‘+57’ Lyrics Changed on YouTube Amid Controversy
Karol G issued an apology after the song -- a collab of multiple Colombian stars -- received backlash over lyrics sexualizing minors.
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The negative response to the song “+57” by Karol G, J Balvin, Maluma, Feid, Blessd, Ryan Castro and DFZM has led to a lyric change on YouTube, where, in the video, they now sing “a hot mama since she was 18” instead of “14.”
Although it’s unclear who requested the update, the change on the video streaming platform appeared on Wednesday (Nov. 13), after the controversy over the lyrics reached the Colombian Congress, where a group of politicians asked the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) to summon the authors of the song for a training on the problem of sexual violence in the country.
At press time, the song’s lyrics have not been updated on Spotify or Apple Music. Billboard has also reached out to YouTube for comment.
According to local newspaper El Tiempo, congresswomen Sonia Bernal (Pacto Histórico) and Karina Espinosa (Partido Liberal) criticized the reggaeton song for lyrics that they consider sexualizing minors (one verse mentions a woman who has been a “mamacita” since she was 14 years old), and even announced that they will present a bill called “decent lyrics,” with which they seek sanctions for those who write songs with explicit content that could be interpreted as a violent reference against women and girls.
Since its release Nov. 7, the track has received a barrage of criticism. Rolling Stone En Español published an article titled “The Disaster of +’57′,” which Colombian President Gustavo Petro shared on his X account expressing that “it’s OK to have a cultural debate.” And the ICBF issued a statement saying that the song “reinforces the sexualization of childhood in our country” and that it “does not contribute to our fight against the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.”
On Monday (Nov. 11), Karol gave a lengthy response to the criticism and apologized, saying, “I still have a lot to learn.”
“+57,” whose title is the international phone code for Colombia, was produced by hitmaker Ovy on the Drums and written by all of the aforementioned artists along with Keityn and newcomer DFZM. The name of the song, and the union of these superstars, had caused anticipation among fans, who were anticipating a new reggaeton anthem for Colombia.
See the original lyrics to “+57” translated to English below:
Colombia, gang
O-O-Ovy on the Drums
Whoa
She told her boyfriend that she was going to sleep now.
But her friend damaged her mind
12:30 and she started putting on makeup
Said she’d arrive in 20
She turned off her cell phone to avoid getting caught
The baby is bad, but smart, yeah
And although that baby has an owner
She goes out whenever she wants
The weed is starting to work
And she was twerking that drunkenness
Pass the drinks mouth to mouth
She rolls it up and turns it on
And if they ask her if she has a boyfriend, it depends” (wow)
What we have here is exotic, pills, aguardiente, Hpnotiq
A chill party, I offer you something
Drinking, you’re dangerous, they’re not going to catch you
A hot mama since she was 14
She enters the disco and you feel the energy
Mami, I’ll take these shots for you
That, back there, is huge, delicate, pick it up, let it hold
Hot mama since she was 14
She enters the disco and you feel the energy
Mami, I’ll take these shots for you
There is a lot of load below, there is no room for your butt in the car
She has all the codes (oh)
Listens to 2Pac and that ass is notorious
I pour the Oreo cream on her abdomen (nasty)
To spend it at the strip club
They don’t even put her on the cover of Q’hubo
Big ass, big ass (awo)
Machine shorts so that all that is noticed (tra-tra)
I say all the right things so he takes his clothes off
I save your PIN on the BlackBerry
If she has a hit, i’m the remix
That little mouth, to give it some kisses (aha)
I called her so that boom, so that boom (yeah)
And although that baby has an owner
She goes out whenever she wants (ah-ah-ah)
The weed is starting to work
And she was twerking that drunkenness
Pass the drinks mouth to mouth
She rolls it up and turns it on
And if they ask her if she has a boyfriend, it depends.
The ass is hers and, therefore, it turns on (Zaga!)
She knows who she deals with
He seems innocent, those little eyes lie
And the kitten has it, it depends
Sucking hottie, mamacita, she’s easy (hey)
At the disco she is never in the chair (no)
For good luck, yellow thong
Prettified in case someone catches her
Sucking hottie, mamacita, esa grilla
At the disco she is never in the chair
For good luck, yellow thong
Prettified in case someone catches her
Hat on, conceited (does she know?)
So that it turns out great for you (ha, ha)
That smile on her little mouth confirms
That little ass of yours is mine with a seal and signature
If the boyfriend is late, apply the same to him (ha ha)
Because I’ll break it
And that guy next to me is a mere fool
If the firecracker is too crazy, I’ll ride it
Because in Medallo I’m like Drake in Toronto
Da-da-da-give me location, give me time and I’ll get to you
She looks at me and I give it all to her, she doesn’t want a wedding
She says to eat quietly and eat blind
Sex has a code, money beats pretty
She has her thing, she doesn’t want to play (ah-ah-ah)
She wants to stay with me
The real deal is talking to me, you’re playing Federball
It’s 11:00 PM, take that ass out for a walk
Break, break, break and give it everything, ma, don’t let anyone stop you
Order one from Ovy on the Drums, the ‘boyfriend’ is not worth it
At the disco, marijuana, drink and pull
Your boyfriend, the funny one, let him stop and get off
Wants to feel like a woman
There is no drink that is worth it, there is no positive energy that comes out to her
She wants to feel that she is beautiful again (ha ha, do you know, my love?)
And although that baby has an owner
She goes out whenever she wants (she wants)
The weed is working and she is twerking that drunkness
Pass the drinks mouth to mouth (mouth)
She rolls it up (rolls it up), and turns it on
And if they ask her if she has a boyfriend, it depends, yah
Karol G-G, La Bichota (yeah)
Feid, FERXXO (wow) Let’s go
Maluma, Don Juan, yeah
Blessed, do you know?
Awo (pu-pu-pum), Ryan Castro
DF, Latino gang, gang
Colombia gang-gang
J Balvin, man, man
Let’s go, yeah (baby)
Ovy on the Drums
Ovy on the drums, mami, mami, mami
Keityn, in the spotlight
Colombia gang-gang, yeah
Oh, Hail Mary
Ha, how cool
