Camila Cabello, Ricky Martin, and J Balvin delivered a sensual version of “Havana” at the Grammy Awards that was one for the ages. Cabello opened the bilingual performance with a provocative dance in a neon dollhouse, all while looking stunning in a canary yellow dress – and of course, she just sang like a bird too. Young Thug, who featured on the studio recording, took to the stage next and towered over all the other performers as he laid down a loose flow.
Cabello then sang the chorus while doing a spicy salsa dance with a Latin lover. Next, it was time for Puerto Rican megastar Ricky Martin to steal the show, singing in Spanish while looking fly in a white suit. The big features weren’t done yet though, as next up Colombian hit-maker J Balvin appeared. Martin, Cabello, and Balvin then rocked the stage together, ending the performance with a suitably hype finale.
You’ve got to hand it to the production team who really went all-out for the show, drafting a small army of cool cats who created the vibe of a wild Havana street party. This included several colourful characters, most notably ‘broom guy’, who had a grand old time dancing around with a broom in the dollhouse kitchen while dressed up like Mrs. Doubtfire.
“Havana” was well-received on YouTube, attracting 42.6 million views on the platform. This made it by far the most popular live performance on Cabello’s channel. The second most popular live cut on her channel is “My Oh My”, which she performed in an energetic cheerleader outfit. Rapper DaBaby featured on the original track and he also dropped in for the live performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Cabello’s performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards was a triumphant moment for Latin music. Up to that point in the history of the event, the Grammys had only hosted performances from 15 Latin artists.
This connection was not lost on fans online, who celebrated Cabello’s representation of her culture on the big stage, with comments like “She brought Latin America to the Grammys and I am proud!” and “The whole performance is full of Latin American style – happy, joyful, passion. I cannot love the performance more.”
Ricky Martin’s appearance for the “Havana” performance was not mere happenstance, as he also has quite a history with the Grammys. Organisers, The Recording Academy, called Martin’s live version of “La Copa De La Vida” at the 1999 Grammys a “landmark performance” that “took his career — and Latin music as a whole — to the next level.” So, it was very fitting that exactly 20 years later he would return to celebrate Latin music on the Grammys stage once again.
Cabello’s own career was really taking off at the time, with “Havana” having gone to number one just about all around the planet, including in the US, and being certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America.
For more of Camila Cabello’s captivating performances, feel free to follow her on her official YouTube channel or give her a like and follow on her Facebook page.