Despacito

"Despacito" is a Spanish-language song by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee.

"Despacito" is a Spanish-language song by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee. Released in January 2017 as the lead single from Fonsi's album *Vida*, it became a global hit and one of the most commercially successful songs of the 2010s. The song was widely heard in Canada during its peak popularity, helping Spanish-language pop reach broader mainstream audiences in Canadian radio and streaming.

Background

"Despacito" was written by Luis Fonsi and Erika Ender, with Daddy Yankee also credited as a writer on versions associated with the song. It was released in January 2017 and later reached a wider audience through a remix featuring Justin Bieber.

Music and lyrics

The song is a reggaeton-pop track with romantic and sexually suggestive lyrics delivered in a smooth style. Its title is commonly translated as "slowly," matching the song's sensual tone.

Commercial performance

The song became a worldwide commercial phenomenon, including a record-tying 16-week run at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It also accumulated billions of views and streams, making it one of the most successful songs in digital media history.

Recognition and legacy

"Despacito" is widely cited as a landmark Spanish-language crossover hit. It is often credited with expanding the global mainstream visibility of Latin pop and reggaeton.