“Despacito (Remix)” is a song by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber. Justin sings a full verse and sings over the chorus.
The remix topped the charts in more than 10 countries and became the most successful song in Spanish in the history of non-Spanish countries. Billboard named Despacito Remix the "Top Latin Song" in Billboard Hot 100 chart history.
Background[]
Justin Bieber heard the song while he was on tour in Colombia in 2017. He saw how people reacted and he loved the song so he wanted to do a remix. And it just so happens Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee were wanting to do a remix at the time.[3][4] Scooter Braun reached out to Poo Bear and said they should do an English version to bring the rest of the world in it.[5]
Before Bieber's surprising interest in Despacito, Luis Fonsi had already planned to add an international english artist to try to get the song to reach countries in the rest of the world. One of them was Ariana Grande.[6]
Recording[]
Colombian singer Juan Felipe Samper received a call telling him that they needed him the next day as a translator since a group of professionals would go to the recording studio. When he arrived, he was surprised to see that it was Justin Bieber wanting to record Despacito. "He came to record the song, and after singing the part in English that he does at the beginning, he took a break and approached me. He asked me personally to help him with the Spanish pronunciation, because he wanted it to be perfect"... "I helped him with the pronunciation and phonetics, the most difficult thing for him was the 'R' sound, and the song is full of that sound, 'laberinto', 'paredes', 'manuscrito'. Words like that were the most difficult for him". Samper wrote on some papers how to literally pronounce the words in Spanish but in a way that Justin could understand them. For example, 'me voy acercando; Samper wrote to him 'me voy ah-sair-candoh'.
"While recording, he constantly asked me how I heard him, if his pronunciation sounded good, and if he wasn't sure what he was singing, he would ask me to repeat the verses and he would imitate me." "It was incredible, we were sitting next to each other, working hand in hand." Samper commented that it took Bieber only two hours to finish the song.
Samper says that Bieber was very kind, very happy and was smiling the entire time. On the "Hoy Día" tv show, he commented that the first thing Justin said to him was "hey man, how are you" and shake hands. Bieber then asked him where his brown leather jacket was from. When they finished the recording session, Justin thanked her, gave her a hug, said "I hope to see you again" and left.
Josh Gudwin got a call by Scooter Braun: ‘I need you to go to Colombia to get Justin on this remix.’ Gudwin was in transit from Bogota, Colombia where he cut Bieber’s vocal in a studio, made some edits in his hotel room as Bieber wanted to change some of the lines, mixed in the airport lounge on his headphones and ran to catch his next flight, turning in the mix upon landing. “I did my final tweaks at Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos on a Bose Bluetooth speaker, and headphones… It was crazy. But the song had to come out. I was getting last minute revisions from Justin and I was on vacation. I just had to knock it out. It was just one of those interesting moments.”[7][8]
Release[]
Despacito Remix was released on April 17, 2017. People reacted quickly in surprise to hear Justin singing in Spanish for the first time.
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Intro: Justin Bieber]
Come on over in my direction
So thankful for that, it's such a blessin', yeah
Turn every situation into Heaven, yeah
Oh, you are
My sunrise on the darkest day
Got me feelin' some kind of way
Make me wanna savor every moment slowly
Slowly
You fit me, tailor-made love, how you put it on
Got the only key, know how to turn it on
The way you nibble on my ears, the only words I wanna hear
Baby take it slow so we can last long
[Verse 1: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee]
Oh, tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal
Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan
Sólo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso
Oh, yeah Ya, ya me está gustando más de lo normal
Todos mis sentidos van pidiendo más
Esto hay que tomarlo sin ningún apuro
[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
Despacito
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
Deja que te diga cosas al oído
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
Despacito
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
Firmo en las paredes de tu laberinto
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito
(Sube, sube, sube
Sube, sube)
[Bridge 1: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee]
Quiero ver bailar tu pelo
Quiero ser tu ritmo
Que le enseñes a mi boca
Tus lugares favoritos
(Favorito, favorito, baby)
Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
Hasta provocar tus gritos
Y que olvides tu apellido
[Verse 2: Daddy Yankee]
Si te pido un beso, ven, dámelo
Yo sé que estás pensándolo
Llevo tiempo intentándolo
Mami, esto es dando y dándolo
Sabes que tu corazón conmigo te hace bang-bang
Sabes que esa beba está buscando de mi bang-bang
Ven, prueba de mi boca para ver cómo te sabe
Quiero, quiero, quiero ver cuánto amor a ti te cabe
Yo no tengo prisa, yo me quiero dar el viaje
Empecemos lento, después salvaje
[Bridge 2: Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber]
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Cuando tú me besas con esa destreza
Veo que eres malicia con delicadeza
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Y es que esa belleza es un rompecabezas
Pero pa' montarlo aquí tengo la pieza
¡Oye!
[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
Despacito
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
Deja que te diga cosas al oído
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
Despacito
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
Firmo en las paredes de tu laberinto
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito
(Sube, sube, sube
Sube, sube)
[Bridge 1: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee]
Quiero ver bailar tu pelo
Quiero ser tu ritmo
Que le enseñes a mi boca
Tus lugares favoritos
(Favorito, favorito, baby)
Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro
Hasta provocar tus gritos
Y que olvides tu apellido
[Verse 3: Luis Fonsi]
Despacito
This is how we do it down in Puerto Rico
I just wanna hear you screaming, "¡Ay, Bendito!"
I can move foreverm se quede contigo
¡Bailalo!
[Bridge 3: Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi & Justin Bieber]
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Que le enseñes a mi boca
Tus lugares favoritos
(Favorito, favorito, baby)
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Hasta provocar tus gritos (Fonsi)
Y que olvides tu apellido (D.Y.)
Despacito
Trivia[]
- Despacito (Remix) is the first mostly-Spanish language song to hit No. 1 since Los Del Rio's "Macarena" in 1996.
- The song spend 101 days at No.1 position on Spotify's daily most-played chart and becomes the longest-running number-one song.
Commercial and chart performance[]
United States[]
Billboard[]
Despacito (original) was released on January 13, 2017. Four weeks after the release (and third week on the chart), Despacito hit the Billboard Hot 100 for first time, debuting at #88. After 11 weeks and two days before the Remix's release, Despacito (original) peaked at #44 (not bad for a Spanish song in US chart). The following week, it fell to #49, then the Justin Bieber's remix came out.
April 29, 2017, was the first debut week for Despacito Remix in the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing the original and jumping one position; In the next week jump from #48 to #9. First top 10 for Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. The next week jump to #4 and #3. In that week, Despacito Remix was the song with the highest airplay gain in US, and "I'm the One" with DJ Khaled debuted at #1. In the next week (May 27), Despacito Remix tops the chart for first time. First No.1 for Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, fifth for Justin. Despacito Remix becomes the first mostly-Spanish language song to hit No. 1 since Los Del Rio's "Macarena" in 1996. It also, Justin Bieber becomes the first artist ever to notch new Hot 100 No. 1s in back-to-back weeks, as it dethrones DJ Khaled's "I'm the One" featuring Bieber.
Despacito (Remix) spent 16th weeks at No. 1 and tied Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" record achived in 1995-96. The song could not reach 17 weeks at the top and become the song with the most weeks #1 in history, because the following week the song fell to second place on the chart. From there, Despacito Remix was never able to climb to No. 1. The record was broken in 2019 by Lil Nas "Old Town Road Remix" ft. Billy Ray Cyrus.
Spotify[]
The Remix debuted #76 at the Spotify's daily us chart with 324,321 streams. While in the weekly chart with only 5 days of release, debuted at #44 with 3,562,551 streams. The next week jumps to #4 with 10,924,444.
Worldwide[]
iTunes[]
Spotify[]
Despacito (Remix) debuted at #18 on Spotify's global daily chart with 2.333.957 streams. The next day jumps to #4 with 4,087,706 streams. In his five day jumps at #1 with 5,927,608 becoming the first song in Spanish-Language to peak the daily chart on Spotify history.
The Remix debuted #17 at the weekly chart with 17,440,248 streams. Only with 5 days of the release. The next seven days, Despacito Remix jumps to #1 with 43,222,758 streams.
The song spend 101 days at No. 1 position on Spotify's daily most-played chart and becomes the longest- running number-one song. Tying “One Dance” by Drake ft. Wizkid and Kyla.
Billboard[]
Billboard created the "Billboard Global 200" and "Billboard Global 200 excl U.S" charts on September 19, 2020. Despite spending 2 years and 5 months after the release of the song, Despacito Remix debuted and charted as well at the global 200 songs charts. Peaked #120 on Global 200 on May 15, 2021 (1489 days from the release), and #104 on Global 200 Excl. U.S one week before the previous one (1482 days).
Live performances[]
- Purpose World Tour (with Luis Fonsi) (April 18, 2017)
Charts[]
Only the remix version. In some countries, the original version and the remix are counted as the same version, even if the remix outpeak the original. So in some countries Despacito (Remix) was not counted.
Charts (2017 - present ) | Peak |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) | 1 |
Argentina Hot 100 (Billboard) | 29 |
Brazil Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard) | 16 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) (Billboard) | 1 |
Canada AC | 3 |
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard) | 1 |
Canada Hot AC (Billboard) | 1 |
Dominican Republic (Monitor Latino) | 2 |
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 1 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 1 |
Global 200 (Billboard) | 120 |
Global 200 Excl. U.S. (Billboard) | 104 |
Ireland (IRMA) | 1 |
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard) | 28 |
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40) | 4 |
Malaysia (RIM) | 1 |
Mexico Airplay (Billboard) | 1 |
Mexico Streaming Songs (AMPROFON) | 2 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 1 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
Norway (VG-lista) | 1 |
Philippines (Philippine Hot 100) | 1 |
Poland (Dance Top 50) | 1 |
Russia (Tophit) | 50 |
Scotland (Official Charts Company) | 1 |
South Korea Foreign Songs (Gaon) | 7 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 3 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 1 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 24 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) | 9 |
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 8 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard) | 1 |
US Latin Airplay (Billboard) | 1 |
US Latin Airplay (Billboard) | 1 |
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 1 |
US Rhythmic (Billboard) | 3 |
Awards and nominations[]
Year | Award | Nomination | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | American Music Awards | Collab of the Year | Nominated |
Favorite pop/rock song | Won | ||
Capricho Awards | International Hit | Nominated | |
Latin American Music Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
Favorite Pop/Rock Song | Nominated | ||
Favorite Collaboration | Nominated | ||
Latin Grammy Awards | Best Urban Fusion/Performance | Won | |
LOS40 Music Awards | International Song of the Year | Won | |
Golden Music Awards | Won | ||
MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Song | Nominated | |
MTV Millennial Awards | Collaboration del Año | Nominated | |
MTV Video Music Awards | Song of the summer | Nominated | |
NRJ Music Awards | International Song of the Year | Won | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Song: Male Artist | Nominated | |
Choice Latin Song | Won | ||
Choice Summer Song | Won | ||
Kids Choice Awards | Favorite Collaboration | Nominated | |
Kids Choice Awards Colombia | Nominated | ||
Kids' Choice Awards Argentina | Nominated | ||
VEVO Certified Awards | 100 Million Views (remix) | Won | |
2018 | ASCAP Pop Music Awards | Most Streamed Song of the Year | Won |
Billboard Latin Music Awards | Streaming Song of the Year | Won | |
Latin Song of the Year | Won | ||
Airplay Song of the Year | Won | ||
Best Digital Song of the Year | Won | ||
Hot Latin Song of the Year - Vocal Event | Won | ||
Billboard Music Awards | Top Collaboration | Won | |
Top Latin Song | Won | ||
Top Streaming Song (Video) | Won | ||
Top Selling Song | Won | ||
Top Hot 100 Song | Won | ||
Top Streaming Song (Audio) | Nominated | ||
GAFFA Awards | International Hit of the Year | Nominated | |
Grammy Awards | Record of the Year | Nominated | |
Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
Best Pop duo/Group Performance | Nominated | ||
iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best Remix | Nominated | |
Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
2020 | Billboard Latin Music Awards | Latin Song of the decade | Won |
Credits[]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]
- Producer: Andrés Torres / Josh Gudwin / Mauricio Rengifo
- Composer: Daddy Yankee / Erika Ender / Jason Boyd / Justin Bieber / Luis Fonsi / Marty James Garton Jr
- Lyricist: Daddy Yankee / Erika Ender / Jason Boyd / Justin Bieber / Luis Fonsi / Marty James Garton Jr
- Additional Producer: Josh Gudwin
- Featured Artist: Justin Bieber
- Mixer: Jaycen Joshua / Josh Gudwin
- Recording Engineer: Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / Josh Gudwin
- Studio Personnel: Chris 'TEK' O'Ryan / Jaycen Joshua / Josh Gudwin
References[]
- ↑ "‘Despacito (Remix)’ Writer Poo Bear On Justin Bieber’s New Album & Grammy Nomination". YouTube. February 1, 2018.
- ↑ "Making Of Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee's "Despacito" Feat. Bieber With Andrés Torres & Mauricio Rengifo". YouTube. July 14, 2017.
- ↑ Nostro, Lauren. "Luis Fonsi Breaks Down “Despacito” On Genius’ Video Series ‘Verified’". Genius.
- ↑ Weatherby, Taylor (May 8, 2017). "Writer/Producer Poo Bear Talks Making ‘Fruit Salad’ With Justin Bieber on ‘Purpose,’ ‘I’m The One’ & ‘Despacito’". Billboard.
- ↑ "How Poo Bear Writes Your Favorite Hits". YouTube. May 11, 2018.
- ↑ "JUSTIN BIEBER ME LLAMÓ PARA CANTAR DESPACITO" (in Spanish). Lat 3, 20241.
- ↑ Griffiths, Daniel (June 7, 2023). "Producer and engineer to the stars Josh Gudwin: “I got a call from Scooter Braun and he’s like ‘I need you to go to Colombia to get Justin Bieber on this remix’”". MusicRadar.
- ↑ Moayeri, Lily (August 20, 2021). "Josh Gudwin on Mixing, Part 3: Time to Mix". Mixonline.
- ↑ "Credits / VIDA / Luis Fonsi – TIDAL". Tidal.