One thing that can't be said about the 2024 Latin AMA, which aired live on the Univision network Thursday night (April 25), is that it lacked guts. In addition to the 21 performances that night, the awards featured many up-and-coming artists and a host group that included two music stars, Talia and Becky G. Perhaps most interesting was that these hosts spoke in both English and Spanish. It was the first fully bilingual Latin music awards show in memory.
While we definitely appreciate the effort, and we understand Becky G's much-touted 200% concept (i.e. she's 100% American and 100% Latina), Spanish The mixture of words and English sounded either too comfortable or downright forced. Yes, many of us do Spanglish, but it's not because someone made us do it, it's because it comes naturally.
Still, we have to admire the willingness to experiment. That brings us to the performance itself. Featuring as many as 21 performances a night takes a lot of effort to digest, and a lot of effort to maintain quality. The challenge is even greater when you consider that many of these performances featured multiple acts on stage at the same time. This required a lot of choreography. Still, the Latin AMAs were able to do a great job of keeping the pace flowing and moving the show at a fast clip. In terms of staging and production, many of the performances were very abbreviated, simpler than, say, the Latin Grammys. .
It didn't detract from the show. On the contrary, it was refreshing to see artists like Marc Anthony and Morat just perform and express themselves without any frills. But in a sea of 21 performances that covered a wide range of genres, ages and styles, some were clearly more appealing than others.
Here, we rank all 21 performances from least popular to most favorite.
The Academy (Sec, J. Quiles, Lenny Tavares, Dalex, DiMello Flo)
Sech, J Quiles, Lenny Tavarez, and Dímelo Flow are stars in their own right, recording together as The Academy, and recently released their second album, Segunda Misión. Although the set works as an ensemble piece, his live performance felt formulaic and conventional. Have you seen this before? Actually, you have.
Gabito Ballesteros
At just 24 years old, Gavito Ballesteros is a thrilling live performer. Despite performing with a full band Thursday night, the excitement didn't translate well to his renditions of his hits “LouLou” and “El Boss.” The music was solid, but Ballesteros, who is usually full of energy on stage, seemed cramped in the performance space.
Wishin and Mora
Despite all those beautiful pink costumes, and even the scaffolding that gave the song some extra drama at the beginning, Wisin and Mora's rendition of “Bien Locos” sounded and felt predictable. Ta.
Farruko and Kaimani Marley
Farruko is so talented that it's really fun to watch him sing almost anything. But for now, all we know is that his performance at the awards ceremony is meant to inspire those watching to live a higher life and turn back to God. Specifically, “Confía” is a call for better action that questions our dependence on the material and unimportant. Farruko played it soulfully and passionately, but we knew it was coming, and the message loses its effectiveness when repeated too often. Adding Ky-Mani Marley to the mix to perform “Rasta Reggae” was a good idea, but this performance would have been better with just that one song of his.
chino pacas
Chino Pacas is only 18 years old, but he packs a punch. His “El Gordo Trael el Mando” and “Tunechi” had a unique atmosphere, and his band playing on a dark, hazy stage added extra drama. The performance was too long for our liking. Just one song makes me want to listen to it more.
Becky G and Oscar Maiden
This combination has great potential. One of the rising stars of the new Mexican music movement, Maidon debuted at the Latin AMAs with solid sound and acting, but this performance followed other similar songs later in the show. Becky G's appearance near the end of the song felt a bit like an afterthought. Still, it's great to see young Mexican artists fusing different sounds.
Anitta and Bray
On the eve of her new album's release, Anitta performed an edgy, funky rendition of “Double Team” and “Sabana” (her second alongside Bray). The staging in the middle of the number, with Bray and Anitta on opposite sides of a metal fence, was cool and unexpected. But new choreography and perhaps a new, less twerking approach could take the performance up a notch. There's really no need.
Ing Luvkas
The Mexican reggaetonero is definitely coming into his own. “Jimmy Choo” may be a cliché, but Ing Lucas looked and sounded extremely confident, and had perfect command of the stage. This is an artist who has steadily and consistently grown and leaves us wanting to see more.
Benesti, Nacho, Milo Beat
It was refreshing to see new artist Benesti earn a spot at the Latin AMA and compete in the finale as well. With Nacho and Milo Vito, he performed “No Es Normal”, which was very similar to Chino y Nacho's “Mi Niña Bonita”. It was sweet and refreshing, but probably not the best showender.
Talia and Deoro
The queen of Latin music kicked off the Latin AMAs with a spooky and flashy rendition of “Te Va a Dolor,” with DJ De Oro providing the backdrop for her performance (along with a battalion of dancers). Norteño's arrangement, mixed with a bit of rap and a deoro beat, was simply fun. Not to mention Talia's futuristic outfit, leotard and all. Very few artists can achieve this.
Karin Leon
This person can definitely sing. And in a world currently crowded with mainstream Mexican music, the fact that he's interested in more melodic music makes him stand out even more. Leon, who initially sang while sitting on a couch, surrounded by a smaller version of his own band, sang with all his confidence and emotion. The lyrics of “Cuando la vida es trago”, which tells the story of someone who didn't make it, certainly kept us captivated. got engaged. It was a very up-tempo show and a nice break.
Noel Shajiris and Jennifer Nettles
This is a pre-recorded performance, and the fact that Shajiris was filmed on a rooftop playing the piano and singing along with Nettles doesn't take away from its beauty. Nettles provided a “crossover” element to the awards, but despite bilingual hosting, bilingual performances were lacking. But such an intimate performance could have come from a more intimate setting.
mark anthony
Let me start by saying that Marc Anthony can do no wrong, especially when he sings live, as he does at every award show. So it's thrilling to see him perform his new single 'Ale Ale' backed by a full band directed by Sergio George and a slew of dancers. It would be even more thrilling if “Ale Ale” sounded less like “Vivir Mi Vida,” but I can live with that.
ryan castro
The Colombian reggaetonero went beyond his comfort zone to score big points. His new album, El Cantante del Ghetto, channels his inner Hector Laveau, as does his performance of the title track backed by a full salsa band. Part 2 single “Quema” was more urban, but still had his big salsa sound. It was a new and different mix for the singer. Bravo.
Yandel feat. Feed, Farruco, Jay Wheeler
Yandell, who won the Pioneer Award, performed a medley of his hits with a diverse cast of characters: Feud, Farruco and Jay Wheeler. It highlighted the depth of the veteran artist's history and repertoire. Of course, there were ups and downs here, but overwhelmingly there was heart, respect and emotion that carried through.
Jay Wheeler and Zamira
Jay Wheeler premiered his new album today, but he decided to sing “Extrañandote” with his wife Zamira at the Latin AMAs. It's a pleasant surprise. Of course, one of Wheeler's claims to fame is that he has a beautiful voice steeped in soul and his R&B. But in his performance of this power ballad, Zamira's sweet vocals provided a sincere and heartfelt contrast, which he brought home beautifully. Additionally, he said, he really appreciates being able to listen to the songs from beginning to end, rather than breaking everything up into medleys.
danny ocean
Wow, Danny Ocean has really grown. The Venezuelan star delivered an unexpectedly high-energy performance in her motley style, troupe of male dancers, sharpness, and self-affirming lyrics. Ocean pointed out his July 28 date on his T-shirt, Venezuela's election day, giving it an unexpected (and appropriate) active touch.
morat
We put Morat high on our list not only because we liked their performance, but also because we admire the Latin AMAs for letting pop-rock acts perform their entire songs on the show. Morat is a tight band with a rock attitude that benefits from great songwriting. They brought anthemic pop-rock to the Latin music awards show with “Faltas tú,” and we're grateful for that.
Ricardo Montaner and Thalia, Manuel Medrano, Silvestre D'Angondo, DJ Adoni
The Legacy Award recipients demonstrated the definition of legacy during their performance, performing a medley of “Yo Que Te Ame” accompanied by Sergio George and Manuel Medrano on piano. He then transitioned into a salsa version of “La Cima del Cielo” with Thalia and closed with the '90s classic “Vamos Pa La Conga.” This song is a song that Silvestre Dangondo and DJ Adoni join the party and frequently perform at concerts. . Its versatility, including salsa, ballad, and conga, emphasized Montaner's versatility. —And his gorgeous voice as always. This was a well-deserved award with the highest level of performance.
Peso Pluma and Archangel
How cool was this? You thought Peso Pluma would show off Corrido Tumbao, right? But that's not the case. Leaning on love for Urban, Peso Pluma went to the trap alongside Puerto Rican veteran Arcangel. I found Peso's raspy, distinctive voice to work very well in this format. The simple but very cool staging of the singers performing on her two-story scaffolding, combined with the black costumes, made the performance of “Peso Her Completo” surprisingly effective.
Banda MS with Karin Leon, Los Dos de la S, AB Quintanilla
Banda MS, who won the Latin AMA Legacy Award, hit a home run with a performance that paid homage to both tradition and the future. Banda MS, one of the most venerable bands in Mexican music, celebrates their heritage by donning the matching costumes that have defined their style for decades. It didn't break any bones at all. Their music was rich, strong, and unapologetically Mexican, and the entourage of guests, Los de la Es, Karin León, and finally AB Quintanilla, were all fun with their rousing cumbia, but the essential It was real. Although this was not an easy performance to stage, it was nevertheless musically excellent and brought the banda tradition to the modern stage.