It’s official: Rosalía is not interested in making your commute playlist. The Spanish pop juggernaut has returned post-MOTOMAMI with “Berghain,” a sprawling, operatic statement piece that sounds less like a single and more like a senior thesis you’d be scared to critique. Featuring appearances from Björk, Yves Tumor, and the London Symphony Orchestra (because why not?), the track sets out to be epic — and largely delivers, at least in drama.
Let’s be real: “Berghain” is a lot. The song whirls between languages, genres, and moods like it’s dodging paparazzi. One moment it’s channeling Vivaldi with string pyrotechnics, the next it’s being swallowed by tumbling percussion and ritualistic chaos. Rosalía’s voice goes full operatic here — not the flirty, flamenco-infused croon we’ve come to know, but something far more theatrical and, frankly, high-concept. Depending on your tolerance for vocal acrobatics and metaphor-heavy lyrics, it’s either breathtaking or borderline exhausting.
Yves Tumor shows up just in time to anchor the chaos with their signature haunted glam, while Björk—queen of gale-force vocals—nearly hijacks the whole piece with her otherworldly presence. It’s not a duet so much as a cosmic collision.
There’s also an attempt at political subtext: naming the track after Berlin’s most notorious techno club (and yes, a real place of recent controversy) hints at something deeper. But “Berghain” doesn’t quite capitalize on the reference — it gestures toward provocation more than it delivers one. For all its orchestral might and superstar cast, the song feels like it’s staging a revolution without giving us the manifesto.
Still, you have to admire the audacity. No one else is swinging this big in pop right now, and even if the hit-to-miss ratio wobbles, Rosalía isn’t here to play it safe. “Berghain” might not be the most cohesive thing she’s ever done, but it’s fearless, full-throttle, and strangely compelling — like watching a fashion show on a rollercoaster.
Score: 7.2 / 10
“Berghain” dares to go big, bold, and maybe a bit bonkers. You won’t hum it in the shower, but you’ll definitely remember it.
