Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, Despacito | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 37th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we highlight “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 37^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we dive into “Despacito”,  the one-hit wonder by Luis Fonsi.

The handsome, talented Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi began his career in the 1990s. That may be mind-blowing to some considering the biggest hit of his career, “Despacito” (“Slowly”), didn’t arrive until 2017. Let that sink in! When “Despacito” arrived, Fonsi was nearly 39 years old… His fellow Puerto Rican collaborator, Daddy Yankee, was almost 40.  While ‘age ain’t nothin’ but a number,’ earning a no. 1 pop hit pushing 40 is rare. However, Fonsi and Yankee landed a dominant hit on the Billboard Hot 100, which remained no. 1 for a whopping 16 weeks.  Helping the cause in the remixed version of the song is the addition of Canadian Grammy-winning musician Justin Bieber. Bieber, still young in ’17 (23 years old), had already landed four no. 1 hits (“What Do You Mean?”, “Sorry”, “Love Yourself”, and “I’m The One”). “Despacito” was certified multiplatinum by the RIAA, and was nominated for three Grammys: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

But, for Luis Fonsi, “Despacito” is his sole hit on the pop charts.  Four of his songs have charted on the Billboard Hot 100, yet, the second-highest peak is outside of the top 40.  Still, if you’re going to be classified as a ‘one-hit-wonder,’ isn’t “Despacito,” a dominant, ultra-memorable Latin pop cut the perfect choice?  What makes “Despacito” the sugar honey iced tea? For one, it’s a sexy song, and what’s better than a Latin sex song? The smooth, sexy vocals of Fonsi and Bieber, bring the tuneful melodies to life.  Bieber, who appears at the top of the remix is a treat, showcasing the beauty of his pipes, singing exclusively in English (“You fit me tailor-made, love how you put it on / Got the only key, know how to turn it on”).  He also sings in Spanish too, in the memorable chorus:

“Despacito

Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito

Deja que te diga cosas al oído

Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo…”

Read the English translations, and the innuendo is ripe.  In the second half of the chorus, Fonsi tells her, “I want to undress you with my kisses, slowly.” Daddy Yankee provides sound contrast in the second verse with his agile rhymes against the sleek reggaetón backdrop, produced by Josh Gudwin, El Dandee, and Andrés Torres. In the bridge, Fonsi lets us know how it’s ‘done’ in Puerto Rico… sexually.  Ultimately, the infectious “Despacito” is unforgettable – an unsurprising no. 1 hit. Following its dominance, it finally appeared on Fonsi’s 2019 album, VIDA.

Luis Fonsi // VIDA // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 2019

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, Despacito: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 37 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; Elias Souza from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]