Karol G has surprised fans with a new single called “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” (translated to: “If I Had Known You Before”), out Thursday (June 20).
Kicking off the summer season, the Colombian superstar has immersed in the merengue genre for her new track. “What would it have been like if I had met you before? Most probably you’d be dancing this song with me,” says part of the lyric.
In the music video, she switched her baby pink locks for a new blonde look, and is performing the party-starting bop at a tiki bar.
On the eve of the song’s release, Karol performed it for the first time in London, later explaining on her Instagram that the tribute to the merengue genre is because she owes a lot to The Dominican Republic. “I worked on part of ‘Mañana Sera Bonito’ there, and when I need to disconnect from the world and connect with myself I also go there,” she wrote. “Its culture, its music, its colors, the hospitality, the energy… everything feels very authentic and special there. Its people have embraced me in a way that fills my heart and inspires me all the time.”
“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”—which is released in the midst of the European leg of the Mañana Será Bonito Tour—further demonstrates Karol’s ability to experiment outside of the reggaetón realm. Prior to her merengue tune, she’s tapped into bachata (“El Barco”), corrido tumbado (“200 Copas”), cumbia (“Mi Ex Tenía Razón”), and even dropped a salsa version of “Amargura” at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music gala, where she was this year’s Woman of the Year.
The vibrant “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” marks Karol’s second single of the year following the Tiësto-assisted “Contigo,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart dated March 2; reached No. 27 on the Latin Airplay chart dated June 1; and debuted at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March, becoming Karol’s 30th entry on the all-genre chart.
Watch the new music video below: