‘Patria y vida’, Rubén Blades, Camilo and C. Tangana reigned at the 2021 Latin Grammy party

For many it was not a surprise that Homeland and life be the song of the year in the twenty-second installment of the Latin Grammy 2021, which was held on Thursday, November 18. The rap protest, a symbol of the marches in Cuba against the Government, has been making a rash throughout the continent since its publication, at the beginning of 2021.

First, because of the criticism of government officials and Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Castro’s successor as president of the island; then for the arrest of the rapper Maykel Osorbo, one of the collaborators on the subject, accused of inciting public disorder; and finally, by the prohibition of the song in Cuban territory, since the expression ‘homeland and life’ emulates the motto of the Government “Homeland or death.”

When its composers took the podium to receive the golden gramophone for this distinction, one of them, Yotuel romero, incited the public of MGM Garden Arena, in Las Vegas, to chant the same words in the title in unison.

“This award is for Cuba, for my love (referring to the composer Beatriz Luengo, also creator of Homeland and life and who he married in Las Vegas two days before the event); I dedicate it to my mother to all the mothers who fight for the dream of each child; to my free Cuba and Maykel Osorbo, so that we all say ‘Homeland and life, homeland and life, homeland and life!’”, Expressed Yotuel in the company of the other co-authors, Descemer Bueno, El Funky and the duo Gente de Zona, who also won the trophy for the best urban song.

The night of the ‘madrileño’ and of ‘the hands’ of Camilo

The Colombian Camilo and spanish C. Tangana They were the two most awarded artists at the Latin Music Festival.

Camilo shone with ten candidates, of which he won four: best pop vocal album, with My hands; best pop song, with Rich life; best urban fusion / interpretation, with Tattoo remix (along with Rauw Alejandro); and best tropical song, with God wanted it that way. Each time he received the statuette, the artist ratified his gratitude to God, who “has given him the creativity” to do his work. His entire family, including his wife, Evaluna, and his father-in-law, Ricardo Montaner, accompanied him at the award ceremony.

C. Tangana, on the other hand, had five nominations, of which it swept three statuettes: best pop / rock song, with Hong Kong (a collaboration with Alizzz, Andrés Calamaro, Jorge Drexler); best alternative song, with I nominate (along with Alizzz and Jorge Drexler); and best recording engineering for an album, by The Madrilenian and engineer Chris Athens.

Both singers also displayed their talents on the Latin Grammy stage with their popular tunes. Camilo lit the audience with Rich life and Case. C. Tangana, on the other hand, presented a large company of musicians who joined him to interpret Ungovernable.

Unmissable tributes

Rubén Blades it was celebrated doubly at the ceremony. First, when he received two awards for his albums Salswing! and Salsa plus!, as the album of the year and the best salsa album, respectively.

Second, when the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences recognized it as person of the year. The Panamanian artist is considered a “pride of culture and social justice”, because his music motivates “to dance, sing and think”, the organization evoked in the profile that prepared the singer and composer. His compatriot Residente was in charge of the words of honor for Blades.

The Latin Grammy gala also celebrated artists with a long history in the legacy of Latin music. They were the Mexicans Armando Manzanero and Juan Gabriel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiceNimpgso

Carlos Rivera placeholder image, actor and host of the awards, evoked This afternoon I saw it rain and Still, iconic pieces by maestro Manzanero, who died last year from coronavirus. Juanes, instead, he brought together Rubén Albarrán and Meme, from Café Tacuba, to give a rock version of I have no money, theme that the Divo de Juárez launched in 1972; Juan Gabriel died in 2016, at the age of 66, due to a heart attack.