Karol G has re-entered her Bichota era—this time with light pink hair and a new album dubbed Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), out today (Aug. 11) via Bichota Records/Interscope Records.
Home to 10 tracks, including the previously released “Provenza (Remix)” with Tiësto and “S91,” Bichota Season delivers a new side of the Colombian superstar, who has evolved, healed, fallen in love, and remained as empowered as ever. She also continues to flaunt her artistic versatility, experimenting with chill reggae beats (“Me Tengo Que Ir” with Kali Uchis) and norteño rhythms (“Mi Ex Tenía Razón”), among other new sounds.
“I would love to find the exact words that define what this season means to me,” the Colombian artist expressed on Instagram. “Mañana será bonito part B: perreo season, bellaqueo season, and why not, romantiqueo too.”
Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) — which includes collabs with Uchis, Peso Pluma, Dei V, and Young Miko — coincided with the week the Bichota singer kicked off her Mañana Será Bonito stadium tour, which started Aug. 10 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The 15-date trek, presented by Live Nation, will also visit Pasadena, Miami, Houston and Dallas, before wrapping up Sept. 28 at Gillette Stadium in Boston.
The set also dropped almost six months after the release of the historic Mañana Será Bonito album on Feb. 24, which became the first all Spanish-language LP by a female artist to top the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Below, the Billboard Latin editors rank every new song on Karol’s album. (The closing “Provenza (Remix)” — which debuted at the 2022 Tomorrowland Music Festival — is not on the ranked list, since it’s a previously released track.)
“BICHOTAG” starts off with Karol saying “Oh my God, this is so amazing” — a phrase that went viral on social media because of her accent. Backed by a hard-hitting drill/rap beat, Karol sings about being the ultimate “Bichota.” “He told me I was delicious, that there’s no competition,” she chants on part of the track — where she also reminds listeners that she’s a overall badass b–ch, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Only a real Bichota fan would know that this remix was supposed to drop in 2022, and to everyone’s surprise, it made it on the new album. The ultimate perreo track, “Una Noche en Medellín” was originally released last year by Chilean newcomer Cris MJ, narrating all the wonders that a night in Medellín, Colombia (Karol’s hometown) can offer. After gaining virality on TikTok, and entering the Hot Latin Songs, Billboard Global 200, and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, Karol and Medallo artist Ryan Castro hopped on the remix. Karol and Cris first performed the track at the 2022 Viña del Mar Festival.
Karol reeled in rising Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko to deliver another “I’m living life to the fullest” anthem. With powerful reggaetón beats, “Dispo” is about how now she’s “Dispo” (a Spanish abbreviation for “available”), but not to just anyone. The lyrics work perfectly, with Karol’s sweet vocals and Young Miko’s bold rhymes creating a perfect harmony between their voices. But beyond its infectious beats and lyrics, this collaboration is another reaffirmation of how “La Bichota” supports the new wave of rising female artists.
The first time Karol G teamed up with Dei V was at her Mañana Será Bonito concert in Puerto Rico last year, where she invited the rising act on stage. He now has an official collaboration in Bichota Season. Dei V’s distinct vocals mesh with Karol’s sensual tones in the Sky Rompiendo-produced “Gatita Gangster.” If the title is any indication, the sultry perreo narrates the story between two people who are fearless and willing to do everything.
The first time Karol G and Kali Uchis teamed up was when Kali offered the voiceover for a promo video for Karol’s 2021 KG0516 album. Their first collaborative effort, however, sees the light in 2023: “Me Tengo Que Ir” (I have to go) finds the two Colombian powerhouses singing about a man who’s not worth it and it’s time to move on. Making it the perfect track about self-love, the bilingual lyrics are backed by chill, almost dream-like, reggae beats. “Suddenly, you realize life is strong/ But you live rent-free in his mind/ Although I never asked to be a resident,” chants Kali.
Karol G has been teasing this intro for a couple of weeks, and finally unveiled that it was part of a collaboration with Peso Pluma. Over electronic keyboard melodies, and in full Bichota mode, the lyrics are meant to remind everyone of their beauty. “Ayer te vi solita, esa carita bonita/ Diablo que mamasita,” she sings, which translates to: “I saw you alone yesterday, that beautiful face/ D–n, what a mamacita.” Peso then accompanies her, singing about dying to see that special person to to give them a kiss, and have a good time.
Karol G has mastered escapism in her music, but “S91″ begs you to be present. In a hypnotizing EDM-meets-trap fusion, Karol G’s ultra-personal song, which she released as the new album’s first single, is powered by a pulverizing reggaetón beat that makes it a certified club song — but, if you listen closely, the lyrics are profound and reflective. The track is, after all, inspired by Psalm 91, a prayer her mother taught her as a little girl.
If Karol G were to have a leading role in an Anime movie, this would be the soundtrack. This song’s rhythm swings between a traditional reggaetón beat and playful anime-inspired sounds. And just as Karol G has been a guide of female empowerment and self-confidence, with this song, she knows precisely what the message needed to be: “Baby, you take care of yourself, you won’t forget this ass/ Don’t call me a whore, the mistake was yours, and the life is mine,” she chants before plugging in her new era: “Bichota Season.”
Karol G has never shied away from experimenting with a new beat or different musical style — she’s done EDM (“Don’t Be Shy”), sierreño (200 Copas) and norteño-banda (“Gucci Los Paños”). This album is no exception, and “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” is a pleasant surprise. Cumbia fans, you’re in luck: Karol G shines, and sounds right at home, in this grupero-inspired cumbia that ranks atop our list precisely because of its experimental nature. (It’s also a nice nod to música mexicana’s current hold on pop culture.) Plus, she pays tribute to Tex-Mex and cumbia queen Selena Quintanilla, an artist who’s inspired Karol.
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