The second (and last) day of the Tecate Emblema festival in Mexico City was all about female power, with Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado and Anitta gracing the stage. The international superstars all sang and spoke in Spanish, conquering the almost 72,000 attendees that packed the Curve 4 of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Saturday (May 18), according to figures from promoter Ocesa.
Other young female voices including Nicki Nicole, Lali, Aitana, Inna, Empress Of, The Aces and the Argentine duo Miranda! also won the crowd at the F1 headquarters in an evening that had a touch of nostalgia and that equally celebrated pop, funk, indie pop, soul, cumbia and reggaeton, among other rhythms.
Many attendees wore special outfits for the occasion, including bright and fluorescent garments, veils, flowers, sequins, feathers, platforms and short dresses. Neither the high temperatures in the capital city nor the environmental contingency reported by the local government dampened the desire to dance and enjoy the music to the fullest. Some couples showed off their best twerking moves during Anitta’s show, the first of her global Baile Funk Experience Tour, which arrives to the U.S. May 21 in Los Angeles.
Renowned British DJ Calvin Harris was in charge of closing the musical marathon with a set that included the song “Ocean,” his upcoming single in collaboration with Miley Cyrus, which promises to become one of the songs of the summer.
Below, see five of our favorite moments from Day 2 of the 24th edition of Tecate Emblema. (For a highlights recap from Day 1, click here.)
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Christina Aguilera, Queen of the Night
Christina Aguilera was the most anticipated act of the audience, who showed their devotion with posters featuring images of the star, designs depicting her as a saint and more. Around the main stage, thousands of people gathered trying to get the best spot to enjoy the show of “the voice of a generation” and one of the “biggest” pop stars today, as many described her on social media, singing along to each of the hits she performed.
Clad in a bodysuit with black lace details, a red veil dress and thigh-high leather boots, her long hair moving to the rhythm of her dance, Aguilera made a memorable moment of her show, especially when she performed her Spanish songs “Santo,” “Falsas Esperanzas” and “Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti.” Her setlist also included hits like “Dirrty,” “Can’t Hold Us Down,” “Genie in a Bottle,” “What a Girl Wants,” “Feel This Moment,” “Beautiful,” “Fighter” and, perhaps the most applauded of all, “Lady Marmalade.”
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Anitta Kicks Off Tour With Two Consecutive Shows
Anitta kicked off her Baile Funk Experience world tour with two consecutive shows in Mexico City on Saturday. After her applauded performance at Tecate Emblema, the Brazilian star later gave a performance at the legendary Salón Los Ángeles in the Mexican capital.
Her show was an explosion of wild funk that kept the rhythm going for 60 minutes. Accompanied by a group of dancers, the artist took the stage empowered and with a defiant attitude, wearing a crop top with the legend “Haters Love Me.” Her dance moves, and particularly her twerking, were celebrated by audience members, many of whom showed off their own best moves. Some Brazilian flags could be seen among the crowd, something that Anitta acknowledged and celebrated.
The repertoire was mostly made up of her new album, Funk Generation, released on April 26, as well as other hits from her discography, such as “Funk Rave,” “Savage Funk,” “Envolver” and her song with Peso Pluma, “Bellakeo.” For a complete setlist, click here.
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Nelly Furtado’s Loving Reunion
Nelly Furtado was also one of the most anticipated acts during the second day of the festival. The Canadian singer won over the audience when she performed her Spanish hits “Manos al Aire,” “Fotografía” (originally a duet with Juanes), “Corazón,” “No Hay Igual” and “Te Busqué.” The emotion unleashed by the crowd’s response almost brought her to tears.
A touch of early 2000s nostalgia came with songs like “Maneater,” “Turn off The Light,” “I’m Like a Bird” and “Give It To Me,” which further ignited the audience’s spirit. Dressed in a red and black sequined suit, Furtado’s captivating voice and timeless hits made her performance a real treat.
On her Instagram account, Furtado also shared her joy of returning to Mexico, and even posted a story where she is seen enjoying Anitta’s show from the side of the stage, showing admiration for the Brazilian singer.
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Nicki Nicole & Special Guests
Argentine singer and rapper Nicki Nicole delivered one of the most emotional shows during the festival with a set that featured a couple of special guests: Grupo Frontera and Aitana. With the former she performed “Desquite” live for the first time. But that wasn’t all: The regional Mexican music group also performed their hit “un x100to” (originally recorded with Bad Bunny), prompting cheers from the audience. She joined forces with Spanish singer-songwriter Aitana to sing “Formentera.”
Loving, grateful, and humble with her supporters, Nicki Nicole showed her excitement to return to Mexico and gave her all on the stage, where she even invited a fan who requested to sing “Otra Noche” with her. She also performed “Dispara,” “Ojos Verdes,” “Ella No Es Tuya,” “Ya Me Fui” and “Intoxicao.”
The show ended with the announcement of her next concert at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, scheduled for Oct. 8.
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Lali Wins Hearts at Emblema
Argentinian Lali Espósito was a burst of energy as she delivered a show full of dance and sensuality that captivated both fans and newcomers at Tecate Emblema.
The singer and actress performed songs like “KO,” “Eclipse” and “Disciplina,” and also expressed her respect and admiration for colleagues who participated in the festival, particularly for Christina Aguilera, whom she said she has followed for many years. To the delight of the audience, she also made a guest appearance during the show of her fellow countrymen Miranda!