When Rosalía steps onto a stage, the energy shifts. Even under the cool blue glow of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," she managed to make the whole set feel like a dream sequence. Floating across a bed-like stage setup, wrapped in white satin and tulle, she delivered a performance of “La Perla” that was equal parts ethereal and electric.
Her visit wasn’t just about performance. She came ready with stories, humor, and a little linguistic flexing. Her new album, "LUX," features her singing in thirteen different languages. She told Jimmy she wanted the album to feel like a global tapestry. Each language adds a texture, a rhythm, a spark. A few fans may be brushing up on a dozen new dialects just to keep up.
Rosalía explained her passion for learning languages. She mentioned that she had been studying on Duolingo while developing the concept for the album. “I speak Catalan, which is my mother’s language, Spanish, and a bit of English,” she said. “I wanted to learn different languages and practice with Duolingo. I also wanted to explore cultures and spirituality from around the world while shaping the concept.”
The album weaves together stories and female figures from various cultures. To ensure proper pronunciation, she worked closely with translators. “Depending on the story I wanted to tell, I would choose one language or another. I used Google Translate a lot,” she confessed with a laugh. “Then I would write 20 different verse options, send them to the right translator, get their feedback, make changes, record them, and send them back again for pronunciation corrections,” she added. As an interesting detail, she revealed that preparing her aria, "Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti," required an entire year of preparation.
And because this is "The Tonight Show," where the chaotic magic thrives, Jimmy couldn’t resist asking her to teach him how to sing “La Perla” in Spanish. She accepted the challenge with a grin. What followed was a crash course in rhythm, pronunciation, and pure comedic timing. Jimmy tried, but with Rosalía guiding him, he landed somewhere between charmingly earnest and hilariously off-key.
Rosalía, dressed in white, shared that her latest project is her first inspired by classical music, which took her three years to complete because she had a very clear vision of how she wanted it to sound. She admitted that while she feels confident in the studio, she always gets nervous when it’s time to share the final result with the public.
Her performance itself was cinematic. She reclined gracefully across the set’s silky draping. The staging kept the focus locked on her voice, her presence, and the sweeping orchestral atmosphere supporting her.
"The Tonight Show" team knows how to frame a moment, and Rosalía gave them plenty. From her wide-ranging linguistic chops on "LUX" to her playful teaching moment with Jimmy, the entire appearance blended artistry, humor, and cultural flair.
For a show that holds the title of longest-running talk show on television and remains the number one late-night program on digital platforms, nights like this remind viewers why it still hits differently.