Collaborations are an important part of Latin music, and Spanglish fusions are taking over as of late.
Many mainstream artists have teamed up with Latin music’s hottest names to drop bilingual tracks. Some artists totally get in the mood by singing the entire song or parts of it in Spanish.
Most recently, Shawn Mendes sings in Spanish on Camilo’s “Kesi” remix and Billie Eilish does the same on her Rosalia-assisted track “Lo Vas a Olvidar.”
English-speaking artists singing in other languages isn’t a new trend. Backstreet Boys, Drake and Celine Dion, to name a few, have all flaunted their Spanish-singing skills in the past.
As Spanglish (a mix of Spanish and English) collaborations continue to grow, check out seven mainstream artists who have jumped on the trend.
Doja Cat and Sia in “Del Mar”
On Ozuna’s “Del Mar,” in collaboration with Doja Cat and Sia, Sia flaunts her Spanish-speaking skills, singing the chorus completely in Spanish with Ozuna. Doja Cat, on the other hand, sings in English, but says “dimelo, dimelo” on her verse.
Khalid in “Otra Noche Sin Ti”
Georgia-based R&B singer Khalid first surprised his fans by singing in Spanish in his sultry reggaeton-inspired song “Suncity” featuring Empress Of. He took that same energy on J Balvin’s “Otra Noche Sin Ti,” where he chants part of the chorus in Spanish.
Shawn Mendes in “Kesi” Remix
It took a remix with Camilo for Mendes to sing in Español for the first time! The twist comes comes near the remix’s minute-mark, with Mendes singing a verse in English, and then transitions to Spanish to sing the chorus: “If you tell me right now that you want me by your side, that would be beautiful … but you don’t tell me kesi (yes).”
Billie Eilish in “Lo Vas a Olvidar”
In the highly anticipated track “Lo Vas a Olvidar,” in collaboration with Rosalia, Billie Eilish completely stuns by singing in Spanish. “Dime si me echas de meno’ aún” (“Tell me if you still miss me”), Rosalia kicks off. “Dime si no me perdonas aún” (“Tell me if you still don’t forgive me”), continues Eilish.
Selena Gomez in “De Una Vez”
In an interview with Apple Music, Gomez said: “This has been something I’ve wanted to do for 10 years, working on a Spanish project, because I’m so, so proud of my heritage, and just genuinely felt like I wanted this to happen.” The Texas-born artist of Mexican descent also discovered she “sings better in Spanish” and it came “very naturally” to her.
The Weeknd in “Hawai (Remix)”
Marking their first-ever collaboration, The Weeknd kicks off the remix by singing in English. “So now he’s your heaven? You’re lying to yourself and him to make me jealous,” he croons before flaunting the infectious chorus in Spanish. This also marks the first time the Canadian singer has sung in Spanish.
Nicki Minaj in “Tusa”
Karol G sings about a girl who thinks she’s over her ex but gets really sad whenever she hears the song that reminds her of him. Nicki’s rap verses, on the other hand, assures the ex that it’s his loss and now she’s moved on. She kicks it off with two Spanish phrases: “Pero hice todo ese llanto por nada/ Ahora soy una chica mala.”
Snoop Dogg in “Que Maldicion”
On the innovative banda-meets-hip-hop fusion, in collaboration with Banda MS, Snoop Dogg did not shy away from dropping his rap verse in Spanglish. “Si me necesitas I’ll arrive, believe me D-O-GG soy tu perrito yo allá,” he sings at one point.
Drake in “Mia”
In 2018, Bad Bunny teamed up with Drake for “Mia.” In the infectious collaboration, Drake sings completely in Spanish. He had previously flexed his skills on Romeo Santos’ bachata hit “Odio.”
Justin Bieber in “Despacito”
Beliebers could not believe that their boy Justin Bieber busted out his Spanish-singing skills on Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito.” In the remix, Bieber kicks off singing in English but then sings the chorus in Spanish.
Jason Derulo in “Mamacita”
Jason Derulo recently teamed up with Farruko to drop his new single “Mamacita.” The reggaeton track with flairs of Middle Eastern melodies highlights Derulo’s Spanish-speaking skills when he belts out the infectious chorus in that language.
The Jonas Brothers in “Runaway”
“Runaway” is a song by Sebastian Yatra featuring Natti Natasha, Daddy Yankee, and the Jonas Brothers. With so many talented Latinos on the track, the brothers did not hesitate to sing part of the chorus in Spanish.
Alessa Cara in “Querer Mejor”
Canadian singer Alessa Cara was up for the challenge, singing for the first time ever and completely in Spanish in Juanes’ “Querer Mejor” track.
John Legend in “Quisiera”
It was go big or go home for John Legend also as he sings entirely in Spanish in Flor de Toloache’s “Quisiera.” The collaboration is a Juan Luis Guerra cover where mariachi meets reggae.
Kane Brown in “Lost in the Middle of Nowhere”
Kane Brown and Becky G have found a way to marry country and Latin music. In the Spanglish remix of “Lost in the Middle of Nowhere,” Brown sings the chorus in Spanish.
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