Is Mi Gente the UK's next big Latin-pop hit? We crunch the numbers on the song taking on Despacito across the world

We crunch the numbers and stack the stats on the song taking on Despacito across the world.
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It seems there’s no stopping the rise of Latin music in 2017. From Puerto Rican powerhouse Luis Fonsi breaking chart records across the world with Despacito, to the Spanish-tinged Wild Thoughts from DJ Khaled and Rihanna, to Enrique's remixed Subeme La Radio, there’s no escaping the genre this summer that is well overdue a revival on an international scale.

Another Spanish track set to break through on UK shores is Mi Gente. Translated as ‘my people’, the song is by Colombian reggae star J Balvin and French DJ and producer Willy William. This transcontinental blend of styles ranks as one of the world's most popular tracks this summer, having already reached the upper echelons of the charts across Europe and South America. 

Here are a few key facts and stats about the song (and its stars!) that is taking on Despacito in just about every territory right now.

Mi Gente is currently the most streamed song in the world

Mi Gente is a party starter of a song – the track is currently being streamed over 4 million times a day across the world on Spotify alone, hundreds of thousands ahead of Despacito.

The video has been watched on YouTube a lot

The feel-good video for Mi Gente is an explosion of colour, matching the bonkers mix of Caribbean, Latin, African and electronic elements within the song. Did we also mention that the song has both Spanish and French lyrics?

Since its release on June 29, the song has amassed over 232 million views and counting.

J Balvin is no stranger to mega hits

A huge star in his native Colombia, J. Balvin has racked up six Number 1 hits in his home country and has collaborated with the likes of Pharrell, Major Lazer, French Montana, Pitbull and Justin Bieber for the Latin remix of Sorry.

Mi Gente was originally another song entirely

In a similar move to Bieber's journey to appearing on Despacito, J Balvin got in touch with Willy Williams after hearing his track Voodoo Song and asked to switch it up by adding his own verses. The result took Willy’s song from Number 182 in the French charts to the top of the charts.

The song has topped charts across the world

While plenty of Number 1s are still in sight for Mi Gente, it’s already topped a lot of charts across South America and Europe. J and Willy have peaked at the top spot in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Spain, while the song has so far leaped to Number 46 on the US Billboard Hot 100. With a North American tour underway very soon, we’re sure J Balvin will continue to rise the ranks Stateside.

View this week's Official Singles Chart Update to see who J Balvin and Willy William are up against.

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AJ Jonathan Ashby

0

Ricky Martin??? Enrique Inglasias but been a long time, about time we had some real Latino singers again instead of English or Americans making a hash of the language...Espanol is !! ❤️

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bradavon

0

Anything that makes people realise there are other languages out there other than English can only be a good thing.

SH

Scott Harris

0

Hope Latin Pop doesn't become the next big trend in music. I'd hate to see every other artist try to mimic this exact same style of music, because it's already stale!

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fabricio

0

latin songs have been popular worldwide since years ago. if you check the most viewed videos of youtube you'll see that latin songs are one of the most popular ones, reaching billions and billions of views and surpassing many other english song. also due to the fact that spanish is the second most spoken language in the world

SH

Scott Harris

0

I'm sorry, you must have misunderstood me. I'm referring to mainstream music now and other pop artists getting influenced by Latin Pop to be a hit on the charts outside of South America, like with Justin Bieber and Despacito. I just can't see other big name artists like Drake or Rihanna trying to follow the same style of music just to match with Despacito's success.

JC

Jay C

0

They're already doing it, though. Listen to almost any pop hit from the past 18 months or so and so many are using the same type of reggaeton beat that Daddy Yankee and J Balvin have built their success on. Drake and Rihanna have already done it; just because it's not being done in Spanish doesn't mean singers aren't taking directly from a sound that's internationally very popular.

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luca

-1

Horrible music for horrible people

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I Am A Stegosaurus

2

It had better not be. Almost as bad as Despacito