Colombian singer Manuel Medrano and Puerto Rican artist Yandel each won two Latin Grammy Awards Thursday during a ceremony that began with a strong message in defense of Latinos.
Juanes and Pablo Lopez opened the show with a performance of Tu Enemigo (Your Enemy), backed by a gospel choir and Cirque du Soleil gymnasts. The song includes the lyric, “your hands are my flag and I have a song as my border.”
Show host Roselyn Sanchez repeated the lyric after their performance, saying, “the only barriers that should exist are the songs.”
Actor-director Diego Luna, who presented the song of the year award to the composers of La Bicicleta, urged unity among Latinos.
“Together we can fight hate and discrimination,” he said. “We are stronger together.”
Medrano was named best new artist and also won for singer-songwriter album. Yandel won urban song and urban fusion for Encantadora. Other winners included Gente de Zona and Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizarraga.
Performances were as common as prizes during the ceremony. Laura Pusini, Jesse y Joy and Wisin were among the entertainers who took the stage.
