Music
The romantic songs of Los Temerarios, those that captivated four generations in Mexico and the United States, were sung along by thousands Friday night (Dec. 20) at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City — in the first of the last two concerts of the band’s farewell tour, Hasta Siempre, with which they’ll close a story of almost half a century.
“We have reached the end, the end of these 47 years! We will always carry you in our hearts. Thank you for what you made us live during all this time. It has been wonderful!” said an emotional Gustavo Ángel to the 65,000 people who packed the venue, according to figures from promoter Ocesa.
It was a nostalgic and very special night for the group, led by brothers Adolfo and Gustavo Ángel, and their loyal fans, many of whom have been followers of their music from the old days, when they attended their concerts in popular venues in municipalities on the outskirts of the Mexican capital. Many others maintained their taste for the group’s music after having migrated to the U.S., and made their songbook part of their connection to Mexico.
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“We are going to sing those songs with which you fell in love, got married, had children and grandchildren,” the vocalist and guitarist told the audience after performing “Tu Infame Engaño,” one of their classics from the ’80s.
“Our beloved audience, 47 years of being here and you experiencing it with all your heart. There is nothing we can say to reciprocate your affection,” added keyboardist Adolfo Ángel, prompting a thunderous applause.
The audience, mostly made up of women between 30 and 60 years old, sang along at the top of their lungs to songs like “Vivo Enamorado de Ti,” which opened the show, followed by the aforementioned “Tu Infame Engaño,” “Una Tarde Fue,” “Como Te Tecuerdo,” “Como Quisiera Volver,” and “Ya Me Voy Para Siempre.”
The extensive repertoire also included songs like “Ven Porque Te Necesito,” “Acepta Mi Error,” “Porque Te Conocí,” “Una Lágrima No Basta,” “Eres Un Sueño,” “La Mujer Que Soñé,” “Me Partiste el Corazón” and “Te Quiero.”
The show lasted about three hours, during which Los Temerarios performed more than 30 songs — those that catapulted them as one of the most beloved and successful Hispanic bands of the past four decades, and with which they achieved feats like 41 entries on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and 47 entries on Top Latin Albums.
“The emotions are at their peak. If you see teary eyes around, it’s pure gratitude,” said Adolfo Ángel, who recalled that “Tu Última Canción” was inspired by an ex-girlfriend whose relationship ended in a phone call.
The Hasta Siempre Tour of Los Temerarios began in February 2023, and this year accounted for more than 30 shows in cities in Mexico, the U.S., and Central America, including Mexico City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Monterrey, San José, Houston and Atlanta, among others.
In the Mexican capital, before their last performances at the GNP Seguros Stadium, the group packed eight nights at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico since last February, gathering about 160,000 people in total, according to promoter Zignia Live.
On Saturday (Dec. 21), Los Temerarios will repeat the feat for the last time at the GNP Seguros Stadium, lowering the curtain after 47 years.
Keyboardist Adolfo Ángel Alba and singer Gustavo Ángel Alba, from the group Los Temerarios, during a concert at the Arena Monterrey on Feb. 29, 2024, in Monterrey, Mexico.
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Taylor Swift showed up to Saturday’s Chiefs-Texans game in a red, faux fur coat, looking how Penny Lane might’ve if she’d had a cozy Red era. The pop star was photographed on Dec. 21 arriving at Arrowhead Stadium, where boyfriend Travis Kelce’s team, the Kansas City Chiefs, were playing the Houston Texans. A rich, red […]
On Friday night (Dec. 20), Billie Eilish played the penultimate show of her five-night run at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. — not to mention the second-to-last U.S. date of her global Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour, which is slated to pick up again in Brisbane, Australia on Feb. 18. Though Eilish (who […]
Barack Obama delivered his annual list of favorite songs, as well as his favorite movies and books of 2024, on his social media accounts Friday night (Dec. 20).
“Here are my favorite songs from this year! Check them out if you’re looking to shake up your playlist – and let me know if there’s a song or artist I should make sure to listen to,” the former U.S. president captioned a post featuring a list of 25 song picks.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up” is the first song named on Obama’s list, which has selections including Billie Eilish’s “Lunch,” Asaka & Travis Scott’s “Active,” Hozier’s “Too Sweet,” Leon Bridges’ “Peaceful Place,” Jack White’s “That’s How I’m Feeling” and Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” among many others.
Several tracks got a coveted spot on both Obama’s summer playlist (shared in August) and his favorite music of 2024 list.
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Yayo’s “Rema,” Tyla, Gunna & Skillibeng’s “Jump,” Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Bonny Light Horseman’s “Old Dutch,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Artemas’ “I Like the Way You Kiss Me,” Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby,” and Myles Smith’s “Stargazing” are all found on Obama’s summer list and his year-end list.
Some of Obama’s favorite songs of 2024 ranked in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (No. 2 on the Hot 100), Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” (No. 8) and Hozier’s “Too Sweet” (No. 10).
Obama narrowed down his favorite movies of 2024 to a concise list of 10, which included All We Imagine as Light, Conclave, The Piano Lesson, The Promised Land, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Dune: Part Two, Anora, Dìdi, Sugarcane and A Complete Unknown.
His book list also has just 10 picks (and a reminder to support independent book shops and libraries). Obama’s favorite books of 2024 were Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo, Alexei Navalny’s Patriot, Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, Aysegul Savas’ The Anthropologists, Arlie Russell Hochschild’s Stolen Pride, Martin MacInnes’ In Ascension, Daniel Susskind’s Growth, Dinaw Mengetsu’s Someone Like Us and Adam Moss’ The Work of Art.
See all of Obama’s favorite music, movies and books of 2024 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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Nicky Jam Brings Christmas Joy to Children in Hospital
Nicky Jam and his wife, Juana Varón, touched many hearts on social media as they brought Christmas joy to the young patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in South Florida just before the holidays. “Seeing the children’s faces when they receive their toys is priceless,” the reggaetón star wrote on Instagram.
Karol G’s Foundation Spreads Holiday Cheer Across Colombia
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Karol G’s Con Cora Foundation concluded the year by hosting two impactful holiday events in Colombia. The foundation celebrated with local communities in María La Baja by distributing gifts, clothing, and food to families in need and creating joyous moments with music and dancing with Karol G herself. The second event in Cartagena, in partnership with the Juanfe Foundation, honored young mothers pursuing higher education through Con Cora scholarships.
Ludmilla and Wife Brunna Gonçalves Host Gender Reveal Party
One month ago, during her Numanice 3 concert in São Paulo, Brazilian superstar Ludmilla delighted fans with a heartwarming announcement: she and her wife, Brunna Gonçalves, are expecting their first child. The excitement continued on Tuesday (Dec. 17) when the couple held an extravagant gender reveal party, joyously announcing, “It’s a Girl” They also revealed a touching detail — their daughter will be named Brumilla.
Deorro, Prajin Parlay, & Double P Unite for Holiday Celebration of Giving
Prajin Parlay, Double P Records, and Deorro teamed up to host the Holiday Celebration of Giving in Los Angeles on Tuesday (Dec. 17). This event took place at Global Education Academy, predominantly serving Latino students, where 400 elementary and middle school students were given toys, meals, and artist merchandise. The celebration featured a variety of stations including food sponsored by Oaxacan restaurant, Guelaguetza; a gift and merchandise station. Additionally, the students had a special meet-and-greet opportunity with DJ/producer Deorro, who sweetly dressed up as Santa, and is fresh off releasing his holiday song “Querido Santa Claus” earlier this month.
Pipe Bueno Announces First Show in the U.S.
Colombian singer Pipe Bueno is set to make his U.S. debut with a concert at Miami’s James L. Knight Center on April 4, 2025. This will be his first performance stateside after a 17-year music career. The announcement follows his recent sold-out show at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá, which took place Dec. 13 and drew over 14,000 fans. During his show, numerous artists including Yeison Jiménez, Marbelle, and others joined Pipe Bueno on stage. In July, the música popular singer signed with Warner Music Latina. Tickets are now on sale for his Miami show on Ticketmaster.
“Yesterday, somebody whacked out my mural/That energy’ll make you n—as move to Europe,” were the first bars we heard from Kendrick on the intro track from his latest album GNX right after mariachi singer Deyra Barrera set the table with her beautiful voice in an effort for Lamar to showcase the full range of Southern California’s street culture.
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The mural the Compton rapper was referring to was painted on the side of Tam’s Burgers — the burger joint featured in his “Not Like Us” video — and was painted by artist Mike Norice. According to Norice on his Instagram, he recorded a video of the defaced mural and said it happened after a Dodgers game.
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However, he also could’ve been talking about another mural painted by artists Sloe Motion and Gustavo Zermeño Jr. earlier this summer on the back of a Honduran restaurant Mi Sabor on Rosecrans in Compton that’s now been defaced multiple times. Sloe Motion reposted a XXL IG post about the mural and commented on the post, writing, “I was one of the artist who painted the mural and the guy who blacked out the Kendrick face literally just made it worse.”
Back in November, they shared an IG Reel featuring security footage of a vandal defacing the mural and referred to the song “wacced out murals” along with a caption that read:
“A couple months ago our Kendrick mural got hit. Of course we were pissed and wanted to fix it but it just kept getting worse. Flash forward to today and Kendrick drops a song about the situation. It doesn’t necessarily make it ok but it does feel good to have our hard work for the community immortalized in a song by one of the greatest to ever do it. Thank you @kendricklamar for making this situation a little better today.”
The aforementioned Barrera, spoke to Billboard about her involvement in Lamar’s surprise album and talked about being invited by Norice to be featured on an upcoming episode of his YouTube series Art & Soul centered around the mural
“The artist who made that painting spoke to me. His name is Mike Norice,” she told deputy editor of Billboard Español Sigal Ratner-Arias in quotes that didn’t make the interview. “I don’t know if you know a little bit about what happened when he did that painting, that it was scratched, vandalized, from Kendrick’s previous album, and because of that Kendrick made the song ‘Wacced Out Murals,’ the first song of the album where I appear.”
Adding, “Then the artist invited me to be there. It was something very nice, because somehow we connected and we have that in common. There’s a documentary coming out of the artist who made that painting, so soon it’s going to come out. Very cool to be there, because we both, in some way, have that in common with Kendrick.”
Travis Scott has one final gift for fans this holiday season with the release of his Air Jordan 1 Low “Velvet Brown” this weekend. Ahead of the dark mocha Cactus Jack kicks hitting retailers, La Flame connected with Dennis Rodman for an Air Jordan x Cactus Jack commercial supporting the “Velvet Brown” release. Scott and […]
Southwest T is officially a free man. Terry Flenory is known in the hip-hop community for founding the organized crime organization Black Mafia Family alongside his brother Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory in 1985 Detroit. He and his brother were sentenced to 30 years in 2008 for running a nationwide crime ring. Terry was released on […]
This week on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, we have begun unveiling the top 10 of our Greatest Pop Stars of 2024 list — and even though we’re still a few days away from the unveiling of our top two (coming up this Monday, Dec. 3), we’re already well in the thick of artists who were given strong consideration for the top spot.
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On our latest episode, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard Pride editor Stephen Daw and staff writer Hannah Dailey to talk about our Nos. 6 through 3 artists, which we unveiled Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 18-19) this week. We start at No. 6 with Ariana Grande, an all-century pop star whose 2024 got off to a great start, was in danger of being overshadowed by an impossibly packed summer, and now is ending even stronger than it began. We discuss our feelings about Eternal Sunshine and Wicked and debate how long the wait is likely to actually be until we next get new music from her.
Then, at No. 5 (we remember the Year of Charli XCX (25:30), a pop star whose brilliance seemed destined to be underappreciated in her own time, but which everyone seemed to finally realize at once in 2024. We share our memories of the impossible highs of Brat Summer, and what it was about this era of Charli’s — and how it kept expanding and evolving over those months — that made her truly unignorable in the larger pop culture. We also offer takes on what the true greatest artistic achievement of her year was, and play a fun guessing game related to the Brat and It’s Completely Different But Also Still Brat remix album.
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After that, at No. 4, it’s Chappell Roan (1:05:30), an absolute supernova of a 2024 pop star, who emerged from cult hero-dom to scorch her way through the mainstream this year. We talk about what it means for pop stardom in general in 2024 that someone once believed to be primarily be a niche artist like Roan could unquestionably become one of the biggest stars in the world, and we marvel at how she was able to dominate the year while only releasing one new song. We also look at what the next year or two could look like for Roan as she acclimates to her insane new life circumstances and (hopefully) prepares for a globe-conquering second album.
Finally, at No. 3 (1:42:30), it’s Taylor Swift, already one of the greatest pop stars of all time. We discuss the cases for whether she’s too high on this list, too low or just right. We also look back at the legacies of her charts-conquering The Tortured Poets Department and her globe-conquering Eras Tour, and wonder what the hell she could possibly do next to try to follow all of it up. (Don’t worry, we have ideas.)
Check it all out above, and be sure to come back on Monday (Dec. 23) as we reveal our brutally difficult decision for the top two Greatest Pop Stars of 2024.
From being a virtually unknown mariachi singer, Deyra Barrera has gone on to headline international news as the surprise Spanish voice that opens Kendrick Lamar‘s GNX album. “Siento aquí tu presencia/ La noche de anoche/ Y nos ponemos a llorar,” she sings soulfully at the beginning of “Wacced Out Murals,” reappearing again in the middle of the song.
And her sweet, penetrating voice resonates in two more tracks: “Reincarnated,” a tribute to the late Tupac Shakur, and the closing song “Gloria,” with SZA. The LP has been No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and all-genre Billboard 200 charts for last three weeks.
“I didn’t expect it because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Barrera tells Billboard Español about her appearance on the album after what had already been reported: in late October, she was invited to sing at the Dodger Stadium in tribute to her late friend, the Mexican baseball player Fernando Valenzuela. Lamar — “or his team,” she’s not sure — heard her, and a few days later they contacted her.
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Everything happened very quickly, and the interest in the artist has grown in ways previously unimaginable for her, but Deyra Barrera is not a rookie. Originally from Villa Juárez, Sonora, Mexico, the singer — who arrived in Los Angeles at the age of 17 and has spent more than half her life in the U.S. — has been trying to make her way in music for decades on both sides of the border.
“I was first in [the singing competition] La Academia in Mexico City in 2010. And then I was in La Reina de la Canción on Univision,” she shares. “I also returned to La Voz México in Mexico City in 2021, during the pandemic. It was tough. As I tell you, I’ve been knocking on doors for many years.”
“It’s a very difficult career but well, this is what I love to do. Since I live here, I live off music,” she adds, detailing that she has been in various regional Mexican female bands, including Las Adelitas and Mariachi Divas. More than 10 years ago she formed the quartet Corazón de México, which was reduced to the current Trío Corazón, made up with her sister Verónica and Cynthia Reifler Flores. “We work a lot at parties,” Barrera says.
Now that she’s the talk of the town — far beyond Mexican or Latin music — she reflects that what she is experiencing at this moment is owed to her great friend Valenzuela.
“I was always joking with him and telling him, ‘Oh, take me to sing at Dodgers,’ and finally he took me when they retired his number in August 2023,” she explains. “Thanks to that, they called me after [he died] to sing at the tribute along with my friend Julián Torres, who is another ranchera music singer whom I admire very much and who is the one who always sings at the stadium.”
Barrera confessed to Billboard Español that up until now she didn’t follow rap music, and spoke about her newfound appreciation for Lamar and his work, her gratitude for the cultural bridges he has built by inviting her to be part of his project, and her own future plans and prospects.
To start, what did you feel when you hit play and the first thing you heard was your voice on Kendrick Lamar‘s album?
I got goosebumps. It was a surprise for me. I didn’t expect it, because I didn’t know what was going to happen. Then I got a call from Rolling Stone magazine, and that’s how I found out.
And you’re not on just one song, you’re on three! What DID you know when you recorded your parts?
I’m not allowed to talk much about it. The only thing, and what everyone already knows, is that I was at a baseball game where they invited me to sing in a tribute to Fernando Valenzuela. He [Lamar] was there, or his team. Then they contacted me. I went and recorded without thinking it was going to be something so big. I didn’t imagine it.
Did you get to meet Kendrick in the studio?
Yes, he came quickly and left. But it was something magical, like a dream.
Have you spoken to him since his album came out?
No.
Have you thought about the possibility that he might take you on his next tour with him?
Well, I have all my prayers. I have it well visualized in my mind; whatever comes next for me, then let it be. I have many years in this music career looking for opportunities, throwing in the towel, picking it up again. So God’s timing is perfect. A moment in my life that I never expected — always wanting to collaborate with artists of my own genre, I never imagined that I would collaborate with the No. 1 American rapper in the world. I mean, rap music! And that it would take me to something so big.
Did you listened to rap music or followed Kendrick Lamar’s career before?
No, I honestly don’t listen to much rap music. Obviously, I knew who he was, he has many hits. And yes, I like the music… but I am 100% Mexican. I’m always listening to mariachi music, regional Mexican music.
Have you heard more of Kendrick’s discography as a result of this collaboration?
Yes, of course. I have looked at everything he has done and wow, he is so great. Everything he does — I understand why, on this new album, he put his genius mark, like putting my voice on three of the songs as an introduction.
Why do you think he did it?
He loves giving those surprises, from what I’ve read. But more than anything to unite cultures, and that is what I appreciate the most. I’m super happy that he loves our music and wants to unite our cultures, our music with his.
Did he tell you anything about Mexican music?
No, I didn’t talk [about that] with him. It was just “Hello, thank you, goodbye.” That was all. But I thank him for that, for uniting us. I never imagined that I would now have so many fans of rap music. I mean, the little bit that I sang, they tell me so many beautiful things, they flatter me. They say, “What a beautiful voice.” It’s wonderful that we have united our cultures.
It’s exciting to see a female regional Mexican music singer being highlighted in this way, as they are a minority in a genre traditionally dominated by men.
Yes, believe me, I have also been so emotional and also in carrying the name of so many women, raising the Mexican flag in representation of so many women of our mariachi music. There is so much talent, so many beautiful voices, and I feel blessed to have been the one chosen to be here at this moment.
What did your Trio Corazón bandmates say when they found out about this?
They couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t say anything until it came out. And wow, they are super proud. Now I have to work hard to make the most of this moment and let people know who Deyra Barrera is.
What doors has this experience opened for you? Have any record labels contacted you?
We’re working on that, yes. But imagine, it’s the Anglo-Saxon people, the American people, everyone is talking! Sometimes I listen to myself in the car and I hear [on the radio] that they are still talking about this. Then I see reaction videos of people who listen to pure rap music and they’re like, “What? What is this?” And yes, I feel that many doors have been opened and that’s why I want to keep working, fighting for my dreams. What life is giving me now, what I always asked God for, he sent it to me like this.
What are you hoping for in 2025?
¿Qué esperas para el 2025? ¿En qué estás trabajando?
I want to record.
Do you write your own music?
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened for me. Although the parts I sang for Kendrick, I wrote them. I’m already enrolled to record songs. Why not!
If you had Kendrick Lamar in front of you today, what would you say to him?
Thank you. Thank you for respecting our music. For listening. For inviting me to this new album. And may God bless him and may we unite more. Music is universal. Music can unite so much in everything, it can unite cultures.