Rosalía’s newest album “MOTOMAMI” will make you want to apply some makeup, dress up in a red outfit and put on your motorcycle helmet before departing on a sunset ride with no specific destination.
The 16-track album released on Friday consists of sexy, party and melancholic songs ranging from reggaeton, jazz, flamenco, pop, bachata to hip-hop.
Rosalía takes the listener on a journey of loving and embracing oneself without worrying about outside energy.
As you begin your motorcycle ride and turn the key in the ignition, you will transform with the finger snaps and bass beats of the first track, “SAOKO.”
In case the song title wasn’t clear, she repeats it during the intro, “saoco papi, saoco,” slowly increasing in pitch until it sounds like the verse is being sung by Alvin and The Chipmunks.
Her voice returns to normal as she sings about the transition from night to day and other similar cycles.
“Yo soy muy mía, yo me transformo. Una mariposa, yo me transformo. Makeup de drag queen, yo me transformo.” In short translation, she compares herself to a butterfly that symbolizes rebirth, transformation and change.
With a mix of reggaeton and jazz, she continues welcoming this change by accepting contradictions by being anything and everything.
“Como sex siren, yo me transformo. Me contradigo, yo me transformo. Soy to’a’ la cosa, yo me transformo.” She tells the listener that what you believe in can change but that is simply a part of being human: life is full of contradictions and celebrating constant transformations.
“CANDY” evokes reminiscence of a past relationship, but instead of missing them, she sings of her ex-partner being unable to forget her.
Starting with a synth-like piano sound and transitioning back and forth to reggaeton, Rosalía croons, “Sé que tú no me has olvida'o. No me has olvida'o, no me has olvida'o… ya no te quiero como antes. Me rompiste pero solo en parte.”
She sends the message that even if she wanted to remember this person, she can’t and wouldn’t even recognize their face.
This song makes you want to dance a slow reggaeton, which is a perfect transition to a bachata beat in the next track “LA FAMA” featuring Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd.
The single released on Nov. 11, 2021, can be interpreted in many ways. One interpretation is that fame isn’t all that it may seem, based on the title translation meaning “The Fame.”
“Es mala amante la fama, no va a quererte de verdad. Es demasia'o traicionera, y como ella viene, se te va.” In other words, fame can be deceitful and fleeting, it can take you down unexpected paths and addictions, which is why the lifestyle shouldn’t be trusted.
Fame is also described as a lousy lover in another interpretation.
This is the second time The Weeknd sings a Spanish collaboration. “Sabe que será celosa, yo nunca le confiaré. Si quiere’ duerme con ella, pero nunca la vayas a casar.”
In his soft harmonization, he’s saying that the woman in the song comes and goes and because of her jealousy she can’t be fully trusted. “La sangre le hierve, siempre quiere más. Puñalaítas' da su ambición. En el pecho afilada, es lo peor.” Her ambitious ways may damage the relationship and therefore he would never marry her.
Rosalía still embraces her flamenco and contemporary style of music from previous albums which she is known for in “BULERÍAS,” “DETIRO DE GRANDEZA,” “G3 N15” and “SAKURA.” She shows her fans that although she is incorporating new styles and genres, her signature touch is here to stay.
“HENTAI” takes a different route by giving sensual and sexual songs a new standard. With each piano chord, she describes her physical needs and pleasures.
“No pienses más, na' que pensar… Te quiero ride como a mi bike.” As the violin enters in the middle of the song, the song becomes delicate as she sings about wanting to ride someone the way she rides her motorcycle.
Over ascending and descending piano and vocal melodies, the music heightens the intensity of the lyrics as she sings about sexual actions and the drum triggers yearning “So, so, so, so, so, so good, good, good. So, so, so good, so, so, so good.”
“BIZCOCHITO,” “CHICKEN TERIYAKI,” “CUUUUuuuuuute” and “DIABLO” all continue the reggaeton mix with new elements and playful tones.
Piano ballad “COMO UN G” is a transitional track in the album that goes back to the theme of change as a butterfly is ready to spread its wings with synthesizers that are also heard in “LA COMBI VERSACE” featuring Dominican rapper Tokischa.
“Abcdefg” is an alphabetical anthem using almost each letter for a word describing what a butterfly or a powerful woman embodies.
“MOTOMAMI” is the shortest track in the album and is seen as more of an interlude. The song is replayable, making listeners wish it was longer.
Rosalía told Jimmy Fallon on his show on March 10, “Motomami is an energy” and energy is definitely received.
The album embodies the true definition of transformation, not only musically, but for Rosalía as an artist – including a little bit of everything that inspires her.
She is confident in herself artistically and vocally, which in return makes the listener want to bring out their feminine side.
By the time you get off the motorcycle, you will feel free.
