Colombia reaffirms its position as a Hispanic music power at the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville

Actor John Leguízamo, born in Colombia and living in the United States for decades, was radiant on the red carpet at the Latin Grammy Awards, this Thursday in Seville. He was happy to greet the most popular Hispanic musicians, who are often also the most popular musicians in the world. “There are more than 40 Colombian artists nominated…”, W Radio told him, and Leguízamo interrupted, surprised: “Forty! It’s too much! How can that happen? Do we have so much talent? We are the monsters of music.” His diagnosis was confirmed hours later: Karol G and Shakira were in the group of winners, while the list of recognized Colombians was as long as it was striking.

For at least a decade, urban music has earned Colombia recognition that, without major barriers, began to spread freely around the world. Collaborations, which went from being the exception to the custom, became a springboard. Listening to Shakira with Maluma or Karol G in any country, even a non-Hispanic one, was normal. The Seville gala, however, was a demonstration of success for Colombia beyond the urban genre. The rock of Juanes and Diamante Eléctrico, the vallenato of Carlos Vives, the salsa of Grupo Niche ―with the accompaniment of the National Symphony Orchestra, also awarded― and the pop of Andrés Cepeda, Camilo, Monsieur Periné and Fonseca all shone equally at the first Grammy ceremony held outside the United States.

Karol G and Shakira arrived at the gala with seven nominations and left with three awards. Tomorrow will be nicethe singer from Paisa won the awards for Album of the Year and Best Urban Music Album, and also won the award for Best Urban Fusion/Interpretation for TQGalong with Shakira. The Barranquilla native, apart from the one shared with her compatriot, won the Song of the Year and Best Pop Song for Music Sessions, Vol. 53The top spot on the Grammy podium was shared with Mexicans Natalia Lafourcade and Édgar Barrera and with Argentine Bizarrap, who won the award alongside Shakira for that cathartic session.

The presence of Colombian musicians at the Seville gala, however, was not limited to the awards alone. At a ceremony where there was speculation about the reunion of Rosalía and her ex-partner Rauw Alejandro, who had their turn at the microphone, Shakira, Maluma and Juanes also took the stage, active representatives of the enormous parade of artists that confirmed what had been suspected for years but which now seems more like confirmation: Hispanic music has one of its strongest and most fertile places in Colombia.

All the Colombians awarded

• Karol G – Album of the Year, Best Urban Music Album (Tomorrow will be nice) and Best Fusion/Urban Performance (with Shakira, for TQG).
• Shakira – Song of the Year, Best Pop Song (with Bizarrap, by Music Sessions, Vol. 53) and Best Fusion/Urban Performance (with Karol G, for TQG).
• Andrés Cepeda – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (Fourteenth).
• Juanes – Best Pop/Rock Album (Daily life).
• Monsieur Periné – Best Alternative Music Album (Apocalyptic bolero).
• Grupo Niche and the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia – Best Salsa Album (Symphonic niche).
• Carlos Vives – Best cumbia/vallenato album (Escalona had never been recorded like this).
• Fonseca – Best Tropical Song (with Juan Luis Guerra, for If you love me).
• Electric Diamond – Best Rock Song (with Adrián Quesada, for Tiger’s milk)
• Camilo – Best Long Form Music Video (Camilo: the first tour of my life)
• Camilo Valencia – Best Instrumental Album (with Richard Bravo, for Made In Miami) and Best Arrangement (with Richard Bravo and Milton Salcedo, for Songo Bop).

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