The only word that comes to mind right now is ‘Wow!’ followed by an “Ay, dios mio!” Beginning an already beautiful Monday, Red Bull Music Festival began its month-long musical celebration with wildly talented artists to bring their unique, boundary-pushing visions to the stage with their captivating performances. What makes Red Bull Festival so special is the fact it brings artists and local communities together to share the amazing experience of how music brings us all together and proves it with such ease.
Hosted at the renovated Webster Hall, memories here come and go as I got flashes of seeing past favorite bands and to pass through the halls with a nostalgic smile as I figured out my way through the sold-out crowd for a celebratory drink. Crowds like this are really one in million, hopeful and patiently waiting with a beautiful smile – no matter the gender or class, once Rosalia began singing they all sang along.
As Rosalia’s name flashed across the screen in different fronts the crowd went wild, some fans even began to cry which shows how dedicated and passionate they are to her music.
The power that Rosalia has over the audience is astonishing, the fact that she was able to silence an entire sold-out crowd during “Catalina” to the point that brought tears onto the audience’s face.
Seeing the way she brought the words and raw emotion to her music, I can’t help but compare her to the creative legend Rocío Dúrcal. Dúrcal, another Spanish Latin Grammy winner whose music also broke boundaries with amazing songs like “La Gata Abajo De La Lluvia“ and which we still play and sing loudly along to at family gatherings. Artists like Rosalia, are truly a gem because of the effect that she has on her crowd – having them sing along, cry along, and dance along with her flamenco-rooted hybrid of experimental pop and R&B.
Selling out both Webster Hall shows, her compelling vocals and lyrics weave the story that her sophomore album, El Mal Querer, tells in brooding and addictive way. Her stage presence and performance are unlike anything you’ve seen switching it up with remarkable, heartbreaking ballads to reggaeton hits with J Balvin such as “Con Altura” and “Brillo” The most endearing part that even made Rosalia smile was when a fan yelled out, “If God was a woman!” El Mal Querer was certified platinum in Spain and reached the top 10 of Billboard’s Latin Albums chart which is just one of many reason why Rosalia is destined to conquer the world with her beautiful talent and voice.
