Latin
Page: 243
Shakira gifted moms a new anthem for Mother’s Day. “Acróstico,” released May 12, is a powerful open letter to her children, Milan and Sasha.
The song is a poetic composition constructed so that the initial letter of each line of lyrics, taken consecutively, spells out the names of her two sons. Co-written by Shakira, Keityn, Lexuz and other contributions at La Creme, “Acróstico” is about a mother who can turn her pain into strength through the love of her kids.
On Monday (May 15), the Colombian star — who was crowned Woman of the Year the first-ever Billboard Latin Women in Music on May 6 — released the ballad’s official music video, which features Milan and Sasha singing and playing the piano alongside their mother.
Read the full “Acróstico” lyrics translated into English below:
You taught me that love is not a scam, and that when it’s real it doesn’t endI tried to stop you from seeing me cry, that you didn’t see my fragilityBut things are not always as we dreamSometimes we run, but we never reach our destination Never doubt that I will be hereTalk to me and I’ll listen to you
And even though life treated me like thisI will be strong just for you
All I want is your happinessAnd to be with youYour smile is my weaknessLoving you serves as anesthesia for the painIt makes me feel betterI’m here for whatever you needYou came to complete what I am
Only one plate broke, not the entire setAlthough I don’t know how to turn the other cheekLearning to forgive is wise, only love should come out of those lipsIf things are damaged, don’t throw them away, repair themFace your problems head onYou have to laugh at lifeEven though the wounds hurt
You have to give people your whole heartEven if they hurt it for no reason
All I want is your happinessAnd to be with youYour smile is my weaknessLoving you serves as anesthesia for the painIt makes me feel betterI’m here for whatever you needYou came to complete what I am
It serves as anesthesia for the painIt makes me feel betterI’m here for whatever you needYou came to complete what I am
Jhayco has unleashed the dates, venues, and cities of his 2023 Vida Rockstar tour exclusively on Billboard today (May 16).
Presented by Loud And Live, the trek will take him to 16 major U.S. cities, kicking off Sept. 28 at the Agganis Arena in Boston and wrapping on Dec. 10 at the Hertz Arena in Ft. Myers.
In between the opening and closing dates, the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter born Jesús Manuel Nieves Cortés (formerly known as Jhay Cortez) will also visit his loyal fans in Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, San Antonio, Dallas, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Miami, to name a few.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Fully embracing his “vida rockstar” (rockstar life) season, fans can expect the edgy reggaetón artist to perform some of his greatest and viral hits including his song “Dakiti” with Bad Bunny, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart, and his latest singles “Cuerpecito” and the Quevedo-assisted “Mami Chula.”
In addition, the Vida Rockstar U.S. stint will offer VIP packages to give fans the ultimate concert experience.
Ticketmaster and AMEX pre-sale begins at 10 a.m. (local time) on Tuesday, May 16; pre-sale for Spotify and Fan Club members begins at 10 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday, May 17; pre-sale for Loud And Live and venues begins at 10 a.m. (local time); and general public on-sale starts at 10 a.m. (local time) on Friday, May 19.
For more information on tickets and VIP packages, visit www.jhayco.com.
See the complete 2023 “Vida Rockstar” U.S. tour date below:
Courtesy Photo
Latin artists have long addressed mental health issues through their music. In 2017, Juanes joined Logic, Alessia Cara and Khalid for a bilingual version of “1-800-273-8255,” the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The original song, off Logic’s album Everybody, helped him score his highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at […]
Colombian star J Balvin has officially joined Roc Nation as a management client, where he will be overseen directly by Jay Brown and Chris Knight.
Balvin was previously managed by Fabio Acosta and Scooter Braun’s SB projects. He parted ways with the latter on June 30, 2022, after nearly three years together. He continued working with Acosta and his company, Akela Family Music, through March. Acosta had managed or co-managed Balvin in some capacity for the past decade. Sources say the two parted on amicable terms.
Balvin, one of the biggest Latin stars in the world, has had a series of management shifts over the past five years. In 2019, he parted ways with manager Rebeca León, who had managed him since the onset of his career in the United States, and signed with Braun. Throughout both deals, Acosta remained part of his management team and worked in partnership with SB Project, helping bring in groundbreaking deals and partnerships. These included his celebrity menu collaboration with McDonald’s — a first for a Latin act. Balvin was also the first Latin artist to collaborate with Nike and Michael Jordan on an Air Jordan collaboration, and in November of 2020, he performed in Fortnite, marking the first performance ever by a Latin act for a gaming company.
Last year, Balvin also briefly split with his longtime agency, WME, and went to UTA, after postponing his 25-date José tour. But after four months, he returned to WME.
Balvin is currently featured on the Fast X soundtrack with the track “Toretto.” He’s also announced a series of European tour dates, mostly festivals, beginning with a June 24 performance at the Solydays festival in Paris.
Balvin’s full touring schedule is below.
6/24 – Paris – Solydays 25th Anniversary Festival6/26 – Ibiza – Pacha Nightclub6/30 – Seville – Puro Latino Fest7/1 – Madrid – Puro Latino Fest7/3 – Ibiza – Pacha Nightclub7/8 – Liege, Belgium – Les Ardentes Festival7/9 – Constanta, Romania – Neversea Festival7/11 – Milan – Milano Latin Festival7/12 – Bern, Switzerland – Gurten Park7/14 – Tenerife – Ritmo del Mundo7/15 – Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal – Meo Mares Vivas Festival7/21 – Byron Bay, Australia – Splendour in the Grass7/23 – Melbourne – Margaret Court7/25 – Sydney – Hordern Pavillion
Karol G stopped by NPR’s headquarters for her second “Tiny Desk Concert,” which premiered Monday (May 15). The 17-minute acoustic performance, where she was accompanied by an all-girl music ensemble, included new versions of four tracks from her Billboard history-making album Mañana Será Bonito. She kicked it off the mini-set with the ultra-personal “Carolina.” “I […]
Shakira‘s “Acróstico” music video, which dropped Monday (May 15) just days after the Colombian singer-songwriter released the sweet song on Friday (May 12), features her two children — Milan and Sasha — who sing and play the piano alongside their mother. “This year Milan has written songs that have made me tear up and Sasha […]
In 2005, Ednita Nazario sang for the first time at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. Beyond selling 15,000 tickets, the moment was memorable because Coliseo had only opened its doors the year before and Nazario –perhaps Puerto Rico’s most beloved female singer — had been instrumental in lobbying for its construction. That night, she became the first woman to sing at the venue, affectionately known as “El Choli.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Today, nearly 20 years later, Nazario holds the record as the woman with most shows at the fabled venue. After her sold-out performances of her “La Reina” (The Queen) shows on Saturday (May 13) and Sunday (May 14), she’ll also become the artist with most sold-out shows after Wisin & Yandel.
Billboard spoke with Nazario about what it means to return to Coliseo and what has happened there throughout her 21 shows.
How do you feel?
“I’m almost speechless, super excited and I can’t believe it. Who could imagine 21 shows was possible? It feels like the first time. It’s one of the things that’s most struck me about my job. The longer I do it, the nerves, the adrenaline, the fast-beating heart, the butterflies in my stomach, they’re a constant.”
What is your most requested song?
“The one that always has to be there, that they’ll request even if I’ve sung for three hours, is ‘Quiero que me hagas el amor (I want you to make love to me).’ It’s an iconic song in my repertoire that I’ll never be able to remove from my rundown. I tried it once and was very sorry. It’s the most expected song. Always.”
The song you most enjoy singing?
“That one. Without a doubt. It’s like an escape valve. It’s a license for free expression, passion, emotion, that takes me on my own trip. I love it, I lie down, I give it my all, I let go. And it’s such a beautiful moment because I see the faces of the audience, and they also go on their own trip, because it’s a very personal, very intimate song.”
I read once that chefs always include their favorite dishes in the menu, sometimes surreptitiously. Think lobster at a steakhouse. Which of your songs is like that?
“I always do that, even in my albums. There are songs I include because, independent of whether they fit or not, they are the lobsters in my steakhouse. In my shows, there’s several song s that are cathartic. Obviously, the show overall is meant to serve the audience, and give them what they want. But in this one, I added a couple of lobsters. There’s one moment that has a message that needs to be there. And the other is a super fun song called ‘Cansada de estar cansada (Tired of Being Tired).’ It’s a really fun rock ‘n’ roll I wrote several years ago, but is still relevant today.”
Tell me about your first Coliseo?
“It was the ‘Apasionada’ show in 2005 and I was so nervous because it was my first time there. Coliseo is very personal to me because I was part of a group of people who lobbied for its construction. At the time, Puerto Rico didn’t have a venue like that, and I lobbied hard with businessmen and other people to have it built. It was definitely a historic moment, as a woman, as a Puerto Rican artist. Selling out that venue three consecutive nights is something I don’t take for granted.”
Concierto de Ednita Nazario “Apasionada” En El Coliseo De Puerto Rico .
Tania Dumas
Memorable moments?
“When the bed comes down from the ceiling during ‘Quiero que me hagas el amor.’ That’s an iconic moment. So much so that we have a memorabilia exhibit at the entrance of this show, and the original bed is there. Another moment was when Ricky Martin showed up as a surprise guest. Or the first time I invited reggaetón artist, which wasn’t done at the time. I brought Héctor el Father and Ivy Queen in an amazing duet. Also, the time I had Luis Angel, the father of my daughter, and she also came onstage. He wrote some of my most iconic songs, and sang them with me. Those are unforgettable moments.”
Worst moment?
“There was a show where I had to fly over the audience while sitting on a swing. And for some reason, the swing started to spin around. It got tangled high above and formed a sort of braid. So I was spinning around like a crazy person over people’s heads, and I wasn’t tied to anything. I was terrified. But I think the adrenaline helped me and I just kept on singing.”
After so many shows, what will be different this time?
“We’re doing a kind of recap of iconic moments of those past 19 shows. And we’ve chosen specific songs from each of those shows, although obviously, I’ll include new material. The concept of ‘La Reina’ comes from having been called ‘The Queen of El Choli.’ But i gave it a twist, because I think we carry our kingdoms within. All human beings are monarchs of their own castles, and that castle is what you carry inside: Your mind and your spirit. And we can all reign over our own lives while we’re here. So, it will be like a reunion of monarchs where we all are kings and Queens. We built a central runway that takes me to the middle of the audience so I can see them up close. And obviously, the songs are those that have really resonated with them. And, yes, we’ll have special surprises.”
How will you celebrate?
“After the first show, I’ll go to sleep. After the second one, we have an after party with the team and my daughter will also be there. She flew in this week. I also told everyone on staff to bring their moms, because we’ll be working Mother’s Day. It will be a special night.”
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Karol G & Alicia Keys’ Special Moment Onstage
Karol G surprised fans in Bogotá, Colombia when she showed up onstage to perform alongside Alicia Keys, who gave a show at the Movistar Arena on May 11. Following Goyo’s opening set, Keys took the stage and was later joined by the “Mañana Será Bonito” singer to duet “No One.” Fans were in for a treat when these two artists joined forces. Watch the special performance below:
A Poem by Shakira
Shakira released a new single, “Acróstico” (acrostic), and it’s a powerful open letter to her children, Milan and Sasha. The song is a poetic composition constructed so that the initial letter of each line of lyrics, taken consecutively, form words.
Released just in time for Mother’s Day, Shakira uses her iconic sultry voice to showcase her raw, vulnerable emotion in this stripped-down piano ballad, where she expresses a mother’s deep and pure love for her children. Acróstico” talks about how a mother can turn her pain into strength through the love of her kids, and how a caress from a son can uplift the soul. More info on the song here.
GALE’s New Career Milestone
This week, GALE sang the U.S. National Anthem to a crowd of nearly 300,000 people at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix that took place in Miami, Fla.—a first in her career. “I feel like I can do anything after this,” she expressed on her Instagram account. “I sang the National Anthem at the @f1 race. What a dream and an honor! Thank you for the love. I’ll never forget this moment. De Puerto Rico pa’l mundo enterooo.” The powerful performance by the Puerto Rican newcomer was aired live on TV in over 140 counties. GALE documented the exciting career highlight on social media. Watch it below:
Gibson Gives Back to Cuba
Gibson Gives has donated 52 guitars, in addition to strings, picks, and other musical equipment, to benefit students at the National School of the Arts in Cuba, where access to musical supplies is limited. “At Gibson Gives, we’ve extended our global growth over the past year, even reaching corners of the world we never thought possible,” said Dendy Jarrett, CEO of Gibson Gives in a press statement. “After two years of negotiations, we are excited to bring much-needed music and equipment for the first time to young people in music and art schools who have limited supplies. Cuban music and songwriting have a rich musical history and global impact; We are delighted to do our bit to ensure that this tradition continues to thrive with the next generation.” Gibson partnered with Derek Walker (Gibson Gives Goodwill Ambassador), who personally delivered the instruments and equipment. Gibson is also expected to donate 100 more Epiphone guitars to the school in the coming months.
First-Ever Latin Women in Music
The inaugural edition of the Billboard Latin Women in Music is a wrap. Shakira, Thalia, Ana Gabriel, Evaluna Montaner, Goyo, Emilia and Maria Becerra were honored as the first class of the Billboard Latin Women in Music on Saturday (May 6) in Miami. From epic performances to emotional and poignant speeches, read all the highlights from the special night here.
With Latin Women in Music, Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.
Ke Personajes, Big One and FMK rule the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart for third week, as their first partnership, “Un Finde: Big One Crossover #2,” holds atop the ranking dated May 6. It’s the third song to rule the tally for at least three weeks in 2023, after Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, […]
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14, and with the meaningful holiday just around the corner, we’re curious to know who’s your favorite Latin mom on social media. Honoring this special day, Billboard highlights 16 moms in the music industry who, like many admirable women in the biz, balance motherhood and a busy lifestyle under the […]