Toxina coreana: the Botoxed friend and a final confession

Hey, girl, you look awful. That's how it all begins, with the phrase no friend should ever say and every friend ends up saying. Toxina coreana (Korean Toxin) is a pure gossip dialogue, and the best comes at the end.

There are two friends: the soulmate and the honest one. Each one makes her comment about the protagonist's face: you look awful, heavy dark circles, time passing, an angry frown. And every time, the answer is the same and very castiza, don't you touch my crack, followed by an excuse: I haven't slept, I haven't been home. Meanwhile, the honesty goes up a notch until it delivers the final blow: you've got three thousand euros injected in your face. And I've got you saved in my phone as «la embotada» (the Botoxed one).

The chorus portrays the culture of cosmetic touch-ups without judging anyone, but without sparing the joke: my friend, my Botoxed friend, type A toxin or Korean toxin? You've been left with one eyebrow raised. Anyone who has seen someone fresh out of the clinic knows exactly which eyebrow I mean.

But the twist is what makes it one of my favourites. The protagonist decides to confess. She won't keep quiet any more, why deny it, she's going to tell the truth: the friend is me. Just like that, the pointing finger turns around. I find it hilarious because it's exactly what we all do: laugh at what we also do ourselves, until we get caught.

Underneath there's a comment on aesthetic pressure and on that complicity between friends who tell each other everything, sometimes too much. The criticism is there, but it includes itself, and that's why it doesn't hurt. It's mirror humour.

Dedicate it to that friend who asks you if you've had something done. And to the one who has had something done and denies it. Or to yourself, if you're the one with the raised eyebrow.

Listen to it before your next appointment at the clinic. Or after, when you can smile properly again.

The full lyrics are below. Listen on Spotify