Latin
Page: 211
Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro have reportedly ended their relationship after three years together. According to People, who first reported the news, the power couple decided to not move forward with their engagement. The news comes just months after the artists revealed they were engaged in the music video for “Beso,” from their three-track joint EP RR, also […]
Myke Towers is back in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart as his latest single “Lala” climbs 14-6 on the July 29-dated list, becoming the Puerto Rican’s first top 10 in over two years.
“Lala” dropped March 23 as one of the 23 tracks on Towers’ third studio album La Vida Es Una. The One World International/Warner Latina-released set debuted and peaked at No. 9 high on Top Latin Albums (April 8).
The song’s popularity swelled in late June due to a TikTok challenge consisting of a dance with hand gestures and a tongue movement. As millions of users are riding the “Lala” wave, the song has generated more than 2.5 million videos on the platform since. (Activity on TikTok does not directly contribute to Billboard’s charts.)
After that, “Lala” earned Towers his first No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart last chart week (dated July 22).
On Hot Latin Songs, which blends airplay, streams, and digital sales, “Lala” lands in the top 10 in its third week and becomes Towers’ ninth top 10 and first since “Pareja del Año,” with Sebastián Yatra, peaked at No. 10 in May 2021.
“Lala” takes the week’s Greatest Gainer honors on the multimetric tally with 9.7 million official on-demand streams earned during the July 14-20 tracking week, according to Luminate; that’s a 39% gain from the week prior. The streaming surge yields a No. 36 position on the overall Streaming Songs chart, Towers’ first entry there. Plus, it rises 16-8 on Latin Streaming Songs, his ninth top 10 there.
Sales also contributes to “Lala’s” high chart performance on Hot Latin Songs. It sold a bit over 500 units in the U.S. during the same period and rises 11-6 on Latin Digital Song Sales.
Further, “Lala” holds at its No. 3 high on Billboard Global 200 with 85 million streams, a 10% increase, and backtracks 1-2 on Global Excl. U.S. with an 8% dip in streams, to 76 million.
Beyond his new top 10 on Hot Latin Songs, Towers bests his ranking on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, as “Lala” rallies 90-48 in its second week. Prior to “Lala” hitting the top 50, Towers reached a No. 76 high through “Caramelo,” with Ozuna and Karol G, in 2020.
[embedded content]
Karol G’s “S91” Arrives: Towers’ “Lala” is not the only new top 10 on Hot Latin Songs this week as Karol G’s “S91” bows at No. 10. The song logged 8.3 million official on-demand streams after its first full tracking week ending July 20, enough to debut at No. 49 on Streaming Songs and an equal No. 10 start on Latin Streaming Songs.
“S91” also sold a bit over 1,000 downloads in its first week, plenty for a No. 1 start on Latin Digital Song Sales.
With the new top 10 on her Hot Latin Songs career, Karol G adds a 22nd top 10, extending her third-most top 10s sum among women, behind Shakira (34) and Gloria Estefan (23).
Very few bands can play exciting international shows without a new album, but the beloved Café Tacvba can. Fresh off two back-to-back shows at the Hollywood Bowl, the mercurial Mexican group landed in New York on Monday (July 24) at Central Park’s Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage and captivated crowds with a dazzling two-hour show.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Donning black jeans and matching long-sleeved shirt, frontman Rubén Albarrán commanded the stage from the start when he began to belt out “Seguir Siendo,” a rock masterpiece from their 2007 album SINO. The song, which runs through disparate vibes and emotions, with pensive chants and chilling howls, has the ability to hypnotize listeners instantly, in an almost shamanic way.
The summer night show began as clear as day at 8:00 p.m., a civil twilight, with blue skies and lush foliage. “Friends, look at this great afternoon, with the moon, the sky, and the trees in this wonderful place — thank you so much for bringing us here to Mexa York,” the frontman said with a chuckle.
Spanning through their three-decade discography, the band’s musical prowess was on full display throughout the evening. Their ability to seamlessly transition between different genres, from the raw power of rock to the soulful melodies of folk, was nothing short of impressive. Each band member brought their unique talents to the forefront, creating a harmonious blend of instruments that elevated the songs to new heights.
Here are five reasons why Café Tacvba is an enduring force in Latin music.
Their uncanny ability to evoke a range of emotions
Right from the jump, Café Tacvba has shown its ability to take us on a ride of emotions, from euphoric highs to devastating lows, with songs that span a wide range of stylistic configurations, such as rock balladry, folk, and electronica. In a way, the members — also comprised of Emmanuel del Real (keyboards), Joselo Rangel (guitar), and Enrique Rangel (bass) — convey a supreme musicality in the vein of musical greats (a Beatle-like quality, we dare to say), balancing moods with harmonic delivery that sounds equally as impressive in an outdoor setting as it does indoors with perfect acoustics.
Will Oliver/City Parks Foundation
Albarrán’s multifaceted voice
The band has written some timeless ballads like “María,” “Esa Noche,” “Quiero Ver” and “Diente de León”, which we had the pleasure of hearing on Monday. And Albarrán’s unparalleled, crystalline voice is capable of piercing your heart and soul. Equally, that same voice can turn harsh and raw, unleashing ominous growls — as evinced in songs like “Bar Tacuba,” “Futuro,” and “Déjate Caer” — that make you wonder if it’s all coming from the same person. Listening to the band’s two-hour set with such an eclectic set, and that voice, is truly an unforgettable experience.
Their charming, occasional silly choreography
The band has pulled out some of the funnest choreography of the Spanish-language rock game. Who else doesn’t shy away from busting some charmingly silly moves like we see on “Déjate Caer”? Then they do the duck walk somewhere in between their set, with the Rangel brothers pulling their heavy instruments near the ground with them, while still playing them. Albarrán does some kind of air split, dances and flirts with the crowd. Every band member is always active and vibrant, giving us visual entertainment with just their moves — which never feel forced, but just a sign of having fun on stage while engaging with the audience.
Their audience engagement
Mexican flags lofted high throughout the scene. Yet there were Colombians, Puerto Ricans, Brazilians, Ecuadorians, Argentinians and more in the house, people of all ages. Most in my immediate surroundings seemed to know most of Café Tacvba’s lyrics, singing along with them. They watched in awe during moments of serene vibes with their captivating ballads and rocked the heck out with them in the raucous numbers. The thousands in attendance were there to be engrossed by the show and it showed.
Their uniqueness and continued relevance
Although Cafeta has been around since the late 80’s, their songs still sound as vibrant as ever: That is their gift. Few bands have been able to evolve and transform, while staying true to themselves, with each album they release. From embracing their folk roots (Café Tacvba, Re) to becoming strange and experimental (SINO, El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco), their sound is unique and singular in concept and execution.
Colombia’s team is celebrating their first win at the Women’s World Cup 2023 in a big way, and with Latin superstar J Balvin in tow. Following their victory over South Korea on Tuesday (July 25) at the Sydney Football Stadium, the team returned to the locker room where they got a surprise visit from the […]
Billboard is introducing a peer-voted award to run alongside its annual Latin Power Players list of the genres’ most influential executives. This new Latin Power Players’ Choice Award will honor the executive in the genre whose peers believe has had the greatest impact across the music business over the past year, from recording and publishing […]
Billboard is introducing a peer-voted award to run alongside its annual Latin Power Players list of the genre’s most influential executives. This new Latin Power Players’ Choice Award will honor the executive in the genre whose peers believe has had the greatest impact across the music business over the past year, from recording and publishing […]
Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible brought Baja California vibes to Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium in New York City on Sunday night (July 23).
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Organized by the Baja California Institute of Culture and the state’s governor, Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, the two-hour show reminded audiences why the Tijuana duo is such an important electronic outfit, taking border culture to unimaginable heights.
“We are proud to have Baja Californians like Nortec who have been on the best stages in the world representing Baja California with their music, music that has undoubtedly made us dance in many corners of the planet,” Del Pilar told Billboard Español during the event. “Today we bring them to New York on this tour to promote our state, because Baja California is a magical place. We want to convey that music changes lives and has no borders.”
As part of an initiative to promote the beauty of Baja in a series of events highlighting Mexico’s gastronomy, wine, beer and handicrafts, Nortec’s music served as a point of reference for the originality that the region has to offer.
“We who are from Baja California are happy that [the government] is prompting these type of events,” said Fussible. “May they continue to bring more artists.”
The Nortec duo, which has a reputation performing at disparate events ranging from lavish international festivals to small dingy clubs, brought its unique fusion of Euro-style electronica with traditional norteña samples. They further enlivened the crowd with a full live band, consisting of an accordionist, a tuba and trumpet player, who got audiences to their feet.
Here are four reasons why Nortec will remain the enduring sound of border life and beyond.
Nortec made música norteña cool before it was trendy
Before the invention of trap corridos, sierreña music with an emo vibe, or the fusion of banda with rap (like Banda MS and Snoop), there was techno and norteño music, also known as Nortec. With a fascinating repertoire that highlighted more than two decades of intoxicating music, the duo proved their worth as pioneers of a genre that today deserves much more recognition.
Gemma Luz Sanchez
Nortec is symbolic of border culture
With stunning visuals depicting symbols of everyday border life — the vibrant folklore, the fence between the U.S. and Mexico adorned with art and crosses, playful images of stereotypes (like gun-toting ranchers) — the duo’s imagery is an integral aspect of the set. It also represents that hybrid culture in its sound, and what is associated with the region, such as banda music, norteño music, tambora, mixed with cultural exports like techno.
They continue to inspire new generations
Espectro Caudillo, an electronic music producer from Tijuana based in New York, doesn’t hold back when it comes to sharing how Nortec has influenced his work. “Nortec was always the benchmark for a successful electronic music project, because at one point Tijuana was the avant-garde city for electronic music in Mexico,” the producer tells Billboard Español. “The sound of Espectro Caudillo’s music is directly influenced by Nortec. Beyond setting the tone for a career, they are emblematic of a Tijuana generation of the 2000s.” The artist, formerly of Los Macuanos, will release his debut album La Liturgia del Tigre Blanco in October via Nacional Records.
The future of Nortec: Bostic + Fussible
This year the group celebrates 15 years of “Tijuana Sound Machine,” a song that put them on the international map and which continues to sound as vibrant as ever. Nortec is also keeping busy with plans to present new music in the upcoming months. “We’re going to do versions of Nortec but with a jazz context in the spirit of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass,” says Bostich. “We’re going to present it in September in Ensenada, and bring something we haven’t done before.”
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany García is the latest Latin star to perform for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. The intimate setting is fitting for García’s personal, deep lyrics which touch on love, heartbreak and beyond. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news She kicked off her nearly 17-minute […]
Happy birthday, Jennifer Lopez!
The Puerto Rican actress and singer is celebrating her 54th birthday today (July 24) and to commemorate the special day, Billboard compiled a list with some of J.Lo’s noteworthy collaborations with reggaetón artists.
Before she joined forces with Latin acts, Lopez teamed up with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Ja Rule — with whom she earned her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001 with “I’m Real.” Their second collaborative effort, “Ain’t It Funny,” hit No. 1 that same year, where it spent six weeks. In 2003, her collaboration with LL Cool J, “All I Have,” also hit No. 1 on the all-genre chart, spending four weeks on top.
By this time, Lopez had already joined forces with Latin acts such as Marc Anthony, Pitbull, and Fat Joe. But it wasn’t until 2012 that the New York-born star stepped into the reggaetón realm, with “Follow the Leader,” in collab with Wisin y Yandel. The track hit No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs in May 2012, spending two weeks at the top.
Most notably, Lopez teamed up with Colombian artist Maluma in 2020, for a two-part release: “Pa’ Ti” and “Lonely.” The bilingual project formed part of the Marry Me movie soundtrack, which co-starred both artists.
“I love singing in Spanish,” Lopez told Billboard in a 2020 cover story interview. “Honestly, I think I sing better in Spanish than I even do in English. That’s a big part of who I am. I’m always working on a Spanish album. I never finish it. But you don’t want to put anything out until you feel that it’s the right thing at the right time. I’ve been working on some songs on the album for three years, [and these two new ones], we did them and we put them right out.”
Below, revisit the birthday girl’s memorable reggaetón collaborations:
Wisin y Yandel
“Today Motomami ends,” Rosalía tweeted just hours before the last show of her ambitious Motomami World Tour. The Spanish singer-songwriter wrapped the nearly 70-date global trek with a last performance at Lollapalooza Paris on Saturday (July 22), where she gave an emotional speech reflecting on not only the tour, but also her Grammy-winning Motomami album. […]