Codicia translates to "greed" or "avarice". It's a strong and impactful word that stands out in the lyrics, as it's not as commonly found in everyday song vocabulary as words like "amor" or "llorar".
In "Que Lloren," Ivy Queen uses codicia to highlight one of the darker motivations behind human actions and relationships, stating that people "caen por la codicia" (fall for greed). This adds a layer of depth to the song's exploration of love, loss, and human nature, making it a memorable and thought-provoking choice.
"Que Lloren" [Let them cry] opens with Ivy Queen naming her own record before she says a word about the man who wronged her — "De la diva" [From the diva], "Sentimiento" [Feeling], the title of the album this song comes from. Then she goes after the line she's really here to argue with: "Me dijeron que los hombre no deben llorar" [They told me men ain't supposed to cry], "Y que de amor no se mueren, eso no es verdad" [And that nobody dies of love, that's not true]. Everyone falls, she says, whether it's "Caen por una caricia" [They fall for a caress] or "O caen por la codicia" [Or they fall for greed] — heartbreak doesn't check for gender.
The verses settle into a proverb she repeats like a shrug, "Así es la vida" [That's life], while she spells out what she actually wants from the men in the story: "Que admitan de sus errores" [To admit their mistakes], "Para que así una los perdone" [So one can forgive them]. By the chorus, "Que lloren" [Let them cry] stops sounding like a wish and starts sounding like a sentence.
Ivy Queen, from Puerto Rico, is a foundational figure in reggaeton. She began her career in the 1990s as part of the collective The Noise, helping to shape the sound of the genre from its early days. She quickly became known for her strong presence and direct lyrics.
Her album Diva solidified her status, featuring hits like "Quiero Bailar" and "Yo Quiero Saber." Ivy Queen's music often champions female independence and confidence, making her a powerful voice in Latin music. She is widely recognized as "La Caballota" for her lasting influence.