Drexler takes home three Latin Grammy Awards
Rosalia picks up two at Las Vegas ceremony
LASVEGAS— Uruguayan Jorge Drexler owned the Latin Grammys on Thursday, picking up three awards, including song and record of the year for “Telefonia,” at a ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena where other stars used their platform to promote messages of unity and justice.
Drexler also won best singer-songwriter album with “Salvavidas de Hielo.” Spanish sensation Rosalía followed him with two awards, best urban fusion/performance and best alternative song, for the flamenco and trap hit “Malamente.”
“I do not know what to say,” Drexler said when receiving the last award of the night for “Telefonia,” which he also played during the ceremony with Mon Laferte, Natalia Lafourcade and El David Aguilar.
Rosalía said she owed her success to flamenco, which she described as her “foundation,” and dedicated her awards to her brother and other women in the music industry who have “made her take strength.”
“I’m not going to stop fighting until I see the same number of men and women in the studio,” she said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin walked the red carpet as the evening’s nominations leader with eight nods, but took home only the trophy for best urban music album.
The Latin Grammys are known as an awards show where artists take political stands. During the show and in backstage interviews, artists alluded to such topics as immigration and violence affecting several countries.
“In these times of crisis, art becomes a medium that reminds us of the urgency of justice and the need to find solutions that invite unity … tolerance and inclusion,” host Ana de la Reguera said before norteño group Calibre 50 performed “Corrido de Juanito,” which tells the story of a man who immigrated to the United States.
Mexican rock band Mana, honored Wednesday as the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year, also took the stage performing a medley that included its hits “Labios Compartidos” and “Clavado en un Bar.”
Mana’s lead singer got political and appeared to make reference to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan when he spoke.
“We will continue fighting for the rights of the immigrants who have made this country great in the last century,” Fher Olvera said, referring to the United States. “They were the difference for this country to be as big as it is. We will fight for Mother Earth, we will fight for women’s rights and we will continue fighting to make songs from the heart and soul.”
The band took the opportunity to announce that after two years without playing live, they will start a world tour next year.
Laura Pausini won for best traditional pop vocal album with “Hazte Sentir,” while the trophy for best salsa album was given to Victor Manuelle with “25/7.”