As we process the wins and losses from the 2024 Latin Grammys — from Shakira's first album in seven years being overlooked, to Juan Luis Guerra's record-breaking “MAMBO 23” beating Karol's “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” G and Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma's “Igual Que Un Ángel” — it's safe to say the top categories didn't go as expected. Or did they?
Year after year, it becomes more difficult to predict who will win the top classes, which makes all the victories even more surprising or shocking. In the aforementioned categories, neither Guerra nor Drexler — both highly respected by the Latin Recording Academy — were the obvious winners.
Perhaps the only two categories that went as expected on Thursday (November 14) were Songwriter of the Year and Producer of the Year. Mexican American hitmaker Edgar Barrera, a clear front-runner in both, won both of these categories. Even Carín León won the new album category of best contemporary Mexican music with Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 it went as predicted. Although a big name, Peso Pluma's album in this category, Genesisit was from last year, and it was released Exodus this year, although he missed the nomination deadline.
At this year's Latin Grammys, Juan Luis Guerra was the night's top winner, winning four total awards — including album of the year for Radio Güiraand the record of the year for “Mambo 23”. It also won best merengue and/or bachata album and best tropical song, for the same productions, respectively. Colombian singer-songwriter Ella Taubert won best new artist, and Edgar Barrera and Nathy Peluso won three awards each. Karol G, a big winner at last year's award, picked up an award (out of her eight nominations) for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota season)which won best urbana music album.
See the full list of winners here.
Below, some snubs and surprises from the 25th annual Latin Grammys:
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Surprise: Rawayana
Venezuelan band Rawayana won the Latin Grammy for best pop song for “Feriado,” beating out Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma's “Igual Que Un Ángel,” which, for many, was the clear favorite. While some may call this unexpected for Kali and Peso, given the song's commercial success (it topped the Hot Latin Songs chart earlier this year), we consider it a pleasant surprise. Besides, “Feriado” is a cool song and a long overdue Latin Grammy win for Rawayana.
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Snub: Kali Uchis
This could easily be surprised, given that of Luis Fonsi El Viaje it was so deserving of the best pop vocal album award. But Kali Uchis was considered the first in this category with Orchids. The critically and commercially acclaimed LP scored the Colombian-American her first No. 1 bulletin boardChart of Top Latin Albums. The set was also up for album of the year, where it also lost out to Juan Luis Guerra's EP Radio Güira.
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Surprise: Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40
Of course everything that the great Juan Luis Guerra creates is a masterpiece and “MAMBO 23” is no exception. The fast mambo with meringues won the record of the year. It was a difficult category, to say the least. The song was up against strong contenders such as Karol G's “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” and Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma's “Igual Que Un Ángel”.
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Surprise: Ela Taubert
Best New Artist was probably the hardest category to predict. Any of the contenders could easily take home the prize. The Colombian singer-songwriter was a winner, beating out Latin Mafia, Íñigo Quintero and Darumas, among other nominees. Like last year's Best New Artist winner, Joaquina, Ela Taubert is a graduate of producer Julio Reyes Copello's Art Academy.
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Surprise: Jorge Drexler
It's a surprise that isn't really a surprise. Jorge Drexler is known to be a Grammy favorite, and when one of his songs is nominated at the Latin Grammys, it's almost guaranteed to win. His song 'Derrumbe', which was the song of the year, was no exception. The track not only won Song of the Year but also Best Song by a Singer-Songwriter. Even Drexler, who dedicated the win to his father, who passed away 11 days ago, sounded surprised in his acceptance speech. “How can a sad little song be among so many people I admire? Thank you Latin Recording Academy for taking away the impostor syndrome,” he expressed.
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Snub: Shakira
Shakira's comeback album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloranwas completely ignored at the Latin Grammys. Up for album of the year, the set — which features hits like “TQG,” her Bizarrap-produced score and “Te Felicito” — lost out to Juan Luis Guerra's EP Radio Güira. Guerra also won record of the year for “MAMBO 23”. Shakira was a frontrunner in this category, alongside Karol G, who was nominated Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota season) and Carín León's Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. Her loss is resonant given the importance of the album, her first in seven years, and that the album led to a US stage tour. Shakira did not attend the 2024 Latin Grammys.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/2024-latin-grammy-awards-snubs-surprises/
