Camila Cabello, Familia | Album Review 💿

Grammy-nominated pop artist Camila Cabello ‘brings the heat’ on her third studio album, the Latin-pop infused Familia.

After exiting 🎙 Fifth Harmony, 🎙 Camila Cabello has had no shortage of success.  Her debut album, 💿 Camila (2018), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and yielded a gargantuan pop hit in 🎵 “Havana” (it still slaps to this day).  Her sophomore album, 💿 Romance (2019), was none too shabby either, with Cabello showing a commanding falsetto on 🎵 “Living Proof” (“Where did you come from baby?”).  Now, following a high-profile breakup, and more than a two-year hiatus, arguably, Cabello has released her best album to date, 💿 Familia.  A tight effort with just 12 tracks running 34 minutes, Cabello is consistent from start to finish: on-point.

“Familia” 

🎵 “Familia” commences Familia with an exuberant trumpet solo (think mariachi), performed by 🎙 Mike Cordone.  The :18 second instrumental is followed by 🎵 “Celia,” which runs a mere two-and-a-half minutes in duration.  Exclusively in Spanish, “Celia” is groovy, providing an energetic, vibe-laden start to Familia.  Camila Cabello is in good voice, infusing ample personality here.  “Celia” is well-produced, with 🎛 Jose Castillo and 🎛 Ricky Reed successfully working behind the boards.  Also, shout out a second appearance by Cordone on trumpet – he rocks!

“Familia” and “Celia” successfully commence Familia, but the real heat arrives courtesy of 🤩 🎵 “psychofreak” 🔥. Once more, 🎙 WILLOW arrives as a featured guest on a high-profile project (she also appears on 🎙 Machine Gun Kelly’s 🎵 “emo girl”). I love her tone of voice in the pre-chorus, as she sings, “I want to, want to, want to touch you / Want to touch you, but my fingertips are numb / I want to, want to, want to, want to love you / Want to love you, but my chest is tightenin’ up.” Woo! Of course, Cabello isn’t overshadowed on this stand out.  She shines in the verses, reflecting on life and her career, alluding to 🎙 Fifth Harmony in the second verse (“I don’t blame the girls for how it went down, down”).  Of course, the centerpiece – the crowning achievement – is the chorus where she characterizes herself as a “psychofreak sometimes” who questions if she’s “an alien” and asserts, “Earth is hard.”  What’s not debatable is the excellence of this surefire bop, featuring production from Reed once more in addition to 🎛 Tom Peyton.

“Bam Bam”

Breaking up = perfect inspiration for a song! Camila experienced a high-profile split in late 2021 with 🎙 Shawn Mendes prompting the soundtrack that is 🤩 🎵 “Bam Bam”.  Cabello gets personal while also serving up personality.  On this fun, therapeutic post-break-up joint, she’s assisted by 🏆 Grammy-winning British pop singer/songwriter, 🎙 Ed Sheeran. “You said you hated the ocean, but you’re surfin’ now / I said I’d love you for life, but I just sold our house.” Cabello is referencing her ex, trying to move beyond the past. As “Bam Bam” progresses, the production further fills out, fully establishing itself.  Cabello’s verse is intriguing, but the crème de la crème is the chorus and post-chorus, which is infectious as can be with its Latin/tropical influence:

“Así e’ la vida, sí

Yeah, that’s just life, baby

Yeah, love came around and it knocked me down

But I’m back on my feet

Así e’ la vida, sí

Yeah, that’s just life, baby

I was barely standin’, but now I’m dancin’

He’s all over me (Goza)

Ba-da, bam-bam-bam-bam, bam-bam…”

Sheeran arrives for the second verse, sounding great as he sings about moving beyond the storm. Even better is when Cabello and Sheeran join forces, coupled with full instrumentation, including bright, articulated horns.  “Bam Bam” = total vibe!

Appears in 🔻:

• Awesome Songs: March 2022

On 🤩 🎵 “La Buena Vida,” Camila Cabello continues to embrace her Cuban heritage FTW!  I love the intense rhythmic Spanish guitar, horns, strings, and continual use of Latin music cues.  Set in a minor key, Cabello is emotional and sounds utterly fierce.  She has a marvelous melody to work with in addition to the dynamic production work.  Despite ample Latin cues, “La Buena Vida” (“The Good Life”) is performed predominantly in English.   Also, despite its title, Cabello isn’t having a happy life experience on this number.  Her partner is missing in action – “You should be here, should be with me tonight / ‘Stead you’re working, you’re working all the time” – and she finds herself “home alone with [his] glass of wine.” Ultimately, it causes Camila to proclaim, “Oh no, oh no, this is not the life.” May not be, but this is another winning song!

Track six yields yet another – wait for it – BOP.  On 🤩 🎵 “Quiet,” a man is the focal point. In this case, it’s not negative like “La Buena Vida.” Instead it’s sexy to the n^th degree.  The Latin cues disappear in favor of chilly, modern pop with some 80s influences.  Of course, this sound suits Cabello well too, successfully conjuring up a sensual experience.  Like much of Familia, it is the chorus that shines brightest: “But now your hands are touchin’ my waist / In the back of the care, you just couldn’t wait / And now my hands are movin’ in ways / Like I need you right now, I just couldn’t wait.” Ooh wee!

“Boys Don’t Cry”

Modern production (Reed, 🎛 Nate Mercereau, and 🎛 Jonah Shy) continues to predominate on the sleek 🤩 🎵 “Boys Don’t Cry.” Here, Camila Cabello wants her man to understand it’s okay to be vulnerable with her – he can trust her.  Notably, “Boys Don’t Cry” seems to challenge that horrid thing better known as toxic masculinity which often makes men bottle up and suppress their feelings.  Here, Cabello makes it clear it’s okay for him to share his pain and issues because “It doesn’t make you less of a man” and she’s willing to “Take the weight off your shoulders.” Cabello continues to consistently impress, particularly that high-flying falsetto.

Another exclusively Spanish number, 🎵 “Hasta Los Dientes,” keeps the momentum going strong.  Cabello is assisted by 🎙 Maria Becerra who does a marvelous job performing the second verse and the subsequent pre-chorus.  Of course, both join forces on the chorus, yet another glorious occasion on Familia.  Camila returns to English on the fierce, minor-keyed 🤩 🎵 “No Doubt.” Here, her suitor eases her mind: “The way we’re making love, you leave me with no doubt / The way you’re biting on the corner of my mouth / You take the psycho out of my brain.” Apparently, he has some skills in the bedroom. More importantly, however, he knows how to assuage her anxiety and paranoia.  Once again, Cabello wows with the refrain – and those high-flying vocals.

“Don’t Go Yet”

🤩 🎵 “Don’t Go Yet” keeps the Latin elements of Familia alive and well.  Sure, it’s another English language song (mostly), but musically, Camila ensures elements of her heritage are alive and well.  As has been the case consistently throughout Familia, Cabello has no shortage of personality.  Camila doesn’t want him to go yet – stay boy, stay! “What’s you leavin’ for when my night is yours? / Just a little more, don’t go yet.” Woo!

🎵 “Lola” arrives as the penultimate record on Familia.  Slower (mid-tempo) but groovy, it marks another worthwhile record. Notably, 🎙 Yotuel appears in the third verse, providing contrast to Camila.  His verse is exclusively in Spanish.  Even with Cabello performing in English, like many selections from Familia, the Latin cues are firmly in play.  On the closing cut,

🎵 “everyone at this party,” Cabello moves away from Latin pop employing reflective, singer/songwriter pop.  Matters of the heart are the driving force as Camila reflects on a past relationship (likely Mr. Mendes).  Clearly, she misses her ex, singing “But everybody t this party isn’t you / … You’re the only one I wanna run into / But I never do.” “Everyone at this party” is a vulnerable, heartbreak song that many will connect with.

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, Camila Cabello brings the heat on her third full-length album, Familia.  I love the fact that more so than previous albums, she embraces her heritage.  This gives the LP more personality.  Additionally, the songs attached to matters of the heart are relatable and suit Cabello’s voice exceptionally well. At a tight 12 tracks and 34 minutes in duration, Cabello never misses the mark.  Is it possible Familia is her best album to date? Methinks!

🤩 Gems 💎: “psychofreak,” “Bam Bam,” “La Buena Vida,” “Quiet,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “No Doubt” & “Don’t Go Yet”

🎙 Camila Cabello • 💿 Familia • 🏷 Epic • 🗓 4.8.22

[📷: Epic]