MIAMI, FL. (Top40 Charts/ Univision Communications) - A dazzling, effects-filled, industrial 'musical factory' was the setting for the fourth edition of Univision's 'Premios Juventud' youth awards show presented LIVE from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central).
The only awards show on Spanish-language television that celebrates the preferences of this country's young Hispanics, 'Premios Juventud 2007' gave awards in 27 unconventional categories. Among the night's biggest winners were international pop mega-sensation RBD, with five statuettes ('I Hear Them Everywhere,' 'CD to Die For,' 'My Favorite Concert,' 'Best Ballad,' and 'Favorite Pop Artist'), Puerto Rican reggaeton superstars Daddy Yankee and duo Wisin y Yandel tied with three awards each, Colombian singer/songwriter Shakira, who received two awards ('Best Moves' and 'My Idol') and motion picture/recording artist Jennifer Lopez who also received two awards for 'She's Got Style' and 'Girl of my Dreams.' Other winners included the popular singer Alejandro Fernandez ('Favorite Regional Mexican Artist') who also was awarded a special 15th Anniversary award, bachata artists Aventura ('Favorite Tropical Artist) and Mexican supergroup Mana ('Favorite Rock Artist'). In Sports, Mexican track and field phenom Ana Guevara ('Most Electrifying Girl Jock') and countryman soccer star Rafael Marquez ('Most Electrifying Guy Jock') each received statuettes.
As in previous years, the show's opening was a major production that culminated in revealing the identities of the show's hosts, a closely guarded secret right up until showtime. In an elaborate 'spy movie' send up, an attache case with the show's top secret musical CD is given to Mexican pop star Belinda to deliver. When intercepted by 'agents' in black SUVs and brought to 'headquarters,' the case is empty. After an interrogation, she reveals that she has downloaded the CD to her key-ring jump drive, but will hand it over only if her demands are met. The interrogator agrees and she plugs her jump drive into a laptop that starts the show. Her 'demands' become clear as the show's co-hosts, the stars of Univision's wildly successful novela 'La Fea mas Bella,' Angelica Vale and Jaime Camil, welcome her as a fellow host.
In a show tradition of elaborate and spectacular entrances, this year's production featured a virtual assembly line of them. Kicking off the show, Cruz Martinez, leader and keyboardist of the urban fusion group Cruz Martinez presenta: Los Super Reyes, descends from the rafters onto the stage for their worldwide debut performance, featuring Martinez singing for the first time ever. Maintaining his reputation for exciting entrances, Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee flew down onto the stage among fireworks in a hovercraft and was joined by an army of dancing robots to perform his two hits 'Impacto' and 'Ella me Levanto.' Later in another number, a set of cryogenic chambers come down from above the stage into a smoke-filled laboratory setting and opened up to reveal reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel joined by fellow artist Don Omar performing two exciting numbers for the first time ever together on television. In still another dramatic entrance, Romeo of Dominican bachata group Aventura is lowered down to the stage in a gigantic metallic heart to join the others amid a maze of industrial scaffolding for a performance of 'Mi Corazoncito.' Breaking the mold, Spanish pop star David Bisbal began his performance of 'Amar es lo que Quiero' and 'Torre de Babel' in a simple, intimate manner but finished the number being drenched in a cascade of water surrounded by dancers, much to the sold-out crowd's roaring approval.
In what was the most emotionally charged moment of the evening, Mexican pop and ranchera star Alejandro Fernandez was honored with a special award honoring his 15th anniversary as one of Latin music's most popular recording artists.
Following another 'Premios Juventud' tradition, three scholarships were presented to deserving Hispanic youths by Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos (Academics), singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra (Music), and world champion surfer Sofia Mulanovich and NBA basketball star Charlie Villanueva (Sports).
The finale of the program featured the night's biggest winners, international pop sensations RBD, performing 'Besame sin Miedo.'
Preceding the event, a star-studded purple carpet arrival show was kicked-off by West Coast rap sensation Down aka Kilo performing his current hit 'Lean like a Cholo.' Among the many Hispanic stars arriving to walk down the 'Premios Juventud' purple carpet were: Alacranes Musical, Ana de la Reguera, Aaron Diaz, Alejandro Fernandez, Ana Leyevska, Victor Manuelle, Cynthia Olavarria, Ivy Queen, RBD, Dayanara Torres, Wisin y Yandel, and Daddy Yankee, among others. The 'Purple Carpet' portion of the show aired one hour before the awards ceremony as a special titled 'Noche de Estrellas' (Night of Stars).
All of the night's winners were chosen by enthusiastic fans voting on Univision.com, the exclusive home of Premios Juventud online. Fans logged onto Univision.com to follow the action and get the inside scoop. Univision.com post coverage will include winner profiles, behind-the-scenes photos, celebrity gossip, and an up close look at who ruled the purple carpet.
To download photographs of the event, please visit ftp://ftp.univision.net
ID: premiosjuventud07; Password: univision
Following is the complete list of "Premios Juventud 2007" winners:
MUSIC CATEGORIES
La Combinacion Perfecta (Perfect Combination)
Wisin y Yandel, Daddy Yankee, Hector el Father, Tony Tun Tun & Zion ("Noche de Entierro")
Que Rico Que Se Mueve (Best Moves)
Shakira
Voz Del Momento (I Hear Them Everywhere)
RBD
La Mas Pegajosa (Catchiest Tune)
"Pegao" - Wisin y Yandel
Me Muero Sin Ese CD (CD to Die For)
"Celestial" - RBD
Mi Concierto Favorito (My Favorite Concert)
RBD
Cancion Corta-venas (Best Ballad)
"Algun dia" - RBD
Mi Artista Regional Mexicano Favorito Es... (Favorite Regional Mexican Artist)
Alejandro Fernandez
Mi Artista Rock Favorito Es... (Favorite Rock Star)
Mana
Mi Artista Pop Favorito Es... (Favorite Pop Artist)
RBD
Mi Artista Tropical Favorito Es... (Favorite Tropical Artist)
Aventura
Mi Artista Urbano Favorito Es... (Favorite Urban Artist)
Daddy Yankee
Mi Video Favorito Es... (Favorite Video)
"Noche de Entierro" (Wisin y Yandel, Daddy Yankee, Hector el Father, Tony Tun Tun & Zion)
FILM CATEGORIES
Que Actorzazo! (Can He Act or What?)
Antonio Banderas
Actriz Que Se Roba La Pantalla (She Steals the Show)
Barbara Mori
Pelicula Mas Padre (Favorite Flick)
La Mujer de mi Hermano
SPORTS CATEGORIES
El Deportista De Alto Voltaje (Most Electrifying Guy Jock)
Rafael Marquez
La Deportista De Alta Tension (Most Electrifying Girl Jock)
Ana Guevara
Me Pongo La Camiseta De... (I'm a Die Hard Fan of...)
Los Yankees de Nueva York
La Nueva Promesa (Rookie of the Year)
Jose Bernabe Teyes (Mets de Nueva York)
POP CULTURE CATEGORIES
Mi Idolo Es... (My Idol Is...)
Shakira
En La Mira Del Paparazi (Paparazzi's Favorite Target)
Luis Miguel
FASHION AND IMAGE CATEGORIES
Quiero Vestir Como Ella (She's Got Style)
Jennifer Lopez
El De Mejor Estilo (He's Got Style)
Luis Fonsi
Esta Buenisimo! (What a Hottie!)
Alfonso Herrera
Supermodelo (Super Model)
Dayanara Torres
Chica Que Me Quita El Sueno (Girl of my Dreams)
Jennifer Lopez
