Musikarol G Feastja with the story on the album Tropicaqueta

Where exactly an artist goes after a global success in crowded stadiums and breaking records? Karol GMegastar Colombian whose career took off with its last album, MañanaIt will be beautiful (2023), who went into history, the same question was asked. For a while, she considered to move away completely from what she had done so far:

“I started to think that maybe should make an album in English or try new sounds I had never tried before,” he told Rolling Stone. “I started thinking about all these crazy concepts that would never make sense for Karol G. ”

Instead, Karol decided to look inside. He began to think of all the songs that marked his childhood – baroque ballads of the 1980s, sweeping Vallenatos, a merengue of the dancing parties in the family’s living rooms in Medellin. What ended up was Tropicala vibrant and orange compendium of 20 ranges, all pulling from different parts of the history of Latin pop. There is a special focus on the pop part – what is done here is light and relaxed, focused on accessibility and identification. These are not dense dives in classics of the Latin American songbook; part of the brand of Karol It has always been your lightness, sympathy and commercial power. It fills the album with family references, samples-surface and memorable reinterpretations-all forming a mosaic between past and present.

Tropical It starts with an interlude in which Karol sings with the radio next to none other than Thalíastar of the 1990s soap operas and singer that defined several decades of Latin Pop. The music that plays on the radio? “Brunette“, the 1995 international hit that transformed Thalía in pop phenomenon. After a few laughs, Thalía Hallowly say to Karol: “And you, showing me your new music? What was the one I really liked? It is a baton pass – a queen of the Latin pop giving her blessing to the new generation.

Still, what comes next is a little unexpected. Although much of Tropical Orbite around popular Latin rhythms, more modern production choices prevent it from sounding dated or derivative. Part of this is due to the striking minimalism of Ovy on the Drums And in the case of the second track, Ivonny Beautifulto the refined touch of Pharrell Williams – Both trying to channel the spirit of Sade. But the real highlights are the moments of pure nostalgia: “At Puedo Vivir Sin Él“Search the magic – and, thanks to a stunning arrangement, it can largely – while”Collecting Heridos“It is a beautiful highlight, reinforced by the vocals of Marco Antonio Solísthe consecrated romantic that seems synonymous with timelessness.

Other flirtations with the past are made more playfully, with a hint of humor. The proposal of Karol It has been clear since she posted a preview of the album in mode “showgirl from Copacabana”Embracing the exaggeration of the performances of past ages. However, some of these Camps loaded from Camp generated controversy. When the first single,”Latina Foreva“It was released, soon faced online criticism for using easy clichés and an excessive sexualization. (Karol Sing about Latinas with “Curves you don’t even see at NASCAR”On top of an interpolation of”Oye mi singing“, from Nina Sky. The clip was also criticized for the lack of diversity in the representation of the Latinas.) Papatite throw yourself in the old parsley glamor, with Karol in the role of a Hispanic woman trying to sing in English to conquer an American.

But in the end, these clichés refer to a shared history of Latin culture – and Karol adds your own voice to that of women who shaped this culture. Even when she is playing an old -fashioned star, she adds emotion to the images and icons that we are used to seeing: this shows the pain of “ESE HUMBER ES MALO“and the vulnerability of”If pusa beautiful“And then, to the grand final, she returns to the memories that brought her here. Tropicalan animated meringue, channels the “local time” of Colombian celebrations – that moment when DJ releases the classics and dance songs to cheer up everyone. Karol gives his own touch to the track, calling dance steps and mentioning several people – from aunt in the kitchen to the child at the bottom of the party – who should be having fun. Here, Karol Show who really is: just a girl who wants to make friends dance and cheer up the party with heart and soul.

+++ Read More: Brazilian Music Award announces Cazuza as a great honoree of the 2026 edition