J Balvin and María Becerra gave a Latin accent to the start of the 64th edition of the Grammy Awards with a performance that made the audience dance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Colombian and the Argentine sang their hit “What More Well?” in the first block of performances at the gala, which also featured the elegant Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak) and the young Olivia Rodrigo, a resounding favorite of the night with her ballad “Drivers License”.
The J Balvin and Becerra number was not the only time Spanish was heard at the gala, as Aymée Nuviola later performed the classic “La Gota Fría” from Colombia.
In the previous ceremony, which is not broadcast on television, Mon Laferte sang just before the winners of the categories reserved for Latin music were announced: Bad Bunny, Juanes, Álex Cuba, Rubén Blades, and Vicente Fernández.
Despite the fact that Latin music has its own awards, the Latin Grammys, a good number of Hispanic musicians managed to prevail in the general and technical categories, such as the composer Carlos Rafael Rivera, winner of the best soundtrack for visual media for ” The Queen’s Gambit”.
The omicron variant and the increase in the number of infections in Los Angeles during January postponed the Grammys, the most renowned music awards worldwide, which have moved to Las Vegas for the first time, until April.
The new venue, with a capacity of almost 17,000 spectators, hosts awards that do not have clearly defined winners in the four main categories: best song of the year, best recording, an album of the year, and best new artist.
All the lights point to the very young Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo to win the gramophone in the album of the year category.
Approximately 8 million people tuned in last year to the US open television network -CBS- for the delivery of these awards; half that in 2020, thus reaching historical lows.
The Recording Academy will try to reverse the situation in this edition that is celebrated just one week after the 2022 Oscars, marked by the controversy over Will Smith’s slap in the face of Chris Rock and which has focused the public’s attention throughout the week.