So the song Despacito wins no Grammy awards? Really? I’m a Zumba instructor and I also have a radio and a working pair of ears. This means that just like the rest of you, I have been exposed to the song Despacito over 100,000,000 times in the last year. It is one of the most popular songs of my lifetime. It is the most requested Zumba song in my classes, “Do Despacito, Angel,” and I think this is the case globally. So why did they lose?
I hate to say it, but I’m not surprised that they didn’t win any Grammy awards. Historically, Latino artists have often been underrepresented in mainstream music awards, so this outcome might not be so shocking. Portugal The Man has a very popular song, but I had to google the band and the song name to know who it was that beat Despacito. On the other hand, everyone knows who the artists are and the song Despacito. That’s just a fact, whether you like the song or not, you know it.
Look, I’m not one to assume bias every time the results don’t go a certain way. But let’s be real here, you and I and anyone else knows this song. This isn’t made up stuff — we all know it! I don’t know, but it does seem strange to me. The song was way too loved and way too popular to not win. Something feels off, and I don’t see any clear explanation.
I’m just saying… By the way, if you want some numbers and professional analysis, take a look at this Forbes article where they drop the stats. Despacito lost three times, three times, yet it’s the most popular Spanish song ever? They even performed at the award show! Now how does that work?
Just a life long New Yorker sharing the journey through my lens. Please take note of a post’s date. The views I express here are subject to change and evolving as I grow and learn.
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