Con Altura

"Con Altura," which translates to "With Height" or "With Style/Excellence," is a celebration of confidence, success, and living life on one's own terms with flair and ambition. The song's meaning operates on two levels. Literally, the music video is set on a private jet, embodying the idea of being "up high." Metaphorically, the phrase "con altura" signifies doing things with class, elegance, and a high level of artistry. Rosalía was inspired to use the phrase after hearing it from Dominican TV personality Mariachi Budda, interpreting it as doing things with strength and status. The lyrics are about enjoying life to the fullest, indulging in nights of mischief, and living a fast-paced, unapologetic life. It's a declaration of artistic integrity and leaving a lasting legacy, as captured in the line "Esto es pa' que quede, lo que yo hago dura" ("This is so it sticks, what I do lasts"). The song is a powerful statement of self-empowerment and pride in one's cultural roots and accomplishments.

The song opens with a bold declaration, signaling the start of something grand and stylish. It pays homage to the dembow rhythm, a foundational element of reggaeton, and references learning flair from the legendary salsa singer Héctor Lavoe. The lyrics immediately establish a sense of confidence and artistic purity, claiming a unique and precious quality. The central theme revolves around living life with intensity and a carefree spirit. It speaks of nights filled with mischief and embracing a fast-paced existence without seeking a remedy, even if it means a premature end. This sentiment is repeated, emphasizing a commitment to leaving a lasting legacy through one's actions and art, all done with a signature style and elegance.

Cultural references are woven throughout the narrative. There's an image of placing roses on a Panamera, a luxury car, which symbolizes a blend of femininity and power. Another line mentions putting 'palmas' (the hand-clapping integral to flamenco) over 'Guantanamera', a classic Cuban song, signifying a fusion of Spanish and Cuban musical traditions. A nod to the flamenco icon Camarón de la Isla, carried in the glove compartment, further grounds the song in its Spanish roots, while asserting that this creation is for the people, done in the artist's own distinct way.

The pre-chorus introduces imagery of blue flowers and carats, symbols of wealth and rarity, paired with a defiant statement: 'if it's a lie, then kill me.' This is a phrase often found in flamenco, adding a dramatic and passionate layer to the assertion of authenticity. The chorus then returns, reinforcing the message of living wildly and leaving a permanent mark.

J Balvin's verse continues the theme of a high-flying, luxurious lifestyle. He paints a picture of being on a private jet with a beautiful woman from London, flying over Paris. His lyrics are playful and boastful, mentioning his status as a Latin star and his ability to make things happen. He references his own brand and the idea of always being a 'papi' (a term of endearment and a nod to his public persona), never a 'inpapi' (a lesser version). The verse reinforces the song's opulent and carefree atmosphere, culminating in a joint declaration of their names, sealing the collaboration's star power.

The song concludes by reiterating the core message, a powerful outro that solidifies the names of the collaborators—Rosalía, J Balvin, and El Guincho—as a formidable creative force. The repetition of 'con altura' throughout the track serves as a constant reminder of the standard they operate on: one of excellence, style, and elevated status.

"Con Altura" was conceived in a Miami studio as an homage to classic "reggaeton playero" (beachy reggaeton) that Rosalía loved in her youth. The creative process was intuitive and swift. Rosalía brought a Dominican sample she found to her co-writers, producer Frank Dukes added another sample, and her frequent collaborator El Guincho contributed the percussion, creating what she described as a "Barcelonan-American-Latin pop vibe". The hook was written in less than five minutes. Feeling the track was special, Rosalía sent it to her friend, Colombian superstar J Balvin, who loved it and promptly sent back his verse. The song was written by Rosalía, J Balvin, El Guincho (Pablo Díaz-Reixa), Frank Dukes (Adam Feeney), Teo Halm, Alejandro Ramírez (Sky Rompiendo), and Aury "Mariachi Budda" Pineda, with production handled by Rosalía, El Guincho, Frank Dukes, Sky Rompiendo, and Halm. The track was recorded in September 2018 and released on March 28, 2019. Snippets of the music video were leaked on social media in December 2018, months before the official release.

The rhythmic and rhyming structure of "Con Altura" is central to its infectious, danceable quality. The song is built upon a classic "reggaeton playero" dembow beat, a syncopated rhythm that is the genre's backbone, providing an irresistible urge to move. The tempo is upbeat and driving. The lyrical rhythm often follows the musical rhythm closely, especially in the chorus, where the staccato delivery of "Con altura" emphasizes the beat. Rosalía's verses showcase a more fluid, melodic flow that glides over the rhythm, while J Balvin employs a more laid-back, conversational cadence typical of his style. The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, primarily using assonant and consonant rhymes within a loose structure, which is common in reggaeton. For instance, in the chorus, "dura" rhymes with "cura" and "sepultura," creating a simple, memorable pattern (A-A-A-A). The pre-chorus uses an ABAB rhyme scheme with "quilates" and "maten." This combination of a strong, repetitive musical rhythm and accessible rhyme schemes makes the song incredibly catchy and effective on the dance floor.

"Con Altura" is a masterclass in musical and lyrical fusion, employing various techniques to achieve its unique sound.

• Musical Fusion: The song's most prominent feature is its genre-bending nature, blending the dembow riddim of classic reggaeton with Rosalía's signature flamenco-infused vocal stylings, Middle Eastern sounds, and modern Latin pop production. Rosalía herself described it as a "Barcelonan-American-Latin pop vibe."
• Vocal Delivery: Rosalía's vocal performance shifts between the melodic, confident delivery in the verses and the more rhythmic, chant-like repetition of the hook. J Balvin contributes his characteristic relaxed, swaggering flow, creating a dynamic contrast.
• Sampling: The track was built around a Dominican sample that Rosalía found, which was then layered with another sample from producer Frank Dukes. This technique grounds the song in a tradition of urbano music while building something new.
• Cultural References as Lyrical Motifs: The lyrics are peppered with allusions to cultural icons like flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla and salsa pioneer Héctor Lavoe, as well as musical styles like dembow and Guantanamera. These are not just name-drops but are integrated to explain her artistic lineage and her approach to fusion.
• Repetitive Hook: The chorus, with its insistent repetition of the title phrase "Con altura," functions as a powerful, memorable hook that drills the song's central concept into the listener's mind.
• Ad-libs and Interjections: The artists use ad-libs (like "La Rosalía" and J Balvin's signature phrases) to punctuate the lyrics, adding personality and reinforcing their brand identities.

"Con Altura" marked a pivotal moment in Rosalía's career, catapulting her from a critically acclaimed flamenco innovator to a global mainstream superstar. The song was a massive commercial success, topping the charts in Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and other countries. Its music video, directed by Director X, became a viral phenomenon, accumulating over one billion views on YouTube by October 2019 and becoming the most-watched female-led music video on the platform for that year. The song's success was recognized with numerous awards, including the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Song and two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Latin and Best Choreography, making Rosalía the first Spanish artist to win a VMA. The track's blend of classic reggaeton with flamenco was praised by critics and solidified Rosalía's reputation as a genre-bending artist. Its popularity on platforms like TikTok further cemented its place in pop culture, inspiring dance challenges and trends. However, its success also amplified the debate around cultural appropriation, with some questioning a Spanish artist's role at the forefront of Latin urban music, a conversation that has followed her throughout her career.

The song is rich with symbolism and metaphors that enhance its core themes of opulence, cultural fusion, and defiance.

• The Private Jet: The setting of the music video is a primary symbol, representing the literal meaning of "altura" (height) while also metaphorically signifying the artists' elevated status in the music industry, success, and luxurious lifestyle.
• "Flores azules y quilates" (Blue flowers and carats): This imagery evokes rarity, value, and beauty, metaphorically describing the artist's unique and pure talent.
• "Pongo rosas sobre el Panamera" (I put roses on the Panamera): This line juxtaposes the feminine symbol of a rose with a high-performance luxury car, creating a metaphor for power, ownership, and a distinct feminine-yet-strong identity.
• "Pongo palmas sobre la guantanamera" (I put claps on the Guantanamera): This is a metaphor for cultural fusion, blending the iconic hand claps ('palmas') of Spanish flamenco with a legendary Cuban song ('Guantanamera'), showcasing Rosalía's signature style.
• "Llevo a Camarón en la guantera" (I carry Camarón in the glove compartment): Referencing the legendary flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla symbolizes a deep respect for and connection to her flamenco roots, carrying the tradition with her as she navigates new musical territories.
• "Y si es mentira que me maten" (And if it's a lie, let them kill me): This is a dramatic, flamenco-inspired expression of authenticity and unwavering belief in her own statements and artistry.

The most significant recurring element in the song is the titular phrase, "Con altura." It is repeated at the end of each line in the chorus, functioning as a powerful hook and the song's central thesis. Its repetition hammers home the core message of doing everything with excellence, style, and status. It's both a literal and metaphorical statement that defines the song's entire mood. Another recurring lyrical motif is the theme of living a fast, wild life, encapsulated in the lines "Vivo rápido y no tengo cura / Iré joven pa' la sepultura" ("I live fast and I don't have a cure / I'll go to my grave young"). This hedonistic, live-for-the-moment sentiment is a classic trope in pop and rock music, here given a modern reggaeton twist. The recurring names of the artists — "La Rosalía," "J Balvin," "El Guincho" — also serve as a motif, branding the track and solidifying the star power of the collaboration. Musically, the main recurring motif is the underlying dembow beat and the distinctive synth melody introduced by Frank Dukes, which loops throughout the song, providing its sonic signature.