Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, featuring Justin Bieber, was the hit song of the summer, and the Grammy performance was a significant addition to the Granddaddy of all music award shows. However, the tandem got snubbed for “Song of The Year”, which was given to Bruno Mars for Thats What I Like.
Michael Sayman on Twitter
Despacito was the TRUE Record of the Year. 5 billion views on YouTube, most streamed song in history. Record of the DECADE. But they didn’t win tonight. Why? I bet they don’t have a single Spanish-speaking voter in the pool of Grammy judges.
Mars is a huge star, but “Despacito” was a groundbreaking joint. Back in August, the song matched perhaps the most vaunted record for a song in the 59-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as it tied the longest-reigning number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 with 16 weeks. It equaled the reign of Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day,” which spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in 1995-96.
The “song that just won’t go away” as many music enthusiasts are still calling it, got dethroned from the No. 1 spot by Taylor Swift just a week before it would have held the all-time record alone.
Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee Despacito 60th Grammy’s
Luis Fonsi feat Daddy Yankee Despacito 60th Grammy’s
That’s just for starters.
“Despacito” also topped the commercial charts of 47 different countries and reached the Top 10 in a bunch of markets.
I remember interviewing a young Daddy Yankee for my public access cable show L.Y.F.E. S.U.X. in Jive studios back in 2003. Fast forward to 2018 and he has become a mega star and finally found that hit, crossover record that Latin artists dream about. “Despacito” became the first song primarily in Spanish to top the Billboard Hot 100 since “Macarena” (Bayside Boys Mix) in 1996.
The video is a viral giant and in August 2017, the official music video for “Despacito” became the most viewed YouTube video of all time after receiving its three billionth view. It became the first video on the site to reach the milestones of three and four billion views and was among the two best-performing singles of 2017 in 26 countries.
Undoubtedly boosted by the presence of icon Justin Bieber on the track, “Despacito” had no competition as far as popular songs go in 2017 and with all due respect to Bruno Mars who is trying his best to become this generations Michael Jackson, if “Despacito” cant win a Grammy, then what predominantly Latin song ever will?
Justin Bieber – Despacito [Music Video] ft. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee
No Copyright . Despacito music video justin bieber luis fonsi daddy yankee
On a more conscious note, I would have liked either Daddy Yankee or Fonsi to also address the worldwide audience about Puerto Rico, immigration, Trump, The Dream Act anything of real significance to their people and country, but we cant have everything.
Bruno Mars is the more popular choice. He’s the more American choice and some have suggested that songs like “Despacito” is what the Latin Grammys are for, but we haven’t seen a song with this global, crossover success in a long time.
With Dominican, Bronx-born rap sensation Cardi B spicing the game up with Latin flavor and being nominated and performing at the Grammys, it would have been an historically significant moment for “Despacito” to win either “Song of the Year” or “Record of the Year”, because honestly, according to the figures and the people across the globe, it was just that.
