ROSALÍA, “SAOKO” | Track Review 🎵

Grammy-winning Latin pop musician ROSALÍA drops another surefire bop with her first single from 2022, “SAOKO.”

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ne of Latin pop’s most gifted musicians, without question, is 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 ROSALÍA.  She returns strong in 2022 with her first single, 🎵 “SAOKO”.  The title (and keyword), interestingly, don’t have an English translation; it’s Puerto Rican slang.  Even without understanding the slang, let alone Spanish without the lyrics on hand, “SAOKO” is a surefire bop.

“SAOKO” is ear-catching from the opening tip – infectious to the nth degree. Notably, it distinguishes itself from other Latin pop because of its experimental, innovative spirit; it’s less predictable and less traditional. I love the assertive, aggressive approach that ROSALÍA employs – more of rapped, chanted performance. As always, she’s the main attraction.  Otherwise, lyrically, “SAOKO” focuses on transformation, something the translated chorus highlights especially well:

“I’m my own, I transform

A butterfly, I transform

Drag queen makeup, I transform

Stars raining, I transform

Out of line, I transform

Like sex siren, I transform

I contradict myself, I transform

I’m all things, I transform.”

As far as sound is concerned, “SAOKO” features superb production work by ROSALÍA, 🎛 Noah Goldstein, 🎛 Dylan Patrice, and 🎛 Michael Uzowuru. It incorporates skeletal ideas, keys (including some jazz piano), and of course, a banging beat. Worth noting, “SAOKO” samples the 🎙 Wisin record, “Saoco” featuring 🎙 Daddy Yankee.  ROSALÍA pays ode to classic reggaeton which is a plus.

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Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, ROSALÍA shines once more on “SAOKO.”  It’s short but sweet, featuring compelling production and an infectious performance from the Grammy winner.   I love how ROSALÍA pays ode to classic reggaeton while also showcasing innovative spirit.

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🎙 ROSALÍA • 🎵 “SAOKO” • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 2.4.22
[📷: Brent Faulkner, Columbia, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

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