SOUNDTRACK: KAROL G-Tiny Desk (Home) Conert #216 (May 27, 2021).
I’m always amazed when a musician is described as a superstar but I’ve never heard of her. Well, Karol G. is a reggaeton superstar and it makes sense that I’ve never heard of her since I’m not even really sure what reggeton is. This set doesn’t really clarify that for me because this just sounds like great pop music and indeed:
Colombian reggaetonera Karol G floats between styles on this wistful Miami set with the breeziness of a pop star who knows no boundaries – or maybe it’s the calculus of an artist who has built a career on subverting them. Her personal, unapologetic flourish has allowed her to top the Billboard charts of a genre with limited female participation, and even less superstardom.
It was pretty cool to see that Karol G.’s band was all women (even if some of them look like they’re still in high school, they are all great).
Her signature bichota energy is subtle, yet pervasive in her stripped-down Tiny Desk (home) concert. Flanked by an illuminated all-women band, Karol G’s authentic command of the intimate moment and its intended audience is unmistakable.
She plays three (or four) songs.
She deftly moves from a ballad-like rendition of urbano mash-up “Créeme/A Ella.”
She has a lovely voice with wonderful flow. Then Guillana Merello starts thumping the floor toms to kick the song off and then she looks so very happy once he main part starts. Sus Vazquez plays interesting chord shapes high up the neck while Anastasiia Zaichenko plays a bouncy bass. Sus plays a series of pretty chords and things slow down as the song shifts to “A Ella” with soft keyboard washes from Bryan Bliska.
to a soulful performance of trap corrido “200 COPAS” (her proclaimed favorite song at the moment) with Mexican Regional cariño Danny Felix.
Felix plays some great acoustic melodies on the 12 string and the song has a very Mexican/Puerto Rican feel.
She speaks a lot between songs although I have no idea what she’s saying.
Closing with a first-ever live performance of the dreamy duet “CONTIGO VOY A MUERTE,” she marks the end of the concert with a nod to her roots. Intertwined with fellow Colombiano Camilo, Karol G expresses gratitude and pride.
You have to check out Camilo’s mustache! And the fact that his voice is actually higher than hers. The songs tarts with some gentle guitars and keys as Camilo sings.
[READ: June 19, 2021] My Mommy Medicine
I’ve read a lot of short stories by Edwidge Danticat, but I had no idea she wrote a children’s book (with lovely illustrations from Shannon Wright).
The story is pretty simple. In the author’s note, she says that she is a mom to two daughters and whenever they were sick she would lavish them with “mommy medicine.”
In the book there’s one little girl and she knows she can count on her Mommy medicine.
Sometimes it is a kiss so loud it reminds her of Mardi Gras.
Or a warm hug like wearing toasty pajamas on a cool night. Or even “a menthol back rub so minty it fills up my whole room.” I question the word minty for menthol, but I guess that’s sort of what it is.
What’s some other medicine? Fruit pops, ice cream, soup or hot chocolate.
Games like Uno or Crazy Eights or a piggyback ride.
Naptime and bedtime often have a song like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and a silly dance.
Sometimes it’s a story–a big adventure when only her and Mommy (and a little magic) can save the day.
Or settling down and staring at stars–even the glow in the dark kind on the ceiling.
Sometimes it’s actual medicine (which is usually yucky–great illustration).
I was pleased to see that she says that Mommy Medicine can come from a mom but also an aunt, dad, grandparent or caretaker.
This is a really sweet book.
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