Envidia

Joan Sebastian's song 'Envidia' delves into the complex emotions of envy within the context of love and desire. The lyrics express a transformation of the speaker's understanding of envy, from seeing it as a negative emotion to recognizing it as a form of deep admiration and longing. The song's narrator begins by acknowledging the traditional view of envy as a misguided feeling, but as the song progresses, he reveals that he is filled with envy for the elements that are close to the object of his affection.

The envy described in the song is not malicious or harmful; instead, it is a poetic and romanticized form of envy. The narrator envies the night for watching over the loved one's sleep, the rain for touching them, and the wind for being able to kiss them at will. This personification of natural elements highlights the depth of the narrator's desire to be close to the beloved. The song uses these metaphors to convey a sense of intimacy and connection that the narrator wishes to achieve.

By the end of the song, the narrator has come to see envy in a new light, as a 'beautiful feeling.' This shift suggests that envy, when rooted in love, can be a testament to the intensity of one's feelings rather than a negative force. Joan Sebastian's musical style, often categorized as regional Mexican music with elements of Latin pop, bolero, and ranchera, provides a rich backdrop for the emotional journey portrayed in the lyrics, allowing listeners to feel the bittersweet longing that is at the heart of 'Envidia.'