Fans Choose Melanie Santiler & Cimafunk’s ‘Ese Besito’ as Their Favorite New Latin Music of the Week

Melanie Santiler and Cimafunk’s “Ese Besito” has topped Billboard’s latest new Latin music poll, published on Friday (Sept. 5).

In support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors, music fans voted for the Cuban artists collaboration as their favorite music release of the week.

“Ese Besito” generated more than 86% of the vote, beating out other new releases, including Grupo Firme and Grupo Frontera’s “Modo Dificil”; Milo J’s “Bajo de la Piel”; Ela Taubert and Jay Wheeler’s “No Supiste Cuidarnos”; and Sech’s “Novio No.” Meanwhile, “Fan de mi Caracter” by Dale Pututi, Nesty, and Wow Poppy was a favorite close second in the weekly poll.

The song is a breezy tune that fuses Latin afrobeat with Caribbean funk and hints of Cuban reparto — giving the musical genre that derives from the barrios in Cuba an edgy twist. Co-produced by Javier Sampedro, DJ Conds, Drumglass, and Yoyi Lagarza, with mixing by Jefry Lozano, the flirty and packed with Cuban slang, “Ese Besito,” laces newcomer Santiler’s sugary voice with Cimafunk’s groovier vocals. “That’s why give me that little kiss/ That you owe me for a while now/ If you try me, why should I explain/ I’ll apply a killer psychology to you,” goes the seductive chorus.

“Ese Besito” arrives on the heels of Santiler’s viral “Todo Se Supera” in collaboration with Velito El Bufón, which has garnered over 3.7 million views on YouTube in a month.

Editor’s Note: The weekly New Music Latin poll results are posted if the poll generates more than 1,000 votes.