5 collaborations that rocked 2017, boosted diversity and empowerment
Team work makes the dream work, right? Sometimes, though, a collaboration might result in more than just great music.
For decades we have seen lots of “X featuring Y” songs on music charts; but in a turbulent year like 2017, some collabs had a special flavour.
More than dominating charts and social media, these 5 collaborations were proof that music is a powerful tool to unite, empower, help people, and enhance diversity.
Check them out and get inspired!
Migos, Cardi B & Nicki Minaj — Motorsport
Cardi B was rocking everything with her hit song “Bodak Yellow” in Mid-2017 — she became the first female rapper to score a #1 on Billboard with a solo single since Lauryn Hill in 1998.
With a new woman doing well in a field mostly dominated by men, it didn’t take long until a possible beef with Nicki Minaj was speculated. However, the two boss ladies surprised everyone by releasing the powerful bop “Motorsport”, along with hip hop trio Migos, dashing hopes of any drama and girl-on-girl hate.
Nicki has always been queen of collaborations, and Cardi made music with other people too, after “Bodak Yellow”; but, in a year marked by women that stood out against misogyny and abuses in the entertainment business, it was great to see two rap queens giving us another display of how powerful women can be when they join forces.
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee — Despacito
2017 was the year Puerto Rico saw people dying and losing access to power and water, due to the devastating hurricane Maria; but, on the other hand, it was also the year when one of its stars made history for Puerto Ricans and latin music.
The spicy and feel-good reggaetón hit “Despacito” was born multicultural — it was written by its singer Luis Fonsi along with Erika Ender, a Panama songwriter with Brazilian roots; with the swagful rap of Puerto Rican super star Daddy Yankee being added last. No one, though, would imagine how many cultural barriers the song would break.
“Despacito” became the most streamed song of all times, and the first Spanish-spoken song to score #1 on Billboard since “Macarena”, in 1996. As I write this, its video holds 4,6 billion views on Youtube.
The massive impact of “Despacito” worldwide built the perfect platform for Fonsi and Daddy Yankee to gather people from everywhere to raise funds for the rebuilt of Puerto Rico, in a true demonstration of how music can bring people together — both in happy and sad times.
J Balvin, Willy William & Beyoncé — Mi gente
It is an understatement that adding Beyoncé to anything straightway upgrades it. And, when what she’s getting into was already a hot dixie, made by a Colombian reggaetón star and a hella creative french producer with mauritian roots, the results can’t be less than a big party, with enough spice to top charts around the globe.
Singer J Balvin and producer Willy William were already making waves in several countries of Latin America with their effusive single “Mi gente”. After Beyoncé joined them, in a remix made to raise funds for hurricanes and earthquakes victims, the song reached #1 on the Hot Latin Songs Billboard charts, and score #1 on dozens of countries too.
With a contagious vibe and lyrics that celebrate the happiness and pride of J Balvin’s “gente” (people), “Mi gente” was another great moment for unity and diversity in 2017.
BTS & Steve Aoki — Mic Drop (remix)
The tension towards a possible war with its Northern neighbour wasn’t the only thing that put South Korea on the news during 2017.
The talented, hardworking guys of Korean boyband BTS started the year in an astounding way by being the first K-pop group to win a Billboard Music Awards; but they didn’t settle.
During the year, the impressive list of achievements of BTS continued to grow, both in and out of Korea. Among other things, they collaborated with American artists like production duo The Chainsmokers, and legendary DJ Steve Aoki.
Aoki’s remix for BTS’ fierce hit “Mic Drop” broke records (previously held by BTS themselves) as the highest-charting entry on the Hot 100 songs chart of Billboard for a K-pop group; and it also score #1 on Worldwide Songs Chart
of iTunes.
BTS were, at that time, already a force to be reckoned with; but it was awesome to see them adding even more diversity to foreign charts and showing their power with this showstopping collaboration.
Major Lazer, Anitta & Pabllo Vittar — Sua cara
When 2017 started, Anitta was the reigning queen of Brazilian pop music, making her first moves towards an international career, and her debut could not have been better.
Invited to sing in an exciting production of American trio Major Lazer, Anitta brought the rising pop & LGBTQ sensation of Brazil, magnetic drag queen Pabllo Vittar. Together, they made “Sua cara” even more explosive, singing in Portuguese and ruling the desert of Morocco in a sexy video that hit the mark of 17,8 million views on Youtube, only 24 hours after its release.
The striking success of “Sua cara”, for Vittar, was one more trophy to bring home to her recent fandom and the LGBTQ community; and for Anitta, it was another proof that she was more than ready to take over the world.
Will we get more amazing collaborations like these of 2017? We sure hope that in 2018 more great artists continue to team up and bring us the best of all worlds!
