DeBi TiRAR MaS FOTos - Bad Bunny Connecting with Music Across Language Barriers

DeBi TiRAR MaS FOTos - Bad Bunn

Every now and then there are artists that transcend their origins and become global. Some artists like The Beatles and Bob Marley brought a whole new perspective and sound to America. Others like Shakira, Rammstein, and Edith Piaf (a real throwback!) have done so in an even more challenging way, connecting people across language barriers. In today’s music, more artists than ever are connecting with music listeners across language and culture. These artists are giving audiences a familiarity with unique sounds and experiences that may not be expressed in their more local pop music. In some ways artists may feel the need to change their sound or subjects to make them more palatable for such a massive audience, however there are many examples that one can point to where this is not the case. Bad Bunny’s latest release, DeBi TiRAR MaS FOTos is one such example.

With his fifth studio album release, the Puerto Rican native, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, crafts an album proudly showcasing where he’s from, where he’s been, and where he’s going. Many know his story already after an incredibly successful 2022 with his album Un Verano Sin Ti demonstrating massive commercial and critical success (debuting Number 1 on Billboard 200)! The sound that many have come to describe as Latin Trap (with Bad Bunny standing as the “King of Latin Trap”) was brought to the mainstream with his previous releases, but this time his music feels bigger, more dynamic and expressive than ever before! 

Many listeners like myself may not understand everything that is presented in Bad Bunny’s music immediately, due to the language barrier, however the production really hooks you in. The production in DTMF will switch between fun, bouncy, reggaeton grooves, to sensual, smooth salsa tracks, but the entire time the music mixing crafts a dynamic experience bringing in fresh new elements to the tracks that can often be unexpected. Even tracks like WELTiTA are not breaking new ground, with the bouncy pop groove, but the groove and vocals from Chuwi create an earworm reminiscent of the Barbie hit, WATATI. The heavy use of synths throughout the album could give hip hop or pop comparison to Travis Scott or Billie Eilish, with the sound creating a larger than life feeling to the music. 

The trick for many non-spanish speaking listeners may be the lack of desire to translate what the album is saying, as they may not want to put forth the effort or they may feel satisfied enough with just the music. However, I think for this album that would be a disservice. Lyrically, Benito isn’t breaking any new ground, but the lyrics perfectly express the simple themes and ideas he is trying to get across in the production. Bad Bunny describes sensual, intimate moments/memories, while also expounding upon heartbreak in several of the tracks such as BAILE INoLVIDABLE and EL CLuB. Through all the tracks on the album, one throughline that is heartwarming to hear is the pride and admiration for his home. Puerto Rico feels like a prominent part of the album for Benito to experience all the moments of love, joy, and heartbreak throughout the record. One of the few moments in the album that showcases another city, New York, “NUEVAYoL” shows that even when he’s showing love to another city, his heart is elsewhere. The opener expresses in his own words and the dembow rhythms that he can’t escape the homesickness for his island (Not to mention the homage to his contemporaries El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and they’re crossover hit “Un Verano en Nueva York”). With more non-Spanish listeners digging into Bad Bunny, many will come for the expressive sound, but taking the extra step to dig further into music you connect to can be an incredibly fulfilling experience.