Saoko

"Saoko" (also spelled Såoko) is a song by Spanish singer Rosalía. It was released on 4 February 2022 by Columbia Records as the second single from her third studio album Motomami (2022).^[1][2] The song was written by Rosalía, David Rodríguez, el Kagueto del Guetto, Juan Orengo, Justin Quiles, Michael Uzowuru, Noah Goldstein and Urbani Cedeño. Rosalía, Wiggins, Goldstein, and Uzowuru also served as producers. With lyrics about transformation and metamorphosis, Rosalía's "Saoko" contains an interpolation of "Saoco" by Wisin and Daddy Yankee. The song's title is a reference to Puerto Rican slang for "outstanding rhythm."^[3]

"Saoko"
Single by Rosalía
from the album Motomami
Language	Spanish
Released	4 February 2022 (2022-02-04)
Recorded	February 2021
Studio	Electric Lady (New York City) Larrabee (Los Angeles)
Genre	Alternative reggaeton experimental
Length	2:17
Label	Columbia
Composer(s)	Rosalia Vila David Rodríguez Dylan Wiggins Juan Iván Orengo Juan Luis Morera Justin Quiles Michael Uzowuru Noah Goldstein Urbani Cedeño
Lyricist(s)	Rosalia Vila Juan Luis Morera Juan Iván Orengo Urbani Cedeño
Producer(s)	Rosalía Noah Goldstein Sir Dylan Michael Uzowuru
Rosalía singles chronology
"La Fama" (2021) "Saoko" (2022) "Chicken Teriyaki" (2022)
Music video
"Saoko" on YouTube

The song was widely acclaimed by music critics, most of whom praised its deconstruction of reggaeton and cyberpunk experimental sounds, stating "the song is more experimental than anything she has recorded before and perhaps her best work yet".^[4] The song's accompanying music video, directed by Valentin Petit, was shot in Kyiv, mainly at Podilskyi Bridge.^[5] It would go on to win an MTV Video Music Award and a UK Music Video Award.

Background

"Saoko" was first mentioned in November 2021, in a Rolling Stone article by Diego Ortiz that covered the emancipation of Rosalía and the recording process of her album Motomami. It was also revealed to be the opening track of the album.^[6] The singer previewed the song on TikTok on 29 December.

Upon unveiling the cover art of the album, the singer announced a new song to be released on 4 February.^[7] A teaser of the music video for "Saoko" was posted on 2 February, indicating the release of the song that week.

This song is on FIFA 23's soundtrack, which was released on 30 September 2022. ^[8] Due to players that pre-ordered the game via Xbox getting access to the game earlier than the official release date accidentally, the entire soundtrack has been leaked early to the game's release, confirming "Saoko" being part of it. ^[9][10]

Composition

"Saoko" is an experimental with industrial and reggaeton elements that runs for two minutes and seventeen seconds. Rosalía labeled the process of creating the track's beat "as fun as driving a Lamborghini."^[11] It features heavy synthesizers, a distorted piano and traditional reggaeton drums, as well as a ten-second avant-jazz talking interlude between the singer and her team at Electric Lady that was compared to Eddie Palmieri's The Sun of Latin Music (1974).^[12] Described by music critics as "bizarre, industrial and psychotic", the song combines influences of Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral (1994), and Kanye West's Yeezus (2013), both of which Rosalía has cited as an artistic inspiration, as well as Arca, who she previously worked with on "KLK".^[13] "Saoko" marks the first solo release of Rosalía since "Dolerme".^[14]

In an interview with Clash, Rosalía explained that "each and every phrase is an image of transformation. Celebrating transformation, celebrating change. Celebrating that you are always yourself even though you are in constant transformation or even that you are you more than ever at the very moment you are changing".^[15] Lyrical references include Frank Ocean, Vivienne Westwood, Lego, and Kim Kardashian, among others.

Music video

Rosalía shared a preview of the music video on 2 February 2022.^[16] The video itself premiered on 4 February on YouTube. It was directed by Valentin Petit and produced by Division. It features an all-female professional motorcycle crew.^[17] It was filmed over the course of three days in early July 2021 mainly at the Podilskyi Bridge and Naberezhno-Khreschatytska street in Kyiv, Ukraine, as well as in a filming studio nearby.^[18] A fictional gas station was set up in the filming studio also using chroma key technique. The music video received comparisons to Spring Breakers, Street Fighter, Fallen Angels, and the music video for "Gasolina".^[19]

Style advice was given by Samantha Burkhart, featuring clothes by Jean Paul Gaultier.^[20]

For the video, Petit and co-editor Jon Echeveste would go on to win the MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[21]

Production

• Rosalia Vila Tobella – composition, songwriting, production, vocal production, vocals, background vocals, handclaps, drums, piano.
• Noah Goldstein – composition, songwriting, production, drums.
• Dylan Wiggins – composition, songwriting, production, piano.
• David Rodríguez – composition, songwriting, recording engineer.
• Justin Rafael Quiles – composition, songwriting
• Michael Uzowuru – composition, production, bass, synthesizer
• Juan Luis Morera – songwriting (sample)
• Urbani Mota Cedeño – songwriting
• Juan Ivan Orengo – songwriting

Technical

• Anthony Vilchis – assistant engineer
• Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer
• Manny Marroquin - mixing engineer
• Zach Peraya – assistant engineer
• Jeremie Inhaber – assistant engineer
• Anthony Vilchis – assistant engineer
• Chris Gehringer – assistant engineer

Charts

Chart performance for "Saoko"

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Global 200 (Billboard)[22]	101
Portugal (AFP)[23]	68
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[24]	5
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[25]	22

Certifications

Certifications for "Saoko"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[26]	Platinum	40,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[27]	Gold	70,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28]	Platinum	60,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Saoko"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	4 February 2022	Digital download streaming	Columbia	[5]

References

1. "Rosalía Announces New Album Motomami". Pitchfork. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
2. "Rosalía Shares Video for New Song "Saoko"". Pitchfork. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
3. "The meaning of Rosalía's Saoko pays homage to classic reggaeton". HITC. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
4. Sancho, Xavi (4 February 2022). "Rosalía breaks new ground with 'Saoko'". El País English Edition. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
5. Lopez, Julyssa (4 February 2022). "Rosalía Joins An All-Girl Biker Gang on 'Saoko'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
6. "MOTOMAMI: El camino de Rosalía a su propia emancipación". Rolling Stone en Español (in Spanish). 17 November 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
7. "Rosalía Reveals Artwork for New Album Motomami". Pitchfork. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
8. "FIFA 23 Release Dates". 20 July 2022.
9. Leston, Ryan (30 August 2022). "FIFA 23 Seemingly Just Leaked, a Month Early".
10. Callum, Smith (3 September 2022). "Leaked FIFA 23 Soundtrack List Has 50+ Songs With Gorillaz & Bad Bunny".
11. "Rosalía – "SAOKO"". Stereogum. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
12. "Rosalía: la gata sobre el asfalto cultural caliente". Vanity Fair España (in Spanish). 6 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
13. Ortiz, Diego (17 November 2021). "The Reinvention of Rosalía". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
14. "Rosalía says she's close to finishing her new album". NME. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
15. "Rosalía's 'Saoko' Dips Into Her Reggaeton Roots". Clash. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
16. "Watch: Rosalía Drops Teaser For Upcoming Single 'Saoko'". Remezcla. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
17. Billboard Staff (4 February 2022). "First Stream Latin: New Music From Rosalia, Llane, Beele & More". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
18. "Grammy winner Rosalia released Saoko music video shot in Kyiv". 112.international. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
19. "Las referencias artísticas (y de moda) que están en 'Saoko', el último videoclip de Rosalía". Vogue España (in Spanish). 4 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
20. "Rosalía: la gata sobre el asfalto cultural caliente". Vanity Fair España (in Spanish). 6 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
21. "Credits / Saoko / Rosalía". Tidal. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
22. "Rosalia Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
23. "Rosalía – Saoko". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
24. "Top 100 Canciones: Semana 6". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
25. "Rosalia Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
26. "Brazilian single certifications – Rosalía – Saoko" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
27. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 7 October 2022. Type Rosalía in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Saoko in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
28. "Spanish single certifications – Rosalía – Saoko". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 26 April 2022.