"
Despacito" (
American Spanish: [despa'sito];
English: "Slowly") is a song by
Puerto Rican singer
Luis Fonsi featuring Puerto Rican rapper
Daddy Yankee from Fonsi's upcoming studio album.
[1] On January 12, 2017,
Universal Music Latin released "Despacito" and its music video, which shows both artists performing the song in
La Perla neighborhood of
Old San Juan,
Puerto Rico and the local bar La Factoría. The song was written by Fonsi,
Erika Ender, and Daddy Yankee, and was produced by Mauricio Rengifo and Andrés Torres. A remix version featuring Canadian singer
Justin Bieber was released on April 17, 2017, which helped to improve the song's chart performance in numerous countries, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Upon its release, "Despacito" received generally favourable reviews from music critics, who praised the fusion between Latin and urban rhythms, its catchiness, and its
text painting. It has received
Latin Grammy Awards for
Record of the Year,
Song of the Year,
Best Urban Fusion/Performance, and
Best Short Form Music Video at the
18th Latin Grammy Awards. The remix version has received three
Grammy Awards nominations for
Record of the Year,
Song of the Year, and
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the
60th Grammy Awards. In 2017, "Despacito" was ranked the fifth best Latin song of all time by
Billboard and was positioned within the top ten songs of the year by
Time,
Billboard and
Rolling Stone.
Background
Panamanian singer and songwriter
Erika Ender(
pictured) co-wrote "Despacito" with Fonsi
After two years without releasing new music,
Luis Fonsi wanted to create "a fun track that had that Latin feel with a melody that I feel very comfortable singing and that will make people just dance."
[3][4] The lyrics were born in late 2015 in Fonsi's house after he expressed his desire to record a "swinging song" for his new album.
[5] Panamanian singer and songwriter
Erika Ender, a
Latin Grammy Award-winner, went to Luis Fonsi's house in
Miami, who said to her that he woke up mulling about "writing a song called 'Despacito'."
[6][7] Fonsi sang the lines "Vamos a hacerlo en una playa en Puerto Rico", Ender replied "Hasta que las olas griten 'Ay Bendito'" and then they began to build the song.
[7] The Puerto Rico line was moved to the end of the song in order to not sound "so regional" and they started writing a story.
[7]
Fonsi originally composed "Despacito" as a
cumbia and
pop song with lyrics written as a
ballad, but began to consider giving it an "urban injection" and contacted reggaeton artist
Daddy Yankee through
WhatsApp, who agreed to collaborate on the song after Fonsi played him the
demo.
[4][8] Prior to collaborating on "Despacito", Fonsi and Daddy Yankee had worked together on "Una Oportunidad", released digitally in 2010.
[9] Daddy Yankee wrote his verse and the post-chorus or
hook.
[10][11] He improvised his verse while thinking about his father playing
bongos at his house, citing that as "percussion attacks."
[12] They recorded the song in
Miami in 2016.
[13] The song was produced by Mauricio Rengifo and Andrés Torres; the former is known as a member of Colombian pop duo
Cali & El Dandee and the latter is known for previously working with
David Bisbal,
Thalía, and
Ricky Martin, among various Latin acts.
[14][15][16]
Originally, Luis Fonsi focused on other songs of his album after making the demo of "Despacito".
[17] After showing the track to his producers, they and Fonsi decided to focus on "Despacito" and leave the other works aside.
[17] He stated that both Daddy Yankee and he were surprised after hearing the final song because it sounded "powerful, fresh and different."
[17] Luis Fonsi said that he does not consider it a reggaeton song but feels that "it does have a reggaeton energy and an subtle urban beat."
[4] He also affirmed that Daddy Yankee's work was a plus to the song because "it needed that explosion that only he can bring to the table."
[4] Ender stated that the track "went through several arrangements" until Fonsi got "exactly the arrangement he wanted."
[7]
Fonsi stated that he made "Despacito" a danceable song because "Latinos are known for being happy people" and that he feels the need of happy music.
[18] He added that the "urban feel" in the song's rhythm is the type that "[us Latinos] breathe in and out" and that it is "a synonym of party."
[18] According to him, "Despacito" is a very melodic song that can adapt well to many other music genres.
[18] In an interview with
Billboard magazine in April 2017, Erika Ender stated that the track "made a special connection" and that the collaboration with Daddy Yankee was "a great idea."
[5] She also said that because of the sensual nature of the song, they "needed to be responsible with a good lyric" and that her approach to writing for Fonsi was "to take care of how to say things with a good taste."
[5] During the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Conference, American-Puerto Rican singer and songwriter
Nicky Jam revealed that the original version of "Despacito" featured him instead of Daddy Yankee.
[19][20][21]
Live performances
The first stage performance of "Despacito" was by Daddy Yankee solo in
Merida, Mexico on February 27, 2017, while Fonsi performed the pop version on the L Festival on March 18, 2017 at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in
Pico Rivera, California.
[184][185] Justin Bieber performed the remix version in Puerto Rico on April 18, 2017 on his
Purpose World Tour with Luis Fonsi as guest.
[186] Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee performed "Despacito" live together for the first time at the 2017
Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 27, 2017.
[187] They performed together again on
The Voice season 12 finals featuring contestant Mark Isaiah on May 23, 2017.
[188] On June 12, 2017, Luis Fonsi performed solo on
Conan, a
talk show hosted by
Conan O'Brien, being his first late-night television appearance in the United States.
[189]
Daddy Yankee included the song on the setlist for his Tamo En Vivo Europe Tour, which lasted from June 2 to July 9, 2017.
[190][191] Fonsi also included "Despacito" on his Love + Dance World Tour, which began on July 1, 2017.
[192] On September 14, 2017, Luis Fonsi performed the single on the American talk show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
[193] Erika Ender also performed an acoustic version of the song during a
Billboard session on September 18, 2017 in order to promote her album
Tatuajes.
[194] On November 16, 2017, Luis Fonsi performed the song featuring Puerto Rican musician
Victor Manuelle, Colombian band
Bomba Estéreo, and American disc jockey
Diplo at the 18th Latin Grammy Awards.
[195] Erika Ender and Brazilian singer-songwriter
Roberto Carlos performed an acoustic version featuring drummers and dancers from
Beija-Flor Samba school in Brazil on November 29, 2017.
[196][197]
Formats and track listings
- Despacito (featuring Daddy Yankee) – 3:47
- Digital download - Pop version[256]
- Despacito (Pop version) – 3:47
- Digital download - Salsa Version[257]
- Despacito (Salsa version) (featuring Victor Manuelle) – 3:25
- Digital download - Remix[208]
- Despacito (Remix) (with Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber) – 3:48
- Digital download - Major Lazer and Moska remix[258]
- Despacito (Major Lazer and Moska remix) (with Daddy Yankee) – 3:09
- Digital download - Urban version[259]
- Despacito (Urban version) (with Daddy Yankee)
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