Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” became the most-viewed YouTube video ever (8+ billion views) and sparked a global reggaeton explosion. The Justin Bieber remix made it the first primarily Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since “Macarena” (1996).
The Original
Released January 13, 2017, the original “Despacito” blended reggaeton with Latin pop. Its Puerto Rican setting and sensual lyrics celebrated Latin culture without compromise. The song dominated Latin America before crossing over.
The Bieber Effect
Justin Bieber’s April 2017 remix — featuring him singing phonetic Spanish — catapulted the song to global dominance. It spent 16 weeks at #1 on Billboard Hot 100, tying the record.
Cultural Impact
“Despacito” proved Spanish-language music could achieve mainstream American success. It paved the way for Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Rosalía’s crossover success. Streaming services created dedicated Latin playlists; radio stations added reggaeton rotations.
YouTube Dominance
The video’s 8+ billion views made it YouTube’s most-watched video (until “Baby Shark” in 2020). Its success validated YouTube as a primary music discovery platform globally.
Sources:
- Billboard Chart History: https://www.billboard.com/artist/luis-fonsi/chart-history/hsi/
- YouTube Record: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQP7kiw5Fk