Spanglish is Sexy: A Trend

Is it me or is there a noticeable trend of incorporating the Spanish language in songs nowadays? It’s one thing if a Latin pop artist (or an artist in general) is singing in Spanish for the entirety of the song. However, this year we have heard numerous songs where both English and Spanish have been mashed into one hit song, including the remix version. Even fans who aren’t fluent speakers are able to move their bodies to the merged style of songs, and actually sing the words. It’s trendy.

“Bailando” became a hit a couple of years ago; it is such a memorable song, and I am sure once it’s on you’ll start swaying to the beat. Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish singer and in this particular track, Sean Paul hits some verses in English as well as a bit of Spanish in order to highlight the lively rhythm of the music. This remix version is considered to be a Spanglish version, which is pretty clever. Latin singers have been collaborating with American artists more and more, and it’s now something we get to listen to everyday. Perhaps that’s why all of these songs have gained so many positive critiques. 

Moving onto one of the most played songs of this year, “Despacito.” There’s a remix of the original song, featuring Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber. Originally a complete Latin pop song, Luis Fonsi thought it’d be interesting to feature an American artist. Justin Bieber is presented in the track, speaking Spanish and English despite not having any Latin background. It threw people off initially, but I think that was ultimately a nice touch. With the original version being a huge hit in Latin America and in Europe, even more people were able to join in on the hype; especially Americans.

With the track’s unique sound being a mix of cumbia and reggae, the lyrics feature both English and Spanish that go back and fourth; sort of like a dance off with each other. It’s a unique approach to the current music industry because it is showing an array of cultures combined into one song. “Despacito” is sexual, but romantic, portrayed in a beat that makes you want to move. Arguably, this song went on to be one of the hit songs of the year.

Another recent Spanish and English mix up track would be “Mi Gente” by J Balvin and Willy William, featuring Beyonce (for the remix). Beyonce, an American singer just like Justin Bieber, features on this track singing both in English and Spanish. Seeing Beyonce sing in Spanish is definitely something new and fresh. After this song was released, it has gained a lot of recognition and thus have had it remixed with other artists such as Steve Aoki, Alesso, Cedric Gervais, Dillon Francis, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, and Henry Fong. “Mi gente” has been gaining more listeners and recognition still to this day.

Without noticing it initially, there has been growing attention on creating music that joins two different cultures together. In particular, Spanish and English languages have been often laced together in order to create a culturally different song. It’s definitely not as common as the American songs out there, but these songs have gained a lot of attention and love. Just because you don’t speak the Spanish language, it shouldn’t stop you from listening to it. We can call it a trend as of now, but really, it’s a productive approach to our fast growing music industry. We should support that. Incorporating different languages within a song to create a whole final piece is something we can all enjoy. It’s sexy. It’s new. And nevertheless, it’s exciting to see it come together. Hopefully we can all look forward to more diverse types of music combinations in the future.

-Chloe