Karol G became the first Latina artist to headline the Coachella Festival on Sunday with an explosive and sensual performance that celebrated her culture and that of Latin America united.
“I’m very happy and very proud, but at the same time it feels late,” said Karol G, whose real name is Carolina Giraldo Navarro, to a crowd that greeted her with flags from different Latin American countries.
The Colombian singer highlighted the path blazed by other Latino artists before her: “Before me there were so many incredible Latino artists that this is not just about me, it’s about my Latino community, my people; and at the same time it’s for my Latinos who have had a hard time in this country lately”.
The show began 30 minutes late and started with a video that narrated the legend of an indomitable young woman who recovers her power after having been subdued: “Always wild, always free, Latin forever”, the piece warned.
Giraldo Navarro then appeared on the main stage, which emulated a cavern, surrounded by dancers illuminated by neon lights, and opened his presentation with the song ‘Latina Forever’.
The show featured sensual, energetic and erotically charged choreographies. The first part was marked by the classic sound of reggaeton, with Mariah Angeliq as a guest, who took the stage to perform ‘El Makinon’.
The second segment took on a more retro and tropical tone when the ‘Bichota’ performed ‘Tropicoqueta’ and ‘Papacito’, from her latest studio album.
Giraldo Navarro paid tribute to Mexico by performing with a mariachi band his song ‘Ese hombre es malo’, and then had Becky G as a second guest to sing the hit ‘MAMIII’.
“¡Arriba Mexico, arriba Colombia, and all the immigrants!” shouted Becky G.
Among the guests of the Colombian also highlighted Wisin, who made the audience dance with reggaeton classics like ‘Rakata’ and ‘Pam Pam’; and Greg Gonzalez, guitarist of Cigarettes After Sex, with whom Karol G starred in a more intimate and melancholic moment when presenting an unreleased song that speaks of grief.
The interpreter of ‘Tusa’ included fragments of songs by other Latin legends such as ‘La Murga’, by Willie Colón, ‘Rompe’, by Daddy Yankee, and interpreted the song ‘Mi tierra’, by Gloria Estefan, which deals with the nostalgia of leaving the place where you were born.
The show culminated with ‘Provence’ and fireworks in the sky.
Here you can watch Karol G’s speech about Latinos.
Find out more at ‘QueOnnda.com’.
