2023 was a historic and memorable year for many entertainment and arts personalities.
From local artists and filmmakers to international stars, they have left a transcendent mark with their contributions to cinema, theater and music in general this year. Today, December 31, the last day of 2023, we take a look at the 11 faces that made the history of this year in the world of entertainment in and outside Puerto Rico.
Taylor Swift
This was the big year for the American star. The artist went above and beyond, setting records in the recording industry and on stage by embarking on the most lucrative concert tour, surpassing the $1 billion mark with her “Eras Tour.” He broke new ground by re-recording his albums and branching out into the record industry. The artist released a documentary film about her concerts in the cinema and broke box office records. So much so that The film “Taylor Swift“:The Eras Tour” became the best-released concert film in history It billed $123.5 million in its first few days. She was also chosen by Time Magazine Person of the Year magazine.
The artist's net worth is estimated at over $1,000 million. The pop star has been compared to Elvis Presley, Madonna or Michael Jackson On stage, as a composer, she is on a par with Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell. She ended the year as the most listened-to artist on Spotify in 2023, surpassing Puerto Rican Bad Bunny, who was the world's most-streamed singer on the digital music platform for three years.
Madonna
The undisputed Queen of Pop also had a good year and celebrated 40 years of musical success with an international concert tour. It's true that Madonna didn't live up to Taylor Swift's historical stature, but staying current in her more than four-decade career in the recording industry and on stage makes her worthy of multiple recognitions. In “The Celebration Tour,” the 65-year-old singer records more than 40 songs with which she reflects on her musical career.
Daddy Yankee
It was already known at the beginning of this year that the year would be a memorable one for the so-called “Big Boss” because it meant that he would officially announce his retirement from the stage. With five performances of the “La Meta” concert at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Puerto Rico, the urban representative closed a musical chapter in his career that has spanned more than three decades. Aside from ending his musical stage, Daddy Yankee surprised the world when he announced his Christian conversion at his last concert appearance.
“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his soul? So tonight I recognize and am not ashamed to tell the whole world that Jesus lives in me and that I will live for him. The Bible says that whoever recognizes him in public here on earth will also recognize him before my Father. Now everyone who knows me as Daddy Yankee should say, “Daddy Yankee in Christ, Raymond Ayala in Puerto Rico.” One story has ended and a new story will begin, a new beginning. All the tools I have in my power, like music, social networks, platforms, a microphone, everything that Jesus gave me, are now for the kingdom,” he said on December 3rd.
Adding to his conversion, this year also saw the end of his rivalry with Don Omar, with both expressing that the admiration was mutual.
Cast of the film “La Pecera”
The film, directed by: Glorimar Marrero Sanchez, became the first Puerto Rican feature film to receive a nomination Goya Prize in Spain. The exceptional work of the director and screenwriter as well as the actors who brought the feature film to life deserves special recognition. “La pecera” is not only the first film directed by Marrero Sánchez, but also the first feature film by a Puerto Rican woman to be nominated for the award. The cast consists of Isel Rodriguez, Magali Carrasquillo, Modesto laceGeorgina Borri And Anamin Santiago.
Junior Alvarez
The actor presented his stand-up “Por poco me jodo” as part of the comedy festival at the Braulio Castillo Theater in Bayamón. (Josian Bruno/GFR MEDIA)This year was also very important for the actor, who, after a health mishap that brought him to the brink of death, returned to the country's stages in October with a successful stand-up entitled “I Almost Screwed Myself”. The actor spent a year and a half recovering after suffering two episodes of sudden cardiac arrest that left him close to death. The premiere of his comic monologue took place at the Braulio Castillo Theater in Bayamón and later in other theaters on the island.
Angel Manuel Soto
San Juan, P.R. September 14, 2023. Interview with Ángel Manuel Soto, director of the film “Blue Beetle”. Photos by Nahira Montcourt. (Nahira Montcourt)The first Puerto Rican filmmaker to make a superhero film DC “Blue Beetle” with a budget of millions. The director's film was so successful that it knocked the film “Barbie” out of first place at the box office when it premiered in 2020.
Miss Universe Nicaragua
Miss Nicaragua, Sheynnis Palacios (c), reacts after being crowned the new Miss Universe 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador, on November 18, 2023. EFE/ Rodrigo Sura (EFE agency)Sheynnis PalaciosMiss Nicaragua Universe 2023, was the first Nicaraguan to win the international competition. His victory has brought to light a social and political conflict in Nicaragua. The 23-year-old beauty queen reportedly took part in the anti-government marches that erupted against the Nicaraguan government in 2018. The country's president, Daniel Ortega, didn't like it, and Miss Universe received strong criticism.
Bad bunny
With “Un Verano sin ti,” the Puerto Rican star became the first album written entirely in Spanish to be nominated for “Album of the Year” at the Anglo-Saxon Grammys. Bad Bunny opened the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California. Although the singer took a break from the stage, he gained worldwide attention with his appearances on WWE billboards, Anglo-Saxon television programs and his courtship of Kendall Jenner. Surprisingly, he released the trap album Nobody Knows What's Going to Happen Tomorrow, with which he held a listening party José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico.
biscuit
May 15, 2023. San Juan, PR. Interview with Otilio Warrington “Bizcocho”, immersed in his character of “Cuca Gómez”, carried out in the studio of Alexandra Fuentes in Telemundo, Hato Rey. PHOTO BY: Carlos Giusti/GFR Media (Carlos Rivera Giusti)The actor received the support and affection of the Puerto Rican audience when he once again played the famous “Cuca Gómez” in the theater. “The True Story of Cuca Gómez” was a resounding box office success, going islandwide as far away as Orlando, Florida.
Madison Anderson Berrios
The Puerto Rican Madison Anderson Berrios was first runner-up Miss Universe 2019 and there is a large segment of the population that longs for her to be the great queen. Because of this desire, many bet on her when she participated in the third edition of La Casa de los Famosos and became the big winner of the reality show. The former beauty queen gave Puerto Rico a victory that was celebrated with great acclaim on the island and people showed their love for her.
In addition to winning the $200,000 prize, the model and singer also met her new love partner, actor Pepe Gámez, with whom she has a wonderful relationship.
The “Barbbenheimer” phenomenon.
Margot Robbie in a scene from “Barbie”. (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)When it was believed that watching movies in theaters was a thing of the past and in danger of extinction due to streaming and the COVID-19 pandemic, the premieres of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”ignited the audience's enthusiasm to go to the cinema and enjoy the cinematic experience in a way that had not been seen in years.