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NBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Bad Bunny has given Puerto Rico a 'new influence' on the world stage, proud fans say
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — During the first week of Bad Bunny's historic residency, fans sported outfits inspired by Puerto Rican folkloric culture, including straw hats known as 'la pava' and traditional 'jíbaro' attire, reflective of rural Puerto Ricans who worked on farms until the 19th century. The fashion choice is a statement. It's consistent with the theme of his 30-show concert series: 'No me quiero ir de aquí,' which translates to 'I do not want to leave here.' The concerts bring to life the songs on Bad Bunny's sixth studio album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' or 'I Should Have Taken More Photos,' which the artist has dubbed as his ' most Puerto Rican' album yet. On it, Bad Bunny sings of his need to stay in Puerto Rico and cherish its people and history. Most of the lyrics speak to Puerto Rico's political realities and cultural legacy. And for Puerto Ricans in the U.S. territory as well as those who live on the U.S. mainland, the focus on their beloved Caribbean archipelago is everything. 'It feels like we're home,' Ivy Torres told NBC News. She and her spouse, Alexis, are among the more than 600,000 people who are expected to visit Puerto Rico this summer to see the show — which is the first formal residency any singer has ever done at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, the biggest indoor entertainment arena on the island, seating over 18,000 people. 'It's a great way to reconnect with your family, friends and everything we left behind,' Alexis said. The couple moved to Ohio from Puerto Rico a decade ago during the height of the economic crisis on the island. 'It was hard,' Ivy said. 'We didn't want to leave our family and friends, but we had to.' Bad Bunny sings about this sentiment in his song 'Lo que le pasó a Hawaii' ('What happened to Hawaii'). The song addresses fears around the erosion of Puerto Rican identity amid an influx of wealthy people from the mainland who have moved there following the passage of tax breaks, as well as a recent rise in short-term rentals that limit affordable housing opportunities for local residents. Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny reached global success singing in Spanish, popularizing Puerto Rican slang across the world and putting a spotlight on the plight of Puerto Rican people. 'He does his music for Puerto Rico' That's why for Puerto Rico resident Verónica González, it 'means everything having a star like Benito singing for us,' she told NBC News. 'He does his music for Puerto Rico, and he thinks about us.' The album and residency effectively take fans on an emotional journey that fuses contemporary genres like reggaeton and dembow with traditional rhythms such as bomba y plena and 1970s salsa music. Inside a restaurant in Old San Juan, Puerto Rican artist and painter Joabel Ortiz has been showing an art exhibit dedicated to Bad Bunny and his latest album. Ortiz mixes traditional symbols of Puerto Rican culture like 'la pava' with images of the superstar — highlighting the through line that connects a present-day cultural phenomenon like Bad Bunny to the roots of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican officials estimate Bad Bunny's residency will have an economic impact of more than $186 million, generating more than 3,600 jobs and resulting in more than 35,000 hotel night bookings. But to his fans, it's Bad Bunny's focus on the people and the essence of what it is to be Puerto Rican that resonates the most. 'We got a new influence to the world,' Ortiz told NBC News. 'That new influence is about our culture, about the ideas we got in the island, and how we do everything, how we speak, how we love, how we remember who we are.'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Bright Side: Bad Bunny kicks off Puerto Rico residency with marathon show
Bad Bunny's marathon show in San Juan late Friday was a night of palpable emotion for the reggaeton megastar whose latest artistic endeavor brings him back to his roots. Bad Bunny's most recent tracks underscore injustices in the US Caribbean island territory, but the evening was one of celebration: a lens on Puerto Rico that focuses on its resistance, pride and joy. Bad Bunny's sweeping first concert of his three-month Puerto Rico residency was a night of palpable emotion for the megastar whose latest smash artistic endeavor brings his global stardom back to his roots. The marathon show in San Juan late Friday was flush with styles – from club beats and high-octane salsa to folkloric dance and soulful acoustics. At one point, the enormously popular Bad Bunny – born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – appeared to pause to soak in the moment, breaking into a heartfelt smile as he gazed out at his thousands of ecstatic compatriots. Savoring the present and honoring the past is a lesson taken from the 31-year-old's sixth album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos" ("I Should Have Taken More Photos") and a theme the residency is celebrating, with a full-throated ode to Puerto Rican heritage. The first song was previously unreleased, and there were no details on whether the track will eventually have an official drop. Some fans online speculated that perhaps he'll keep it exclusive to the residency. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Don't look back in anger: Oasis reunites as comeback tour kicks off in CardiffJazzman Ludovic Louis draws inspiration from anti-colonial activist Frantz Fanon
Gulf Today
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
'A legend': Bad Bunny brings Puerto Rican pride to epic show
Bad Bunny's sweeping first concert of his three-month Puerto Rico residency was a night of palpable emotion for the megastar whose latest smash artistic endeavor brings his global stardom back to his roots. The marathon show in San Juan late Friday was flush with styles -- from club beats and high-octane salsa to folkloric dance and soulful acoustics. At one point, the enormously popular Bad Bunny -- born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio -- appeared to pause to soak in the moment, breaking into a heartfelt smile as he gazed out at his thousands of ecstatic compatriots. Savoring the present and honoring the past is a lesson taken from the 31-year-old's sixth album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos" ("I Should Have Taken More Photos") and a theme the residency is celebrating, with a full-throated ode to Puerto Rican heritage. The ambitious setlist included many of Bad Bunny's most recent tracks that underscore injustices in the US Caribbean island territory, but the evening was one of celebration: a lens on Puerto Rico that focuses on its resistance, pride and joy. Bad Bunny performs during his first show of his 30-date concert residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday. AP The first song was previously unreleased, and there were no details on whether the track will eventually have an official drop. Some fans online speculated that perhaps he'll keep it exclusive to the residency. That would be a fitting move for the artist who, after a blazing burst to global fame that saw him briefly move to Los Angeles, has returned home and intensified his efforts to make music about Puerto Ricans, for Puerto Ricans. The first nine shows of his 30-concert stretch, which will take over San Juan's Coliseo for consecutive three-day weekends into September, are only open to Puerto Rican residents -- and the odd celebrity like LeBron James, who attended Friday night. 'He made it' The night paid homage to Puerto Rican culture and history -- including with percussive plena music and bomba-infused rhythms -- but it was also a career retrospective of sorts, showcasing the immense range that Bad Bunny has exhibited since his major breakthrough less than a decade ago. The show featured the heavy Latin trap of his 2018 hit "La Romana" and the 2020 club smash "Yo Perreo Sola" -- shining examples of his earlier work in reggaeton that catapulted him to stardom. An aerial view shows people queing outside the Coliseo de Puerto Rico to attend the first show of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny's 30-date concert residency at the arena in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday. AFP "His reggaeton never fails," student John Hernandez Ramirez said ahead of the concert. The 21-year-old said he was drawn to Bad Bunny for the heart-pounding beats. But more recently, he said he has been inspired by the artist's lyrical evolution. Hailing from a rural area of Puerto Rico, Hernandez Ramirez said he found particular resonance in "Lo Que Paso a Hawaii" -- Bad Bunny's exploration of gentrification, detrimental tourism and the colonization of both the state and his homeland. Bad Bunny highlighted those issues in the lead-up to the concert, projecting historical facts onto a big screen over the lush, tropical set on which chickens roamed freely. Many of the sentiments drew enormous cheers from spectators as they filed in. Bad Bunny fans pose for a photo before attending the first show. AP "Puerto Rico has been a colony since Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the island during his second voyage to the New World in 1493," one read, with a parenthetical explaining that "the Taino tribe already inhabited the island." From atop a house built in the island's typical style, Bad Bunny delivered some of his most iconic songs, including the recent "Nuevayol" along with "Titi me pregunto." He then returned to the main stage for a hip-swiveling salsa sequence, wearing a 1970s-style tailored suit in the style of the genre's icons who preceded him. Streamers in the colors of the Puerto Rican flag burst from the ceiling as he led fans in a mesmerizing medley that included "Baile Inolvidable," accompanied by a full band. The show clocked in at three hours but fans -- many adorned in flag attire and others sporting baseball jerseys of the Puerto Rican baseball legend Roberto Clemente -- couldn't get enough. A Bad Bunny fan wearing a mask representing the singer performs before attending the first show. AP Marta Cuellar, a 61-year-old Colombian and longtime Puerto Rican resident, told AFP that the series of concerts is a great way to celebrate the island -- and a gift to Latin American culture more generally. "Bad Bunny," she said, "is going to be a legend." Jorell Melendez Badillo, a Puerto Rican scholar who collaborated with Bad Bunny on visual elements of the latest album, said that the residency is a celebration of "not only Benito, but ourselves." "He's ours. We feel as if we are there with Benito along this journey. We've seen him also grow through the spotlight, through his career." "He made it," the historian said. "And we all made it with him." Agence France-Presse
Int'l Business Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
'A Legend': Bad Bunny Brings Puerto Rican Pride To Epic Show
Bad Bunny's sweeping first concert of his three-month Puerto Rico residency was a night of palpable emotion for the megastar whose latest smash artistic endeavor brings his global stardom back to his roots. The marathon show in San Juan late Friday was flush with styles -- from club beats and high-octane salsa to folkloric dance and soulful acoustics. At one point, the enormously popular Bad Bunny -- born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio -- appeared to pause to soak in the moment, breaking into a heartfelt smile as he gazed out at his thousands of ecstatic compatriots. Savoring the present and honoring the past is a lesson taken from the 31-year-old's sixth album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos" ("I Should Have Taken More Photos") and a theme the residency is celebrating, with a full-throated ode to Puerto Rican heritage. The ambitious setlist included many of Bad Bunny's most recent tracks that underscore injustices in the US Caribbean island territory, but the evening was one of celebration: a lens on Puerto Rico that focuses on its resistance, pride and joy. The first song was previously unreleased, and there were no details on whether the track will eventually have an official drop. Some fans online speculated that perhaps he'll keep it exclusive to the residency. That would be a fitting move for the artist who, after a blazing burst to global fame that saw him briefly move to Los Angeles, has returned home and intensified his efforts to make music about Puerto Ricans, for Puerto Ricans. The first nine shows of his 30-concert stretch, which will take over San Juan's Coliseo for consecutive three-day weekends into September, are only open to Puerto Rican residents -- and the odd celebrity like LeBron James, who attended Friday night. The night paid homage to Puerto Rican culture and history -- including with percussive plena music and bomba-infused rhythms -- but it was also a career retrospective of sorts, showcasing the immense range that Bad Bunny has exhibited since his major breakthrough less than a decade ago. The show featured the heavy Latin trap of his 2018 hit "La Romana" and the 2020 club smash "Yo Perreo Sola" -- shining examples of his earlier work in reggaeton that catapulted him to stardom. "His reggaeton never fails," student John Hernandez Ramirez said ahead of the concert. The 21-year-old said he was drawn to Bad Bunny for the heart-pounding beats. But more recently, he said he has been inspired by the artist's lyrical evolution. Hailing from a rural area of Puerto Rico, Hernandez Ramirez said he found particular resonance in "Lo Que Paso a Hawaii" -- Bad Bunny's exploration of gentrification, detrimental tourism and the colonization of both the state and his homeland. Bad Bunny highlighted those issues in the lead-up to the concert, projecting historical facts onto a big screen over the lush, tropical set on which chickens roamed freely. Many of the sentiments drew enormous cheers from spectators as they filed in. "Puerto Rico has been a colony since Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the island during his second voyage to the New World in 1493," one read, with a parenthetical explaining that "the Taino tribe already inhabited the island." Part of Bad Bunny's stage design included a house built in the island's typical style, which had featured in a short film he made starring legendary Puerto Rican filmmaker Jacobo Morales -- clips of which also appeared on the big screen. From atop the structure, Bad Bunny delivered some of his most iconic songs, including the recent "Nuevayol" along with "Titi me pregunto." He then returned to the main stage for a hip-swiveling salsa sequence, wearing a 1970s-style tailored suit in the style of the genre's icons who preceded him. Streamers in the colors of the Puerto Rican flag burst from the ceiling as he led fans in a mesmerizing medley that included "Baile Inolvidable," accompanied by a full band. The show clocked in at three hours but fans -- many adorned in flag attire and others sporting baseball jerseys of the Puerto Rican baseball legend Roberto Clemente -- couldn't get enough. Marta Cuellar, a 61-year-old Colombian and longtime Puerto Rican resident, told AFP that the series of concerts is a great way to celebrate the island -- and a gift to Latin American culture more generally. "Bad Bunny," she said, "is going to be a legend." Bad Bunny's residency pays homage to Puerto Rican culture and history while also showcasing his immense range AFP Bad Bunny's show at the Coliseo de San Juan clocked in at three hours AFP A Bad Bunny wears a rabbit mask as fans wait to see the first concert of his residency AFP US basketball player LeBron James attends the first show of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny's residency AFP An aerial view shows people queing outside the Coliseo de Puerto Rico to attend the first night of Bad Bunny's highly anticipated residency in San Juan AFP
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Bad Bunny fans won't want to leave Puerto Rico after visiting these 17 places
Bad Bunny begins his highly-anticipated concert residency in Puerto Rico this summer, and fans are already planning their trips. The 30-show residency begins July 11. It's entitled "No Me Quiero Ir de Aqui," which translates to I Don't Want to Leave Here. The concerts come on the heels of Bad Bunny's latest album and newly announced tour, both entitled "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which translates to I Should Have Taken More Photos. Shop Bad Bunny tickets in PR Travelers who spend a few days in Puerto Rico will quickly discover why it's so hard to leave, but they're going to have to go further than than the residency venue in San Juan to full see what makes this archipeligo so special. Here are 17 photos of places to visit across Puerto Rico. 1. Arecibo 2. Bayamón Bad Bunny was born in Bayamón as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. It's the second-largest city in Puerto Rico by population; San Juan is the most populous. It's home to several museums spotlighting Puerto Rican artists and Puerto Rico's oldest rum, Ron del Barrilito, which dates back to 1880. 3. Cabo Rojo 4. Cayey 5. Culebra 6. Fajardo 7. Guánica 8. Isabela 9. Lajas 10. Orocovis 11. Ponce 12. Rincón 13. Rio Grande 14. San Juan Puerto Rico's capital and popular cruise port, San Juan, is famous for its rich history, which tourists can see throughout Old San Juan and San Juan National Historic Site, and thriving culture, which travelers will feel all around. 15. Santurce While technically part of San Juan, the neighborhood or barrio of Santurce is worth highlighting for its thriving arts and music scene. According to Discover Puerto Rico, several salsa's best known labels were based here and the area continues to known for its colorful creativity. 16. Vega Baja This northern city is where Bad Bunny grew up, about 40 minutes from San Juan. It's known for its beaches 17. Yauco
