"Despacito" is one of the most recognizable tunes of 2017, but despite three nominations, it fails to pick up a win at this year's Grammys.
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's megahit came into the awards ceremony with impressive nominations in three major categories: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. If "Despacito" had won the first two categories, it would have been the first primarily Spanish song in history to win those awards.
However, the record-breaking duo went home empty-handed, losing out to Bruno Mars in the two major categories. Meanwhile, Portugal. The Man won for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for "Feel It Still."
'Despacito' Breaks Records And Barriers
Over the year, "Despacito" broke an array of significant records across multiple platforms. The summer hit is officially the most-streamed record of all time as well as the most viewed video in the history of YouTube.
The song has also been certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), only the 18th song to reach the honor and the first ever Latin song to achieve it.
"Despacito" is one of the main sparks of the Latin explosion that swept over the music charts in 2017. Rolling Stone reports that global listening to Latin Music on Spotify increased by 110 percent during the year, while YouTube saw six of the 10 most-viewed music videos in the world were by Latin musicians.
Fans, Critics React To Grammy Snub
Both Fonsi and Yankee were gracious in their defeat, going on social media to express their thoughts on their losses.
"We're not leaving empty-handed tonight," Fonsi writes on his Instagram page after the ceremony. "To be able to break the language barrier and unite the world with a song is the best prize anyone can win. Let's continue sharing our culture and our Latin music with the entire world. Thanks for supporting us, this is just the beginning."
While the pair kept their post-awards messages positive, fans and critics weren't very happy about the record-breaking "Despacito" being snubbed at the Grammys.
In five years when Latin music is allllll over pop music in the states the fact that Despacito didn’t win the big categories in 2018 is gonna look foolish. How was that not the most important record of this year? Most streamed + historic significance + critical praise?
— Goldroom (@goldroom) January 29, 2018
Despacito was the TRUE Record of the Year. 5 billion views on YouTube, most streamed song in history. Record of the DECADE. But they didn’t win tonight. Why? I bet they don’t have a single Spanish-speaking voter in the pool of Grammy judges. — Michael Sayman (@michaelsayman) January 29, 2018
'Despacito' suffered one of the biggest, most outrageous snubs in Grammy history last night https://t.co/m1Kgu2uKKD pic.twitter.com/LSoXw6H7kK
— Forbes (@Forbes) January 29, 2018
I feel nothing but love for Bruno but are we all going to act like Despacito didn't broke all those records, wasn't streamed 24/7 in every damn radio and store until we couldn't stand listening to it — martu (@purposesheaven) January 29, 2018
Fonsi and Yankee may not have been called up the podium for a trophy, but the pair set the stage on fire with a dance-worthy performance of the smash hit during the awards show. 2006 Miss Universe winner Zuleyka Rivera joins them, twerking with the duo to the beat of "Despacito."
