The 46-year-old retired Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and actor, considered to be one of the pioneers of the reggaeton genre, has earned a place in the U.S. National Recording Registry.
The Library of Congress announced the 25 albums, singles and other recording that have been added to the registry, including Daddy Yankee’s smash single “Gasolina.”
Appearing on Daddy Yankee’s 2004 album Barrio Fino, the track was the first reggaeton song to be nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
But Daddy Yankee isn’t the only Hispanic artist making this year’s list…
Mariah Carey’s modern holiday classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has made the grade.
“I’m honored beyond belief,” wrote Carey on Twitter about the single, which was released in 1994. “I definitely did not even imagine this would happen when writing and recording this song!”
The track became her 19th No. 1 the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2019, 25 years after its initial release, extending her record for the solo artist with the most number ones in the charts history.
Cuarteto Coculense’s album The Very First Mariachi Recordings (1908-1909) has also been added to the registry.
While mariachi music and its imagery are now emblematic of Mexican national identity, it was once a rural style of music played mainly in the state of Jalisco. In 1907, four musicians from the town of Cocula, Jalisco, led by the vihuela player Justo Villa, made the first recordings of it in Mexico City, where two years earlier they had introduced the style to the capitol when they performed for Mexican president Porfirio Diaz. These performances lack the trumpet now inextricably associated with mariachi, but even the early recording technology of the time could not fail to capture the group’s drive and spirit, and the recordings remained in print for many years. Due to the efforts of scholars and record collectors, the group’s work was collected and reissued in 1998 by Arhoolie Records, revisiting and reviving an otherwise lost chapter in mariachi’s history and paying overdue homage to these recording pioneers.
The late Irene Cara’s 1983 single “Flashdance…What a Feeling,” which she co-wrote for the film Flashdance, has also been named to the registry.
The hit single earned Cara the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and a nomination for Record of the Year. As part of the Flashdance soundtrack, it gave her and all of the songwriters who contributed to the album the Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special, and she was also nominated alongside all of the other performers on the soundtrack for Album of the Year.
“Flashdance…What a Feeling” won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song and was also nominated in that category at the BAFTA Film Awards.
The 25 recordings were deemed worthy of preservation “based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage,” according to the Library of Congress.
The 31-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter has signed a management deal with Business Manager JB, helmed by artist manager Juan Ballesteros, and OCESA Seitrack.
With the new signing, JB & OCESA will develop Pipe’s career at a musical and commercial level in Mexico with the mission of taking his 15-year-long trajectory to an international level.
“We are sure that we signed the best representative of the genre in Colombia, and as an artist, he can transcend,” Ballesteros, who also manages Mike Bahía, Greeicy and Annasofia, tells Billboard. “I think we have a new ballad, mariachi, and pop star that comes with a lot of music and collaborations. We are happy to have this new challenge with Pipe Bueno and I hope that everyone receives it with the same joy and enthusiasm that we do.”
Born Andrés Felipe Giraldo Bueno, the artist launched his self-titled debut album in 2008, and has since risen to pioneer “la música popular Colombiana,” a musical genre that fuses traditional folk music from the Paisa Region with Regional Mexican elements, such as mariachi and ranchera. The genre is also locally known as “música de cantina” and is played at every parranda, parties that feature local music and food.
He has laced the genre with urban and pop rhythms by teaming up with artists such as Wisin, Zion and Darrel, to name a few. Pipe has collaborated twice with his good friend and colleague Maluma on the tracks “La Invitación” (2014) and “Tequila” (2020). The former entered the Billboard Latin Rhythm Airplay chart in 2016.
The 30-year-old Mexican American singer has released the new single “En Este Amor.”
In the track, Favela trades his signature sierreño sound for mariachi.
In the heartfelt ranchera, penned by Gussy Lau and Tamayo Aguilera, Favela opens up about a love that could no longer be, because the other person showed no effort and interest.
His powerful vocals belt out passionate lyrics about having the strength to forget his ex.
“Everything has been a happy accident because this song was aimed at another person, but at the end of the day, God has a purpose for us all and the song conveyed a lot,” he says in a statement. “I loved it! It has a beautiful essence which I think will differentiate itself from everything we’ve done before, and we’ve obviously put a lot of heart into it and we hope the audience receives it the same way.”
The 51-year-old Mexican singer has released his new single “Inexperto En Olvidarte” via Universal Music Latino.For his first song of the year, Fernández goes the traditional route with a heart-wrenching ranchera.
It’s a quintessential song for Fernández, who’s long mastered the mariachi ballad — and this one is no exception.
Penned by Amanda Coronel and Fernanda Díaz, the track thrives thanks to its delicate mariachi arrangement, accompanied by an accordion for the ultimate norteño touch.
“Inexperto En Olvidarte” is Fernandez’s first single from his upcoming album, due later this year.
Chiquis is celebrating her late mother with a new version of her debut single…
The 37-year-old Mexican American singer has released a mariachi version of debut single “Paloma Blanca” to commemorate Jenni Rivera’s death 10 years ago, on December 9, 2012.
The new interpretation comes eight years after the original banda track debuted in 2014.
Accompanied by the all-female Mariachi Divas, Chiquis belts out a heartfelt love letter to La Diva de la Banda, expressing how much she misses her, what she would’ve changed about their mother-daughter relationship, and her biggest life lessons learned.
The song was produced by Cindy Shea, Ulises Lozano El Licenciado and Janney “Chiquis” Marin, and co-written by Marin and Claudia Brant.
“When ‘Paloma Blanca’ was originally released, I wasn’t entirely happy with the way it was recorded. I have always wanted to re-release it,” Chiquis said in a press statement. “My vocals and delivery have greatly evolved over these last eight years and I feel better than ever about my music so I decided to record it alongside Mariachi Divas. It will always be dedicated to my mom who passed away ten years ago but I also wanted to re-record it for her fans as well as mine.”
Bringing the emotional lyrics to life, a music video helmed by director Oscar Eden shows Chiquis performing the song dressed as an angel as well as never-before-seen footage of her mother.
The sweet tribute comes a month after Chiquis received her first-ever Grammy nomination for best regional Mexican album and her second Latin Grammy win in the best banda album category with Abeja Reina.
The 35-year-old Colombian singer has secured his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart dated November 19 as “Si Ya Hiciste El Mal,” his first collaborative effort with Luis R Conriquez, rises 2-1.
Uribe is one of the forerunners of Colombian ranchero, a branch of regional Colombian music that borrows from Mexican mariachi, ranchera and corrido formats.
He becomes the second Colombian singer-songwriter to score a No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in 2022: As “Si Ya Hiciste el Mal” hits No. 1, it sends Camilo, a core Latin pop Colombian artist, to No. 2 as “Alaska,” with Grupo Firme dips after its one-week command (chart dated November 12).
“Honestly, I’m extremely happy and grateful,” Uribe tells Billboard. “It’s a dream fulfilled. I have been a regional Mexican music lover since childhood, I am singer of regional Colombian music and to be the first one to achieve this, is an honor. Thanks to Luis, my team, and the listeners who have given us so much love.”
“Si Ya Hiciste el Mal” climbs from the runner-up spot after a 3% increase in audience impressions, to 7.1 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending November 13, according to Luminate.
The song gives Uribe his first leader on an airplay chart. He previously scored a No. 6 best with “El Alumno,” with Joss Favela, in May. Meanwhile, Conriquez clocks his second ruler: “JGL,” with La Adictiva, topped Regional Mexican Airplay for one week (September 10).
“Working with Jessie was a beautiful experience,” Conriquez tells Billboard. “We traveled to Colombia to record the song and our bonding was beyond great.”
Further, thanks to its radio reception, “Si Ya Hiciste el Mal” debuts at No. 50 on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart. It earns Uribe his first chart appearance. Conriquez claims his ninth entry.
The track also makes progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart jumping 10-8, the closest Conriquez has been to the top after another No. 8 high (“JGL” in the Sept. 10-dated ranking).
The 19-year-old Mexican-American singer has joined voices with Yuridia to release the new single “Qué Agonía.”
The song is the fifth single from Yuridia’s newly released Regional Mexican album, Pa’ Luego Es Tarde, produced by Eden Muñoz.
The track and the album were released on Thursday, October 20.
With beautiful orchestration, and sublime harmonies from the two powerhouses, “Qué Agonía” — written by Aguilar — is a romantic Mexican ballad about being in love long after a breakup.
“The truth is, I didn’t forget you… and although a lot has happened, and life changed for us, the feeling is alive”, they sing.
In the official video, they appear accompanied by an all-female mariachi band, among other musicians.
Pablo Alborán is dipping his toe into Regional Mexican music…
The 33-year-old Spanish musician and singer-songwriter has joined voices with Carin Leon to released the magical collaboration, “Viaje a Ningún Lado.”
Accompanied by a beautiful fusion of acoustic guitars, mariachi and flamenco melodies — and the deep power of interpretation of both singer-songwriters — the lyrics wrap around a story of a love that may have already left, and it’s time to let go.
“I rather you leave now before I start feeling alone with you, before I learn more about you from the things you don’t say, before doubts raise another wall between us,” they sing in the chorus.
The new single will form part of Alborán’s next album La Cuarta Hoja.
The 37-year-old Colombian singer performed at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, California, on Thursday, September 8 as part of the NFL Kickoff Experience to celebrate the beginning of the 2022 NFL season, becoming the first Latino artist to headline an NFL kickoff concert.
J Balvin performed ahead of the first game of the year, which saw the Buffalo Bills battle with reigning Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams.
Attendees defied the L.A. heat wave and made their way to the beach for a free day event that featured all sorts of activities and activations, including a beach football field.
Before Balvin took the stage, a local mariachi band serenaded the sweaty crowd before the Alabama State Marching Hornets took over for a riveting number.
Opening for Balvin was West Coast-based DJ and producer Tokimonsta, who was able to get the concertgoers out of the shade and closer to the main stage where they danced to her eclectic set.
Then, an inflatable giant hand appeared onstage holding up an equally large smiling face balloon — Balvin’s signature smiley face— which could only mean that the chart-topping artist was ready to take make his grand entrance. While his set was scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm, Balvin took the stage 10 minutes earlier to perform a nearly one-hour show.
He appeared in a two-piece, army-like outfit styled with a matching balaclava that only exposed his eyes.
“Cómo está la vibra esta tarde, how’s the vibe today?” he asked the crowd.
Balvin kicked off with the fan-favorite “Mi Gente” and went on to perform back-to-back hits like “Reggaeton,” “Nivel de Perreo,” “Con Altura,” “Loco Contigo,” “Blanco,” “Ritmo,” “Amarillo,” “Ginza,” “I Like It” and “In Da Getto.” He also brought out a special guest, Trueno, an emerging rapper from Argentina, to perform their collaboration “Un Paso.”
“My name is Jose but they call me J Balvin,” he added. “Where are all the warriors that fight for their dreams? I see my Latino gang representing here.”
On the track, Peláez dips his toes in his first-ever ranchera track, which is the first track from his upcoming album Un Sueno Llamado Ranchera.
