Karol G’s Groundbreaking European Tour Highlights the Might of Latin Pop
Karol G, the Colombian pop sensation known as “Bichota”, recently made history with four sold-out concerts at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Her performances, filled with empowering anthems and a strong connection with her audience, highlighted the influential power of Latin American music.
Karol G, with her radiant smile and empowering songs, lit up Madrid with joy and rhythm, making history with four sold-out shows during a scorching heatwave. Her dazzling performance left the city vibrant and energized.
Reflecting on her journey, Karol G expressed immense gratitude to her fans. “This week has been full of gratitude for me; you can see what’s happening here – four nights like this. I am a girl from home who once dreamed of something, and it came true. Don’t stop dreaming because it’s possible!” she declared tearfully at the end of her two-and-a-half-hour concert, wrapped in the Spanish flag.
Karol G’s rise to fame is a testament to her talent and determination. Just five years ago, she performed in a small venue in Madrid, entertaining less than a thousand people with no stage lights, singing atop the bar. Fast forward to today, she captivates an audience of 240,000 people over four nights at the newly renovated home of Real Madrid. Her breakout hit, ‘Tusa,’ became one of the pandemic’s anthems and marked her success story.
Following ‘Tusa,’ Karol G released two successful albums, including ‘Mañana Será Bonito‘ (2023). This album and its reissue, ‘Bichota Season,’ solidified her status as one of the most awarded artists at the Latin Grammys and the first woman in many years to have the best urban music album.
Karol G’s influence extends beyond her music. She leads a predominantly female fanbase, with Ticketmaster reporting that 70% of her concert attendees are women. Her commitment to empowerment is also evident in her support for the LGBTQ+ community, highlighted by her participation in the 2022 Pride parade with her float. She is accompanied by an all-female band, including a small brass section and a group of fifteen dancers, delivering powerful performances that resonate with her message of strength and resilience.
The concert in Madrid began with Karol G’s narrative about a mermaid with a “frozen heart,” a story somewhat ironic given the sweltering heat inside the closed-roof stadium. The crowd’s enthusiasm and the oppressive heat turned the venue into a veritable oven.
Karol G’s grand entrance on stage, dressed in a nude and strass jumpsuit with her signature pink hair, set the tone for the night. She opened with one of her biggest hits, ‘TQG,’ eliciting an enthusiastic response from the 60,000 attendees. “Are you aware of the number of people here tonight? I can hear you scream!” she exclaimed, reminding them they were in for a treat with many songs being performed live for the first time.
The setlist featured recent hits like ‘X Si Volvemos’ and older favorites like ‘Mi Cama,’ fulfilling her promise of making it “the best night of our lives.” Amidst giant sharks and frozen mermaids, the visual elements took a backseat to the energy, community spirit, and dynamic choreography that defined the show.
The concert’s intensity peaked with pyrotechnics and performances of ‘Bichota’ and ‘El Makinón’ on the central flower-shaped stage. Karol G also performed her favorite song from her latest album, ‘Carolina,’ a personal tribute to her real name. Her connection with the audience was palpable as she shared heartfelt moments and warm smiles; she dedicated the tender ‘Ocean’ to her fans, singing from atop a cloud piano in a dreamlike sequence.
At the concert’s midpoint, she showcased her vocal prowess with songs like ‘Pero Tú’ (without Quevedo), ‘Mercurio,’ and ‘A Ella,’ the oldest song of the night from her debut album, ‘Unstoppable’ (2017).
As the show progressed, she reminded everyone of the “Bichota” within them, dancing hand-in-hand with her “hippy” commune during the optimistic ‘Mientras Me Curo Del Cora.’ Her acoustic rendition of ‘Contigo,’ a Spanish version of Leona Lewis’s ‘Bleeding Love,’ demonstrated her continued ability to create new hits in 2024, just as she did with her latest single, ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido.’
The concert’s final act was a crescendo of energy with explosive performances of ‘Cairo’ and the Mexican-flavored ‘Mi Ex Tenía Razón’ and ‘Gucci Y Los Paños,’ complete with accordion and tuba. She toasted the crowd with a shot before launching into ‘200 Copas.’
The night concluded with the hits ‘Mamiii,’ a collaboration with Becky G, and ‘S91,’ followed by the anthems ‘Provenza’ and ‘Mañana Será Bonito,’ bringing the unforgettable performance to a triumphant close.
