If there is a before-and-after for Latin music since the year 2000, it would be “Despacito.” The 2017 hit, written by Luis Fonsi, Erika Ender and Daddy Yankee, originally recorded by Fonsi and Yankee and later remixed with Justin Bieber, not only shattered all records, but unequivocally changed the way Latin music was perceived and eventually consumed globally in the streaming era. Released Jan. 13 of 2017 on Universal Music Latin, the now-ubiquitous song — with its instantly catchy “Des-pa-cito” refrain -exploded almost instantly, going to No.1 on Hot Latin Songs just three weeks after its release, where it held for a still-record 56 weeks. When Bieber jumped on the remix, adding a touch of English and a touch of Bieber to the mix, it soared to the top of the Hot 100 within a month, where it stayed for an astounding 16 weeks, tying Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” for the all-time record of most weeks at No. 1 (a record that has since been broken).

Globally, “Despacito” continues to be a force of nature, shattering viewing records on YouTube; it currently stands as the most-watched music video of all time. It wasn’t only that no other Latin song, in history, has had that level of success: It was also everything that came in its wake. “Despacito” opened the industry’s eyes to the vast possibilities of music in Spanish, or bilingual music with the right song. It made it clear that, in the age of streaming, language was no longer a barrier for listeners hungry for new songs.

All that, however, started with the song itself, which Fonsi originally conceived of as a sensual, romantic pop track with Ender, his friend and regular writing partner. Producers Mauricio Rengifo and Andrés Torres added the reggaetón beat, which in turn led to the search for an urban voice that could contrast with Fonsi’s R&B balladeer croon. The perfect blend of urban and pop was born. And then, of course, the remix with Justin Bieber, and its blend of cultures. “Now, ‘Despacito’ sounds normal,” Fonsi said last year, of the mix of sounds that make it up. “But if you asked me four years ago, when I was mixing this cumbia with a guitar and with a Puerto Rican cuatro; when we mixed a pop artist with the King of reggaetón; when Justin Bieber did a remix… it all sounds normal now. But back then it wasn’t […] When I look back, what really hits me is the fact that it opened a huge door for the non Latin world to vibrate to Latin music.” — L.Cobo