Venezuelan group Rawayana won the Latin Grammy for best pop song for ‘Feriado’, beating ‘Igual Que Un Ángel’ by Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma, which was the clear favorite for many. While some may view this as a slight to Kali and Peso, given the song’s commercial success (it topped the Hot Latin Songs chart earlier this year), we consider it a pleasant surprise. After all, “Feriado” is a breezy, cool song, and it’s a long-awaited Latin Grammy win for Rawayana.

This could easily have been a surprise considering Luis Fonsi did that El Viaje also earned the prize for best pop vocal album. But Kali Uchis was considered the frontrunner in this category Orquideas. The Colombian American scored her first number 1 with the critically acclaimed and commercially acclaimed LP Billboard’s Top Latin Albums list. The set was also in the album of the year category, where it also lost to Juan Luis Guerra’s EP Radio Guira.

Of course, everything the great Juan Luis Guerra creates is a masterpiece and “MAMBO 23” is no exception. The fast mambo with merengue flairs won record of the year. It was a difficult category to say the least. The song was up against strong radio-friendly contenders such as Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” and Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma’s “Igual Que Un Ángel.” But it’s worth noting that “MAMBO” was at the top Billboard‘s Tropical Airplay last year, putting Guerra back at the top of the chart after nine years.

Best New Artist was perhaps the most difficult category to predict. Any of the nominees could have easily taken home the award. The Colombian singer-songwriter triumphed and won, among others, Latin Mafia, Íñigo Quintero and Darumas. Like last year’s Best New Artist winner Joaquina, Ela Taubert is a graduate of producer Julio Reyes Copello’s Art House Academy.

It’s a surprise that isn’t really a surprise. It is well known that Jorge Drexler is a Grammy darling, and if one of his songs is nominated for the Latin Grammys, it is almost certain that he will win. His song “Derrumbe”, voted song of the year, was no exception. The song not only won song of the year, but also best singer-songwriter song. Even Drexler, who dedicated the victory to his father, who died eleven days ago, sounded surprised in his acceptance speech. “How can a sad little song stand among so many people I admire? Thank you Latin Recording Academy for eliminating the imposter syndrome,” he said.

Shakira’s comeback album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloranwas completely overlooked at the Latin Grammys. The set – home to hits like ‘TQG’, her Bizarrap-produced music session and ‘Te Felicito’ – was voted album of the year, losing to Juan Luis Guerra’s EP Radio Guira. Guerra also won record of the year for “MAMBO 23.” Shakira led the way in this category, alongside Karol G, who qualified Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota season) and that of Carín León Boca Chueca, vol. 1. Her loss is great considering the significance of the album, her first in seven years, and the fact that the album led to a US stadium tour. Shakira did not attend the 2024 Latin Grammys.