THE AUGUST REGGAETON RECAP

August is in-your-face with many artists on this list capitalising not only their songs but their names too. This month is also a final opportunity to soak up the sun and digest August’s hottest hits. One song features a well-known Reggaeton artist taking on Pop with a Girl group soloist, while another sees Brazilian funk uniting a trio of greats. Here we review the releases that came out in August, which may be over but the heat just keeps coming!

by Thomas Melia

Tiago PZK, Anitta, Emilia – Alegría

Much like the song’s name Tiago brings nothing but happiness to Latin music lovers giving us a song meant to be played at parties. With a beat incorporating the sounds of Brazil, the Argentinian boasts nothing but good times and letting loose. Fans of the rapper will recognise Emilia as the pair frequently work together. This track is a fully-fledged tribute to funk music as she sings ‘El garoto me pidió que le haga el quadradinho’, discussing one of the many infamous dance style associated with this genre, alongside heavy drums which run throughout the track. Anitta needs no explaining opening her verse with ‘Si el poli me para, stop me/ En Río es delito no darle hasta abajo’, and it’s okay to be a rulebreaker especially with a reputation as the Queen of Brazilian pop. Altogether this collaboration fuses one regional sound with three huge stars.

Becky G – POR EL CONTRARIO

You may be thinking how an eight-month-old song has made it into an August recap and no it’s not a writing error! Instead, blame Becky G for making a ballad so good she has to release a demo version just as compelling as the original that it deserves a spot in this list. The instruments are second-best for this track with Gomez’s vocals taking centre stage. The gentle strings and calming horns work hand-in-hand to elevate the singer’s powerful harmonies, if the accompaniment is too much for you the popstar has dropped an acapella to coincide with this new version.

Myke Towers – VENENOSA

‘VENENOSA’ is not a standalone single drop, it is in fact one small segment of his new album LA PANTERA NEGRA which covers everything from Hip-Hop to Reggaeton. This track has a kick and snare combination true to Reggaeton and the lyrics to match it too. Towers describes his new love interest as tempting and hard to forget, ‘Se sabe que hay espina' en toda' las rosa'. Now six albums in, Myke Towers has become accustom to switching it up but this release makes sure of it. One of the producers, Jeremy Ayala, has worked with the Puerto-Rican in the past year when he had a spot on Bad Gyal’s ‘Mi Lova’.

LISA – New Woman (feat. ROSALÍA)

The Spanish songstress has gained a newfound respect internationally thanks to her viral hits and loveable persona. This time Rosalía flaunts a new swagger lending a helping hand to BLACKPINK member Lisa’s solo album rollout. This duet is impossible to miss with both artists names capitalised and in-your-face. Anticipation for this single has been building weeks before its release with Lisa teasing a rose on her social media platforms hinting at the legendary Spaniard. Rosalía slows down the track halfway through, it may have been a risky move but she ‘Walked through that fire‘. Her feature gave fans a trap-fused melody similar to that of MOTOMAMI.

Manuel Turizo – Enhorabuena

This song was made to be the closing to a brilliant night, or in this case a brilliant recap of the sounds of August. The title translates to ‘Congratulations’ and its Merengue essence is what gets people up on their feet and celebrating with the people beside them. Turizo depicts the story of a relationship ending and takes it in his stride. It’s a real shame his tour has concluded as this track is in dire need of a crowd clapping and chanting along to the Colombian’s newest anthem. The tambora drums are intoxicating and make you carry the same carefree attitude as Turizo.

Bonus Track:

J Balvin, Bad Gyal – Gato

‘Gato’ is all about getting your priorities straight, Balvin himself sings ‘Se quitó todo, menos las Balvin’, a statement we should all follow, after all his sneakers are hard to top. Joined by Barcelona’s finest Bad Gyal, she doesn’t disappoint even spits a few bars during her verse while the kick speeds up to chase her tempo. This song comes alongside RAYO, the latest project by J Balvin and gives the two artists an opportunity to display their talents and also intertwine their shared club-like music styles. It’s a shame this song wasn’t released at the start of summer as this could’ve easily soared to viral extremes, let’s hope it still does.