The 11th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in Las Vegas came and went last night (whether you watched, cared, knew or not). Keeping with the ’11’ trend, here are 11 things you need to know about last night’s ceremony:
1. Mexican soft-rockers Camila went home with two of the three top awards of the night, as “Mientes” picked up both Song of the Year and Record of the Year honors. The group’s third win overall, and first of the night, was for Best Pop Vocal Album by Duo/Group for Déjate De Amar.
2. Juan Luis Guerra added to his nine Grammy Awards by winning the night’s top prize, Album of the Year, for A Son De Guerra. The Dominican singer-songwriter also picked up Best Tropical Song (“Bachata de Fukuoka“) and Best Contemporary Tropical Album. Guerra opened the show with a performance featuring street percussionists.
3. Marc Anthony and Camila’s separate sets featured spandexed aerialists similar to that of Pink’s performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards. While Camila celebrated multiple wins, Alejandro Sanz’s Paraiso Express topped Marc Anthony’s Iconos for Best Male Pop Vocal Album. Wifey Jennifer Lopez was seen dancing and singing along during Anthony’s performance, before getting emotional and shedding a tear (or two) as the crowd cheered.
4. Nelly Furtado went home with the Best Female Pop Vocal Album. While not a native Spanish speaker (who struggled to even deliver her acceptance speech in Spanish), Furtado pleased Latin American fans with her Grammy Award-winning Spanish debut.
5. Still recovering from his stroke earlier this year, Gustavo Cerati swept the top Rock categories, besting the likes of Banda de Turistas, Chetes, Bengala, and Andrés Calamaro for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album.
6. On the Alternative end, Ely Guerra and ChocQuibTown split the top two awards. Ely Guerra’s Hombre Invisible beat out Banda de Turistas’ Magical Radiophonic Heart for Best Alternative Album. Turistas’ labelmates ChocQuibTown took home the Best Alternative Song trophy for “De Donde Vengo Yo” over Ceci Bastida and Hello Seahorse!.
7. Ricky Martin presented Placido Domingo with the Person of the Year honor. Moments later, he surprised the audience with a performance of his new single, “Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tu” with La 5ta Estacion’s Natalia Jimenez. Like Ricky Martin’s upcoming bilingual album, Natalia Jimenez is set to drop her solo record debut in 2011.
8. Before breaking into the fist-pumping radio hit “I Like It,” Enrique Iglesias broke into song with Wisin Y Yandel with the help of a live marching band. The duo’s friend Daddy Yankee (shockingly?) lost to another duo Chino Y Nacho (???) for Best Urban Music Album.
9. Cuban-Canadian Alex Cuba took home Best New Artist honors. The singer-songwriter-producer assisted Nelly Furtado with her crossover album. Winner of Best Urban Song Mala Rodriguez (who also hosted Remezcla’s Latin Grammys party!) joined Furtado on stage along with MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 1 winners The JabbaWockeez.
10. Lucero and Eugenio Derbez hosted the show. They were…okay.
11. And, last but not least, Gustavo Cerati also picked up an award for Best Recording Packaging…..woo! And Julieta Venegas’ music video for “Bien o Mal” was victorious in the Best Short Form Music Video. Watch below!