Viva Friday is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors.
Sebastian Yatra & Ricky Martin – “Falta Amor” (UMLE)
Sebastian Yatra and Ricky Martin joined forces, for the first time, to revive romantic music with their heartbreaking ballad “Falta Amor.” The song, written by Yatra with producers Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo, will serve as a prelude of sorts to the Ricky Martin/Enrique Iglesias joint tour, which is set to kick off in September with Yatra slated as the opener. Now, “Falta Amor” brings back the romanticism from the early 2000s. The song’s video, directed by Carlos Pérez, features Yatra and Martin in an abandoned industrial loft and a small boy caught in the middle of his parents’ divorce. — SUZETTE FERNANDEZ
Carin León & Espinoza Paz – “Como Duele Equivocarse” (Tamarindo Recordz)
Emerging regional Mexican artist Carin León teams up with singer-songwriter Espinoza Paz for “Como Duele Equivocarse,” a norteño-tinged banda track recorded in Sinaloa, México. It’s the first time León and Paz have joined forces for a duet. Penned by Paz, the song stays true to his songwriting style including raw and honest lyrics about heartbreak and life post-breakup. In “Como Duele Equivocarse,” León and Paz open up about feeling resentful toward someone who simply didn’t know how to love back, and the duo’s sentimental performance effectively translates the pain they’re referring to in the song. — GRISELDA FLORES
Tini & Ovy on the Drums – “Ya No Me Llames” (Warner Music Latina)
Colombian-born producer, composer and, now, singer Ovy on the Drums presents his latest single “Ya No Me Llames” in collaboration with TINI. Not shying away from experimental sounds, the song’s first 25 seconds features TINI’s dulcet vocals over a church organ melody, similar to the classic “Here Comes the Bride.” It then transitions to an infectious urban-pop rhythm, made for dancing despite its heartbreaking lyrics. In “Ya No Me Llames,” both Ovy and the Argentine songstress join forces to sing about a person who’s ready to move on from their relationship. “Don’t call me anymore, forget my name/ And don’t look for me anymore, your time has already passed and you didn’t take advantage,” TINI chants in the chorus. The music video kicks off with a sad TINI wearing a wedding dress, hinting that she was left at the altar. Other scenes show her and Ovy, joined by a group of dancers, jamming to the song in a desert. With “Ya No Me Llames,” Ovy on the Drums continues to mark his territory as a singer. — JESSICA ROIZ
Fuerza Regida – “Lo Estoy Pensando” (Rancho Humilde)
Earlier this week, Fuerza Regida dropped their latest single “Lo Estoy Pensando,” a song about a man who’s torn between loving two women at the same time. Stepping away from their signature urban-corridos, the strong tuba and percussion presence in “Lo Estoy Pensando” bring to life a catchy banda melody. “I don’t know why I can’t just love one woman,” lead singer Jesus Ortiz belts in the lyrics, shamelessly adding that he’s thinking about having an affair. The music video, presented by Rancho Humilde and Lumbre Music, kicks off with the making of an action-packed movie scene. The actor, portrayed by Ortiz, is also seen in various steamy love scenes with two different actresses. At the end of the clip, he walks away with the two women. — JR
Junior H – Atrapado en un Sueño (Rancho Humilde)
Hailing from Guanajuato, Mexico, comes Junior H, forming part of the fresh wave of the urban corrido movement. After collaborating with artists such as Legado 7 and Natanael Cano, Junior H presents his first-ever album, Atrapado en un Sueño (Trapped in a Dream), Rancho Humilde. The seven-set production brings to the forefront Junior’s promising proposal to the regional Mexican scene with his infectious tumbao corridos, as heard in “Pakas en las Rakas,” a song about a man who has few friends and lots of ambition, and the optimistic “Mente Positiva.” In this 27-minute dreamlike journey, the tuba, percussion and guitar come out to play in each track but it’s the mesmerizing requintos, as heard in the opening title track and “Dicen,” that really steal the spotlight. Atrapado en un Sueño wraps up with “Si Mañana,” an urban corrido he worked on with his good friend Natanael Cano about toxic relationships. — JR
