Rosalía, Bad Bunny, and the Debate on Language and Identity in Music

When Rosalía joined The New York Times Popcast to talk about her newest album LUX, the focus was supposed to be on creativity, experimentation, and her bold decision to sing in 13 languages. The project includes Spanish, Catalan, Arabic, Latin, French, German, Sicilian, Ukrainian, English, and others she specifically learned for the album, making it arguably one of the most linguistically ambitious pop releases in recent memory. What she didn’t expect was that a single moment from the interview would spark one of the year’s most heated cultural debates, especially among Latin American audiences who see language as inseparable from identity.

During the conversation, the Popcast hosts asked Rosalía about the difference between her multilingual approach and Bad Bunny’s decision to sing exclusively in Spanish. She replied, “I think I am the opposite of Benito. I think I care. I care so much that I am going to make the effort to sing in a language that is not my language”.

The comment spread instantly online. Some listeners took it as a comparison that gave unintended weight to Rosalía’s approach while overlooking the cultural meaning behind Bad Bunny’s stance. The context made it more complicated. Rosalía was answering the question on the same interview series where Bad Bunny was previously asked whether he worries about reaching broader audiences if he sings only in Spanish. His response was that he didn’t. Spanish is the language of his life, his culture, and Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny has no interest in adapting himself for English-speaking listeners.

For many fans, this wasn’t a lack of care. It was pride.

Bad Bunny’s refusal to cross over linguistically has become a cultural statement, especially in a music industry that has historically centered English. And for many Latino listeners, his approach reflects a form of preservation. 

Rosalía later clarified that her words were taken out of context. She expressed respect for Bad Bunny and gratitude for Latin American listeners who’ve supported her throughout her career.

But here’s the thing. This moment doesn’t need to be a clash. It doesn’t need to be a debate about who is right, who cares more, or who represents Spanish-speaking culture “correctly.” These two artists aren’t opposites. They’re not rivals. They’re evidence of how wide and powerful Spanish-speaking artistry has become.

Bad Bunny’s approach is rooted in identity and the belief that Spanish is enough. His success proves it. He’s one of the most-streamed artists on the planet, preparing for the Super Bowl halftime stage, all while staying true to his first language.

Rosalía’s approach is rooted in experimentation and a deep love for sound. Singing in 13 languages isn’t a rejection of Spanish. It’s her way of stretching voice and genre, exploring how language shapes rhythm and emotion, and widening the palette of global pop.

These two philosophies don’t cancel each other out. They expand what’s possible.

For decades, Spanish-speaking artists were told they had to switch to English to cross over. Now we’re in a moment where:

• A Puerto Rican trap artist dominates global charts while singing entirely in Spanish.
• A Spanish experimentalist drops a 13-language album and critics treat it like a cultural event.
• Spanish-speaking music isn’t a trend or exception anymore. It’s the main stage.

This is a milestone, not a feud.

Instead of pitting these artists against each other, we can recognize that both are pushing the culture forward in their own ways. Bad Bunny is proving that loyalty to your mother tongue can reshape the industry. Rosalía is proving that linguistic risk-taking can expand the boundaries of pop. Together, they show the full spectrum of what Spanish-speaking artists can be.

There’s room for every kind of voice. There’s room for the artist who stays rooted in one language and the artist who crosses into a dozen. There’s room for pride and curiosity, for tradition and experimentation, for the local and the global.

This isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about celebrating a moment in history where Spanish-speaking artists don’t have to shrink themselves to be heard.

They are defining the sound of global culture. And the space is big enough for all of them – let’s not lose the plot and win that it is to have these two powerhouses on a global stage.