El mal querer

El mal querer (transl. 'The Bad Loving') is the second studio album (and first of original material) by Spanish singer and songwriter Rosalía. It was released on 2 November 2018 by Columbia Records. The album was written by Rosalía and co-produced with El Guincho on an initial low budget as an independent artist. Presented as experimental and conceptual; a "romantic document that seamlessly links flamenco's characteristic melodrama to the storytelling of modern, woman-flexing R&B", the album follows the anonymous 13th-century Occitan novel Flamenca. It served as the singer's baccalaureate project upon her graduation from Catalonia College of Music with honors. Promotion prior to the album release encompassed the release of three singles: "Malamente", "Pienso en tu mirá"—both accompanied by music videos that went viral on social media—and "Di Mi Nombre". Two other singles, "Bagdad" and "De Aquí No Sales", were released after the album. Other promotional initiatives included the display of a billboard in Times Square, as well as live performances at several Spanish festivals, a sold-out concert at Plaza de Colón, the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards and the Latin Grammy Awards. To further promote the album, Rosalía embarked on the El Mal Querer Tour, which commenced in March 2019 and ended that December. The album received universal critical acclaim for its experimental production—the use of flamenco elements mixed with pop and urbano music—Rosalía's vocals, and accompanying visuals. It became a commercial success, reaching the top of the Spanish Charts and the US Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart. It also scored her second consecutive Premio Ruido win. Since June 2021, El Mal Querer holds the record for the longest-charting album in Spanish history. All aspects of El Mal Querer, including visuals, engineering, composition and vocals, were highly awarded by the Recording Academy. At the 2018 Latin Grammy Awards, "Malamente"...