11 PM

"11 PM" by Maluma tells the story of a man attempting to convince a woman to leave her neglectful and toxic relationship for him. The song's narrative is built around the passing hours of the night, symbolizing the protagonist's growing impatience and desire. He argues that her current partner does not appreciate her, making her cry and feel unimportant. In contrast, he offers her a better, more fulfilling life, suggesting she 'looks better with him' and that he can provide her with the attention and luxury she deserves, even mentioning the scent of Christian Dior. The core message is a critique of settling for a relationship that diminishes one's self-worth and an encouragement to choose a partner who values and uplifts you. Maluma presents himself as the 'antidote' to her romantic problems, urging her to see her own value and leave the man who is like a 'cloud that does not let see the sun.' It's a song about longing, persuasion, and the promise of a happier romantic alternative.

The narrative unfolds through a sequence of late-night hours, starting at 11 PM. The protagonist, the singer, is persistently trying to contact a woman he is interested in, but she isn't answering. As the hours tick by, from 1 AM to 2 AM, the anticipation builds. Finally, at 2 AM, she indicates she is available, and by 3 AM, he is ready to make his move, proposing they get together. He questions how to make her understand that she belongs with him, that her life would be significantly better by his side. He paints a picture of an elevated lifestyle, suggesting she looks better with him and in his car, and that her room would smell of luxurious Christian Dior. He directly addresses her current unhappiness, telling her she's too beautiful to be crying over her current boyfriend, who he believes doesn't deserve her loyalty or affection.

The singer continues this line of persuasion, reiterating his belief that he is the superior choice. He contrasts his own attentiveness with the neglect she suffers from her current partner. He points out that her boyfriend won't miss her or even think about her, as he is preoccupied with things he deems more important. This neglect is metaphorically described as a cloud obscuring the sun, dimming her own brightness and spirit. The singer positions himself as the one who can restore her light, urging her not to let her current partner extinguish her shine. He is confident and direct, framing his pursuit not just as a romantic endeavor but as an act of rescuing her from a situation that diminishes her self-worth. The recurring timeline—11 PM, 1 AM, 2 AM, 3 AM—serves as a structural anchor for the song, emphasizing the growing impatience and desire that fuels his late-night appeal. It's a modern tale of courtship, blending seduction with an argument for her own happiness and value.

"11 PM" was released on May 17, 2019, as the second single from Maluma's fourth studio album, 11:11. The song was written by Maluma (Juan Luis Londoño) along with a team of songwriters including Edgar Barrera, Carlos Isaias Morales, Vicente Barco, Johany Alejandro Correa, and Pedro Juan De La Ossa. The production was handled by Edgar Barrera (credited as Edge), Johany Correa, and Pedro Juan de la Ossa Medrano. The album 11:11 itself was described by Maluma as representing a 'direct signal from our guides, angels and teachers' and a call for connection and awareness, suggesting a period of spiritual and artistic evolution for him. The song and its accompanying music video were released on the same day. The video was directed by Nuno Gomes. The album followed his commercially successful project F.A.M.E. and was noted for being a more romantic and polished effort, blending his signature reggaeton with other genres.

"11 PM" follows a rhythmic structure typical of the reggaeton genre, with a consistent 4/4 time signature and a tempo of around 96 beats per minute, making it easy to dance to. The song's rhythm is driven by the characteristic dembow beat, which provides a steady, swaying pulse throughout the track. Lyrically, the song employs a relatively simple and effective rhyme scheme. It primarily uses assonance and consonant rhymes (e.g., "contesta" and "respuesta"; "mejor" and "Dior"), which is common in Spanish-language pop and urban music. This creates a smooth, flowing feel that complements the melodic lines. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is tight; Maluma's vocal phrasing often syncs with the main beat, but he also plays with syncopation to add expressiveness and emphasize certain words, enhancing the song's conversational and persuasive feel.

Musically, "11 PM" is rooted in a smooth, mid-tempo reggaeton beat, characteristic of Maluma's 'urban pop' style. The production is polished, blending the genre's signature dembow rhythm with pop melodies, creating a sound that is both romantic and danceable. Maluma's vocal delivery is suave and seductive, shifting between melodic singing and a rhythmic, almost-rapped cadence that enhances the song's persuasive and intimate tone. The instrumentation is layered with synthetic textures and a prominent bassline, creating a contemporary Latin urban soundscape. Lyrically, the song uses a direct narrative voice, with the singer addressing the woman he desires. The use of rhetorical questions like 'How to make you understand?' directly engages the listener in his persuasive argument. The repetition of the timeline motif ("11 de la noche... 1 de la mañana...") acts as a strong structural and literary device, building tension and framing the narrative.

"11 PM" was a significant commercial success and further solidified Maluma's status as a global Latin music star. As the second single from his fourth album, 11:11, the song performed well on international charts. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, number 1 on the US Latin Airplay chart, and reached the top 10 in countries like Argentina and Bolivia. The album 11:11 debuted at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart. The music video, directed by Nuno Gomes, garnered hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, showcasing a cinematic narrative of a rich girl in a toxic relationship and Maluma as the more authentic, caring suitor from a different social class. This narrative resonated with many listeners and contributed to the song's popularity. The song is a staple in Maluma's discography and is representative of the polished, romantic reggaeton sound that dominated the late 2010s.

The song employs several key metaphors to convey its message.

• The Ticking Clock: The progression from "11 PM" to "3 AM" symbolizes not just the passage of time, but the escalating desire and impatience of the narrator. It represents the urgency he feels to rescue the woman from her unhappy situation and the anticipation of their potential connection.
• The Cloud and the Sun: Maluma describes the woman's current boyfriend as 'the cloud that does not let see the sun.' This is a powerful metaphor for a toxic relationship where one person's negativity or neglect overshadows the other's brightness and potential for happiness. The sun represents her true, vibrant self, which is being obscured.
• Christian Dior: The mention of the luxury brand Christian Dior is not just about material wealth. It symbolizes a higher standard of living and treatment that the narrator promises. It's a metaphor for the quality, care, and value he believes he can bring into her life, contrasting with her current, presumably less fulfilling, circumstances.

The most prominent recurring motif in "11 PM" is the chronological countdown of the late hours: "11 de la noche todavía no contesta / 1 de la mañana todavía no hay respuesta / 2 de la mañana me dice que está dispuesta". This timeline serves as the song's narrative backbone, structuring the progression of the story from waiting and longing to the possibility of action. It effectively builds tension and highlights the narrator's persistence. Another key recurring phrase is the chorus, "Cómo hacerte entender / Que conmigo tú te ves mejor". This line is the central thesis of the song—a direct appeal to the woman's sense of self-worth and a confident assertion that he is the better choice for her. Its repetition drills the core message into the listener's mind, making it a memorable and impactful hook.