rta1913

Sadly, it's over. She's 55, and this world is very ageist. First of all, it's been 7 years since her last album and all the singles she's released since are very bad. She lost her spark. Her recurrent numbers are not great either with just two songs doing over 100k, so she didn't transition well into the streaming era which is crucial for getting a hit nowadays. To make things worse, pop is DEAD in Latin music. Just look at the charts in Mexico and any other Latin country. It's all reggeaton, rap and corridos. All the Mexican pop stars are flopping, Kenia Os is the only doing some sort of numbers or managing to chart and not even she could help Thalia who is in a "similar" situation. Belinda had to come with a horrible album full of corridos just to make some noise. I think Argentina and Spain are the only countries who actually support their pop girls. I was thinking she could do some Bizarrap session and skulldrag Colate and have a cute viral moment a la Shakira, but her public persona is in the gutter and that drama went on for so long that nobody would care. The only options would be one of her old songs going viral on TikTok or jump on a Peso Pluma/Natael Cano/Neton Vega song but even if they would agree to it and it becomes a hit, it would not generate any interest on her own music.

Where to start... I love Becky, I would not say an OG as I never cared for Shower, but I started to stan with Can't Stop Dancin' (pop perfection) and the Spanish songs she released before Mayores (Sola, Mangu, Todo Cambio) were all #1 hits in this household (I have the LastFM stats to back it up). Then that 1-2-3 punch of Mayores-Sin Pijama-Cuando Te Besé, she was on top of the world. She was the IT girl, bigger than Karol (at that time). Then everything went sideways... 'Mala Santa' came out too little too late, that by the time of release her star power had diminished and she didn't really bag any other hit from the album even thogh the title track deserved. It didn't help that she released way too many non-album singles including English songs that no one cared for. Then 'Esquemas' saving grace was MAMIII (thanks Karol). Otherwise it was looking rough for my girl. The album itself is very meh, with just a few good songs. The main issue throughout Becky's career is that she is not sure who she wants to be as an artist: pop-rapper? reggeaton baddie? latina pop girlie? ranchera? chola? corridos? Obviously, she's entitled to explore as any other artist, but she's never done so from a strong POV or an overall anchor to her albums. I hate to compare, but for example, Karol G, all her albums explore and tackle several genres, but they are all anchored by 2-3 big hits that set the mood/theme for the album and are considered her brand or signature sound. Becky gets totally lost and comes off as "poser" or trend chaser. Other issues are that she's never had a solo hit (other than Shower, which is completely different to anything that came after) so that leaves her without a strong fanbase. Sadly, there's also the whole "fake" Latina conversation. The reality is that Latinos born and raised in Latin America will always look different at the Latinos born in the USA. I will say, to me she's Latina, she is Mexican but she is also American, and her Latino experience is different from those in Latino countries, so yeah it's hard to "connect" or identify with her. She doesn't speak Spanish fluently, all her tours, promo and appeareances are USA based, so yeah she's cornered herself to a very niche market. Latinos in the USA are a huge audience (see Karol and Bad Bunny getting top 10 albums and stadium tours) but even them "reject" her, or maybe it's the same reason, they are huge in Latino countries and that translates to US Latin audiences. I think this album finally tells us who she is and wants to be: a chamaleon, Spanglish, genre-hopping baddie. Sadly, that won't "sell" or connect but I am at least happy she put out something she felt passionate about and you can tell its hers, so that I can applaud. It needed a little trimming but overall the quality is there, even if some songs needed another verse/bridge or more time cooking (2AM, TQM/ILY, OASIS). Some songs outros drag too long without anything happening other than the instrumental. "Patrona" had no businees being released as a single, it's a cringy song. "Chula" should not have been the focus release, it's giving interlude. I LOVE that the album is solo but her start power is not at its best right now so a big feature could be what some of these songs need to become a hit (looking at you "Mal Tiempo" and "Perreo Triste"). Sorry for the essay, I love my girl, she is talented and beautiful, but her career has been so mismanaged and sadly, a lot of it it's on her. The potential is there so I am rooting for her, she should ask Karol to be the openning act for the LatAm and Europe leg of her tour, it would be great exposure in markets she's neglected for a long time.

First of all, can we stop with the Shakira comparisons? I am so tired of this beef. They are artists from different generations and their careers are hugely different. They cannot be compared at all, it's apples and oranges. Yes Shakira has more global name recognition but that's because of her English music and her successful crossover. Her music in Spanish post Laundry Service only got exposure cause she had already made the crossover, otherwise it probably would've been ignored. What Shakira achieved is legendary but again different time, different circumstances. Nowadays, latin artists do not "need" crossover cause Latin music is much more widely consumed, the number of Latinos in Europe and the USA has also increased and with globalization and the internet, there's really no need to cater to different markets. You can chart in Spotify global by singing only in Spanish. As for OT, not really. She actually managed to establish a fanbase and it's a household name. She may have peaked with MSB and that's ok, not every artist is going to be at the peak forever. But that does not mean she's a flop now and with the right song she can easily bag another hit as she's basically the only current Latin girlie making any numbers. Bby Wow from her latest one is starting to pick up and I can see it being a big hit.

There are some bops in here. Te Llevas To (I need an extended outro, it's so good), Bebiendo Lagrimas (classic Karol, kinda reminds me a bit of Amargura in a way), Ahi (cute bop but Drake was NOT needed, he added nothing), Matadora (classic reggaeton sex bop, i wish it was longer though) and Bby Wow is a hit waiting to happen, instant highlight from first listen. The rest I didn't really feel, I can't never get into her ballads. "Still" grew on me a lot though, but that's a Bruno Mars song through and through, nothing about it says Karol, her ennunciation got much better though. Has she added any songs to the setlist? I am seeing her in September, hopefully Bby Wow is a hit by then so I can perrear to it live Also, wasn't she spotted filiming something in LA? Like after Coachella or the AMAs, can't rememeber. She was like in a motorcyle or something... that gave Matadora vibes.

Did she really went no features at all?

Can they release a quick UK only CD to boost sales? How hard can it be? I hate Sony Latin or whatever her label is called with a passion.

You clearly didn't listen to New Rules

Madonna brought fun and CLASSIC BTS were cute, they made an effort Shakira ATE Bieber... totally unnecessary and brought the energy down That chorus finale... scrap it, it would've been better for all them to get together at the end and sing. The muppets and orchestra were cute but the Ted Lasso skit... you had 11 minutes and they still managed to get all these fillers in... Please never again.

Madonna and Shakira ATE (I guess BTS was cute too). But yeah, this show was not necessary, it was a rushed anti-climatic mess. Bieber brought the energy down and that finale was very meh, I don't blame Mother for skipping it.

approx. one hour to witness history girlies " The stadium goes silent, a figured coevered in a pink veil appears in the middle, and we all hear 'Thanks for CUMMING' "

I am conflicted... but I know there are a couple of songs that deserve to go BEFORE The Test so... SAVE: The Test (not in my top 5 or top 10 but does not deserve to go OUT second) My Sins (I will protect you... for now) Fragile Read My Lips (cause yall be trollin) OFF: Betrayal L.E.S. Girl Everything (Love you boo but I gotta make sacrifices I am sure you'll be fine)

Not Morgan ******* Wallen blocking her from 2 weeks in the top by less than 200 copies. Hopefully she pulls through on Billboard.

If Elton John can sell two dates, so can the Queen ( I hate stadiums tours so hopefully not ).

Also, while we were doing the album countdown, I created a playlist with the songs I did not know or had not saved in my library, and I am going through it whenever I take a break from Confessions II to decide what to add to my library.. I have a question, what did we (the fandom) think of the Bedtime Stories Untold Chapter?

33k!? Oh wow, a SMASH. I played this album so much on first week that i was afraid i was gonna grow tired of it... i can't stop playing it, it's so damn good.