Despacito (Remix)

Despacito's harmony rests on a single, relentlessly cycling four-chord loop in B minor (i–VI–III–VII). This harmonic simplicity is a conscious reggaeton aesthetic choice: the unchanging cycle creates an addictive, trance-inducing groove that lets the dembow rhythm, layered production, and vocal interplay between Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Bieber take center stage. There is no development, modulation, or harmonic surprise — the song's craft lies entirely in melody, rhythm, and texture, not chord vocabulary.

The lyrics of Despacito were written in late 2015 at Luis Fonsi's home in Miami. Wanting to record a swinging song for his new album after two years without releasing music, Fonsi invited Panamanian-American and Brazilian singer-songwriter Erika Ender to a songwriting session, co-writing the track on a Gibson Emmylou Harris guitar. The song was originally conceived as a cumbia and pop piece with balladic lyrics, co-written with Daddy Yankee between 2015 and 2016. The English-language remix later added lyrics by Justin Bieber, Poo Bear, and Marty James.

Released on April 17, 2017, the Despacito Remix featuring Justin Bieber transformed an already successful Latin track into one of the most dominant songs in chart history. It became the first Spanish-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Macarena in 1996, spending 16 weeks at number one. Billboard named it the most successful Latin song of the 21st century in 2025.