WITH ALL THE business and glamour accompanying the fanfare, it is sometimes easy to forget many film festivals around the world aim to foster a charitable environment in between the packed schedule of photo shoots and screenings. Dubai's current movie extravaganza is no different. From handing out cash prizes to up and coming directors, to panel discussions on addressing issues within the movie business, to the weekend's annual Global Gift Gala, awareness and cash are raised in abundance for the greater good.
This year's guest of honour and ambassador to one of the Gift Gala's major beneficiaries - Puerto Rico, singer Luis Fonsi returned to Dubai on Friday to perform at the Palazzo Versace ceremony.
"I'm very passionate about a lot of things, but right now my focus is on rebuilding my island," the Commonwealth native told us before the event.
Towards the end of September, Hurricane Maria landed on Puerto Rico causing widespread destruction and loss of life. According to CNN Money the economic toll of the natural disaster could reach up to $95 billion.
"Seeing how devastated the island has been and still is, it has been a very hard two-and-a-half months," Fonsi said. "You sometimes feel helpless, like you're not doing enough, but events like tonight (Global Gift Gala) make you feel good.
"To be on the other side of the world and to see people care about that little small island brings me so much joy. I'm really proud of that."
Fonsi said his charitable work has been at the forefront of his career since starting out in the music business in 1998. The artist, who just under 12 months ago achieved world-wide acclaim with his hit, Despacito, attributes music's popularity with being a great opportunity to spread his causes' messages.
"We unite through music. We use our voices to do good for others.
"What Despacito did by accident was amazing for (Puerto Rico's) tourism. Now after the hurricane we want to rebuild and get that back. I'm super passionate to get Puerto Rico back on its feet any way I can."
Although recently releasing follow-up track, Echame La Culpa (Put the Blame on Me), with Demi Lovato, it is fair to assume his collaborations first with Daddy Yankee and then Justin Bieber on Despacito will be the work for which Fonsi is best remembered. Online figures in the billions make it the most streamed song of all time. Perhaps it is a result of this success arriving relatively later in life, Fonsi is now 39, but his attitude to arguably single-handedly popularising Reggaeton and Latin pop in the non-Spanish speaking world for this generation, the like of which has not been witnessed since compatriot Ricky Martin's late '90s and turn of the century surge, can only be described as modest.
"The fact I got to work with first of all Daddy Yankee, and later to do a remix with Justin added an amazing layer to the song and opened up a lot of doors for a new audience to listen to a song in Spanish and I'll always be grateful he took the chance to do the song and that it came from him," Fonsi said of Bieber. Though, he credits the overall accomplishment to the Internet and an evolving appetite for something different among listeners.
"I think music has no language and it has no boundaries. The more music evolves, and I give a lot of credit to streaming...you're not forced to listen to what radio is giving you, the more music is global."
What can you tell us about your latest song, Echame La Culpa?
It's not exactly a joke but it pokes fun at that cliché phrase, 'it's not you, it's me'. It's very overused and I think we have all used it at some point. I have to admit I have when you don't know how to say the correct words in a breakup. It's a very light-spirited, fun breakup song. Sometimes you need that in life. Not everything is serious and not everything is as sensual as Despacito. Sometimes you need to stir it up.
When did you realise you had a hit on your hands with Despacito?
People and artists who normally don't call were calling. You get a different congratulatory message. That's when I felt there was something different.
What do you think of Dubai?
Dubai is an amazing city. I was here for a show and now I'm back. It's a city where you land and just go, 'wow!' I'm excited to learn more about it.
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