Behind the song of summer
The ‘Despacito’ remix isn’t just about sex. It’s also a counterpoint to anti-Latino rhetoric.
The opening flourish of guitar-like cuatro is instantly recognizable, a gentle but effective means of telling you what you might’ve assumed to be true even before the song began: You’re about to hear the remix of “Despacito.” Again. Unavoidable over the last few months on both the Internet and Top 40 radio, this sleek — and surprising — collaboration between Justin Bieber and two of Puerto Rico’s biggest stars, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, is without question the song of the summer.
It’s sold more than 2 mil-
As Luis Fonsi suggests, the success of his song may well make it one of a kind. But “Despacito” is undoubtedly clearing a path for future crossover hits. Here are three to keep an ear on.
J Balvin & Willy William, ‘Mi Gente’
Already a No. 1 track on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart, “Mi Gente” pairs Balvin, the Colombian heartthrob known to American listeners for his appearance on a remix of Bieber’s “Sorry,” with the French DJ William for a thumping club jam that echoes earlier duets by Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull.
CNCO featuring Little Mix, ‘Reggaetón Lento (Remix)’ Danny Ocean, ‘Me Rehúso’
Reportedly written for his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day, this Venezuelan crooner’s blissed-out love song has already spawned an English-language rendition called “Baby I Won’t.” But it’s the original in Spanish that’s racked up more than half a billion plays on YouTube. From Menudo to Aventura, great boy bands have figured as prominently in Latin pop as in the American variety. The latest is CNCO, which formed in 2015 after the members met as contestants on the singing show “La Banda.” This remix of its “Reggaetón Lento,” with input from the British girl group Little Mix, is roaring up the charts across the pond.