Bad Bunny’s 2025 album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” has made waves over the past year, earning the artist the prestigious Grammy for Album of the Year and garnering the star a new level of attention after the Super Bowl brought his music to a whole new audience.
The album is a love letter to Puerto Rican culture with deep emotional beats of nostalgia and time lost. The title translates to “I should have taken more photos” in English, and the cover features empty chairs, possibly symbolizing loved ones who have passed away.
It won the Grammy for good reason. The 17-track album allows every song to have its own identity while sharing a consistent theme. A standout for many listeners is how, even for those who do not speak Spanish, the songs convey emotional undertones while remaining upbeat.
A standout is the album’s title track, “DTMF,” a song focused on the feeling of not being able to do everything with loved ones while you can. It’s a theme that resonates deeply in today’s fast-paced world.
Bad Bunny was the headline performer for Super Bowl LX, a performance followed by controversy stemming from prejudice regarding his nationality. However, the artist used the stage to make a larger impact, bringing Puerto Rican culture to a massive global audience.
The U.S. territory has faced many challenges often overlooked by the general American public, such as crumbling infrastructure and a suffering economy. These troubles are reflected not only in the music but also in the set design. During the show, Bad Bunny performed while hanging from power lines during the song “El Apagón.” The title translates to “The Blackout,” referring to the daily power outages that occur due to infrastructure that remains damaged years after Hurricane Maria.
The general consensus among viewers was that the show was a powerful celebration of a culture that is often overlooked.
“It is unfortunate that it took a Puerto Rican halftime show for light to finally shine on Puerto Rico, but it’s better late than never,” said Ayden Cortes, 20, a computer engineering major, who is of Puerto Rican descent.
The show was overtly political, much like Kendrick Lamar’s performance in 2025. Despite the political weight, the upbeat tone was appreciated by the community.
“These issues haven’t been acknowledged in a great way, largely due to higher powers ignoring us, and it was amazing to see Benito shed some light on our blessings and afflictions,” Cortes added.
Overall, the show was successful in highlighting both the passion and pain of the Puerto Rican community. The backlash likely launched the performance further into the public eye, inadvertently proving the artist’s point as he faced racist remarks despite being an American citizen. It was a landmark event for a turbulent world that won’t be forgotten for a while.
