MTV Video Music Awards: Jennifer Lopez, an artist with a lot of Latin pride
The singer, who has Puerto Rican descent, will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, in the 35th VMA annual show
On Monday, August 20th, the MTV Video Music Awards (MTV VMA), will be held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. The thirty fifth annual show of the VMAs is special this year because, for the first time, a Latino artist will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The artist of Puerto Rican descent Jennifer Lopez, also known in the industry and in the world as J.Lo, is the one who will receive this award. According to the official MTV website, the VMAs "will honor global superstar Jennifer Lopez with the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for her influential contributions to music, television, dance, business and philanthropy." In addition to this recognition for her work, her song "Dinero" is also nominated in two categories at the MTV Video Music Awards: "Best Collaboration" and "Best Latin Video."
Leer en español: MTV Video Music Awards: Jennifer López, una artista con mucho orgullo latino
An American singer with a lot of Latin pride
J.Lo is an artist who has stood out for recognizing and honoring her Latin roots, as well as the most emblematic Latin American characters within the music industry. In 2013, the American paid tribute to the late Cuban singer Celia Cruz at the American Music Awards. According to The Huffington Post, that year the award ceremony was filled with "Latin flavor". "Jennifer sang several Cruz songs during her tribute including: "Quimbara", "Life is a carnival" and "Bemba Colorá". At the end of the presentation, the singer was concise when she spoke: Long live Celia! she shouted as the crowd clapped uncontrollably", the media explained.
In 2015 it was the turn of the iconic Texan-Mexican singer Selena Quintanilla, who was murdered in 1995. According to Billboard magazine, this was "the most talked about moment of the night at the Billboard Latin Music Awards: Jennifer Lopez on stage, singing a mix of Selena Quintanilla's most beloved hits, including "Como la Flor", "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", "No Me Queda Más" and "I Could Fall in Love", dressed in a rose-pale outfit that reminds to the late queen of Texan music." The tribute took place 18 years after her role as Selena Quintanilla in the movie "Selena".
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Jennifer Lopez also spoke about the Puerto Rican Rita Moreno, who is the inspiration of the singer. According to The Huffington Post, Lopez explained at the GLAAD Media Awards in 2014, after receiving the Vanguard Award, that the artist changed her life. "Seeing this beautiful and strong Puerto Rican woman commanding a screen with her talent at a time when Latina women did not have all the doors open in this industry, made me feel like a little girl watching in her living room in the Bronx, everything was possible. "
The pride of the Bronx diva for its Latin origins is undoubted. Despite the people who have ever accused her of not being Latina enough, J.Lo has always exalted that part of her identity. This can also be seen in the many recordings he has made in Spanish, a language that he has always included in his music. His latest musical hits, the "Ring" and "Money", are an example of this.
Latin artists nominated for the VMA
In this ceremony that awards the best music videos of the year were also nominated several Latin artists and of Latin descent. In the category "Best Latin Video" are the Puerto Ricans Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi, the Colombians J Balvin and Shakira, and Cardi B of Dominican descent. These are the nominated music videos, according to Billboard: "Hard" – Daddy Yankee, "Mi Gente" – J Balvin, Willy William, "Money" – Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B, "Échame la culpa" – Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato, "Felices los 4" – Maluma, "Chantaje" – Shakira ft. Maluma. On the other hand, the Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello was nominated in the categories "Video of the Year", "Artist of the Year", "Song of the Year", "Best Pop" and "Best Choreography". Cardi B is the artist of Latin descent with the most nominations: 10 in total.
LatinAmerican Post | Diana Rojas Leal
Copy edited by Laura Viviana Guevara Muñoz
