Contracorriente literally translates to "against the current". It's a powerful compound word formed by combining contra (against) and corriente (current).
In this song, Álvaro Soler uses this word to create a strong metaphor for perseverance. He sings about going 'a contracorriente' to chase his dreams, which means he's fighting against obstacles and forging his own path, even when it's difficult. It's the perfect word to capture the song's inspiring message of resilience.
If you ever feel like the whole world is pushing you backwards, Álvaro Soler and David Bisbal have your back with "A Contracorriente" (Against the current). The entire track is an upbeat surge of defiance. Soler describes himself as a simple "caminante en camisa tejana" (walker in a denim shirt) who refuses to slow down, literally "subiendo el río" (going up the river) while everyone else drifts downstream. Even when critics tell him he cannot make it, he shrugs them off with "a mí me da igual" (I don't care) and "yo sigo a mi aire"—a great Spanish idiom that means doing things your own way, marching to your own beat without asking for permission.
What makes this track fun is how physical the struggle feels. Soler and Bisbal sing about kicking up dust ("levantando el polvo para atrás") and keeping going even through heavy storms ("aunque caiga la tormenta"). It is an ode to dreamers who cast out fear ("echando el miedo para fuera") and carve their own path step by step. Instead of letting doubts win, they chase daylight relentlessly with the repeated battle cry "voy persiguiendo al sol" (I go chasing the sun).