Latest news with #PesoPluma
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shakira Brings Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour to Chicago's Sueños Festival: ‘I'm In Love With This City'
When Shakira announced the stadium tour dates for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran trek, Chicago was not part of the list, leaving fans wondering why the Windy City was left out. Soon after, it was unveiled that she'd headline Sueños Festival and on Saturday (May 24), the Colombian star closed out day one of the two-day event in Chicago's Grant Park. What was originally billed as a two-hour performance starting at 8 p.m., Shakira went onstage closer to 8:30 p.m. and played a 90-minute set. The crowd — which had quickly dispersed after Peso Pluma's set — slowly returned to find a good spot to watch Shakira and the empty spots filled up, especially when the main stage lights were turned on. More from Billboard Demi Lovato Marries Jordan 'Jutes' Lutes in California Wearing Vivienne Westwood Wedding Gown Billy Ray Cyrus & Elizabeth Hurley Make Red Carpet Debut as a Couple Fans Choose MGK's 'Cliché' as This Week's Favorite New Music Shakira's crowd was multigenerational, which is noteworthy given that Sueños caters to a younger, perhaps Gen Z-leaning crowd. Many women in attendance paid homage to Shakira, wearing her signature belly-dancing hip belts. And Colombians proudly waved their flags, eager to hear La Loba howl. 'I was really looking forward to being with you tonight,' a beaming Shakira said, speaking in a mix of English and Spanish. 'This is incredible. This city, wow I'm in love with this city, it's so beautiful. Thank you for making me feel at home. There is definitely no better reunion than a she-wolf with her pack. Chicago, tonight, we are one.' While it's hard to replicate a stadium tour stage in a festival setting, it's safe to say Shakira gifted Chicago fans an unforgettable night. Going from wearing a shimmery white jumpsuit and large black sunglasses to a sparkly pink dress in a blink of an eye, the 'Pies Descalzos' singer, backed by a troupe of fierce dancers, kicked off with bangers, including 'Girl Like Me,' 'Las de la Intuición,' 'Estoy Aquí,' 'Inevitable,' 'Te Felicito,' 'TQG' and 'Don't Bother.' 'These last few years have not been easy for me, nobody is saved from falls. But if I have learned anything, it's that the fall is not the end but the beginning of a higher flight. We, women, get up a little stronger, a little more wiser, every time we fall,' Shakira said, a nod to the empowering theme of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran era, inspired by the healing that comes from a heartbreak. During her 90-minute set, Shakira's hypnotizing dance moves and choreography were on full display, including her unmatched belly-dancing in 'Ojos Asi' and the champeta and calypso footwork during 'Waka Waka.' But a fan favorite moment was when Shakira revisited her rockera roots, singing 'Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos' and 'Antología.' Of course, she closed with the global hit 'Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,' which had all the women in attendance singing at the top of their lungs, ending an epic reunion between a she-wolf and her pack. Sueños continues on Sunday (May 25) with Grupo Frontera and Don Omar as headliners. Meanwhile, Shakira's Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran is set to visit Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles next. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Chicago Tribune
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
At the 2025 Sueños Music Festival, Chicago artists get their moments alongside Shakira and Peso Pluma
In the heart of Chicago's Grant Park, the Sueños Music Festival celebrated Latinos over Memorial Day weekend. Thousands flocked downtown Chicago for the fourth edition of the festival that has brought world-renowned names of the Latin music scene to the Windy City and uplifted the culture and identity of many. This time, Shakira and Peso Pluma headlined Day One. Peso Pluma returned after an abrupt cancellation last year due to weather conditions, and Shakira delivered a two-hour set that concluded with a fireworks over the city's skyline. But amid the headliners, there was a new stage that featured some of Chicago's local talent. By featuring local talent alongside international headliners like Shakira and Peso Pluma, Sueños aims to bridge the gap between global fame and local artistry, offering attendees a rich tapestry of musical experiences. For the artists, many young and full of dreams, performing at Sueños lifts up their name and the Chicago music scene. Last year, Ramiro Medina, lead singer of the band Lemanz, attended the festival to see Peso Pluma. This year, Medina said, he was part of the lineup. 'It's unbelievable. It's a blessing,' he said as he got ready to perform. Lemanz, a norteño band that emerged in the Chicago music scene over the last two years, was one of the many local regional Mexican bands that performed on the La Plaza stage. The band started out as a hobby, he said, just some friends hanging out and sharing their love for their Mexican heritage through music about five years ago. They started to perform at family parties and smaller venues. Eventually, Medina said, it became his career. For Medina and his band mates, the opportunity means that more doors will open for them. 'I'm excited and grateful. I feel blessed,' said Alexis Villalobos, the accordion player for the band. 'It's been five years since we picked up this project and it's finally picking up.' As young Mexican-Americans, forming a part of a regional Mexican music band goes beyond music. It is about embracing the culture they love and how much they want others to also appreciate it. 'My parents are very happy, they're more excited than me to be here,' Medina said. Some of his siblings, he said, were there to see the band perform. Though Medina was born and raised in Chicago's South Side, his family migrated from Puebla, Mexico. Efren Vasquez, 34, a founder member of Vanguardia, one of Chicago's most renowned bands, has witnessed the pride for Mexican culture that perhaps was not there before. 'Not only are they no longer ashamed of their roots, there's a whole festival that celebrates us,' Vasquez said. He added that he is proud to see younger generations of Latinos following their love for music. Vanguardia started about seven years ago and quickly rose to the top of the music scene in Chicago because of its unique style. Vasquez said that the new stage gives an opportunity for people to see Chicago's rising talent. Vanguardia performed Saturday to a crowd that slowly started to build up at La Plaza stage, followed by Lemanz and other local DJs. On Sunday, Los K-bros and Grupo Sekta joined the show. This inclusion not only enriched the festival lineup but also underscored the importance of supporting homegrown artists, according to festival organizers. 'Supporting and uplifting Latin culture has always been at the core of Sueños. That's why we're proud to feature the La Plaza Stage this year, fully dedicated to Latino bands and DJs from Chicago,' said Aaron Ampudia, one of the co-founders of the festival. 'The response has been incredible. These artists deserve a spotlight, and we're honored to offer them a platform to connect with new audiences and be part of something that's bigger than just a performance — it's a cultural movement.' In 2024, the festival generated roughly $243.7 million in economic impact and grew from 80,000 to 130,000 attendees. This year, the festival expects to again see 130,000 people over the two-day festival. At Sueños, the next generation of mainstage headliners could get their start on the La Plaza stage.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bad Bunny and Fuerza Regida Make Chart History as Spanish-Language Albums Claim Top Spots
For the first time in the nearly 70-year history of Billboard's albums chart, a pair of Spanish-language albums — Bad Bunny's ode to Puerto Rico, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' and Mexican-American band Fuerza Regida's '111xpantia' — lead the charge. 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' is the No. 1 album in the United States, climbing up from its previous No. 7 position following its first release on vinyl. It's the fourth total week at No. 1 for the album, which spent three consecutive weeks at the peak starting Jan. 25. The 17-song set returns with a total of 84,500 equivalent album units, with more than half of that total deriving from vinyl purchases, according to Luminate. More from Variety Ghost Becomes First Hard Rock Band to Top Albums Chart in Four Years Bad Bunny Sets International Stadium Tour With Concerts in Japan, Brazil and More SZA Tops Albums and Songs Charts as 'SOS' Leaps Back to No. 1 Making Latin music history, and achieving the highest-charting set of its career, Fuerza Regida debuts at No. 2 with '111xpantia.' The album was originally released with 12 songs and was expanded to 15 with a deluxe edition that was released three days after its May 2 debut. It earned a total of 76,000 units with 39,000 album sales and 50 million streams. With 39,000 copies sold, '111' surpasses the previous largest sales week for a regional Mexican album, when Selena's 'Amor Prohibido' sold 36,000 copies in 1995. It's also the highest-charting Spanish-language album by a duo or group, and the highest-charting regional Mexican music album ( Peso Pluma's 'Génesis' held the title since 2023), as reported by Billboard. Prior to '111,' the band — led by Jesús Ortiz Paz (JOP) with José 'Pelón' García, Moisés López, Khrystian Ramos and Samuel Jáimez — scored its biggest debut on the Billboard 200 in 2023 with the release of 'Pa Las Baby's y Belikeada.' The second debut in the Top 10 of the list this week comes from rapper Key Glock and 'Glockaveli,' which debuts at No. 8 with 34,000 units. The 18-song set was also expanded with a deluxe edition featuring an additional three tracks. As for the remaining top titles: SZA's 'SOS' moves to No. 3 from No. 2; Morgan Wallen's 'One Thing at a Time' is at No. 4; Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' is at No. 5; Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' is at No. 6; PartyNextDoor and Drake's '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U' is at No. 7; and Wallen logs his second simultaneous Top 10 album with 'Dangerous: The Double Album' at No. 9. Meanwhile, Shaboozey's 'Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going' rounds out the pinnacle at No. 10. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
US revokes visas of Mexican band members after cartel leader's face was projected at a concert
The U.S. State Department revoked the visas of members of a Mexican band after they projected the face of a drug cartel boss onto a large screen during a performance in the western state of Jalisco over the weekend. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who was U.S. ambassador to Mexico during the first Trump administration, said late Tuesday on X that the work and tourism visas of members of Los Alegres del Barranco were revoked. The visa revocations follow widespread outrage in Mexico over the concert as prosecutors in two states have launched investigations into the projected images, and a larger national reckoning over how to address the rise of a popular musical genre criticized for romanticizing drug cartels. 'I'm a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn't mean that expression should be free of consequences,' Landau wrote on X. 'The last thing we need is a welcome mat for people who extol criminals and terrorists.' The controversy broke out over the weekend when the face of Nemesio Rubén "El Mencho" Oseguera layered over flames was projected behind the band, originally hailing from Sinaloa, during the concert. Finger pointing ensued among the band, concert producers and the venue. Oseguera is the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which has been connected to a ranch authorities say was used to train cartel recruits and possibly dispose of bodies in Jalisco, where searchers found human bone fragments, heaps of clothing and shoes. The Jalisco cartel is among other criminal groups in Mexico that have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. While the image was met by applause during the concert, Jalisco prosecutors quickly announced they were summoning the band to testify in an investigation into whether they were promoting violence, a crime which could result in a penalty of up to six months in prison. The state of Michoacan also announced an investigation into the Los Alegres del Barranco for projecting the same images during a concert in the city of Uruapan. Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus said that the state would ban musical performances that glorify violence, adding that violators would 'face monetary and criminal sanctions.' 'We know that outrage is not enough,' Lemus said. 'Of course it's possible to ban (the music).' Since, a number of the band's future shows have been cancelled, one town's government saying that the show 'didn't have the municipal permissions needed' to carry out the performance. The dispute coincides with a larger cultural debate in Mexico as artists like Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida and Natanael Cano usher in a global renaissance of Mexican regional music, by mixing classic ballads with trap music. In 2023, Peso Pluma beat Taylor Swift out as the most streamed artist on YouTube. Many of the artists now topping the charts have come under fierce criticism because their lyrics often paint cartel leaders as Robin Hood-esque figures. Others say that the genre, known as 'narco corridos', expresses the harsh realities of many youths across Mexico. A number of Mexican states have banned public performances of the music in recent years, the most recent being the state of Nayarit in February. Some of the bans have come as famed artists have received death threats from cartels, forcing a number of them to cancel their performances. Others, including Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, have sought a less aggressive approach to addressing the genre. Sheinbaum, who has come out against censoring the music, has suggested instead that the Mexican government push forward initiatives that promote Mexican regional music with more socially acceptable lyrics. The Mexican leader did harden her language on the topic following the Los Alegres del Barranco concert. In her morning news briefing this week, Sheinbaum demanded an investigation into the concert, saying: 'You can't justify violence or criminal groups.'
Associated Press
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
US revokes visas of Mexican band members after cartel leader's face was projected at a concert
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. State Department revoked the visas of members of a Mexican band after they projected the face of a drug cartel boss onto a large screen during a performance in the western state of Jalisco over the weekend. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who was U.S. ambassador to Mexico during the first Trump administration, said late Tuesday on X that the work and tourism visas of members of Los Alegres del Barranco were revoked. The visa revocations follow widespread outrage in Mexico over the concert as prosecutors in two states have launched investigations into the projected images, and a larger national reckoning over how to address the rise of a popular musical genre criticized for romanticizing drug cartels. 'I'm a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn't mean that expression should be free of consequences,' Landau wrote on X. 'The last thing we need is a welcome mat for people who extol criminals and terrorists.' The controversy broke out over the weekend when the face of Nemesio Rubén 'El Mencho' Oseguera layered over flames was projected behind the band, originally hailing from Sinaloa, during the concert. Finger pointing ensued among the band, concert producers and the venue. Oseguera is the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which has been connected to a ranch authorities say was used to train cartel recruits and possibly dispose of bodies in Jalisco, where searchers found human bone fragments, heaps of clothing and shoes. The Jalisco cartel is among other criminal groups in Mexico that have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. While the image was met by applause during the concert, Jalisco prosecutors quickly announced they were summoning the band to testify in an investigation into whether they were promoting violence, a crime which could result in a penalty of up to six months in prison. The state of Michoacan also announced an investigation into the Los Alegres del Barranco for projecting the same images during a concert in the city of Uruapan. Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus said that the state would ban musical performances that glorify violence, adding that violators would 'face monetary and criminal sanctions.' 'We know that outrage is not enough,' Lemus said. 'Of course it's possible to ban (the music).' Since, a number of the band's future shows have been cancelled, one town's government saying that the show 'didn't have the municipal permissions needed' to carry out the performance. The dispute coincides with a larger cultural debate in Mexico as artists like Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida and Natanael Cano usher in a global renaissance of Mexican regional music, by mixing classic ballads with trap music. In 2023, Peso Pluma beat Taylor Swift out as the most streamed artist on YouTube. Many of the artists now topping the charts have come under fierce criticism because their lyrics often paint cartel leaders as Robin Hood-esque figures. Others say that the genre, known as 'narco corridos', expresses the harsh realities of many youths across Mexico. A number of Mexican states have banned public performances of the music in recent years, the most recent being the state of Nayarit in February. Some of the bans have come as famed artists have received death threats from cartels, forcing a number of them to cancel their performances. Others, including Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, have sought a less aggressive approach to addressing the genre. Sheinbaum, who has come out against censoring the music, has suggested instead that the Mexican government push forward initiatives that promote Mexican regional music with more socially acceptable lyrics. The Mexican leader did harden her language on the topic following the Los Alegres del Barranco concert. In her morning news briefing this week, Sheinbaum demanded an investigation into the concert, saying: 'You can't justify violence or criminal groups.'
