The 2007 Premio Lo Nuestro Latin Music Awards, held in Miami, was a really good show this year. As always, there was glamour, great music, glitzy productions and glowing tributes. But there was also a genuine feeling of comraderie between the artists that you don't always get, a feeling that they were rooting for each other as well as hoping for themselves.
The performers seemed relaxed, the musical numbers weren't over produced. The focus was more on good music than extravagant stage fireworks. Since the audience votes for the winners, ala the People's Choice awards, the audience was exuberant, often yelling out the winners' names even before the envelope was opened. And they were always right.
In fact, the show was so good that it deserves some awards of its own. So here they are.
Best Musical Performance
This is a tough one, there were so many good performances. So my nominees are: Fonseca, singing "Te Mando Flores" from his Corazon album, Julieta Venegas playing her accordion and singing "Limon y Sal" from Limon y Sal, N'Klabe performing "I Love Salsa" from the album by the same name, Los Tigres Del Norte singing "Senor Locutor" from Historias Que Contar and Victor Manuelle and Don Omar singing a duet from Decision Unanime.
If I had to pick one, it has to be salsa's Manuelle and reggaeton's Omar. Not only was the music great, but their playing to one another was a pleasure to watch.
Best Bling
Voltio's huge, diamond? encrusted cross.
Most Interesting Hairdo
Anais, performing "Estoy Con El Y Pienso En Ti" from Asi Soy Yo, scalded the small screen with vivid red hair. I'm not sure what her hairdresser was thinking.
Most Touching Moment
Victor Manuelle tearing up and thanking his mother after winning "Best Salsa Album" kudos. It's about time, Decision Unanime is a great album. It was also nice to see how sincerely pleased Marc Anthony was at Manuelle's win.
Biggest Surprise
Jennifer Lopez came on to present the "Video of the Year" award, dressed in a black, sleeveless turtleneck and calf-length skirt. She was pretty covered up arriving on the red carpet, too. Is this the same Lopez who came to the Academy Awards in a green dress everyone talked about all year?
"Premio A La Excelencia" Special Award
There were actually two special awards presented, the first to Graciela Beltran as 'La Reina del Pueblo'. But the big one went to the Dominican Republic's Juan Luis Guerra and included a retrospective of his life and music, followed by a music set that was wonderful. It drove home why this man is so deserving of the special award.
Most Amazing Production Feat
How did the producers manage to do everything in exactly 3 hours, not a minute over?
Okay, the moment you've been waiting for. Here's the list of winners from the 2007 Premio Lo Nuestro Latin Music Awards.
Pop
- Best Album: RBD - Nuestro Amor
- Best Male Artist: Luis Fonsi
- Best Female Artist: Shakira
- Best Group: RBD
- Best Song: Thalia and Anthony "Romeo" Santos (Aventura)- "No,No,No"
- Best New Artist(s): Chelo
Rock
- Best Album: Mana - Amar Es Combatir
- Best Male Artist: Mana
- Best Song: Mana - "Labios Compartidos"
Tropical
- Best Album: Monchy y Alexandra - Exitos Y Mas
- Best Male Artist: Marc Anthony
- Best Female Artist: Olga Tanon
- Best Group: Aventura
- Best Song: Monchy y Alexandra - "No Es Una Novela"
- Best Merengue Artist: Olga Tanon
- Best Salsa Artist: Victor Manuelle
- Best Traditional Artist: Aventura
- Best New Artist(s): Fonseca
Regional Mexican
- Best Album: Conjunto Primavera - Algo De Mi
- Best Male Artist: Joan Sebastian
- Best Female Artist: Jenni Rivera
- Best Group: Intocable
- Best Song: Intocable - "Alguien te Va a Hacer Llorar"
- Best Banda: Joan Sebastian
- Best Grupero: Los Temerarios
- Best Norteno: Intocable
- Best Ranchero: Vicente Fernandez
- Best New Artist(s): Alfredo Ramirez Corral
- Best Duranguense: Grupo Montez de Durango
- Best Tejano: Bobby Pulido
Urban
- Best Album: Daddy Yankee - Barrio Fino en Directo
- Best Male Artist: Wisin y Yandel
- Best Song: Wisin y Yandel - "Llame Pa' Verte"
Video of the Year: Don Omar - Angelito
