It’s that time of year when critics start rolling out their “best of” lists, with albums usually first out of the gate. Unlike movies, you don’t see a ton of new music releases in December, so it’s safe to lock in your favorites.
Seeing those lists pop up made me realize how little new music I’ve discovered this year. That’s been the case for awhile now, actually, in contrast to years when I’ve had a couple of dozen new releases to consider. I think there are two main reasons for the change.
The thing that convinced me Rosalía is a special talent on the verge of breaking big was last week’s release of the two-part single ‘Fucking Money Man,’ which is made up of a catchy-as-hell, upbeat track called ‘Milionária’ and a somber, elegiac ballad called Dio$ No$ Libre Del Dinero (which translates to “God save us from money”).
The songs (and accompanying video) are an ironic celebration of greed followed by a denunciation of it.
The half-a-billion views YouTube video I mentioned yesterday is Rosalía’s collaboration with Colombian Reggaeton singer J Balvin, titled ‘Con Altura.’
The single and video were released in advance of Rosalía’s upcoming third album and quickly marched up the charts in Spanish-speaking countries, reaching #1 in Spain, Colombia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
Sometimes there’s a feeling in the air right before an artist gets really big. You can sense it’s coming.
I feel that way right now about Rosalía, a Spanish flamenco/electro-pop singer-songwriter who is poised for major mainstream success. She already has a video with half a billion views on YouTube, so it’s a bit odd to talk about her being under the radar, but in terms of U.S. stardom, I think it’s right around the corner.
Meet Me In Montauk 