SUMMER'S GREATEST SONGS COUNTDOWN: Luis Fonsi feat. Justin Bieber & Daddy Yankee - "Despacito"

Welcome back to Hitmaker Chronicles' countdown of the Top 20 Songs of the Summer, as voted by the staff of Caloroga Shark Media! I'm your host, Garrett Fisher. Coming in at number 13, we're diving into the global phenomenon that was Luis Fonsi's "Despacito" — a track that dominated 2017's summer by seamlessly blending reggaeton with pop sensibilities. With assists from reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee and pop superstar Justin Bieber, this Puerto Rican anthem broke streaming records and language barriers while "Wonder Woman" ruled theaters and the world was still figuring out TikTok. Grab your dancing shoes — we're heading to the reggaeton revolution.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Caalaroga Shark Media Summer twenty seventeen. I'm Garrett Fisher, and
while America was grappling with political divisions and social media
was reshaping how we consume everything, the entire world found
common ground on dance floors thanks to a Puerto Rican

(00:25):
ballad turned Reggatin anthem that proved music really is a
universal language. Despocito didn't just dominate that summer, it obliterated
every streaming record in existence, spent sixteen weeks at number
one on the Billboard Hot one hundred, and single handedly
brought Latin music into the global mainstream in ways that
seemed impossible just months before its release, coming in at

(00:48):
number thirteen on our countdown of the top twenty songs
of the summer, as voted by the staff of Calaroga
Shark Media. Luis Fonsi's Desposito featuring Daddy Yankee and It's
a Dial Form and later Justin Bieber in the Remix
That Conquered the World represents the moment when Latin music
fully arrived as a dominant force in global pop culture.

(01:12):
Before Luis Fonsi was breaking every streaming record on the planet,
he was already a major figure in Latin music, just
not necessarily on most Americans' radar. Born Luis Alfonso Rodriguez
Lopez Cepero in San Juan, Puerto Rico in nineteen seventy eight,
Fonsi had been releasing successful Spanish language albums since the
late nineteen nineties, earning Latin Grammy nominations and building a

(01:35):
devoted fan base throughout Latin America and among Latino communities
in the United States. But Desposito represented something different, a
perfect storm of talent, timing, and cultural shift that would
transform not just Fonsi's career, but the entire landscape of
popular music. The song began as a collaboration between Fonsei

(01:57):
and reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee, with production by Andres Torres
and Mauricio Renguifo. The original version, released in January twenty seventeen,
was already becoming a hit in Latin markets, but it
was the April twenty seventeen remix featuring Justin Bieber that
would turn it into a global phenomenon. Daddy Yankee born

(02:21):
Ramon Luis Ayala Rodriguez had been the undisputed king of
reggaton since the early two thousands, with hits like Gasolina,
introducing the Puerto Rican genre to international audiences. His presence
on Des Basito provided both credibility within the reggaeton community
and the rhythmic foundation that would make the song irresistible
to dancers worldwide. The addition of Justin Bieber to the

(02:45):
remix was a stroke of genius that nobody saw coming. Bieber,
who was in the midst of his own career renaissance
following his twenty fifteen album Purpose, heard the song at
a club in Colombia and fell in love with it
despite not speaking Spanish. His manager, Scooter Braun, facilitated the
collaboration and Bieber learned his Spanish vocals phonetically, bringing his

(03:09):
massive global fan base along for the ride. So what
made De Spasito the inescapable global phenomenon that defined Summer
twenty seventeen. Let's break it down. Musically, Despasito represents a
perfect fusion of reggaton's infectious rhythm with pop sensibilities that
made it accessible to listeners who might never have encountered

(03:32):
Latin urban music before. The track is built around a
hypnotic guitar loop sampled from Jamaica Farewell by Harry Belafonte,
creating an immediately recognizable melodic foundation that grounds the song
in Caribbean musical traditions while providing the perfect canvas for
reggaton's characteristic dembo rhythm. The production, handled by Andres Torres

(03:55):
and Mauricio Ranguifo, creates a sonic landscape that feels both
into and expansive. The verses feature relatively sparse arrangements that
allow the vocals to take center stage, while the chorus
explodes with layered percussion, horns and the kind of irresistible
groove that makes sitting still physically impossible. What makes the

(04:17):
production particularly effective is how it balances traditional reggaeton elements
with pop radio friendly touches. The dembo rhythm that defines
reggaeton is present throughout, but it softened and polished in
ways that made it palatable to mainstream pop audiences without
alienating the genre's core fan base. This careful balancing act

(04:37):
was crucial to the song's crossover success. The addition of
Bieber's vocals to the remix doesn't fundamentally alter the song's
musical DNA, but adds another melodic layer that enhanced its
global appeal. His voice provides a contrast to Fonse's warmer,
more traditionally Latin delivery, while maintaining the song's essential character

(04:57):
and flow. The struck Make Sure Of Desposito follows a
relatively straightforward verse chorus pattern, but with several elements that
enhance its addictive quality. The song opens with Fonsi's gentle
acoustic guitar and vocals, immediately establishing its romantic, sensual mood.
This intimate introduction quickly gives way to the full reggaeton

(05:20):
arrangement as Daddy Yankee enters with his unmistakable flow. The
verses alternate between Fonsei's more melodic crooning style and Daddy
Yankee's rapid fire reggaeton delivery, creating a dynamic conversation between
different vocal approaches and musical styles. This interplay keeps the
song engaging throughout its four minute runtime while showcasing both

(05:41):
artists distinctive strength. The chorus serves as the song's emotional
and melodic center, with Fonsi's delivery of the title phrase
Desposito becoming one of the most recognizable vocal hooks of
the decade. The word itself, meaning slowly in Spanish, becomes
both a literal instruction for the romantic encounter being described

(06:03):
and a broader invitation to savor the moment, the feeling,
the entire experience of the song. In the Bieber remix,
his English verses are strategically placed to provide moments of
linguistic accessibility for non Spanish speakers while maintaining the song's
essential Latin character. This integration was handled so smoothly that

(06:24):
the remix feels like a natural evolution rather than a
forced collaboration. The lyrics of Desposito showcase the art of
Latin romantic songwriting at its most seductive and poetic. The
song depicts a romantic encounter with vivid imagery and sensual
metaphors that celebrate physical attraction, while maintaining a level of
sophistication that elevates it beyond mere dance floor fodder. Phonsie's

(06:49):
verses paint detailed pictures of desire and seduction, using the
Spanish language's natural musicality and rhythm to create lyrics that
function almost as percussion, the way Spanish syllables flow over
Reggaton's syncopated rhythms creates a hypnotic effect that works even
for listeners who don't understand the language. The sound itself
conveys the meaning. Daddy Yankee's contributions at a more direct,

(07:13):
street level perspective while maintaining the song's romantic themes. His
verses bring the classic reggaton swagger while staying true to
the song's overall mood and concept. The interplay between Fonci's
romantic crooning and Daddy Yankee's more rhythmic delivery creates textural
variety that keeps the song engaging the recurring theme of

(07:35):
taking things Dispasito slowly works on multiple levels. It's both
a literal reference to the romantic scenario being described and
a broader metaphor for savoring life's pleasures, for not rushing
through experiences but allowing them to unfold naturally. This universal
message resonated with listeners across cultures, contributing to the song's

(07:59):
globally peel. What truly makes Despacito special is the chemistry
between all the artists involved. Fonsi's vocals combine technical skill
with emotional warmth, creating performances that feel both polished and authentic.
His delivery of the Spanish lyrics is effortless and natural,

(08:19):
making even non Spanish speakers want to sing along. Daddy
Yankee brings his decades of experience as Reggaton's premier artist,
providing rhythmic complexity and street credibility while never overwhelming the
song's melodic elements. His presence ensures that the track maintains
its connection to Reggaton's roots while reaching for pop crossover success.

(08:42):
In the remix, Bieber's contribution demonstrates his evolved artistry and
willingness to step outside his comfort zone. Despite learning his
Spanish lyrics phonetically, his delivery feels committed and authentic, showing
respect for the language and culture while bringing his own
melodic sensibilities to the col colaboration. The combination of these

(09:02):
three distinct vocal styles, Fonzie's romantic Latin pop, Daddy Yankees
classic Reggaeton flow, and Bieber's contemporary pop sensibilities creates a
multi layered vocal landscape that offers something for virtually every
type of listener. More in a Moment. Des Spasito was

(09:32):
released in its original form in January twenty seventeen and
began climbing Latin music charts immediately, but it was the
Bieber remix, released in April twenty seventeen, that turned the
song into a global phenomenon beyond anyone's wildest expectations. The
remix reached number one on the Billboard Hot one hundred

(09:52):
in May and stayed there for sixteen consecutive weeks, becoming
the longest running Spanish language number one hit in the charts.
Hit the song streaming numbers were equally unprecedented. It became
the first video to reach three billion views on YouTube,
eventually surpassing seven billion views and holding the record for
most viewed video on the platform for years. On Spotify,

(10:16):
it broke multiple records, becoming the most streamed song of
all time with over eleven billion plays. To fully appreciate
the cultural impact of Despachito, we need to examine the
landscape of summer twenty seventeen, a season marked by political tension,
cultural division, and the continued evolution of how we consume

(10:36):
media and entertainment. The summer movie season was dominated by
Wonder Woman, which became both a box office phenomenon and
a cultural moment, proving that female led superhero films could
achieve massive success. Other major releases included Spider Man, Homecoming, Dunkirk,
and The Fate of the Furious, reflecting Hollywood's continued reliance

(10:58):
on franchise entertainment. Musically, the charts featured a diverse array
of hits that reflected the fragmented nature of contemporary music consumption.
Ed Sheeran's Shape of You had dominated early twenty seventeen,
while artists like The Chainsmokers, Imagine Dragons, and DJ Khaled
were also achieving major success. The diversity of successful music

(11:23):
reflected both the democratizing effects of streaming and audience's appetite
for different sounds and styles. Technology was rapidly evolving in
ways that would transform music promotion and consumption. Instagram Stories
had launched the previous year and was becoming a major
platform for artists promotion. TikTok was still called musical dot

(11:43):
ly and was primarily popular with teenagers, years before it
would become the dominant force in music discovery. Streaming was
fully established as the primary way most people consume music,
with Spotify and Apple Music competing for dominance politically and social.
Twenty seventeen was a turbulent year in the United States

(12:04):
with the Trump presidency creating daily controversies and cultural divisions.
In this context, Despachito provided something rare, a genuinely unifying
cultural moment that transcended political and demographic boundaries. The song
became a celebration of Latin culture at a time when
Latino communities were facing increased political hostility, demonstrating the power

(12:27):
of music to create connection across cultural divides. For Latin music,
Despasito represented a watershed moment. While Latino artists had achieved
crossover success before, this was different a Spanish language song
achieving sustained mainstream dominance without requiring English translation or cultural assimilation.

(12:49):
The song opened doors for other Latin artists, contributing to
what would become known as the Latin music boom of
the late twenty and tens. For Fonsi himself, Despacchito so
transformed him from a successful Latin artist to a global
superstar virtually overnight. The song's success led to collaborations with
major international artists, sold out world tours, and recognition as

(13:12):
one of the key figures in Latin music's mainstream breakthrough.
Daddy Yankees' involvement further cemented his status as reggaeton's founding father,
while introducing his distinctive style to massive new audiences. For Bieber,
the collaboration demonstrated his artistic evolution and cultural awareness, showing
his willingness to embrace different musical traditions while expanding his

(13:34):
own creative horizons. The song's influence on the music industry
has been enormous and lasting. It accelerated the mainstream acceptance
of Latin music, paving the way for artists like Bad Bunny, Jay, Balvin,
and Rosalia to achieve global success without abandoning their cultural identities.
Record labels began investing more heavily in Latin artists, radio

(13:57):
programmers became more open to Spanish language music, and streaming
services developed better mechanisms for promoting non English content. Desposito
also demonstrated the power of strategic collaborations in the streaming era.
The addition of Bieber to the remix showed how featuring
established pop stars could amplify songs across different demographics and

(14:18):
geographic markets, creating a template that has been replicated countless
time since. More broadly, the song's success represented a shift
in how global culture flows, rather than requiring cultural products
to be adapted for American or European markets. Des Basito
proved that authentically Latin content could achieve worldwide success on

(14:38):
its own terms, suggesting new possibilities for cultural exchange in
an increasingly connected world. Looking back on Desposito today, it
remains a remarkable achievement in cross cultural collaboration and musical fusion.
The song's combination of traditional Latin rhythms with contemporary pop
sensibilities created something that felt both them filiar and fresh,

(15:01):
honoring reggaeton's roots while expanding its reach. What makes Desposito
the quintessential global summer anthem is its understanding that great
music transcends language barriers through rhythm, melody, and emotional authenticity.
While many listeners couldn't understand the Spanish lyrics, they could
feel the song's sensual energy, its celebration of life and attraction,

(15:23):
its invitation to move and dance and celebrate being alive.
The tracks enduring popularity demonstrates that audiences are hungry for
musical diversity and cultural exchange when it's presented authentically and accessibly.
Desposito didn't succeed by watering down its Latin identity. It
succeeded by confidently presenting that identity in its most appealing form.

(15:47):
So as we continue our countdown of the top twenty
songs of the summer at number thirteen, turn up de
Sposito and let its irresistible rhythm remind you of a
summer when the whole world learned to sing in Spanish,
when cultural barriers fell away on dance floors everywhere, and
when a song from Puerto Rico proved that great music
really is a universal language. Because Dispachito isn't just a song,

(16:12):
It's a cultural bridge, a celebration of Latin music's global appeal,
and a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected collaborations create
the most magical results. Six years later, it still has
the power to get any party started and any dance
floor moving, which is why it deserves its place in
our summer song's pantheon. This is Garrett Fischer for hit

(16:33):
Maker Chronicles counting down the top twenty songs of the summer,
as voted by the staff of Calaroga Shark Media. Keep
that Latin energy flowing and join me next week as
we continue our countdown with number twelve.