Still shaken by the sudden loss of Yeison Jiménez, one of the biggest stars in Colombian “música popular,” thousands of fans (14,000, as announced onstage) gathered at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá on Wednesday (Jan. 14) to pay tribute to the artist.
Jiménez, known for hits like “Aventurero” and “Destino Final” with Luis Alfonso, died Saturday in a plane crash in Paipa (Boyacá) after the aircraft failed to gain enough altitude and crashed. Five other people, including Jefferson Osorio, the artist’s manager; Oscar Marín, his personal assistant; and Weismann Mora, a photographer, also lost their lives.
For the artist’s farewell, entrance to the Movistar Arena was divided into two sessions: the first from noon to 4 p.m. (local time) and the second from 6 to 10 p.m. In both time slots, entry was allowed until the venue reached full capacity. Admission was free, and organizers emphasized the importance of not bringing candles, food or drinks. Fans began arriving as early as Tuesday night, and by morning, thousands were already outside the venue.
Stars joined the farewell to Jiménez
The first to appear was little Thaliana, the artist’s daughter, who was carried on shoulders through much of the arena to greet her father’s fans — as if she felt it was now her responsibility to make them feel welcome.
Pipe Bueno was the first star of “música popular” to take the stage, visibly moved as he performed “Tengo Ganas,” a song by Jiménez on which he collaborated. Before leaving, the Cali-born singer, now based in Mexico City, noted: “Sometimes in our rush, we forget that we’re already rich, very rich, but in things that aren’t material.”
Next was Alzate, who performed “Sin Decir Adiós” and “Mi Venganza,” the latter recorded as a duet with Jiménez. The two were not only colleagues but also friends; Alzate contributed to some of Jiménez’s hits, such as “Hasta La Madre.” “Thank you for singing my lyrics; you made me great too,” he said before leaving the stage.
Jiménez’s “Ya No Mi Amor” was the next song in the lineup, this time performed by Jessi Uribe and Paola Jara, whose rendition set the stage for the arrival of Jiménez’s mother and young daughter, Thaliana. “Whether it’s a lot or a little, I don’t know, but I’ll always be here to take care of your children, your wife, and those who might be weaker than you. As long as God gives me life and health,” said Lucy, the artist’s mother, who also dedicated the song “Confieso” by Kany García to her late son.
Francy and Arelys Henao, who alongside Jara form the leading trio of women in Colombian popular music, also paid their respects. Francy performed her song “El Adiós,” while Henao gave an emotional rendition of “Nadie Es Eterno” by Darío Gómez, an icon of Colombian music with whom Jiménez had collaborated on Pipe Bueno’s “Guaro Remix”.
Sebastián Ayala, another artist in the “Colombian regional” genre (a term Jiménez often used), captivated the audience with “Qué Tonto Soy,” which he originally recorded as a duet with Jiménez. Ayala mentioned that the two had plans to record together again in 2026. John Alex Castaño performed “Amanecí Contento” and recalled the moment he first met Jiménez, saying the latter had visited him wearing shorts and carrying a notebook filled with writings.
Among the attendees were Pasabordo, the duo of Jhonatan and Gabo, who had collaborated with Jiménez on “Hasta La Madre,” which they performed during the event. The duo has also written several hits for Colombian regional artists, such as “Cuánto Vale” by Luis Alfonso and “La Llamada” by Jiménez.
As the first session of the day neared its end, Ciro Quiñonez took the stage to perform the remix version of “El Embustero.” This song has a touching backstory, as its writer, a young empanada vendor named Yeison Majé, went viral with it, leading to a collaboration with Jiménez and Luis Alfonso. It was the first time the three had performed it together. Quiñonez also performed his biggest hit, “Regalada Sales Cara,” alongside Alfonso, Uribe, and Bueno — one of the genre’s most popular remixes in recent years. Jessi Uribe’s “Dulce Pecado” was also sung by the four artists.
For the thousands of fans shedding tears inside and outside the Movistar Arena (many also following the event via social media), the night couldn’t conclude without Luis Alfonso performing “Destino Final.” “Even though his body is gone today, his legacy, his music, and his spirit will always be with us […] It’s no secret that we’re not mourning saints today; we’re mourning crazy, entrepreneurial, joyful people,” he said, apologizing to Jiménez’s family for his candid and bold farewell to his dear friend.
To conclude the event, Jhonny Rivera and Andy Rivera also took the stage. Jhonny sang “Siga Bebiendo,” his collaboration with Jiménez, while his son Andy — who had also collaborated with Jiménez— performed “Borracho Te Busco.” Several of the musicians then joined on stage to sing “El Mejor (Remix),” a song the beloved artist recorded just over a year ago with Mexican singer Chayín Rubio. “Sing it loud; this is Yeison Jiménez’s fourth sold-out show at the Movistar Arena,” someone suddenly exclaimed, referencing the three shows the artist had given at a the venue in late 2024.
—This story was originally published by Billboard Colombia
