Latin Music Stars Add Glamour to Miami’s “Lo Nuestro” Awards

By Cynthia De Saint

MIAMI – A parade of the greatest stars of Latin music delighted the audience at the 22nd presentation of the “Lo Nuestro” awards, whose gala was aired for the first time on high-definition television (HDTV).

As occurs every year, the fans who voted on Univision.com decided who would take home the prizes.

This time no one ran away with a disproportionate number of awards, but all were winners and especially the audience, who could enjoy a varied musical show onstage featuring every genre from reggaeton to the best in authentic band music.

The event took place Thursday evening at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, and opened with all-time Puerto Rican idol Chayanne, who celebrated his 30th year in showbiz with a medley of his most rhythmic hits.

The artist, who later received the Artistic Excellence Award, dedicated it, in his own words, “to the fans who put me here.”

But the audience wanted more than the prizes, they were waiting for increasingly spectacular performances, and were not disappointed by the show put on by, among others, Mexican artist Thalia, who also won a prize, the Young Artist Legacy Award for her 30-year music career that began at the age of 8.

After singing his latest hit, “Se Me Va la Voz” (I’m Losing My Voice), Alejandro Fernandez was handed the Career Achievement Award.

Other outstanding performances were those by Puerto Rico’s Daddy Yankee, who, surrounded by gigantic geometric figures and dancers dressed as creatures from the future, sang “Descontrol” (Reckless), and by Paulina Rubio, who sang “Ni Rosas ni Jugetes” (Neither Roses nor Toys) in a black-and-white movie with cowboy dancing and settings.

But undoubtedly one of the favorites of an evening, which she filled with the humor of her numbers “Maldita Carcacha” (Cursed Old Car) and “Rata de Dos Patas” (Two-Legged Rat) was Paquita La del Barrio, who went down among the audience to “punish” the men.

Among the winners there were few surprises, since it was enough to see the lists of popularity and sales to know who would be the public’s favorites.

The “diva of the band,” Jenni Rivera, was named Female Artist of the Year in the Regional Mexican Genre, and as expected, the Male Pop Artist of the Year was Luis Fonsi, who accepted the prize for Puerto Rico, while Wisin & Yandel were winners in the Urban Album of the Year category for “La Revolucion.”

The reggaeton duo also came out on top in the Urban Artist of the Year category, but their countryman, Tito “El Bambino” won the prize for Urban Song of the Year with the number “El Amor” (Love).

The Group of the Year in the Mexican Regional Genre was La Arrolladora Banda el Limon, while the prize for Tropical Group of the Year went to Aventura, as did Tropical Song of the Year for “Por un Segundo” (For a Second).

The Canadian singer of Portuguese descent, Nelly Furtado, who sang the hit tune “Manos al Aire” (Hands in the Air) from her first disc in Spanish “Mi Plan” (My Plan), was awarded the prize for New Soloist of the Year, while voters elected “Sin Frenos” (Without Holding Back) by Quinta Estacion as Album of the Year.

It was undoubtedly a night without surprises as far as the prizes went, but a magic night for fans of Latin music. EFE