+57
by Karol G (featuring Maluma & J. Balvin)

Album: released as a single (2024)
Charted: 62
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "+57" is a collaboration between Karol G and her fellow Colombian artists Feid, J Balvin, Maluma, Ryan Castro, Blessd, DFZM, and Karol G's go-to producer Ovy On The Drums. The artists come together to represent Colombia in the most exuberant, let-loose way possible, with five minutes of reggaeton revelry.
  • The title, "+57," nods to Colombia's country code - a sly reminder that while the world's dance floors are the destination, Colombia is the caller. The song itself is an unapologetic celebration of the Colombians' boundless capacity for nighttime fun.
  • Like any good party, this song isn't without its complications. Within days of its release on November 7, 2024, "+57" hit a cultural snag - some listeners raised concerns about lyrics that seemed to lean into problematic territory.

    Some of the controversial lines are:

    Mamacita desde los fourteen
    Entra a la disco y se le siente el ki


    Translates into English as:
    A hottie since she was 14
    When she walks into the club, you can feel her energy


    Chupando bombón, mamacita esa grilla

    Translates into English as:
    Sucking on a lollipop, hottie's got that vibe

    The lyrics drew the ire of Colombia's child welfare agency, Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, which called out the song for "reinforcing the sexualization of children." They further warned it could inadvertently undermine efforts to combat exploitation.

    As public debate swirled, Karol G responded with a heartfelt (if slightly rattled) statement on social media. She argued the lyrics had been misinterpreted and insisted there was no harmful intent, expressing a genuine sense of humility by saying she still had "a lot to learn." She concluded with an apology, admitting she felt deeply affected by the backlash.

    The criticism led to a lyric change on YouTube. In the video, Feid and Maluma now sing "Una mamacita desde los 18" ("a hottie since she was 18") instead of "14."
  • Then came another point of contention – Colombian artist Farina noted the conspicuous absence of other female artists on the track, a detail perhaps lost in the frenzy of features but raised some fair questions about representation in Colombia's urban music scene.
  • The song marks an ever-growing tally of collaborations for Karol G. Her history with her "+57" companions is lengthy.

    Feid: This is her second collaboration, their first being "Friki."

    Ovy on the Drums: Karol G's professional partnership with Ovy on the Drums is vast, though this marked only the second time he's featured as an artist in his own right.

    J Balvin: "+57" is their fifth collaboration, following "Que Raro", "Porfaa (Remix)", "Bebé Qué Bien Te Ves" and "Doblexxó."

    Maluma: This is their fourth outing, following "Fresh Kerias," "Porfa (Remix)" and "Mojando Asientos."

    Ryan Castro: They previously teamed up on the "Una Noche En Medellin (remix)."

    Blessd and DFZM are newcomers to the Karol G fold.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.