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After a virtual edition last year, the great Latin music festival returned with a ceremony highlighted by the performances of Cuban artists and the triumph of Colombia in the awards.
With white clothes, candles and acoustic guitars, Cubans Yotuel, Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno and El Funky lit up the stage of the 2021 Latin Grammys in Las Vegas. “This song is dedicated to all the political prisoners in Cuba” launched the rapper El Funky before performing “Patria y Vida”, whose one of its authors, Maykel Castillo “Osorbo”, has been detained in Cuba since May. After winning two awards for best song and best urban song of 2021, the Cuban artist became the first political prisoner to be awarded in the history of these awards.
A cry of freedom and resistance
The song “Patria y Vida”, which interprets the slogan of the Fidel Castro regime “Patria o Muerte”, has existed since February but became an anthem shouted by the protesters of the national marches of July 11 in the streets of Cuba. A wave of outrage against the economic crisis, food shortages and restrictions on individual and collective freedoms. Human rights groups claim that more than 1,000 people were arrested and that hundreds of them remain in jail after this unprecedented day of protest on the communist island. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reacted to the victory of the Cuban rappers stating that the “song is totally a lie and a construction among some artists against the Cuban Revolution.”
Other key moments of the ceremony
The performance of “Patria y Vida” was not the only outstanding show of the night. With the replica of his concert “Tiny Desk” for the US radio station NPR, “El madrileño” and winner of three golden gramophones, C. Tangana invited other artists present to sing with him on “Ingobernable”. A unique version of the song, with Antonio Carmona, Diego del Morao, La Húngara, Jorge Drexler, Natalia Lafourcade, Omar Apollo and Nathy Peluso.
The Argentine singer who recently collaborated with C. Tangana on the hit “Ateo” also marked the ceremony. Nathy Peluso received the award for Best Alternative Album for “Calambre”, and shared the stage of the Latin Grammys with Nicki Nicole, Becky G, and the American Christina Aguilera for her first round for more than 20 years with “Pa ‘Mi Muchachas “And” We are nothing. ”
A powerful and energetic show, like the highly applauded performance of Mexican Danna Paola. After interpreting “Calla Tú”, a song that talks about sexist experiences and femicides, her show closed with the symbolic message “NI UNA MENOS” projected on the screens.
After being nominated Person of the Year, Panamanian legend Ruben Blades crowned his success with the album of the year awards, the most important category of the ceremony, for “Salswing!” and the best salsa album for “Salsa Plus!”. A special night for the salsero who received an emotional tribute from the Puerto Rican Residente.
Colombian artists return with a series of awards
The Colombian singer and songwriter Camilo triumphed with 4 awards, after arriving as the maximum nominee with ten nominations. The other Colombian faces at this ceremony were Juliana Velásquez who won the Best New Artist award, Karol G who won the Latin Grammy for Best Reguetón Performance, and Juanes who received the gramophone for Best Pop Rock Album.
With EFE, REUTERS and local media.
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