J Balvin is undoubtedly up there as one of the best the Reggaeton genre has to offer, so in a year where he already made news worldwide thanks to his appearance on the Super Bowl Half Time Show that J. Lo and Shakira headlined, it was important to follow that up with a dope album. And that’s what the Colombian star set out to do with his new album Colores.
With only two featured guests across 10 tracks plus artwork from Takashi Murakami, J Balvin has delivered a pretty fun and dance-worthy album.
Each track has been named after the color with which Balvin and his crew thought the songs vibed-with the best, so check below to find our top 5 colores on the new album.
“Amarillo”
The album opener helps set expectations high, starting strong right from the gates. The Colombian follows a tried and true formula for making a hit Reggeaton track: distinctive flair that makes the beat memorable and a simple, but catchy chorus about having a good time. If you want to get the party started, you need a track like “Amarillo” because its midtempo production is playful and will inspire you start shaking your hips. He sings in the hook:
Y yo no me complico (Eh), ¿cómo te explico (Eh)
Que a mí me gusta pasarla rico? (Eh, eh)
That loosely translates to “I don’t make things complicated. How can I put this? I like to have a good time,” which should be everyone’s motto. Think of this one as the track that makes you say “fuck it, I’ll do one” when someone offers you a shot… You’re not hype yet, but you’re open to the possibility.
“Azul”
The second track brings down the tempo a bit to go for a more sultry vibe. The melody created by the hook is prime for perreo, and all the necessary clichés are present in the lyrics too with its mentions of drinking bringing out your wild side & confessing to what a woman can make you feel when you see her rocking skimpy clothing. If you want the dance floor to be filled with sexual energy, you play this joint right here.
“Morado”
The femme fatale is the central theme of this track. Sky Rompiendo’s production helps Balvin profile the type of woman that will chew you up if you’re not up to her level. While you ask for a drink, she’s the type to take the whole bottle. In bed, she’s the star of the show. She’s trouble, and you just can’t get enough. Much like in most genres, dudes talk a big game about how they’re shit and demand your attention, so it’s a welcomed surprise whenever the script is flipped and the woman gets to be the one holding all the power in a guy’s song. This song will also get the kickback bumpin.
“Verde”
This one should be the next big Balvin hit, perfect for lighting up clubs as much as it can get you through the process of getting ready to go out for the night. The beat keeps things simple, allowing J Balvin and Sky to do the same with the lyrics. That tradition in Latin music that celebrates repetition that somehow in making a song that much more danceable is definitely present here. Doja Cat taught many of the wonders of being able to see the booty from the front with her track “Juicy,” and on “Verde,” Balvin seconds that with his own lyrics of appreciation for booties you can see from far. The whole vibe of this track is celebratory, which makes liking this track inevitable.
“Blanco”
The album closer was the first song that saw the light of day from this album, before people knew Colores was officially in the works back when it was released in November 2019. The bulbous production lights up with J Balvin’s vocals celebrating his own prowess being the direct result of being from Medellin. The lighthearted punchlines is what makes this track bounce, particularly with lines like “Yo te como sin beat, acapella (Ey)” [I’ll eat you without a beat, acapella] and “A cualquier malla le marco (Gol) / A lo Cristiano Ronaldo” [I can score on any goal, like I’m Cristiano Ronaldo]. This one is definitely more for the fellas to embrace what they bring to the table as they prep themselves to put their best foot forward when they try to mack.
