SUBEME LA RADIO

"SÚBEME LA RADIO" (which translates to "Turn Up the Radio") tells a story of heartbreak and the desperate attempt to overcome sorrow. The lyrics depict a protagonist who has been left by his lover and is now struggling to cope with the pain and loneliness. The central theme revolves around using loud music and alcohol as a means of escape from the emotional turmoil. The repeated request to "turn up the radio" is a metaphor for drowning out the painful thoughts and memories associated with the lost love. Despite the song's upbeat and danceable rhythm, the lyrical content is quite melancholic, creating a poignant contrast that is common in Latin pop music. It's a song about trying to party away the pain, a familiar narrative of nursing a broken heart by seeking external distractions.

The song's narrative unfolds from the perspective of a man reeling from a painful breakup. He feels lost and alone, as if the departure of his beloved has plunged him into darkness, erasing all sense of time and purpose. He desperately confesses that he thinks about her constantly, trying his best to cope, but time seems to drag on, and he feels like he's slowly dying without her. The nights are particularly torturous; if she doesn't answer his calls, he finds himself waiting at her door, spending sleepless nights under the full moon, singing to ease his sorrow.

The central and recurring plea, "Súbeme la radio" (Turn up the radio), serves as his primary coping mechanism. He begs for the music to be louder, to feel the bass rising, because it's his song playing—a song that now likely holds a different, more painful meaning. He pairs this with a request for alcohol, another means to numb the sharp pain of his heartbreak. The chorus is a powerful expression of his desire to escape his current reality, to metaphorically "join the moon and the sun" and forget his troubles. He's caught in a loop of reminiscing and regret, trying to flee from the past that haunts him every morning. He finds no way to erase their shared history.

In his desperation, he continues to drink to her health, even as he feels his own life force fading. His only request is to break the suffocating silence left by her absence. He's in a state of frantic searching, desperate for her love and pleading not to be left in his solitude. He makes a promise that if she just calls him, he will come running, as he can't bear the separation any longer and yearns to give her warmth once more. He openly admits he's not lying, he is still waiting for her, fully aware that he still loves her and doesn't know how to live without her. This raw confession is repeated, emphasizing the depth of his lingering hope and emotional dependency. The song, therefore, juxtaposes a vibrant, festive sound with a story of profound heartache and the struggle to move on.

"SÚBEME LA RADIO" was released on February 24, 2017. The song was written by Enrique Iglesias, Cuban singer-songwriter Descemer Bueno, and the Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Zion & Lennox, alongside Chris Jedi, Juan Rivera, and Luis Ortiz. The producers behind the track are Chris Jedi, Carlos Paucar, and Gaby Music. This collaboration marked another successful partnership between Iglesias and Descemer Bueno, who had previously co-written the massive 2014 hit "Bailando". The music video was a significant part of the song's creation and promotion, filmed in Havana, Cuba. Iglesias mentioned that filming in Cuba was something he had wanted to do for a while, considering his many Cuban friends and the success of the "Bailando" video, which was also partially filmed there. The video, directed by Alejandro Pérez, features a vibrant street party atmosphere, with crowds dancing through the colorful streets of Old Havana, which created a huge buzz during the three-day shoot.

The primary symbolism in "SÚBEME LA RADIO" lies in the act of turning up the radio. It represents a deliberate attempt to silence internal pain and intrusive thoughts of a past lover. The loud music and heavy bass are a shield, a sonic distraction from heartbreak. Alcohol serves a similar symbolic purpose, representing a tool for numbing emotional pain and forgetting, as captured in the line "Tráeme el alcohol que quita el dolor" ("Bring me the alcohol that takes away the pain"). The desire to "juntar la luna y el sol" ("join the moon and the sun") is a poetic metaphor for escaping reality and the linear passage of time, which for the narrator is slow and torturous. The night and the moon represent his loneliness and sleepless nights, while the sun could symbolize a new beginning he cannot yet reach.

The emotional core of "SÚBEME LA RADIO" is a blend of conflicting feelings. On the surface, the music creates a joyful, energetic, and celebratory atmosphere, perfect for a party. However, the lyrics reveal a deep undercurrent of sadness, longing, and heartbreak. This creates a bittersweet emotional landscape where the listener can dance while simultaneously connecting with the raw pain of lost love. The protagonist experiences a mix of desperation, as he pleads for his ex-lover's return, and a defiant attempt at escapism through music and alcohol. The vocal performances capture this duality, with Iglesias's verses sounding more melancholic and yearning, while the chorus and the features by Zion & Lennox inject a higher energy that pushes the song into an anthem of collective, albeit sorrowful, celebration.

"SÚBEME LA RADIO" was a significant international hit, further solidifying Enrique Iglesias's status as a global Latin music superstar. It peaked at number two on the US Hot Latin Songs chart and was a chart-topper in Spain. The music video garnered massive attention, quickly surpassing a billion views on YouTube, and its vibrant depiction of Havana brought positive cultural focus to Cuba. The song's success led to several remixes to cater to different markets, including a Spanglish version featuring Jamaican artist Sean Paul and another with British singer Matt Terry, which became a Top 10 hit in the UK. There were also versions featuring Latin American boy band CNCO, salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa, and even Portuguese and Hebrew remixes, showcasing its wide-reaching global appeal. The song is often cited alongside hits like "Despacito" as part of a wave of Spanish-language songs that dominated global charts in 2017.

The song follows a conventional verse-chorus structure with a consistent, dance-oriented rhythm typical of the reggaeton and Latin pop genres. The tempo is upbeat, creating a feeling of energy and movement that invites dancing. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and direct, using perfect rhymes and assonance to enhance the song's melodic flow and catchiness. For instance, in the chorus, "canción" rhymes with "dolor" and "sol," creating a satisfying sense of closure. The lyrical rhythm is syncopated and flows naturally with the underlying dembow-infused beat, making the Spanish lyrics sound percussive and integral to the track's overall groove. The interplay between the vocal melody and the rhythmic foundation is key to the song's appeal, allowing the sad story to be carried by an infectious and positive-sounding beat.

Musically, "SÚBEME LA RADIO" employs a very common and effective four-chord progression (Am–F–C–G or i–VI–III–VII in the key of A minor). This harmonic sequence, prevalent in many Latin pop hits including "Despacito," creates an uplifting and major-key feel despite being in a minor mode, contributing to the song's danceable quality that contrasts with its sad lyrics. The production features a blend of Latin pop and reggaeton rhythms, with a prominent bass line that is even referenced in the lyrics ("siente el bajo que va subiendo"). Iglesias's vocal delivery is emotive, conveying the longing and desperation of the lyrics. The collaboration with Descemer Bueno and Zion & Lennox adds variety in texture and vocal styles, a common technique in modern Latin pop to broaden appeal. The song's structure relies heavily on the repetition of its infectious chorus, making it highly memorable.