A Trip to the Symphony with RosalÍa

Design by Sophie Parrish

By Izzie Claudio

Last week, Rosalía released “Berghain,” featuring Bjök and Yves Tumor. For her first single in over a year, I was pleasantly surprised by the abrupt genre shift she’s showcasing. 

The song begins with an epic orchestral instrumental, a straight-up classical piece. Then, a chorus erupts in German. Are we sure this is a Rosalía track? Yes. She enters for her solo, but she carries the same classical prowess as the chorus. She is singing opera in German. Where am I? This classical masterpiece continues with a verse in Spanish. Two languages down, and we’re only a minute into the song. The cellos and violins are given quite the spotlight as Rosalía compares herself to a sugar cube in coffee, lamenting the sometimes ephemeral nature of love. We even get some timpani bangs, transporting us straight to the symphony.

Then, Björk’s instantly recognizable timbre enters as the orchestra slows down, melting away from our ears. She croons, cradling us with her soft yet impactful lyricism. The strings slowly return and build, before Yves Tumor comes crashing in, repeatedly saying, “I’ll fuck you till you love me,” as the orchestra continues to brew with a sinister nature. 

At just under three minutes, we’re left shaken in the best way. What is this intriguing soundscape Rosalía has introduced to us? I can’t wait to enter the world of Lux.