Rosalía breaks down the lyrics to “HENTAI"

[Teletubby 143,712]

 

[CautiousLurker 18,571]

I understood 'puta' 

[StrawberryBlond 14,573]

I was intrigued as to how she'd explain this awful song and goodness, this is one of the most nonsensical explanations on a breakdown video I've ever seen. She says she finds it hotter when lyrics are more suggestive as opposed to explicit but then later says she wanted this song to have explicit lyrics (and they are). And even when she's using metaphors, trust me, there's nothing subtle about "your pistol" and "your red poppy." She explains the line "I want to ride you like my bike" like it's an original line. Girl, this has been said in so many songs and is a common phrase in our vernacular, you didn't invent it nor does it need explaining as to what kind of bike it is. That extended description of Spike Jonze movies was completely unneeded.  Hearing her try to explain a repetition as basic as "so so good" is quite something. Holy s**t, that diamond line was literal? That was just embarrassing to hear that explanation (would have been interesting to hear how the phrase "puts me before those other hoes" fits on this apparently "feminist" album, however). She doesn't even say how "I wanna make you hentai" even makes sense but just says she's obsessed with hentai. Just saying a word isn't enough, you have to make it make sense in context. And I wouldn't trust Pharrell's judgement or call him a genius. He hasn't been behind a hit since 2013. He said Justin Timberlake's Man of the Woods album that he worked on as "that is a smash." I rest my case.

I just don't get how an artist of her writing caliber could write something so bad and actually think it's high end erotica when these lyrics are pure p*rnography and thinking it's so original when it's anything but. I think people have just got carried away by hearing the fairly pretty beat and her voice and not actually paying attention what she's saying. Who is gassing artists up and telling them this stuff is good? When will this blindness towards artists faults end? Don't just listen to what the critics are saying, folks. Listen with your ears.

[Bully Pop 195]

As a sex positive individual, I have to say that I absolutely adore this song. The lyrics are sexual and nasty, juxtaposed against these almost Disney-like vocals and composition. To me, this song is a perfect analog for having sex with someone you love: the lyrics are dirty and confessional but the ballad behind it is so intimate, so full of longing and love. Absolute 10/10. This was the first song after Saoko and Chicken Teriyaki I had heard off of this album and mama I was FLOORED.

EDIT: Oh and if repetitive choruses aren’t your thing, then uhhh, maybe look outside of pop music cuz honey we got some news for ya 💀💀