Me Gusta (Anitta song)

"Me Gusta" is a song by Brazilian singer Anitta featuring American rapper Cardi B and Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers, from Anitta's fifth studio album Versions of Me. It was released as the lead single from the album through Warner Records on September 18, 2020.^[1][2] The song's music video was filmed in Salvador, Bahia, and released the same day. A remix featuring American singer 24kGoldn was released on November 20, 2020.^[3]

"Me Gusta"
Single by Anitta featuring Cardi B and Myke Towers
from the album Versions of Me
Language	English Spanish
Released	September 18, 2020 (2020-09-18)
Genre	Latin pop reggaeton funk carioca pagode baiano
Length	3:01
Label	Warner
Songwriter(s)	Larissa de Macedo Belcalis Almanzar Michael Torres Andres Torres Carolina Colón Mauricio Rengifo Benito Garcia Rafa Dias Ryan Tedder Wallace Chibatinha
Producer(s)	Ryan Tedder Andres Torres Mauricio Rengifo RDD
Anitta singles chronology
"Tá com o Papato" (2020) "Me Gusta" (2020) "Modo Turbo" (2020)
Cardi B singles chronology
"WAP" (2020) "Me Gusta" (2020) "Up" (2021)
Myke Towers singles chronology
"La Luz" (2020) "Me Gusta" (2020) "Mi Niña" (2020)
24kGoldn singles chronology
"Tick Tock" (2020) "Me Gusta (Remix)" (2020) "I Admit It" (2020)
Music video
"Me Gusta" on YouTube

Background and release

Anitta began shooting the music video for "Me Gusta" on February 13, 2020, in the Historic Center of Salvador—a city in which she had already recorded the music video for the song "Bola Rebola"—surrounded by journalists and the local population.^[4][5] She posted the behind-the-scenes footage on her Instagram profile.^[6]

"Me Gusta" was originally set to be released in April 2020; however, on March 27, 2020, Anitta announced she had to postpone the release of the song amid the COVID-19 pandemic.^[7][8] Later, on August 19, 2020, Anitta announced she would once again postpone the release of the song because of a "great opportunity" related to its release. She was originally scheduled to perform "Me Gusta" on the American TV show The Late Late Show with James Corden on August 20, 2020,^[9][10] but due to the delay of "Me Gusta", she chose to perform her 2020 song "Tócame".^[11]

Anitta then confirmed "Me Gusta" would be released on September 18, 2020. A week before the song's release, Anitta made suspense on her social media and posted a photo in which she appeared along with Myke Towers and a silhouette of a then-unknown artist.^[12] The singer then clarified that the silhouette belonged to an artist that would be featured in "Me Gusta" along with Towers.^[13] Two days after teasing the secret collaboration, Anitta confirmed that Cardi B would be featured on the song.^[14][15] Anitta then revealed that she was thrilled to learn that the rapper agreed to participate in the song and that Cardi B was a last-minute addition.^[16]

"Me Gusta" was then released worldwide on September 18, 2020, along with its music video.^[17]

The song features on the soundtrack for EA Sports' football video game FIFA 21.

Production

Musically, "Me Gusta" is a Latin pop and reggaeton song with some funk carioca and pagode baiano influences.^{[18][19][20][21][22]} Anitta and Cardi B perform in English and Spanish, while Myke Towers performs in the latter. In her verse, Cardi portrays her alter-ego "La Cardi" and references singer Shakira.^[19]

Critical reception

In GQ, Isaac Garrido called it "an ode to Brazilian rhythms and colors". He further added that Anitta's voice "merges with that of Cardi B, with whom she achieves a synergy that celebrates the Latin spirit and together they own the touches of hip-hop and rap, delivered in a melodic Spanglish", and praised Myke Towers' verse.^[23]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Me Gusta"

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	Capricho Awards	Feature of the Year	Won	[24]
	CONTIGO! Online Award	Best Song of the Year	Nominated	[25]
	F5 Awards	Hit of the Year	Won	[26]
	POP Mais Awards	Best Music Video	Won	[27]
	Latin Music Italian Awards	Best Latin Female Video	Won	[28]
		Best Spanglish Song	Won
	Splash Awards	Best International Song of the Year	Nominated	[29]
		Best National Videoclip	Nominated
	TodaTeen Awards	Feat of the Year	Nominated	[30]
	Top 50 Music Awards	Best Song	Nominated	[31]
		Best Collaboration	Nominated
	Women’s Music Event Awards	Best Mainstream Music	Nominated	[32]
2021	Break Tudo Awards	Latin Hit	Won
	Premios Juventud	OMG Collaboration	Nominated	[33]
	Premios Lo Nuestro	Crossover Collaboration of the Year	Nominated	[34]
	Tudo Information Awards	Best International Feature of the Year	Won	[35]
	Tudo Information Awards	Clip Do Not Quit Replay	Won	[36]
		Favorite Feature	Won

Chart performance

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of October 3, 2020, at number 91, making Anitta the first Brazilian artist to have an entry on the chart in the 2020s. It became Anitta's and Myke Tower's first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

Directed by Daniel Russel, the music video was filmed in Salvador, Bahia and premiered on September 18, 2020. It features Afro-Latinas from Salvador and people from LGBTQ communities. The video shows scenes at a carnival-like street party and a runway.^[37] In the video, Anitta wears several colorful outfits, including a rainbow dress. Cardi B wears a lavender corset and a rose-covered skirt.^[19][38]

Anitta commented in an interview with NBC News that she received advice from an expert on Afro-Brazilian history on how to best showcase its roots through imagery. She also stated, "I understand it's music for people to have fun... But in the video, from behind, we have a message. We are exalting all types of women and saying how much we like it when they do whatever they want to do".^[39]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2020) Peak position Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[40] 59 Argentina Airplay (Monitor Latino)[41] 14 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[42] 15 Brazil (Pop Internacional)[43] 1 Brazil (UBC Top 10 streaming)[44] 3 Brazil (Top 100 Airplay)[45] 14 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[46] 92 Colombia (National-Report)[47] 22 Colombia Pop (Monitor Latino)[48] 7 Ecuador (Monitor Latino)[49] 6 Global 200 (Billboard)[50] 37 Greece (IFPI)[51] 92 Honduras Pop (Monitor Latino)[52] 7 Hungary (Single Top 40)[53] 40 Ireland (IRMA)[54] 63 Lithuania (AGATA)[55] 98 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[56] 18 Mexico Pop Espanol Airplay (Billboard)[57] 3 Mexico Pop (Monitor Latino)[58] 7 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[59] 16 Panama (Monitor Latino)[60] 10 Paraguay (Monitor Latino)[61] 12 Peru (Monitor Latino)[62] 12 Portugal (AFP)[63] 19 Puerto Rico (Monitor Latino)[64] 13 Romania (Airplay 100)[65] 76 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[66] 82 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[67] 56 US Billboard Hot 100[68] 91 US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[69] 5 US Latin Airplay (Billboard)[70] 23 US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[71] 6 US Latin Rhythm Airplay (Billboard)[72] 13 Venezuela (Monitor Latino)[73] 3 Chart (2021) Peak position US Latin Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[74] 11

Monthly charts Chart (2020) Position Brazil (Top 50 Streaming)[75] 5 Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position US Latin Pop Airplay Songs (Billboard)[76] 47 Chart (2021) Position Brazil Top Streaming Songs (Pro-Música Brasil)[77] 177 US Latin Pop Airplay Songs (Billboard)[78] 34

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[79]	3× Diamond	480,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[80]	Platinum	10,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	September 18, 2020	Digital download streaming	Warner	[2]
Italy	September 25, 2020	Contemporary hit radio		[81]