Karol G kicked off the summer season with her merengue-powered “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” which loosely translates to “if I had met you before.”
The song’s style is an homage to the decades-old genre and the Dominican Republic. “I worked on part of ‘Mañana Sera Bonito’ there, and when I need to disconnect from the world and connect with myself, I also go there,” she wrote on Instagram. “Its culture, its music, its colors, the hospitality, the energy… everything feels very authentic and special there. Its people have embraced me in a way that fills my heart and inspires me all the time.”
Produced by Edgar Barrera, Sky Rompiendo and Karol, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart (dated July 6).
Below, Billboard translates the Spanish lyrics of “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” into English:
What would have been
If I had met you before
Surely, you’d be dancing this song with me
Not like friends
Like something else
You close to me makes me dangerous
For a kiss, I’ll do anything
Your girlfriend gets me jealous and although she’s beautiful
Ey!
She won’t treat you like I would
She won’t kiss you like I would
She’s not as good as I am
She’s shy and I’m not
I’d be willing to eat you both
Today you’re hanging with her
But maybe later you won’t be
What would have been
If I had met you before
Surely, you’d be dancing this song with me
Not like friends
Ey!
What would have been
If I had met you before
Surely, you’d be dancing this song with me
Not like friends
Ey!
I see you and I don’t know how to act
Baby, to seduce you, someone give me the manual
Whatever it is, I won’t back down
I have faith those eyes will see me one day
I’ll marry you
My name sounds good with your last name
I’m waiting for the first slip-up
So I can introduce you as my husband
I’ll marry you
My name sounds good with your last name
I’m waiting for the first slipup
So I can introduce you as my husband
You haven’t understood that
She won’t treat you like I would
She won’t kiss you like I would
She’s not as good as I am
She’s shy and I’m not
I’d be willing to eat you both
Today you’re hanging with her
But maybe later you won’t be
What would have been
If I had met you before
Surely, you’d be dancing this song with me
Not like friends no, no, no
Ey, ey, ey, ey
What would have been
If had met you before
Chiqui-chá, chiqui-chá, chiqui-chá, chiqui-chá (Ja, ja, ah)
Uh-uh-uh-uh
(What would have been)
(If I had met you before)
