These next couple of weeks, NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts are getting a makeover for NPR Music has teamed up with NPR podcast to present . Up first is Colombian reggaeton sensation J Balvin.
His El Tiny concert was released Thursday (and by the way, he performed it floating on a barge in the middle of the East River in New York City!).
Here's why we're extra excited for this one:
Let's start with the artist himself
You may be wondering: Is it J BAHL-vin or J bahl-VEEN? As a Spanish speaker growing up in the states — and likely embracing my Latinidad more and more later in life — I first adopted the English way of saying his name. But regardless of how you say his name, J Balvin wants you to also know his real name: José — it's the title of his latest album.
In his Amazon documentary, The Boy From MedellÃn, the singer says J Balvin is his alter ego and José is his truest self. Some of the songs in his latest album, like "7 de Mayo" and "La Familia," get to this more personal side of him and we hear themes of gratitude.
His music resonates globally
While these songs aren't the typical reggaeton hits like "Mi Gente" or "Ginza" that the mainstream audience might know him for, there are still plenty of other danceable beats. It's difficult to choose, but some of my top songs from this album are "Una Nota," "Qué Más Pues?" and "Que Locura."
J Balvin has stood by his word to keep true to his Colombian roots by only singing in Spanish. There are only two songs in the album that include English lyrics ("Otra Noche Sin Ti" ft. Khalid and "UN DIA" ft. Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy.) Balvin acknowledges that people don't need to know what he's singing. "I think it's the beat and the melodies and the love that we put into the music; the good vibes" —
If you want to keep the energy going, .
This story originally published .
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