Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Music Box • Music

Despacito

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

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Despacito is a Spanish-language song by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee, released in January 2017. It became a global hit and one of the most commercially successful songs of the 2010s.

Background

Written by Luis Fonsi and Erika Ender, with Daddy Yankee also credited as a writer, the song was released as the lead single from Fonsi's album *Vida* on January 13, 2017. A remix featuring Justin Bieber later broadened its international reach.

Commercial performance

The song spent a record-tying 16 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It accumulated billions of streams and views, making it one of the most successful songs in digital media history and a landmark Latin crossover hit.

Recognition and legacy

Widely credited with expanding the global mainstream visibility of Latin pop and reggaeton, *Despacito* helped Spanish-language pop reach broader audiences in Canada and beyond. Its music video became the most-viewed on YouTube.

In short

  • Title means 'slowly' in English.
  • Spent 16 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100.
  • Music video became most-viewed on YouTube.
  • Remix with Justin Bieber boosted global reach.
Canadian angle

The song was a major global crossover hit and was widely heard in Canada during its peak popularity, helping Spanish-language pop reach broader mainstream audiences in Canadian radio and streaming.

Quick questions

What does 'Despacito' mean?
It means 'slowly' in English.
Who performs 'Despacito'?
The original recording is by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee.
When was 'Despacito' released?
It was released on January 13, 2017.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despacito
    Supports: Artist, release date, album, language, genre, and basic song details.
  2. NPR — https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2017/08/01/540006437/whats-behind-the-success-of-despacito
    Supports: Early release timeline and international chart success.
  3. GQ — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkgoITe8reM
    Supports: Luis Fonsi's account of writing the song and the involvement of Erika Ender and the remix.
  4. Songfacts — https://www.songfacts.com/facts/luis-fonsi/despacito
    Supports: Title meaning, lyrical theme, and chart record details.