By Tichakunda Chikara and Elizabeth Anne Pereira, INTI International University
Bam Bam is an upbeat breakup song by the chart-topping Latina singer Camila Cabello featuring the British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, from her upcoming studio album Familia. The song debuted at number 14 on the billboard hot 100 when it was released.
The song is inspired by Camila Cabello’s real life breakup with Shane Mendes, popular at the tail end of 2021. The bitter breakup was initiated by Shawn Mendes. Hence, Camila Cabello wasted no time in letting the listeners know how she’s coping and poured out her forlorn feelings of sadness while nursing her aching heart as portrayed in Bam Bam’s song lyrics.
The first line of the song “You said you hated the ocean, but you’re surfin’ now”, refers to when Shawn Mendes was seen surfing at the beach after their break up. Shawn Mendes’ surfing was a surprise to his legion fans because he has been vocal about his fear of the deep blue sea. Although the song starts as a typical breakup song but quickly changes its tempo to a salsa-inspired groove pop song which results in finding the silver lining in difficult situations. The song acts like comfort food for those going through a heart breaking pain of a tumultuous breakup.
The poignant life lessons from the song are centred on waves of uncertainty in human relationships which come and go like the gentle or rough waves of the sea. Hence, this song teaches us to gradually accept the bitter truth when facing a heart wrenching break up, pick up the fragmented pieces and move on with life which adds extra layers of meaning to the emotional yet upbeat song. In a nutshell, break up songs usually have subtle meaning and generic lyrics about breakups but Camila Cabello uses this medium of breakup songs to unleash her vibrant Latina talent and rhythm in transforming it into a lively, upbeat and pulse racing song.