Arca embraces fluidity and changing between states, whether it be gender, genre, or personality. In a 2020 interview, they say "We all have multiple personalities. Rather than causing panic, I think maybe that could cause some relief". "There was a clear intention on her fourth album, Kick i to allow every self to express itself. Not to decide how much air time each self would get, but to allow for modulation between them in a spontaneous way. There is no such thing as normal". In Mutability and ambivalence guide the sound of her music — the atmospheres they create often contain abrasive percussive blasts, metal-shop whine, the screech of subway brakes, the whine of jet engines overheating. Anthropomorphic and animalistic sounds abound —mewling cats, mooing cows, anguished screams, the grunts and groans of orgasm, commingling pleasure and terror and beauty and ugliness in the most thrilling ways possible.
She has also been credited for her writing/producing efforts on Björk's Vulnicura and the entirety of Utopia. Alongside FKA twigs' EP2 as well as for their collaborations with Dean Blunt, Frank Ocean, Kelela, Kanye West, ROSALÍA and Lady Gaga, among others.
RiquiquÍ
Arca Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Una rosa blanca de metal
De tal pa cual, qué tal
Mirala chupar, la beba de un mango bajito
Un mene-mene-meneaito
Chiquitito, sabrosito, riquiquí
To generate heat in the light
Love in the face of fear
Fear in the face of God
Thinking it would never end to break off
Te pongo la mayonesa fresca
Blanca en la mesa
Como mayonesa
Un chingo en la cabeza
Mira mi destreza y saca
A la niña le sale el show
Le sale el dembow
Le sale el reggaeton
Más vale que no
Más vale que no, papi
Mwah, papi
Nobody gonna know what we do
Rosa blanca de metal
Tú solo dime qué tal, qué tal, qué tal
Tú solo dime qué tal, qué tal, qué tal
Tú solo dime qué tal, qué tal, qué tal lo ves
¿Cómo te quedó el ojito?
Chiquitito, bien lindo
Un mene-mene-meneaito
Chiquitito, sabrosito, riquiquí
Regenerated girl degenerate
To generate heat in the light
Love in the face of fear
Fear in the face of God
Thinking it would never end to break off
Regenerated girl degenerate
To generate heat in the light
Love in the face of fear
Fear in the face of God
Thinking it would never end to break off
Como una gata
Co-omo una ga-ta
En cámara lenta
Como una gata
En cámara lenta
Como una gata
En cámara lenta
Como una gata
En cámara lenta
The lyrics of Arca's song Riquiquí are quite abstract and open to interpretation, but they seem to revolve around themes of regeneration, love, fear, and secrecy. The first verse describes a white metal rose, which could symbolize something that is artificial, yet still beautiful. The lines about a baby sucking on a low-hanging mango and a small, tasty dance indicate something innocent and enjoyable. However, the chorus talks about a regenerated girl who degenerates to generate heat and love in the face of fear and God. This could refer to a person who has gone through a transformation, perhaps making some sacrifices, to experience true love or passion. The last verse features the repetition of "como una gata en cámara lenta," which means "like a cat in slow motion." This may allude to a sensual or playful nature, or the feeling of being in control.
Overall, the lyrics of Riquiquí are quite enigmatic and poetic. They don't necessarily follow a linear narrative or tell a specific story, but they paint a vivid picture of someone who is seeking something transformative and exciting. It's up to the listener to interpret the meanings behind the words and find their own personal resonance with the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Una rosa blanca de metal
A white metal rose
De tal pa cual, qué tal
From here to there, how's it going?
Mirala chupar, la beba de un mango bajito
Watching her suck, the baby of a small mango
Un mene-mene-meneaito
A little swaying
Chiquitito, sabrosito, riquiquí
Tiny, tasty, cute
Regenerated girl degenerate
To generate heat in the light
Love in the face of fear
Fear in the face of God
Thinking it would never end to break off
A girl reborn as a degenerate to find passion in the light, love despite fear, and fear in the face of God; thinking the end will never come to the broken relationship
Te pongo la mayonesa fresca
Blanca en la mesa
Como mayonesa
Un chingo en la cabeza
Mira mi destreza y saca
A la niña le sale el show
Le sale el dembow
Le sale el reggaeton
Más vale que no
Más vale que no, papi
Mwah, papi
Nobody gonna know what we do
I'll give you fresh mayonnaise, white on the table, just like mayonnaise; a lot on your head, watch my skill and pull it off; the girl puts on a show, dancing dembow and reggaeton, better not let anyone know what we do
Tú solo dime qué tal, qué tal, qué tal
Tú solo dime qué tal, qué tal, qué tal
Tú solo dime qué tal, qué tal, qué tal lo ves
¿Cómo te quedó el ojito?
Chiquitito, bien lindo
Un mene-mene-meneaito
Chiquitito, sabrosito, riquiquí
Just tell me how it's going, how is it? How do you see it? How's your little eye? Tiny and pretty, a little swaying, tiny, tasty, cute
Como una gata
Co-omo una ga-ta
En cámara lenta
Como una gata
En cámara lenta
Como una gata
En cámara lenta
Como una gata
En cámara lenta
Like a cat, in slow motion, like a cat, in slow motion, like a cat, in slow motion, like a cat, in slow motion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alejandra Ghersi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind