Marc Anthony Kicks Off 2025 Vi?a del Mar Festival: ‘There’s No Country Like Chile’
Marc Anthony officially kicked off the 2025 Vi?a del Mar International Song Festival on Sunday (Feb. 23) at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater in the coastal city in Chile.
His set, more than an hour long, began at 7:55 p.m. ET, with the Puerto Rican salsa act performing “Pa’alla Voy.” He then continued with his early 2000s hits, “Valío La Pena,” “Y Hubo Alguien” and “Volando Entre Tus Brazos.” “How cool!” Anthony murmured in the mic as the packed venue of 15,000 fans sang along.
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“Thank you so much. Thank you so much, for real,” the salsa artist said to the crowd, which included the presence of his wife, model Nadia Ferreira, in the front row. “What a wonderful time to be able to share with you all after so many years. How wonderful to see you. This next song is one of my favorites. If you know it, sing it with me.”
This is the fourth time the festival has hosted Anthony, following performances in 2009, 2012 and 2019.
He then continued with four back-to-back timeless covers that he’s made popular: Polo Monta?ez’s “Flor Pálida,” Juan Gabriel’s “Abrazame Muy Fuerte,” José José’s “Almohada” and José Luis Perales’ “?Y Cómo es El?”
“How exciting, but do you want salsa? Let’s go!” Marc said after the romantic set, continuing with “Que Precio Tiene el Cielo.”
Shortly after, the event’s co-hosts, Karen Doggenweiler and Rafael Araneda, joined the artist on stage. “This quinta [venue] sings, dances and enjoys your music!” Araneda told Anthony as the audience signaled the popular flying seagull hand gesture to give him a trophy.
As tradition holds, the week-long event features local and international artists who compete for either a silver torch or golden torch. On this year’s opening night on Sunday, Marc received the two coveted gaviota trophies before wrapping up with salsa bangers “Mala,” “Te Conozco Bien,” “Tu Amor Me Hace Bien” and “Vivir Mi Vida.”
“It’s incredible,” Anthony said to the hosts. “I was telling Nadia that there is no country like Chile. Stepping on this land is felt immediately. What an honor to be in Chile!”
Each night, Vi?a del Mar, which has become Chile’s highest-rated television show, features a headliner, a supporting artist, a comedian and an international song festival in folk and pop categories, with contestants competing to win in each.
Bacilos’ Grand Return
About two hours after Marc’s set, Bacilos took center stage to croon their Chilean fans—marking their grand return to Vi?a in 18 years. The Colombian tropipop group began their set with the 2000s nostalgic tune “Tabaco y Chanel,” followed by “Perderme Contigo” and “Pasos de Gigantes.” Frontman Jorge Villamizar then took the “atrevimiento” (dare) to perform his version of Luis Enrique’s salsa hit “Yo No Se Ma?ana,” because it’s one of his favorite songs that he co-penned with Jorge Luis Pilon for the Nicaraguan hitmaker. “We’re going to sing it together so that Luis Enrique doesn’t get mad,” Villamizar joked. Then, the now-duo performed their Billboard hit “Mi Primer Millón,” giving it a punk twist inspired by Chilean rock band Los Prisioneros.
“This is how we enjoy songs that transcend generations. The public danced and rediscovered wonderful songs,” Araneda told Bacilos ahead of honoring them with the silver gaviota trophy. “We have been travelling around this vast and long country for many years… for us it’s a dream come true to be in this neighborhood of Chile, Vi?a del Mar,” Villamizar reacted before tuning the guitar for a closing medley of “Caraluna” and the classic Polo Monta?ez tune, “Un Montón de Estrellas.” Bacilos was then granted the golden gaviota at the end of its set.
Vi?a will continue Monday (Feb. 24) with performances by headliner Myriam Hernández and sibling duo Ha*Ash; Feb. 25 with Colombian’s Morat headlining and Sebastian Yatra; Feb. 26 with Carlos Vives headlining and Carín León; Feb. 27 with Incubus, Juan Carlos López and The Cult; and Feb. 28, urban night, with headliner Duki, Eladio Carrión and Kid Voodoo.
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