Taki Taki (feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B)

"Taki Taki" is fundamentally a song about seduction, desire, and the power dynamics of flirtation, all set to an infectious dance beat. The title itself, "Taki Taki," is a neologism, a word invented for the song. According to the artists, particularly Cardi B and Ozuna, the phrase has no official definition in Spanish or English. It was created by Ozuna simply because it sounded good and had a great flow. However, within the context of the lyrics, it takes on multiple suggestive meanings. It can be interpreted as an onomatopoeia for the sound of a kiss ('Un besito bien suavecito, bebé. Taki taki') or as a euphemism for a body part or sexual pleasure, as hinted in Selena Gomez's line, 'What my taki taki wants, my taki taki gets'.

The song's narrative is a multi-perspective exploration of a fiery romantic and physical connection. Ozuna's verses represent a confident, masculine pursuit, inviting a woman to dance intimately. Cardi B's verse offers a fiercely independent and empowered female perspective, where she dictates the terms of the encounter, emphasizing her self-worth and material success. Selena Gomez provides a sultry, playful, and equally empowered viewpoint, asserting control over her own desires. The overarching theme is one of confident, unapologetic sexuality and the thrilling energy of the dance floor, where unspoken desires are communicated through movement and bold declarations.

The song unfolds as a multilingual anthem of seduction and dance, driven by a hypnotic, rhythmic beat. It begins with Ozuna setting a flirtatious scene, inviting a woman to dance with him as if it's their last time. He asks her to teach him a new step, suggesting an intimate and playful connection. His verses are filled with bold, provocative imagery, comparing the impact of a woman's body to an explosion and referencing fast engines like a Kawasaki, creating a high-energy, hedonistic atmosphere. He speaks of the club being full, with his crew arriving like the powerful 'Anunnaki', asserting their dominant presence. The lyrics suggest a game of cat and mouse, where he claims to know the woman's desires even when she feigns disinterest, noting that her body language, particularly how her 'booty' stands out, reveals her true intentions. He implies she's dressed to entice, forgoing underwear to make his 'work' easier.

Cardi B enters with her signature confident and brash style, shifting the lyrical perspective to English. Her verse is a powerful declaration of her sexual and financial independence. She asserts her value, demanding to be pleased and catered to, using the metaphor of her 'piggy bank' being hungry. She's uninterested in anything less than explicit and exciting communication. Cardi B flips the script on traditional courtship, suggesting a date at a Lamborghini store, blending luxury with romance. She describes herself as mysterious and powerful, like an 'Ouija board', and a 'boss bitch' who is irreplaceable. She boasts about her wealth and work ethic, contrasting her success with others who she deems as having 'no class'.

Selena Gomez's verse adds a smoother, more sensual, yet equally confident layer to the narrative. She sings in both English and Spanish, warning a potential lover to be careful when approaching her. She confidently states that her body knows how to 'play' and that she maintains it well. Her contribution revolves around the alluring power she holds. The recurring phrase 'what my taki taki wants, my taki taki gets' positions 'Taki Taki' as a symbol of her desire and agency, something that she has complete control over and will always be satisfied. Her performance is a mix of playful teasing and a declaration of self-worth on the dance floor and beyond, suggesting that falling for her is an exhilarating but potentially consuming experience. The song's chorus, driven by Ozuna, repeatedly circles back to the core invitation: 'Dance with me as if it were the last time' and the infectious, onomatopoeic chant 'Taki Taki, ¡rumba!', which cements the song's status as a global dance-floor command.

"Taki Taki" was released on September 28, 2018, as the second single from DJ Snake's second studio album, Carte Blanche (2019). The song is a significant international collaboration, bringing together French-Algerian producer DJ Snake, Puerto Rican singer Ozuna, American pop star Selena Gomez, and Dominican-American rapper Cardi B. The track was recorded in 2018.

DJ Snake conceived the track as a reggaeton club record and specifically wanted Ozuna on it. He then decided he wanted to feature more Latin women on the song to create a powerful combination. In an interview, he referred to Gomez and Cardi B as "two queens" who blessed the track with "dope energy." Cardi B joined the project after hearing a clip and immediately wanting to be part of it, recognizing its hit potential, especially with Selena Gomez's involvement. The song was written by a large team, including DJ Snake (William Grigahcine), Selena Gomez, Ozuna (Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado), Cardi B (Belcalis Almanzar), and other writers including Ava Brignol, Jorden Thorpe, Juan G. Rivera, Max Borghetti, and Vicente Saavedra. DJ Snake and STANY are credited as the producers.

A lyrical controversy arose from Ozuna's original line, "Booty explota como Nagasaki" ("Booty blows up like Nagasaki"), which was criticized by Japanese media for trivializing the atomic bombing. Following a request from Universal Music LLC, the lyric was changed in the official music video to "Booty explota como saki saki".

The rhythmic foundation of "Taki Taki" is its most compelling feature, characterized by a Moombahton beat with a tempo of 96 beats per minute. This rhythm is built on the syncopated 'dembow' pattern, which gives the song its characteristic and irresistible dance groove. The structure is consistent throughout, providing a steady pulse that drives the track from start to finish.

Lyrically, the rhyme schemes are straightforward but effective within each artist's section. Ozuna's Spanish verses often use assonant and consonant rhymes common in reggaeton, for example, rhyming 'traje' (suit) with 'trabaje' (work) and 'espionaje' (espionage). Cardi B's rap verse employs a mix of perfect and slant rhymes, though some critics have noted loose rhymes like 'store' with 'board'. Her rhythmic delivery is complex, with syncopated flows that play against the main beat.

The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is key to the song's catchiness. The repetition of the titular phrase "Taki Taki" functions as a percussive, rhythmic motif in itself, perfectly aligned with the beat and reinforcing the song's central hook. The chorus chant "Taki Taki, ¡rumba!" explicitly connects the sound to the act of dancing a rumba, further emphasizing the song's rhythmic purpose.

"Taki Taki" is a prime example of musical and linguistic fusion. Its most prominent stylistic technique is the seamless blend of Moombahton and Reggaeton genres, creating a distinctive, mid-tempo, and highly danceable rhythm. The song's structure is built on a call-and-response format between the artists, each bringing their unique vocal style and persona. Ozuna delivers melodic Spanish verses with significant use of auto-tune, a common feature in modern reggaeton. Cardi B provides a characteristically aggressive and rhythmically complex rap in English, while Selena Gomez offers a breathy, whispering vocal style that adds a layer of sultry intimacy.

The song is bilingual, weaving together Spanish and English lyrics. This 'Spanglish' approach was a strategic choice that broadened its international appeal, tapping into the massive global market for Latin music. Another key musical element is the use of a catchy, recurring whistle sample from 'Sounds of KSHMR Vol. 2', which serves as a hook and makes the track instantly recognizable. The production is clean and percussive, focusing on the infectious 'dembow' rhythm that is central to both reggaeton and moombahton.

"Taki Taki" was a massive global commercial success, significantly impacting the international music landscape in 2018. It topped the charts in 16 countries, including Argentina, Portugal, and Spain, and reached the top 10 in 33 countries. In the United States, it peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and debuted at number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart. The song's music video was a viral phenomenon, becoming one of the fastest videos to reach 100 million views in 2018 and has since surpassed 2.3 billion views on YouTube.

The track holds several notable records: it made Cardi B the first female rapper to top the Spotify Global chart and extended her record for having multiple songs with over a billion streams on the platform. It also made Ozuna the artist with the most videos (seven) to have reached one billion views on YouTube. The song was certified Diamond in France and quadruple Platinum in the US.

Its use of a bilingual format and the collaboration between major artists from the worlds of electronic, Latin, and pop music exemplified the growing trend of cross-cultural hits. The song's success further propelled the Moombahton and Reggaeton genres into the global mainstream. It was also featured in the popular video game Just Dance 2020, exposing it to an even wider audience.

The music video for "Taki Taki," directed by Colin Tilley, is rich with symbolism that complements the song's fiery and seductive themes. The primary setting is a post-apocalyptic world centered around a volcano. This volcanic landscape serves as a powerful metaphor for the song's explosive passion, raw energy, and the 'lava-hot' chemistry between the artists. The frequent use of the color red in the artists' outfits and the environment reinforces themes of love, desire, danger, and power.

Each artist's solo scene further develops their persona in the song's narrative:

• Ozuna is seen in a stormy, lightning-filled landscape with female dancers, establishing the track's tempestuous, high-energy dance atmosphere.
• Cardi B appears in a regal, all-red outfit, flanked by dancers, symbolizing her 'boss' status and fiery, dominant energy.
• Selena Gomez is featured in a lush, green jungle oasis, representing a more natural, sultry, and enchanting form of seduction.

Lyrically, metaphors are used to convey power and impact. Ozuna's controversial line comparing a woman's 'booty' to 'Nagasaki' uses a powerful, albeit criticized, simile for explosive effect. Cardi B uses the simile 'I'm kinda scary, hard to read, I'm like an Ouija board' to describe her complex and intimidating persona. The 'Anunnakis' reference by Ozuna compares his entourage to ancient, powerful deities, symbolizing their formidable presence in the club.

The most significant recurring motif in the song is the titular phrase "Taki Taki". It appears in the chorus, is chanted by Ozuna, and is referenced by Selena Gomez. As a made-up word, its power comes from its catchy, percussive sound and its repetition, which makes it an unforgettable hook. Its meaning is fluid, defined by the context of each verse—sometimes a sound, sometimes a dance, sometimes a stand-in for desire. Its repetition, combined with the command "¡rumba!", solidifies the song's identity as a dance anthem.

Another recurring phrase is Ozuna's chorus line: "Báilame como si fuera la última vez" ("Dance with me as if it were the last time"). This phrase sets the song's hedonistic and urgent tone, encouraging listeners to lose themselves in the moment on the dance floor. It encapsulates the core theme of living and loving with intensity.

The ad-lib "Hi Music Hi Flow", a signature of the producer/songwriter duo of the same name, also recurs, branding the track with their recognizable sound. Musically, the main recurring motif is the distinctive whistle-like synth melody that plays during the hook, serving as the song's primary instrumental earworm.