Karol G brings Latin pop brilliance to Atlanta stop of ‘Tropitour’
It’s likely that you’ve never seen anything like a Karol G show.
There’s mass twerking. There’s Karol G performing on a giant red macaw prop. There’s Karol G, drenched in water, performing in a mini pool onstage. There’s an all-female mariachi troupe. There’s a virtual appearance from Emmy-winning actor Edward James Olmos, who served as the night’s emcee. And so much more.
At her “Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour” Atlanta stop Thursday night, the Colombian chart-topper transformed Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a sultry Latin musical fantasia that was both theatrical and empowering — proving why she’s one of the most important pop stars to emerge in the past decade.
It was fitting, then, that the singer performed “Latina Foreva” to open the show at 8:45 p.m. Dressed in a gold two-piece outfit and backed by a dozen dancers wearing the same in front of a grotto backdrop, Karol G looked every bit like la guerrera del género (the Spanish translation of “warrior of the genre,” the title of her 2019 documentary).
She later churned out songs like “Un Gatito Me Llamó,” “Oki Doki,” “Tá OK” and “Qlona,” accompanied by lots of belly dancing, booty popping and fire emitting from the stage. In turn, the crowd screamed, in awe of Karol G’s impeccable dance skills and theatrics.
“When rhythm calls, all of Latin America answers,” Olmos said from a screen while formally introducing fans to the show.
That was no hyperbole.
Karol G continued the night’s buoyant pop bliss over two hours with songs “Tropicoqueta” and “Papasito.” For the former, the singer, dressed in a multicolored ensemble with an elaborate, feathery headdress, performed atop a red macaw prop placed in the middle aisle of the floor section — furthering the show’s tropical/beachy theme.
For “Ese Hombre Es Malo,” Karol G serenaded the crowd with her all-female mariachi band. Dressed in all-white, the troupe was a triumphant touch for a song about realizing a man’s deception. She sang the final verses a cappella, underscoring her commitment to leave a man not worth her time.
The show’s next act focused on her most recent album “No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto,” which dropped in August. Though the album (which means “I don’t regret feeling so much” in English) has a somber, blue-colored theme, its thesis suggests that heartbreak isn’t a woman’s final destination, especially not for Karol G. Wearing a navy blue crop top that read “Single but not available” with bedazzled white sleeves, she eased her way through songs like “Te Llevas To,” and “Ahí.”
For “Bby Wow,” her latest hit that’s currently the biggest song in the world (topping the Billboard Global 200 for a third consecutive week), she selected a group of fans to come on stage and complimented them on their looks, just like the song’s lyrics.
“Atlanta, you are bby wow,” Karol G said by the end of the song.
“Bandida Entrenada” was another highlight of Thursday night’s show. The song, which flips a stereotype of an evil woman into an empowering persona, began with Karol G engaging in a quasi-baptism before becoming completely submerged in a shallow pool on a B-stage. She and her dancers erotically danced in the water as if they were making love to it. It was a sensual and captivating moment that showcased the depths of Karol G’s pristine performance prowess.
Toward the end of the show, she highlighted her band for songs “Coleccionando Heridas” and “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” which prompted most of the crowd to salsa dance from their seats.
At 10:50 p.m., the show ended with “Provenza,” an upbeat song about living in the moment and reuniting with a former lover. But, after lots of jumping, waving of the Colombian flag and confetti sprinkled around the stadium, the song took on a slightly different meaning: the freedom to focus on today’s joys can fuel just as much pride and confidence as listening to your favorite Karol G track.