Rosalía teams up with Björk and Yves Tumor for Berghain, a sensational new track that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music: the lyrics are written in German, Spanish, and English, let’s explore their meaning.
Rosalía’s new song is receiving widespread praise and recognition from the global music community. With Berghain, the Spanish singer has brought together two major names from the international scene — Icelandic songwriter Björk and American producer Yves Tumor. But that’s not all: she’s also shown the world that classical music can still be thrilling for a modern audience.
The music video itself sends a clear message: our modern lives still have room — and the potential — to be invaded by something new and unexpected. Entire orchestras take over domestic spaces or fill the daily commute on public transport. Wild animals quietly enter homes, transforming the normality of everyday gestures into a new, magical dimension. Many consider the official video a true work of art — watch it below.
The song is titled Berghain, and many have wondered about the meaning behind this choice. Berghain is a famous Berlin nightclub, probably the most exclusive and glorified electronic and techno music venue in the world. Think about it: Rosalía’s song clearly showcases the power of classical music, yet it’s named after a club that symbolizes musical futurism. The message is clear: the boundaries of modern music can still be pushed in many different ways.
The original lyrics also highlight the contrast between the classical and the modern — and the harmony that can exist between these two dimensions. Berghain opens with lyrics in German, symbolizing classicism: a tragic, existential poem that sets the stage for introspection.
Seine Angst ist meine Angst
Seine Wut ist meine Wut
Seine Liebe ist meine Liebe
Sein Blut ist mein Blut
His fear is my fear
His anger is my anger
His love is my love
His blood is my blood
Die Flamme dringt in mein Gehirn ein
Wie ein Blei-Teddybär
Ich bewahre viele Dinge in meinem Herzen auf
Deshalb ist mein Herz so schwer
The flame penetrates my brain
Like a lead teddy bear
I keep many things in my heart
That’s why my heart is so heavy
Then comes the Spanish part — perhaps the most personal and intimate one — sung by Rosalía. The lyrics describe the fragility of her nature, the ease with which her being can melt away as the surrounding conditions change. Like soft matter dissolving in the heat: the “terrón de azúcar” (sugar cube) seen in the video symbolizes this, disappearing completely when it comes into contact with a warm drink.
Yo sé muy bien lo que soy
Ternura pa’l café
Solo soy un terrón de azúcar
Sé que me funde el calor
Sé desaparecer
Cuando tú vienes es cuando me voy
I know very well what I am
Tenderness for coffee
I’m just a sugar cube
I know that the heat melts me
I know how to disappear
When you come, that’s when I leave
Finally, two opposing perspectives are brought in by Björk and Yves Tumor. The first sings of divine intervention as a means of salvation, while the latter asserts sex as a tool of persuasion over another person. Some have even pointed out that certain details in the video could contain a subtle farewell message to Rosalía’s ex-partner, Rauw Alejandro. This interpretation fits within the broader theme of the song: purity, innocence, and fragility standing in contrast with the looming threat of what could destroy us.
The only way to save us is through divine intervention
The only way I will be saved is through divine intervention
I’ll f–k you ’til you love me
I’ll f–k you ’til you love me
Rosalía has a long-standing tradition of songs that offer a fresh perspective, both musically and poetically. Berghain represents the latest pinnacle of her creativity, with a style, lyrics, and meaning that speak to classical and modern elements, fragility and aggression, past and future. It’s no surprise that audiences have not stopped praising her for such boldness.
Read other popular song lyrics and their meaning on Auralcrave
