Review: Camila Cabello’s ‘Familia’ is a Latin-pop Journey of Heartbreak and Goodbyes
Camila Cabello‘s third studio album, Familia, is her most ambitious effort to date. Cabello embraces her Cuban-Mexican heritage with Latin sounds like salsa and mariachi mixed with modern pop music.
Lyrically Cabello addresses her recent split with Shawn Mendes in multiple songs. She also directly sings about her departure from the girl group Fifth Harmony. Ten years into her career, Cabello has released an album that shows both professional and personal growth.
On ‘Familia,’ Camila Cabello leans into her Latin roots
Familia opens with Spanish trumpets inviting the listeners into Cabello’s Latin-infused journey. As she’s done before, Cabello can capture a feeling that’s intoxicating yet accessible to listeners from all cultures. On Familia, she explores the different sounds within Latin music, giving listeners Spanish and English language songs.
Mariachi trumpets build throughout “La Buena Vida,” a nod to Cabello’s Mexican heritage. However, the lyrics are almost entirely in English, seamlessly merging cultures in a song that Top 40 radio would embrace.
“La Buena Vida” could work on Top 40 radio, but the single “Don’t Go Yet” was made for it. If Cabello and her team were looking for the next “Havana,” they found it. The infectious hook is made for the Latin crossover superstar. Cabello gives plenty of sass, specifically in the second verse.
“Hasta Los Dientes,” featuring Maria Becerra is the most innovative Latin-infused song. Retro synth chords and a quietly funky bassline drive the music, with Cabello and Becerra singing about an unhealthy infatuation.
Radio friendly hits like ‘Quiet’ and ‘everyone at this party’ evoke Taylor Swift pop perfection
Familia steps away from the Latin sound with pure pop songs, “Quiet,” and “everyone at this party.”
Audible breaths and a mid-tempo beat give “Quiet” a dreamlike quality. With lyrics describing a makeout session in the back of a car, “Quiet” builds sexual tension in innocent ways listeners of all ages will appreciate.
“Everyone at this party” is perhaps the stand-out track on Familia because of Cabello’s raw vulnerability. Much like Taylor Swift‘s most successful heartbreak ballads, the album’s closer tells a vivid story many listeners will be able to relate to.
Over acoustic guitar chords, Cabello sings, “But everyone at this party isn’t you/ Everyone at this party isn’t you/You’re the only one I wanna run into/ But I never do.” It’s easy to speculate the lyrics refer to her recent breakup with Shawn Mendes.
“And I keep having these thoughts/ Did we f*** it up or not?/ Did we waste two years?/ And did you get the space you needed?/ Did you realize you don’t need me?/ Hey, did you realize you don’t need me?”
Album features with Ed Sheeran and WILLOW are hit and miss
“Bam Bam,” featuring Ed Sheeran, the first single off of Familia, feels boring compared to better tracks on the album. The song celebrates Cabello’s recently single life and coming to terms with her breakup. Sheeran almost throws off the vibe when he comes in on the second verse.
WILLOW adds intensity to “psychofreak,” the edgiest track on Familia. Cabello shares her insecurities and anxiety while addressing her split from the girl group Fifth Harmony. “Sorry, couldn’t focus on the movie/ Everybody says they miss the old me/ I been on this ride since I was fifteen/ I don’t blame the girls for how it went down.”
In an interview with Reuters, Cabello shared she’s now on good terms with her former group members, “We have been, like, supportive of each other through like DMs and stuff,” she continued, “I’m like, in a really good place with them.”
With Familia, Cabello has confidently stepped into her musical identity. Her vulnerability and maturity, only found through life experience, paid off in a solid album with mass appeal.
