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Home Culture Off-key intonations, surreal collaborations and a lot of salsa: the 25 years of the Latin Grammys

Off-key intonations, surreal collaborations and a lot of salsa: the 25 years of the Latin Grammys

by News Room
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The Latin music industry is going through one of its best moments, driven above all by the social network TikTok, a space dominated by generation Z and Alpha. In it you can see British people dancing Willie Colón’s salsas, French people singing Karol G’s song of the summer, Germans singing Peso Pluma’s prone corridos. This November 14, the 25th edition of the Latin Grammy Awards was held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, United States. Karol G, Bad Bunny, and the Mexican producer and composer Edgar Barrera arrived leading the lists of nominees but, beyond awards, the night left many anecdotes that will remain to be remembered.

A tribute to Carlos Vives

Carlos Vives, during his performance tonight. Mario Anzuoni (REUTERS)

This edition has awarded the person of the year award to Colombian Carlos Vives, who has already won 18 Grammy Awards. He has been an ambassador of vallenato, in addition to exploring genres such as pop, rock, cumbia and urban genres. Vives himself was in charge of starting the ceremony, performing fragments of his greatest hits such as on the bike Steal a kiss, Fresh fruit y Land of oblivion. During the last song, some artists like Sebastián Yatra, Juanes and Camilo came on stage to accompany him.

Ángela Aguilar, the woman of controversy

Ángela Aguilar, next to her brother Leonardo Aguilar, during her presentation at the ceremony.
Ángela Aguilar, next to her brother Leonardo Aguilar, during her presentation at the ceremony. Mario Anzuoni (REUTERS)

Ángela Aguilar, accompanied by her father and her brother, Pepe and Leonardo, were in charge of presenting the award for best traditional pop vocal album, which was won by Puerto Rican Kany García for her album García.

While the Aguilar dynasty was giving the introductory speech for the category, a person in the audience went off script and loudly shouted something inaudible, generating a brief tense silence. Initially it was thought that it could be related to Ángela Aguilar’s recent controversy over her relationship with Christian Nodal, with whom she posed on the red carpet upon arrival at the gala. However, it only turned out to be a show of affection towards José Antonio Aguilar, who responded by throwing a kiss to the audience.

The divo of Juárez, the prince of song and the Charro of Huentitán

León García and Reik, during the tribute to Juan Gabriel.
León García and Reik, during the tribute to Juan Gabriel.Mario Anzuoni (REUTERS)

Prior to the presentation of the award to person of the year, presented by rock singer Jon Bon Jovi, the ceremony paid tribute to three Mexican music legends: Juan Gabriel, José José and Vicente Fernández. The singers Reik, Leonel García, Carlos Rivera, David Bisbal and Alejandro Fernández performed the hits until i met you, The sad y I don’t know how to crack. Especially moving was the tribute to Vicente Fernández by his son, Alejandro, dressed as a charro on stage in Miami.

Sauce, sauce and more sauce

Niche Group, Marc Anthony, India, Tito Nieves, Óscar D'León and Luis Figueroa.
Niche Group, Marc Anthony, India, Tito Nieves, Óscar D’León and Luis Figueroa. Mario Anzuoni (REUTERS)

One of the most exciting moments of the evening was the six minutes of timbales, trumpets and conga that made the guests dance with great salsa performances. Tito Nieves, Cristian Alicea, Grupo Niche, Luis Figueroa, Oscar D’León were some of the voices that stood out. However, the spotlight was stolen by La India and Marc Anthony, together after almost three decades without being seen on stage. Not even the brief moment in which they went out of tune in tone and verse overshadowed their performance.

Pitbull and Bon Jovi, a surreal collaboration

Jon Bon Jovi and Pitbull.
Jon Bon Jovi and Pitbull.Mario Anzuoni (REUTERS)

Surprising, striking or simply surreal. The singer Pitbull and the rocker Jon Bon Jovi shared the stage and performed Now or never (Now or Never), a song that uses the track It’s my life (Es mi vida), published in 2000, to make a sound very much in the Cuban-American style. That is, very Latin Grammy.

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