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Aitana’s New Musical Era Starts with ‘4To 23’: References & English Lyrics

The singer reenacts scenes from movies, fairy tales, and paintings in her latest music video

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Aitana is currently on a journey—a dreamy one, quite literally, in her latest music video: «4to 23» (Room 23). It’s her most surreal visual piece to date. The artist, a keen admirer of visual art, takes us through various artworks in this new video, marking the beginning of her fresh musical era.

Directed by Julia Conde, the video is a collaborative effort that enhances Aitana’s artistic portfolio. Julia Conde, renowned for her creative direction during Emilia‘s ‘.mp3’ era, now partners with the Spanish singer to craft a visually intricate experience. The result is a captivating journey into fantasy. Have you identified all the visual references in the video? Let’s delve into them!

References

Alice in Wonderland

The story of «4to 23» shares many similarities with one of history’s most famous tales: Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’. In this artistic narrative, Aitana introduces us to a dreamlike world filled with mazes, doors that lead nowhere, and a strong presence of playing cards.

The singer begins the music video lying in bed, about to fall asleep, much like Alice at the beginning of her adventure into Wonderland. However, unlike Alice, Aitana takes on the role of the White Rabbit. The male protagonist assumes the role of the character chasing the rabbit through the intricate mazes.

He navigates staircases and, in a way, becomes infatuated with the Queen of Hearts, who is also portrayed by Aitana. All of this is in pursuit of her. It’s also worth noting that the young man wears a t-shirt featuring a cat drawing, which echoes the Cheshire Cat from both the original book and the Disney adaptation, serving as a guide to Alice. Additionally, we see Aitana peering down through a window, possibly alluding to the rabbit hole through which Alice descends.

Art: Once Again Present

It’s well-known that Aitana has a strong love for art. She studied art in high school and has a talent for drawing, so art plays a big role in her life. After recreating famous paintings in her 2022 music video «Otra Vez,» she’s returned to artistic themes once more. In «4TO 23,» she recreates several well-known paintings. The most obvious is Escher’s ‘Relativity’, showing an impossible room with staircases that lead nowhere.

There’s also a reference to René Magritte and his famous work ‘The Treachery of Images’ (This is not a pipe). This is shown when we see a close-up of Aitana’s room key falling, with the words ‘This is not a key’. Additionally, the cover art of «4TO 23» is inspired by one of Dalí’s most realistic paintings: ‘Figure at a Window’. Here, Aitana portrays the girl looking out towards the sea, a motif full of literary meanings.

Movies in the Mix: From Matrix to The Truman Show

But it doesn’t end there. Aitana also nods to the world of cinema in her latest video. As we watch Aitana and the protagonist pass through doors leading to different spaces, it immediately evokes thoughts of The Matrix. And there’s a hint of Monsters, Inc. too, with those closet doors that connect to children’s bedrooms worldwide.

Another cinematic reference we spot (also seen in Karol G and Shakira‘s «TQG») is to The Truman Show. Aitana appears in a doorway suspended in the middle of a blue sky, reminiscent of Jim Carrey’s memorable scene at the movie’s end. It’s a striking visual.

«4TO 23» is packed with these cinematic nods. Aitana clearly knows how to intrigue with her music videos.

«4TO 23» Lyrics in English

[Verse 1]

The night begins, I want to sleep
But it doesn’t happen to me or step away from you
I stayed with you, I saw you at a party
But they caught me, caught by you
And you pass through my mind
And I don’t know how to hide
Maybe you are one of those once in a lifetime
Maybe I’ll regret it, I’ll get away with it

[Refrain]

I see you type 12, I’m at 11
The door is open, room 23
The perfect night, there is no one in my house
Don Julio 70 and I kiss you again

[Pre-Chorus]

Turn off the light, undress me
I do everything to you for the first time
Turn off the light, and touch me
Do me everything I imagined

[Post-Chorus]

Turn off the light and stay
Even if it’s tonight

[Verse 2]

I dreamed of meeting you, I asked if it was my luck
I had a hurt heart and fucking bad luck
Because if you are little and you fall in love for the first time
You think that no one is going to heal what could not be

[Pre-Chorus]

Turn off the light, undress me
I do everything to you for the first time

[Chorus]

Without clothes and cell phone in Do Not Disturb
I do everything to you for the first time
Living a story that does not have to be shown
Do me everything I imagined
And you are so handsome and I am fatal
In love, but I don’t want to

[Post-Chorus]

Turn off the light and stay
Even if it’s tonight

[Outro]

Even if it’s tonight
Even if it’s tonight (Ah-ah-ah)
(I see you type 12, I’m at 11)
(The door is open, room 23)
Even if it’s tonight
(I see you type 12, I’m at 11)
(The door is open, room 23)

Original article in Spanish by Alberto Palao for LOS40 Spain.