If you open your phone and check Spotify, a small endangered frog called a Coqui — who listens to music, takes photos and maybe has a good cry — might appear behind whichever new Bad Bunny song is playing. This frog is the official mascot of the new Bad Bunny album, DeBí TiRAR MáS FoTOS, and is a small symbol of the massive ideas behind this album: community, hometown pride and love.
Much of Bad Bunny’s past work focuses on his romantic relationships, parties and rich lifestyle. However, his newest album’s narrative has significantly shifted to emotional commentary on gentrification, the importance of heritage and love for your home.
Bad Bunny has upheld his conversational tone throughout his career by using his lyrics to address a partner or his friends or to reminisce. He continues this in his new album.
Bad Bunny’s poignant ode, DtMF, which is the 16th track in the album, is a ballad about enjoying the moment, Puerto Rican pride and the importance of family and community. It has topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts since its release in early January. Lyrics, such as [“Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve”] (I should have taken more photos when I had you) display Bad Bunny’s desire to have more memories before things in his life have changed, which are mentioned later in the album.
The song also speaks on the impact of his community change, specifically the personal impact of loved ones leaving Puerto Rico. The changes he sings about are adverse, from the tourist industry overtaking the natural life of Puerto Rico to the issues that come with gentrification.
A key part of the song is the inclusion of Plena, Puerto Rican folklore music. The ending features Bad Bunny’s band singing the lyrics together, leaving listeners with a bittersweet yet celebratory feeling.
The fusion of Plena and his typical style is indicative of the impact that his home had on his career and life. The entire album was dedicated to the people of Puerto Rico and the island itself.
Further emphasizing the love for his home, Bad Bunny also made it a point to address the impact of the current economic, societal and political state of the territory. The island also faces disputes over voting and civil rights, independence and leadership.
In “Lo Que Pasó a Hawaii,” Bad Bunny incorporates a Puerto Rican song of resistance, “Lelolai” — a Jibaró or mountain folk song that is sung to express happiness. Bad Bunny calls for Puerto Ricans to fight to preserve their culture and heritage and to protest the privatization and gentrification occurring in Puerto Rico.
The comparison to Hawaii is an effective choice, as both Hawaii and Puerto Rico experience the effects of tourism and colonization on a tropical archipelago. The song also features an abrupt period of silence. This pause may refer to the blackouts often experienced in Puerto Rico or to censorship from the Puerto Rican government.
The short film that accompanies the project is the real icing on top, allowing for a special glimpse into the thought behind the album.
It explores how gentrification changes the Puerto Rican landscape and how the passing of time has affected community, music, food, language and tradition. It follows the story of an old Puerto Rican man and a Coqui frog named Concho.
Concho experiences firsthand the results of tourism and gentrification, through expensive restaurants changing traditional food, changes in how the town looks and modernization that leaves people behind. However, he also finds pockets of culture in music, photos, friendship and traditions that have been left untouched by gentrification.
The film includes cameos of songs from the new album with a scene of loud reggaeton playing from a car, symbolizing how culture cannot be dulled down.
The intense and somewhat bittersweet emotions quickly shift to energetic beats and dance music, as tracks such as “WELTiTA,” ‘“EL CLúB,” “EoO” and “VeLDÁ” shift to the usual reggaeton and trap style that has characterized Bad Bunny’s career.
A highly underrated track, “PERFuMITO NUEVO” features a collaboration with artist RaiNao in a bass-booted, synth-backed piece about the novelty and excitement that comes with a new relationship. The song provides a clubby feel while remaining deeply embedded in the lyrics.
The synth also seeps into a more well-known song, “BAILE INoLVIDABLE.” In an interview with radio DJ Zane Lowe, Bad Bunny said he heard the music and synthesizer of the entire song in his mind two years before the project started. The song includes masterful fusions of salsa, synthesizer and percussion.
DeBí TiRAR MáS FoTOS immerses its listeners into culture, love, classic club beats and the essentials of reggaeton. The lyrics, whether you understand them or not, are a work of genius that spotlights Bad Bunny’s personality and values.
The vast difference between the song themes, from clubby beats to traditional music, choral vocals and lyrics makes the listening experience unpredictable and enchanting, making you want to listen to the entire project in one go.
If you have a chance, pop on your headphones and press play. There is a lot to love about this album.
