Known in 2018 thanks to her album El Mal Querer , Rosalía became, in 2022, a world star. A few days before his concert in Paris, here are five things to know about this child prodigy of flamenco.
After having sung to sold-out crowds in the United States, Argentina, Belgium or Spain, it’s time for France: a few days before her concert in Paris, here are five things to know about Rosalía, the child prodigy of flamenco who became 2022 world pop superstar.
Flamenco… but not only
This remains his greatest inspiration, and at the same time, one among many: flamenco. Without gypsy origin, Rosalía Vila i Tobella discovered this genre during childhood, in her native Catalonia, thanks to friends of Andalusian origin. The crush is immediate. In 2017, his first album Los Angeles, where she sings alone accompanied by a guitar, the anchor in this traditional genre. The album was a critical success but did not grant him international recognition. If she was inspired by this genre, she never turned her back on other music. It is this duality that is at the heart of his discography.
El Mal Querer : Fame
At 25, his second opus El mal querer (2018) made her an overall star. Sacred best album of the year at the Latin Grammys – where he won several awards that year – we find his imagination linked to Spain and flamenco, all on voluntarily more pop and dancing tones. Among the hits, the essential unwell (160 million views on YouTube) or Pienso en tu mirada (89 million views). Divided into eleven tracks, the album recounts the stages of a toxic love relationship. Over the chapters, the female character, embodied by the Spanish singer, will evolve towards emancipation.
Duet with Travis Scott
Ozuna, J. Balvin, The Weeknd… Rosalía has always been fond of duets with the stars of urban music. But there is one that has a special place in his discography: the one with American rapper Travis Scott. Entitled TKN, the song, released in May 2020, has been viewed more than 218 million times on YouTube. A very urban hymn to loyalty, the two artists claim that “Secrets are only shared with those you can trust”. The title is sung in Spanish and rapped mainly in English, even if we hear the rapper make incursions, a little awkward, in Spanish.
Motomami: the reinvention
“I feel like with Motomami, I did and said exactly what I wanted to say, in my own way. After that, there’s no turning back“, she told the American version of Rolling Stone magazine in mid-December. Released in March 2022, Motomami (meuf-moto, editor’s note) was acclaimed by critics and the public. At the heart of the project, a symbol: the butterfly. In Saokoone of the titles of the album she sings: “I transform myself”, “I contradict myself”, “I can be everything”. Pop, hip-hop, electro, jazz, reggaeton… The album covers all genres. Basically, this 3rd opus is undoubtedly his most intimate. She discusses sexuality, feminism, spirituality and self-respect.
Almodovar and Bigas Luna?
Songs, yes, but also and above all an aestheticism: clips, album covers and concerts of the star have been the subject, since its beginnings, of a very elaborate aestheticism linked to Spain. Thus, some of her videos are nods to the cinema of Pedro Almodóvar – she also made an appearance in pain and glory (2019) – or Bigas Luna. Like in the clip Juro quewhere we find the colors and compositions of the filmmaker of Volover. The clip Pienso en tu mira opens on a small doll dressed in flamenco and that of Di mi number was inspired by the painting Maja by Goya.
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