Beliebe it, baby: International pop sensation Justin Bieber and Colombian urban music artist J Balvin surprised fans when they took to social media to announce a musical collaboration in the shape of the ‘Latino Remix’ of the pop star’s song, ‘Sorry’. The original version is currently number two on Billboard’s Hot 100 list. J Balvin is nominated for a Latin Grammy for his song ‘Ay Vamos’ and will also be performing at the show on November 19. This latest collaboration between Colombian and international artists follows Will Smith and Bomba Estereo’s recent remix of ‘Fiesta’.
Botero in China: Fernando Botero will become the first international artist to exhibit works in a public square in Shanghai, as part of the ‘Botero en China’ show. From November 20 – January 3, 96 pieces will be exhibited at Beijing’s National Museum of China, while the China Art Museum in Shanghai will host 150 works from January 21 – April 5. The two museums see a combined footfall of 30,000 visitors daily and organisers hope to receive around 7 million visitors. Botero will visit the Far East from November 16-24, taking in tourist attractions and visiting workshops and artists’ studios.
Dramatic end: The Colombian soap world mourned the death of Tolima-born actress Adriana Campos, famed for roles in numerous shows, including Tiempo Final and Sin Retorno, as well as the 2006 film Gringo Wedding. Campos and her husband Carlos Rincon were killed in an accident when their car lost control and drove into the Cauca River near Salgar, Antioquia, on November 3. They are survived by one-year-old son Geronimo.
Coffee king: Mauricio Romero became the 2015-16 national barista champion, having already won the competition in 2009, when working for Juan Valdez. Now representing Azahar Coffee, Romero will travel to Dublin next year for the World Barista Championship. This year in Seattle, Colombian Diego Campos finished in 13th place, narrowly missing out on a coveted semi-final spot.
Grammys: The best of Latin American music will be honoured on November 19 at the annual Latin Grammys, with 27 Colombian artists receiving nominations in a variety of categories. Bomba Estéreo and Monsieur Periné have each been nominated for two awards, with the latter up for the prestigious Best Album award. Ranging from the urban stylings of J Balvin, to the tropical rhythms of ChocQuib Town and the pop-rock sounds of Juanes, Colombians are present in virtually every category, including Best Tango Album (Quinteto Leopoldo Federico).
Movie smashes: 2015 has already been a record-breaking year for Colombian cinema, with a number of milestones being passed. Furious 7 became the biggest box office hit of all time, with 4.3 million viewers. Four other 2015 releases made it into the list of the top ten biggest hits ever, including Colombia Magia Salvaje, the first Colombian film on the list.
