Inside Rosalía’s unexpected Ukrainian verses in ‘De Madrugá’
Rosalía, a genre-bending popular Spanish singer-songwriter, released her fourth studio album, “LUX,” on November 7. The album focuses on themes of spirituality, femininity, and transformation. Rosalía explored these themes through other cultures by using 14 different languages, 12 of which she doesn’t speak natively. “I wanted to sing in other languages, I wanted to understand other cultures better, study more,” she shared in an interview with “Le Monde.”
Rosalía’s biggest inspiration were stories of female saints who achieved sainthood through a range of interesting paths, which played into her theme of female mystique. One of these figures was Saint Olga of Kyiv, who famously avenged her husband with brutal retaliation. Rosalía was captivated by how this woman became a saint through revenge and chose to incorporate her story in “De Madrugá,” including lyrics that reflected Olga’s legacy and paired them with the song’s distinct, fast-paced, powerful sound.
The Ukrainian chorus starts off with, “Я не шукаю помсти, помста шукає мене / Я не шукаю помсти,” which translates to “I am not seeking revenge / Revenge is seeking me / I am not seeking revenge.” These lyrics echo the deep desire for vengeance and how it can find someone because of their mindset of control and determination to do the right thing. Saint Olga’s story was the driving force behind these lyrics; she was depicted as a powerful woman who, despite her brutal actions, had control over her purpose and was willing to do anything to sustain her desire for vengeance. Through this verse, Rosalía channels feminine energy and conveys the concept of revenge not as violence but as a force that anyone can master.
After that powerful verse, the chorus returns full circle and reinstates the title of the song, “De Madrugá” with the addition of the Ukrainian, “На світанку,” which means “At Dawn.” With these being the last lyrics, a symbol of rebirth is created. Dawn is the beginning of daylight, which provides closure for Saint Olga’s story as she finds her power and comes out of the darkness by transforming through revenge.
“De Madrugá” is the essence of “LUX,” an album that brings together different languages, cultures, and stories to explore what it means to be a woman. By drawing on figures like Saint Olga and themes of vengeance, renewal, and dawn, Rosalía highlights how feminine strength can take many forms. The album highlights the power of feminine identity and how it evolves throughout time.
good job ❤️