Sueños Day 1: J Balvin returns to Grant Park to mark fest’s fifth anniversary

Suenos Music Festival kicked off Saturday in Grant Park, where many fans were decked out in pink in homage to headliner Kali Uchis. Lace corset tops, mini skirts with long frilled layers and rhinestones dominated the outfits on the park grounds.

Attendees also eagerly awaited the night’s closer, Colombian singer J Balvin, who made his return to Grant Park to mark the fifth year of the festival.

Earlier in the day, Gov. JB Pritzker made a surprise appearance with Dr. Simi, an iconic mascot of Mexico’s largest pharmaceutical franchise, to hype up Venezuelan singer-songwriter and record producer Danny Ocean before he took to the stage.

Here are a few highlights from day one of the festival.

J Balvin

As the fog lifted Saturday night, J Balvin kicked off his Sueños headliner set with his 2020 single “Blanco.”

José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, known to the world as J Balvin, helped close out the first-ever Sueños Music Festival in 2022. He returned Saturday for the fifth anniversary of the music festival, which featured Kali Uchis, Danny Ocean, Manuel Turizo and Tito El Bambino on Day 1.

The Colombian singer has a special connection to Grant Park: In 2019, J Balvin performed at the Bud Light stage at Lollapalooza. He made music history as the first Latino and Spanish-language artist to headline the Chicago megafest.

Balvin sported a bright yellow jacket and brown slacks. Backup dancers decked out in head-to-toe denim outfits accompanied him on stage as he continued his set with songs “Con Altura,” “Reggaeton” and “Amarillo.”

The crowd’s energy was low to start, but things picked up a bit as he went on with “Azul.” Later, Balvin kicked things up another notch with the hit song “I Like It,” which he worked on with fellow musicians Bad Bunny and Cardi B.

Saturday was the third time Balvin got to play the song for fans in Grant Park, and they were not disappointed. In the VIP section, couples and groups of friends danced along and belted out the words of the chorus from the top of their lungs.

Balvin, now grinning from ear to ear, was visibly enjoying himself. The energy picked up a bit more from that point on, and more fans began to sing and bounce along as the singer began singing one of his most popular hits “Loco contigo.”

Fans also reacted positively to tracks “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola” and “Safari,” two throwbacks to a golden era of 2010s Latin trap and reggaeton.

At this point, it was unclear whether Osorio Balvín brought the latest version of J Balvin to Sueños. While the crowd popped for a few earlier moments, things were noticeably mild about halfway through the singer’s set — there was not yet a constant flow of perreo or ánimo coming from festival-goers.

But during the song “Ay Vamos,” the real Balvin stepped up, and the crowd responded with delight. The tune comes from his 2014 album “La Familia B Sides” — the record that launched him to fame. (It even won Best Urban Song at the 16th Latin Grammy Awards.)

On “La Canción,” Balvin asked everyone to put their lights up for the sentimental song that brings up memories of heartbreak and yearning. Fans went wild for the song, which comes from the “Oasis” album, the singer’s iconic collaboration with Bad Bunny.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Balvin thanked the crowd for welcoming him back to Sueños.

“And to those who don’t speak Spanish, thank you for coming,” Balvin told the crowd. He dedicated his set to “all the [hardworking] Latinos” in the park.

Next, Balvin performed a powerful version of “Rojo” that included a backtrack with a chorus of singers, but the moment would’ve been stronger with the addition of a live (and local?) choir.

Balvin shouted out the names of as many Latin American countries as he could while performing another top hit, “Mi Gente” (featuring Willy William). His accompanying DJ hyped fans up to a massive beat drop into one of the most infectious parts of the song: “Tamo’ rompiendo la discoteca …”

The energy built up to a peak with “Que Calor,” another popular anthem with EDM beats, and his closing song, “In Da Ghetto.” Fans jumped, pumped their fists and sang along to the repetitive final melody of the night until fireworks started going off.

Kali Uchis

If there is a single artist at Sueños who deserves her own Barbie Dreamhouse, it’s Kali Uchis.

Behind the Colombian singer-songwriter, who emerged in her iconic eyeliner and an all-white silver-studded leather outfit, stood an army of backup dancers also in white. They framed Uchis with long white feathers to complete her angelic and ethereal look as she kicked off her set.

She marked the beginning of her Sueños debut with a dreamy medley of “Telepatía” and “Moonlight.” The visuals simulated Uchis’ own version of an “it” girl dream house, while the stage was decorated with luxurious touches, including a pink chaise lounger.

Uchis brought some serious perreo and much-needed heat to Sueños. Throngs of fans went wild for her as they waved Colombian flags and homemade signs dedicated to the singer.

After noting she was pleasantly surprised by Saturday night’s clear skies, Uchis went on to express her love for the Windy City. “I really love being in Chicago,” Uchis told fans after blowing them a big kiss. “It’s one of my favorite cities.”

Uchis then warned the crowd the next few songs would be throwbacks and forgave the audience for potentially not knowing all of the lyrics. They proved her wrong, as fans knew the words to the rest of the set list.

Accompanied by her band, Uchis hit the gas and steered things in an angstier direction with her 2015 song “Speed.” More throwbacks included “Loner” and “Dead to Me.”

Born in Virginia to Colombian parents, Uchis and her family moved back to Colombia when she was about 5. Her music is a unique reflection of both cultures — she’s got hits in English and Spanish (and even some in Spanglish), plus major collaborations with artists like Tyler, the Creator, Bootsy Collins and Karol G.

Uchis performed a few of those throughout her set, including “Labios Mordidos,” “See You Again” and “After The Storm.” The singer closed out her set with a notably funkier version of “Telepatía,” right after promising Chicago she’d be returning very soon.

Danny Ocean

Known to most fans by his 2017 single “Me Rehúso,” Venezuelan singer-songwriter and record producer Danny Ocean made his Sueños debut Saturday.

Ocean probably wasn’t expected to have so much success nearly a decade after releasing that smash hit. But something about his music is increasingly relatable — especially to the dozens and dozens of Venezuelan fans who gathered around the main stage with flags of their shared homeland.

Minutes earlier, Gov. JB Pritzker and Dr. Simi hyped the crowds up for Ocean with a special shout-out.

The song details the complicated feelings and longing that come with being separated from a loved one. It’s got a double meaning, though: Ocean is singing about his home country, which he was forced to leave in 2015 due to rising political and socioeconomic tensions. He moved to Miami and is now based in Mexico City.

“It’s so cool to be here in Chicago,” Ocean said as he peered out into the crowd. Tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants have called the city home since August 2022, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent busloads of them up to Chicago.

“If you know my songs, I hope you all sing them with me,” Ocean said in Spanish before continuing with his set.

The singer opened his set with “Imagínate,” a tropical antidote to the chilly, foggy atmosphere on Day 1 of the annual Latin music fest. Accompanied by a band, the singer went on to play more of his hits, including “Volare” and “Swing.”

Ocean closed out with “Me Rehúso,” slowing it down at the end and giving it an intentional, emotional treatment as some fans sang their hearts out to the chorus and others shed tears.

Contributing: Nudia Hernandez