Last night’s Grammy Awards reflected a shifting global pop landscape, with Bad Bunny becoming the first artist to win Album of the Year with a Spanish‑language album.
Karen Jaime, an associate professor of Performing and Media Arts and Latina/o Studies at Cornell University, says the Grammys rewarded the sonic political expression of Bad Bunny's “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” rather than punishing him for it.
Jaime says: “Bad Bunny's win for Album of the Year reflects the mainstreaming of Spanish language music and artistry, and pays homage to Spanish-language artists such as Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and Gloria Estefan, whose work was often included but rarely centered in top award categories.
“His win with an album unapologetically celebrating Puerto Rico demonstrates the global economic power and reach of the Latina/o/x market and Latina/o/x people during a time of increased anti-immigrant sentiment and violence.”
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