The never-ending awards-show season reaches its apex this Thursday when Univision beams Premio Lo Nuestro to millions of families across the Americas.
The Spanish-language network will honor a cross section of Latin music artists at the American Airlines Arena. Among them will be Miami's own Pitbull, who's up for a pair of Urbano awards — album of the year and artist of the year.
Though we would've preferred locking down an interview with Armando Christian Pérez for this piece, getting the Dr. Pepper spokesman on the phone is incredibly difficult. So here's Plan B, our top six Premio Lo Nuestro predictions.
Genre: Pop
Award: Album del Año
Prediction: Ricky Martin is nominated for three awards that he'll likely lose. We're guessing Shakira's Sale el Sol will win album of the year based entirely on the fact that Crossfade prefers her Top 40 music to that of the Glee guest star's stuff. That and we've never heard of the other three artists nominated.
Genre: Rock
Award: Canción del Año
Prediction: Those Maná dudes have the highest odds of winning because they're nominated twice. But they're like the Van Halen of rock en español — i.e., past their prime and boring. So we're thinking it'll be Alejandra Guzmán's lucky day when "Dia de Suerte" wins song of the year.
Genre: Tropical
Award: Grupo o Dúo del Año
Prediction: If this award were given to the tropical group or duo with the funniest name, Chino y Nacho would cruise to victory, with Limi-T 21 coming a close second, followed by 24 Horas and Los Aviadores. Really, though, the award for Grupo o Dúo Tropical del Año is anyone's game.
Genre: Regional
Award: Mexicano Album del Año
Prediction: Yes, Chuy Lizarraga y Su Banda Tierra Sinaloense's Pistear, Pistear was one of our favorite party records of 2012. But Joan Sebastían's Huevos Rancheros is named after the best breakfast dish ever. We're torn.
Genre: Urbano
Award: Album del Año
Prediction: Sure, Don Omar went hard on Meet the Orphans, and Pitbull's Armando was pretty dope. But you can't top Wisin y Yandel's Los Vaqueros: El Regreso.
Genre: Video
Award: Video del Año
Prediction: Artistically, Belinda's "Dopamina" video is pretty rad. Unfortunately, the song is loaded with Katy Perry-level obnoxiousness. Meanwhile, Laura Pausini's flower-power-happy "Bienvenido" would make a great Prius ad. But it's up for a Premio Lo Nuestro, not a Clio. So based on nothing more than YouTube views, Luis Fonsi's "Respira" will probably win.
