On September 25, Rosalía celebrated her 32nd birthday by releasing a highly anticipated new song featuring Ralphie Choo. ‘Omega’ quickly became the most talked-about song of the day. This romantic, acoustic version shows a brighter side of ‘la Motomami,’ alongside an up-and-coming artist many consider the future of the music scene. This song has brought both artists together in a unique way.
One of the most discussed lines in the song, which touches on love, comes from Ralphie: “I can be Céline Dion and a tíguere.” Upon first listen, many wondered if he said tigre (tiger) or tíguere, as the latter isn’t a term familiar to most people—not in the U.S., Spain, or much of Latin America.
We can’t ignore the influence of the Dominican Republic on Rosalía, where the word tíguere is often used to describe someone who’s clever, manipulative, and able to get what they want through any means, including deception or fraud. According to the Dictionary of Americanisms by the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, the word has additional meanings.
«si no soy lo que yo quiero dios me libre, puedo ser celine dion y un tíguere» BARRAS DE MILLONEShttps://t.co/gOakZIAAmG
— ︎ ︎sin altura (@motocarl_2) September 24, 2024
In the Dominican Republic, it can also refer to a ‘bold, daring, or shameless person, usually young.’ It’s sometimes used to describe ‘someone whose identity is either unknown or intentionally kept secret.’
In Puerto Rico, tíguere can mean the same as tigre. Or it might refer to a ‘fight or argument where one person has a clear advantage.’ But that doesn’t really fit with the meaning of the song.
It seems more likely to connect with the way tíguere is used in Tokischa’s country. Where it serves as a contrast to Celine Dion, showing that someone can be both the best and the worst. Ultimately, it’s about having the freedom to choose who you want to be. This line has quickly become a favorite for many.
puedo ser céline dion y un tíguere pic.twitter.com/12lnrvuPIC
— joan gabàs (@joanfracas) September 24, 2024