Bad Bunny dethrones Michael Jackson as ‘the king of pop’? Ecuadorian artists for and against the title that Forbes magazine gives them

The Latin American star Bad bunny has just been crowned king of popa title that has been characteristic of the North American artist for decades Michael Jackson (1958-2009).

The designation was made by the magazine Forbes on the cover of a subsequent special edition ranking recognized and prominent influential figures, in various fields, under the age of 30.

In one of his articles, Forbes emphasizes that The 29-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton artist is one of the most important artists of recent yearssurpassing even Taylor Swift in the number of views on digital platforms, where he has already been mentioned King of streaming.

Bad Bunny is named ‘The King of Pop’ by Forbes: ‘Everything he creates becomes a worldwide success’

“If there’s one constant about Bad Bunny, who is 29 years old, it’s that everything he creates becomes a worldwide success… And he’s done it all by singing only in Spanish,” the publication pointed out his Instagram account during the presentation of your new song.

‘Michael Jackson can never be compared to Bad Bunny’: Social networks explode after the urban singer was declared ‘King of Pop’

Opinions are divided on social networks. Some find the title exaggerated, while the artist’s fans are more than happy and grateful that Benito Martínez, the artist’s real name, is a source of pride and inspiration for Latinos.

Ecuadorian artists also want to have their opinion weighed in on this.

Marcelo, Machaleño singer-songwriter, calls the arrangement “inappropriate!” “And it’s not because he’s Bad Bunny. The title of ‘the king of pop’ was awarded to Michael Jackson by the press because of the overwhelming number of hits he collected during his career. One of those achievements is being the only artist to reach No. 1 in six different decades (not counting Michael’s innate talent).”

The young artist recognizes Bad Bunny’s achievements in his career, which are undeniable, he says. “He and his team have managed to position him as one of the few Latin artists to achieve global recognition,” he adds. “But to call him ‘king of pop’ there is still a long way to go.”

According to Marcelo, the Forbes headline appears to be “a new attempt by the company to sell more copies, using the artist of the moment.”

For his part, the Spanish music and jazz guitarist Carlos Hernández (founder of Dúo Andaluzia and Sepia Jazz Trío) finds Forbes’ appointment appropriate. “Forbes is a business magazine and pop music by definition responds to an industry. If you look at the note, Not much is said about the Bad Bunny artist, how it makes people feel, what it conveys. When we’re not talking about Bad Bunny as “a brand”, a multi-million dollar company that employs people and fulfills the purpose of giving the public what they want. Something like what’s happening with the fast food industry.”

For Hernández it is the same thing that happened back then with Michael Jackson, Sinatra, Pavarotti, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley. “What’s the difference between the previous artists and Bad Bunny? It’s just that artistic standards have dropped tremendously. Does that matter in the industry? Not much, as long as it continues to make money. But that’s another topic.”

For the singer Pia Vasquez, based in the United States, this is a relative issue. “At the end of the day, it’s just the opinion of Forbes, no general opinion. For example, this was a general opinion with Michael Jackson.” However, the artist contrasts that Bad Bunny has many things in store for him in this era, which have changed the industry for Latinos.

“I think it is very good that in every age there is a new prince or a new king who takes over what the previous kings left behind. I have great respect for Bad Bunny and we thank him very much for his musical innovation. But if we compare it musically or based on experience, Michael Jackson has been in the Grammy Hall of Fame and has been very iconic in the world because of what he has done, such as the walk backwards. “He innovated a lot with the help of technology, his songs were global…”

From Vásquez’s perspective, Bad Bunny could even be the king of urban pop. “I admire Bad Bunny a lot, but I still think he needs something more to become the King of Pop, just like Michael Jackson, who has had a career since he was little. I think that title fits the trajectory.”

For the musician José Luis Freirethis issue must be analyzed from three perspectives. First of all from a social point of view. “It seems to me that no one bothered to read that magazine Forbes It’s about business and money, which is about measuring socio-economic facts and sales records. If it dethroned the sales of whoever held the previous record, then that fact goes beyond who thinks so and who doesn’t. It is completely correct that a business magazine calls him the new king of the music business. It says Forbes, The Music Academy does not say that”.

The second point of view, according to Freire, is: is to understand the reality of pop. “Pop is a socio-economic phenomenon where the owners of the media, the owners of the record labels, the capitalist groups, with economic power, pay attention to what young people like, usually because they are in the phase of rebellion , they are attracted to countercultures. Take rock for example: they were young people protesting against the war, they were the counterculture of the moment and since young people will always be the largest population on earth, the number of people demanding these products is greater.” According to Freire, it is the same thing that is currently happening with reggaeton.

“The first person they called the King of Pop was Bing Crosby, who sang jazz and swing in the 1940s, have been calling someone the king of pop ever since. Later in the 1950s, with rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis is first called the King of Pop, then the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll… in the 1960s the Beatles… they’re all still a pop phenomenon.” For this reason, Freire notes: “pop is not a musical genrethen it’s foolish to say that Bad Bunny doesn’t make pop, of course he makes pop, because pop is a social and economic phenomenon of sales, It has nothing to do with music, it has no characteristic chords or rhythms”.

Finally, according to the singer and composer from Guayaquil, due to the costumes and musical means used by Bad Bunny, there is an aesthetic criterion that is not suitable for all tastes and not for all generations. And that is the most complex thing to understand. “It bothers them that someone broke Michael Jackson’s sales record and the person who did it is someone who is frowned upon by today’s society, so their hatred is purely aesthetic and not rational.”. (JO)