Rosalía is releasing a new music video for “La Perla,” one of the standouts of her new album, LUX!
The 33-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter and producer just dropped the visual for the song, directed by Stillz, on Monday (December 15).
Keep reading to find out more…
Here’s a synopsis: “In the immersive video for ‘La Perla,’ Rosalía moves through a series of stylized, protective-world vignettes that reveal both her vulnerability and her playful defiance. Paired with the incredible artistry of director Stillz, Rosalía helps bring the world of LUX alive.”
Though not officially confirmed, fans believe the lyrics seem to be aimed at her ex, Rauw Alejandro.
The two first met in 2019, made music together and even got engaged, only to split after three years together in 2023.
“La Perla” was produced by the singer alongside Sir Dylan and Noah Goldstein. The song also features Yahritza Y Su Esencia, an American trio specializing in regional Mexican music.
“He’s a pearl, no one trusts him / He’s a pearl, one to be very careful with,” she sings, translated to English.
Users on Genius noted that a song from Rosalía and Rauw‘s EP, called “PROMESA,” featured the two discussing their relationship. She compares him to a pearl and says she’d find him anywhere because he’s so precious.
Now, in this song, she sings that a pearl is not to be trusted.
Plus, Rauw is from La Perla, a neighborhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“There’s always a villain. There’s too many villains…the faith in masculinity is lost. That’s what we will say,” she teased on Popcast about the song’s meaning, without going into specifics and agreeing that she’s surrounded herself with female saints. “Celibacy, yes.”
She calls the person a “local disappointment, national heartbreaker, an emotional terrorist,” and “the greatest disaster in the world” in the biting track. She also alludes to cheating, singing (translated from Spanish): “Loyalty and faithfulness / Are languages he’ll never understand / His masterpiece, his collection of bras.”
Fans also noted that Rauw gets underwear from his fans at concerts.
The song also includes the phrase “Hacer la 13-14,” which is a Spanish expression for someone who plans to deceive somebody else, and originates from non-adjustable wrenches, which are numbered in pairs. There are 12-13mm and 14mm-15mm, but not 13mm-14mm. The expression reportedly comes from making new employees try to find the nonexistent 13-14 wrench to haze them.
At the time of their split, Rauw denied cheating allegations.
Watch the music video for “La Perla”…
Read the lyrics to “La Perla”…
Read the English translation of “La Perla”…
