with “El Yate.” The Puerto Rican artist first teased the unreleased song a couple of years ago, when he shared a home video on social media performing the song with his acoustic guitar. After much praise from his followers, the urban star teamed up with renowned award-winning producer Sergio George for a flavorful salsa version. Though the beat will keep you on your feet with its live piano, percussion, cello and trumpet melodies, “El Yate” is backed by some sad, heartfelt lyrics. “Everyone knows that it’s the law of life/ That a story without heartbreak/ Is a boring adventure/ That you can moor a yacht/ But never two hearts/ Unless God decides,” Tavárez’s sweet vocals chant — also marking a new musical era that’s not too shabby for Lenny. — JESSICA ROIZ
María José Llergo, ULTRABELLEZA (Sony Music España)
Spanish singer-songwriter María José Llergo hits the ground running with her debut album ULTRABELLEZA (Ultra Beautiful) while honoring her family heritage. Through the 13-track set, the Andalusian artist experiments beyond of the conventional boundaries of flamenco, delivering a contemporary gypsy masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of her artistry. Her deep, soul-stirring vocals and poignant lyrics about love, empowerment and life’s trials are skillfully complemented by electronic elements such as synthesizers and potent bass lines.
Standout tracks like “Superpoder,” where she pens the poignant line, “I learned to cry by singing, I learned to sing by crying,” and others like “Rueda, Rueda,” narrate her inspiring journey from humble beginnings to burgeoning stardom. About the latter, Llergo expressed in a press release, “This song is a sincere thanks and celebration of being able to dedicate myself to what truly fills me.” ULTRABELLEZA is a mesmerizing, autochthonous project infused with a contemporary flair that not only defines her as an artist but also signifies the evolution of flamenco into the modern era. It is a commendable effort to break the genre free from cultural confines, paving the way for a wider audience to embrace its beauty. — LUISA CALLE
Listen to more new Latin music recommendations in the playlists below:
Luck Ra’s “La Morocha” featuring BM rebounds 2-1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated Oct. 28) for a fifth week of domination. The song unseats Bizarrap and Milo J’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 57” from the lead after one week in charge. With the move, “La Morocha” ties with Ke Personajes, Big One […]
Elena Rose can’t hold back her tears. At her home in Miami, where she spends most of her time since leaving her native Venezuela almost nine years ago to become one of the most sought-after Latin songwriters of her generation, she is eagerly awaiting the premiere of a project she started to work on three years ago — “Caracas en el 2000” with Danny Ocean and Jerry Di — which finally comes out Thursday (October 26).
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As cheerful as it is nostalgic, the tropical song with urban touches is a love letter to the city where the three artists grew up, each in a different socioeconomic area, before the political situation led them, as so many others, to emigrate in search of better opportunities. “What I would give for a thing like that/ You and me in Caracas like in 2000/ Skating around La Cota Mil/ With the macaws/ With such a flow, baby,” says part of the lyrics.
“We were children at that time,” Elena Rose explains to Billboard Español about the reason of the year 2000 in an interview via Zoom. “Beyond the fact that chronologically the country was in a better place, we wanted to show that innocence from three people who had very different lives even though they grew up in the same city.
“I feel that this is how the mind of a child who is enjoying too much on a day at the beach, on a day you went out skateboarding, would sound,” adds the singer-songwriter and only woman nominated for the 2023 Latin Grammy for songwriter of the year. “The feeling of what that soundtrack would sound like just when you go out to recess and are set free from all the classes. It’s pure joy.”
“Caracas en el 2000,” a Warner Music Latina release, was written by Elena Rose, Danny Ocean and Jerry Di and produced by Maff and DJ Tra. Elena Rose’s younger sister, Cristina “Pichu” Hernández, also contributed to the lyrics in its initial stages and now has a starring role in the music video, in which she plays Elena as a teenager. (The three singers, who are portrayed by young actors, also appear in different scenes but filmed their parts in the U.S.)
Directed by Beto Monte and Rodrigo Michelangeli and produced by Capitol, the clip shows emblematic places of Caracas such as the El Ávila hill, the Humboldt Hotel, La Previsora tower (with its iconic digital clock) and different squares, avenues and neighborhoods. In a little over four minutes, it condenses the energy of the city and the joy and strength of its people. It took over a year of work, carried out mostly by Monte (better known as Alberto “Beto” Montenegro of the Venezuelan rock/reggae band Rawayana), who was constantly traveling to Caracas to record visuals, Elena Rose points out how meaningful and personal it’s been for her.
“They recorded the video at my school with the teachers who taught me. My grandmother is in the video. La Pichu, the sister I wrote the song with, is the one who played me when I was little. It’s really remarkable for that reason,” she says with emotion. “They took photos from when I was a child, they even recreated the tattoos I made with markers, what my school bag was like, my little necklaces and things I wore. I mean, can you imagine, it is one of the most important productions and the one I feel most proud to be a part of.”
Now that it is out, she hopes to enjoy the result of the great teamwork involved in the making of the song and the video, and bring part of her culture to the world.
“I hope it serves as a message of hope and faith both for the Caracas native who stayed and for the one that left, and for the one who returns, and for the one who wants to leave,” she says. “It is a message of love everywhere you see it, where there is no mention of religion or politics or social class or sexual inclination or color or money; simply of what unites all of us Caracas, and that is the love for that city. We are proud to come from where we come from.”
Watch the “Caracas en el 2000” video above.
Warner Music Latina
On Tuesday (Oct. 24), Iñigo Quintero’s “Si No Estás” garnered more than 5.7 million plays in just one day, an impressive amount that pushed it to the top of Spotify‘s global chart. It’s the first time a solo Spanish artist has achieved this milestone (previously Canary Islander Quevedo accomplished the feat alongside Argentina’s Bizarrap with “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52”), and it’s all the more shocking because, at least outside of Spain, Quintero was until recently a total unknown.
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The song also reached the coveted top 10 on Billboard‘s global charts, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and No. 10 on Billboard Global 200. And with daily plays surpassing such popular tracks as Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” or Young Miko’s “Wiggy,” the meteoric rise is also enigmatic in that it has occurred without any traditional promotion, publicity, press releases or information about the artist behind the sensation. (Billboard Español requested an interview with Quintero’s representative and the response was that he is not currently talking to the company).
With verses like “Esto es una alucinación/ Quiero ver tu otra mitad/ Alejarme de esta ciudad/ Y contagiarme de tu forma de pensar” (“This is a delusion/ I want to see your other half/ Get away from this city/ And immerse in your way of thinking.”) “Si No Estás” is a piano-pop ballad that alludes to an intense obsession and longing for someone who is far away, and the anguish and pain that result from that separation — a song of unusual depth for a 2023 pop hit.
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“Clearly, Iñigo’s songs are connecting with the people,” says Esteve Lombarte, founder of the Acqustic label, who represents the artist. “I think for a long time we’ve had more superficial songs focused on lives of great luxury — of cars, wealth and houses — and nowadays, there are a lot more connecting with day-to-day problems that talk about love, friendship and other issues related to people’s concerns.”
What is certain is the power of the song and its meaning, which has generated a great deal of debate on social networks. “Si No Estás” has been interpreted in different ways, from a song dedicated to God, to a reflection on a romantic breakup.
Lombarte explains that the song began to go viral organically through TikTok, and immediately connected with listeners. “From that initial boost we decided to amplify [the song],” he says. Quintero connected with the label through his other artist Besmaya, and in March 2023 they signed him.
“The truth is that the success of ‘Si No Estás’ is an unprecedented triumph in the industry, but we believe that what is behind this song is a very talented artist,” Lombarte points out. “And the rest of the songs are really doing very well too. The proof of that is that ‘Sobredosis’ is already in the top 100 in Spain, and there will be more and more songs, and we will get to know more of the artist little by little.”
He continues: “The clearest proof is that countries like France, Germany, Holland, Luxembourg, Switzerland — non-Spanish-speaking countries — have also connected with the artist beyond the lyrics. It is part of the magic of this art.”
Other projects that Aqcustic manages are Malmö 040, Besmaya, Ciao Marina, Maren, Yarea, Inazio and Hey Kid. “After this great success, what we will do is to continue working and preparing songs. The important thing is to sit down, compose and work to release music that connect as well as ‘Si No Estás’ has connected,” adds Lombarte.
Additional reporting by Franchesca Guim.
Halloween is just five days away, and for those last-minute costume shoppers, Billboard has you covered. This year, we’ve compiled seven easy and quick costumes to channel your favorite Latin music stars — which you can do yourself at home, with things you either already own or can thrift at an affordable price over the […]
J Balvin has nothing but good things to say about Britney Spears, whose long-awaited memoir — The Woman in Me — arrived on Tuesday (Oct. 24).
The Latin pop star gushed to TMZ on Wednesday (Oct. 25) that he’s “really proud of” Spears for being so vulnerable in her book. “I think she’s amazing,” Balvin said. “I think she deserves the best.”
“She’s a woman that we have to have a lot of love and respect [for],” continued the “Mi Gente” musician. “She’s fired [up] the whole world at her peak, and I can’t wait for her to bring new music. I think we need her so much.”
Spears’ memoir dropped not long after she joined J Balvin and Maluma for drinks in New York City. In photos posted afterward on Maluma’s Instagram, the “Toxic” singer cuddled close with a smiling Balvin, who commented, “I can’t get over it.”
“I think she’s super strong,” he added to TMZ of the pop star. “I think she already has a [mental] shield. She knows what she’s doing, and the last time I saw her, she looks in a real, real good place in her mind to deal with everything.”
The “Que Pretendes” artist volunteered a lot less about Bad Bunny, who seemingly dissed his past collaborator on a song from his new album, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana. “You’ve seen me, I always walk with the same people/ While you are friends of the whole world like Balvin,” Bunny sings in Spanish on “Thunder Y Lightning.”
Asked for comment about the alleged diss, Balvin simply told TMZ, “I’m all about love. I love the guy,” before getting in a car.
Balvin previously addressed the situation on Instagram Live after Nadie dropped, saying at the time, “The person I know is a great person. We supported each other mutually, we made history, we also created a new story within music. I don’t understand what was going through his head but well, the guy I know is a good person.”