Luis Fonsi on the evolution of Despacito, reaching Number 1 across the world and Justin Bieber: Interview

Luis Fonsi's Despacito reaching Number 1 on the Official Singles Charts marks the end of an 18-year drought of Latin pop chart-toppers in the UK.

The last time the genre ruled the Top 40 was back in the summer of '99, when Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca notched up three weeks at the summit (Ricky and Luis are also the only Puerto Rican singers to hit Number 1 in the UK). This was shortly followed up by Geri Halliwell's Spanglish chart-topper Mi Chico Latino and Lou Bega's million-selling Mambo No.5. 

Originally released in January this year, the last five months have seen Despacito's success snowball across the world, finally reaching the UK's top spot thanks to a helping hand from a remix featuring Justin Bieber.

Chart-toppers aren't a new thing for Luis, who for the last 19 years has notched up a string of hits in Latin American territories across eight studio albums.

We called up Luis, who was celebrating news of his Official Chart Number 1 in Miami, to find out how he's taking in his newfound worldwide success. 

Hello Luis, first up – congratulations on Despacito reaching Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart! How are you feeling?

“Thank you! It’s amazing. I’m super thrilled. It’s the first Number 1 for me in the UK so it’s definitely a special one - I’m honoured.”

The version of the song without Justin Bieber came out back in January and has topped the charts just about everywhere now. Has the effect of a Number 1 single worn off yet?

“No, come on! It’s not going to wear off. It’s been a roller coaster for the last five months. The new version with Justin Bieber just started getting airplay like two or three weeks ago. The song has been on a real journey; first topping the Latin charts, then steadily across Europe and now the UK and US. It’s had a real snowball effect.”

MORE: Check out this week's Top 100 Official UK Singles Chart in full

You’ve been a successful recording artist in Latin America for almost 20 years; did you ever expect you’d have a global smash on your hands at this stage in your career?

“It’s a special song, but it was never meant or planned to be a crossover record – we just wanted to make a fun uptempo song. I guess that’s the magic behind it. I’m almost glad it’s all happened this way because I’m way more prepared to handle it. I’ve had ups and downs, hits and flops, so I feel like I can appreciate this success on a different level. I’m so grateful to be given this amazing chance with this song.  

Watch Luis Fonsi celebrate his Official Chart Number 1 below: 

Is it true you came up with Despacito in just a couple of hours?

“I wrote the song on my guitar with a great friend who’s an amazing writer called Erika Ender. It took about three hours. I usually write very ‘international pop’ sounding songs, but for my new record I wanted to make something with more of a Latin flare to it because I’m Puerto Rican and weirdly it’s a sound I don’t usually do. I wanted to make sure it was very 'musical'.

MORE: Despacito and every other foreign language single to reach Number 1 in the UK

“[Despacito is] fun and sexy, but not too sexy! We didn’t want it to be too strong for younger kids to sing. Music-wise, we used a cuatro guitar, which is like a really small guitar from Puerto Rico which is definitely not normally used in pop music. Obviously it also features an amazing artist called Daddy Yankee, who is a great friend and probably the top reggaeton artist who’s also from Puerto Rico.

So Despacito become a big hit at home, and then Justin Bieber decided he wanted a piece of the action. How does that happen?

“It happened about three weeks ago. He was touring in Colombia and heard the song and saw the reaction so he asked if he could do a remix. I was like, ‘Yes, of course, let’s do this!’. He wrote a new verse and sung the chorus in Spanish which I thought was really cool of him. He took the time to make it sound legit, and it does. Let me tell you, Latino girls are loving his Spanish right now! He took the song to a different level and opened up new doors for myself and Daddy Yankee.”

Did you have any second thoughts on letting Justin write a new verse for the song?

“No second thoughts whatsoever. The sound that Justin has created in the last year or so has been really amazing. He’s really stepped it up in terms of production… and he’s a superstar! I’ve been brought up in a multicultural world, so I’ve very much in the in-between music-wise, but it’s great to see people connecting with this song even if they don’t know what’s going on in the lyrics – they’re just vibing with the sound and the feel of it. Music is its own language, and right now people seem to need to move and dance more than ever.”

Latino pop is well overdue a comeback in the UK; it’s been 18 years since Ricky Martin topped the Official Chart with Livin’ La Via Loca. He also happens to be the last and only other Puerto Rican singer to reach Number 1 in the UK...

“That’s such an amazing thing to hear. I’ve previously only worked on the songwriting and recording side in the UK, so I’m amazed they’ve been so welcoming to this song. Ricky is a beast! He’s a talented guy and he’s had huge hits since he was a young kid – honestly it’s an honour to be on that shortlist with him.”

You’ve had lots of big hits in South America over the last 20 years; are you considering re-releasing any of them for the UK market?

“That’s actually something we’ve been talking about. The label has talked about maybe releasing what you might call a greatest hits to let people know what I’ve been doing for the last 19 years. I’ve had some big songs in the Latin market and it’d be great to share them with more people. Starting from scratch in places like the UK keeps it all really exciting for me. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a lot more things to come."

Watch the Despacito music video below: