Bad Bunny is one of those artists who does not need much of an introduction. He has been a global force for years, breaking down barriers and breaking records through his music. Bad Bunny is an artist whose music has seen an extraordinary transformation and an awesome level of diversity since he first popped off in the mid-2010s. His first few albums had a hard Latin Trap and traditional Reggaeton sound. He emerged as a new wave of Reggaeton music that dominated the Caribbean in the 2000s. As Bad Bunny’s career has progressed, his sound has progressed. He shifted to a more Pop, American Hip Hop, and Electronic based themes to his music starting with 2020’s EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO. His 2022 album, Un Verano Sin Ti saw him gravitate further towards Latin Pop and Electronic music; this album had a very colorful and delightful sound, having the feeling of a beach party. Bad Bunny’s 2023 record, nadie sabe lo que va a pasar maňana, had Bad Bunny going with a harder and darker sound, with him gravitating back to some of the Latin Trap from earlier in his career while combining it with new Electronic sounds. One thing has almost remained true throughout all of Bad Bunny’s music, and that is its sentiment and meaning. All of his records have a theme, centering certain lyrical themes. Due to the singles and overall rollout, it was believed his new album, deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS, would see him dive back into more traditional Reggaeton and Puerto Rican Folk music sounds. Awesomely, this is totally the case. Frankly, deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS is probably Bad Bunny’s best work yet, which is honestly saying a lot. He makes beautiful traditional Puerto Rican-sounding music) with a modern twist, while covering topics of self-love, love of country, love of family, love of a partner, and more. Below, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite songs from Bad Bunny’s deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS(which to be honest was difficult because the whole album is great), then go over some more overall thoughts on the album. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs are from deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS, and also comment on how you felt about the record as a whole.
NUEVAYoL
Bad Bunny starts out the record in a pretty awesome manner with ‘NUEVAYoL.’ If there was any doubt this album was going to reach back to traditional Puerto Rican music, that notion is spelled from the jump. The intro for ‘NUEVAYoL’ samples the iconic Salsa track ‘Un Verano En Nueva York.’ As the instrumental progresses, it keeps the same melody and style of beat as the original. Some sound effects, synths, and heavier drums do kick in which makes the song feel a bit more current, but that salsa base is still there. The melody and beat slightly switch up on the outro of the track, closing out ‘NUEVAYoL’ on a bit of an ElectroPop note. Bad Bunny’s vocal delivery on this track has a Rap flow and tone, which contrast the instrumental in a pretty cool manner and gives the song a super interesting texture that stands out. On ‘NUEVAYoL,’ Bad Bunny sings about how fun it is to live in New York, especially as a Latin immigrant. This is an emphatic way to begin the album that shows the listener they are in for something special.
BAILE INoLIVIDABLE
‘BAILE INVoLIVADABLE’ is one of the many tracks that has been popping off since this record dropped. This song has been racking up the streams since the song came out, and it is certainly not difficult to see why. The song begins with some huge, intense synths that make it seem like this is going to be an anthemic Dance music track. ‘BAILE INVoLIVIDABLE’ ends up being an iconic track to Dance to, but in a very different way than this intro sounds. After the synths in the intro cut out, ‘BAILE INoLIVIDABLE’ turns into a straight–up old school Salsa track. The melody is driven by a groovy piano riff that is complemented by horns, and the beat takes on a traditional Salsa tempo that will get anyone moving when it comes on. Bad Bunny’s vocals on this one are excellent. I never knew how well his husky tone would work on this kind of music, but I have to say it sounds so good. On ‘BAILE INVoLIVIDABLE,’ Bad Bunny sings about how he still thinks fondly and can not get over the woman who taught him how to dance. BAILE INVoLIDABLE’ is a song that can transcend generations, and I think the appreciation for this one will grow and grow as time progresses.
VeLDÀ FEAT. OMAR COURTZ AND DEI V
Out of all of the music on this record, I would say that ‘VeLDÁ’ probably has one of the more tame and cookie-cutter sounds when compared to the rest of the record. This one has a pretty tropical Reggaeton and Latin Pop sound to it that is not overbearing, and is very enjoyable for what it is. This track is driven by a pretty typical yet super groovy and fun Reggaeton beat that immediately gets me moving when it comes on. The melody for ‘VeLDÁ’ has a very bright and warm sound, and is actually pretty full. The synths that drive this one vary in style, going from having a twinkling sound at some points to a very fat one at other points. As charming as the instrumental is, the vocals are what makes this one stand out. Bad Bunny and his features kill it on this track. I especially like how the higher pitch of Bad Bunny contrasts the raspier and lower tone of his features, as it gives the track so much texture. On ‘VeLDÁ,’ Bad Bunny and his features sing about becoming infatuated with and partying with a new girl that they met online. If you are a huge fan of the album Un Verano Sin Ti, I would imagine this would be a highlight from this record for you.
EL CLúB
Knowing Bad Bunny, there has to be at least one true Dance Club song on the record. ‘El ClúB’ is one that potentially takes that title. This track was released as a single back in November of 2024. It has been on my frequent rotation since, and probably ended up being one of my favorite tracks of the year(or of at least the last few months of it). ‘El Clúb’ is definitely one of the most modern-sounding songs on the record. This one is driven by deep and murky synths that give the song this huge feeling. The beat is just as big as the melody, making this one feel larger than life(this all changes in the outro, which has a lighter melody and softer beat). Bad Bunny’s vocals are just as powerful as the instrumental. He sings with a ton of emphasis and adds to the looming feeling of the track, On ‘El Clúb,’ Bad Bunny sings about trying to have fun in the club while thinking about his ex. Although the alcohol and drugs are flowing and it seems like everyone around him is having a good time, Bad Bunny just can not enjoy himself. This is like the anti-club club banger, which is pretty interesting for sure.
KETU TeCRÈ
Out of all of the music on this list(and probably just all of the music on this album as a whole), ‘KETU TeCRÉ’ has the most typical Pop sound to it. This one almost feels like a fusion of Reggaeton music and the New Wave Synth Pop that has been dominating American airwaves over the last few years. The melody for this one certainly has that 1980-esque Synth-Pop feeling to it. This melody has the kind of sheeny, groovy, and ultramodern element that makes me think of artists like The Weeknd or Dua Lipa. The beat for this one has a tempo that is similar to that New Wave sound as well, but the arrangement of the drums does have a Reggaeton feeling to them. It is as if they fused these two drum pattern styles to make something that is pretty unique. The instrumental for this song is great, and the vocals are even better. Bad Bunny does it all on this one. His range and tone are excellent, and the way that he constantly changes up his flow gives the track so much complexion. On. ‘KETU TeCRÉ,’ Bad Bunny sings about seeing his ex party the night away and doing everything they can to shun him and push him away. He feels as if their relationship has made them enemies, and he is struggling with that. If there is any track on this record that feels like it will pop off in a few months and become a true sleeper hit, ‘KETU TeCRÉ’ is the one I would pick.
‘KLOuFRENS’
Out of everything on this record, apart from maybe ‘EL CLuB,’ I would say that ‘KLOuFRENS’ probably sounds the most modern. When compared to the rest of the record, this one almost feels futuristic for how the melody and beat are mixed on this one. The melody for this track is super huge and fat. It is driven by pretty massive and intense synths with a very sweet and cozy tone to them. The mix on the synths for ‘KLOuFRENS’ have an almost futuristic tone to them, which makes this track stand out. It does have a bit of an even-keeled Latin Pop sound to it due to the tempo of its beat. This track fits very well in with the Latin Pop and Reggaeton that are big today, but also feels fresh. Like so many other tracks on this record, Bad Bunny’s vocals are just great. He flexes his range on this track in a way that gives the song empathy and life; the melody is super vivid, and the vocals make this one feel all-encompassing. On ‘KLOuFRENS,’ Bad Bunny sings about trying to get over a girl who he knows is still leading him on and trying to pull him in. He wants to forget her but keeps coming across her online and can not do so. ‘KLOuFRENS’ is an additional track that has an element to it that is similar to Un Verano Sin Ti, but it sets itself apart for the depth of its melody.
PIToRRO DE COCO
‘PIToRRO DE COCO’ was the second single released from this album, having come out the day after Christmas. Because of its release date, I will admit that I did not notice this one for its quality in a week or so after it came out, but I have since come to realize how cool this track is. ‘PIToRRO DE COCO’ has a bit of a Bossa Nova or Rumba sound to it that really stands out on this record. The song is driven by a super groovy and gritty guitar riff that will give anyone the stank face when it comes on; it is complemented by an equally groovy bassline and a piano that comes in and out for depth. The beat for this track has a Bossa Nova feel that is equally as groovy as the instrumental. ‘PIToRRO DE COCO’ has one of the strongest vocal performances from Bad Bunny on the record. His husky tone works for this instrumental so well, and his tone brings so much life to the track. On ‘PIToRRO DE COCO,’ Bad Bunny sings about missing his significant other on Christmas, and not being able to enjoy the holiday because of how much he wants to be with this person. This track may turn into Bad Bunny’s not-so-happy Christmas anthem.
LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAII
In the grand scheme of things as far as sound goes, ‘LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAII’ is probably one of(if not the) more low-key and light-sounding songs of the record. As far as the instrumental goes, it does not have the kind of power or hardiness as a lot of the other tracks on the record. The melody for this one is pretty low-key. It is driven by a dim, funky piano riff that is complemented by various string instruments. This melody is put on top of a fairly placid beat. Bad Bunny’s vocals on this track, for the most part, match the low feeling of the instrumental. Towards the end of the track(which is also when the instrumental picks up a bit) Bad Bunny flexes his range and sings with way more strength, making the outro for this one really hit. As light as the instrumental is, this may be one of the most important and impactful songs in terms of lyrics. On ‘LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAII,’ Bad Bunny sings about the fires that devastated Hawaii and how developers came in and stole the land and culture of the natives to turn it into a tourist destination. Bad Bunny is urging his fellow Puerto Ricans to not let this happen to his country. He does not want the recent Hurricanes and tragedies to result in the loss of the vibrant culture of Puerto Rico. This is a very important track that will hit home for so many people.
EoO
Like ‘EL CLúB,’ ‘EoO’ is one of the songs that most feels like a club banger out of everything on this record. Like that track, this one is bound to get function jumping when it comes on(do not get me wrong, some of the Salsa music does too, but you know what I mean). On ‘EoO,’ Bad Bunny teams up with his frequent collaborator and legendary Puerto Rican producer Tainy for a fierce, hard-hitting track. This song brings the boom, to say the least. ‘EoO’ has a sound that kind of perfectly meshes House music and traditional Reggaeton. The synths that drive this melody, which are very dark and chunky, have a bit of a Deep House or Phonk tone to them. The beat switches tempos and styles multiple times, at times having a House music sound, and at other times having a pretty harsh Reggaeton tempo. This beat has so much texture and just totally pounds. Bad Bunny’s flow and tone on this song are not the most riveting of the record, but he does more than enough to add life and color to the track. On ‘EoO,’ Bad Bunny sings about trying to seduce a girl in the club that dominates the room when she comes in. ‘EoO’ is a track that I am sure I will be hearing in the club or bar all year in 2025 because it just gets things turnt when it plays.
DtMF
The title track from this record, ‘DtMF,’ is another one that has been popping off online since this record came out. If you are active on Tik Tok at all, it is likely you have come across this one because of all the trends associated with it. ‘DtMF’ is one of the brightest and most laid-back songs on the record. The melody for this one is very charming and floaty and just puts me in a good mood when I hear it. The beat for ‘DtMF’ is easy-going and not very pronounced. It makes me bob my head when I hear it, but it is not overpowering in any way. The vocals on ‘DtMF’ are beautiful. The emotion that Bad Bunny feels is palpable in his voice and in the voices of his guest singers, making this one hit super deeply. This song sounds great, but when you dive into the meaning of the song, it is easy to see why so many people adore this one. ‘DtMF’ is about looking back on memories of those people you have loved and lost, whether that is a significant other, family member, or friend. It talks about how we need to take more photos and appreciate those people, for we never know when they will be gone. On a deeper note, this song specifically dives into those people who are descendants of immigrants who lost their culture. Moving to America can dilute the cultures of those immigrants, and their kin do not want it to be gone. ‘DtMF’ is ultimately a beautiful track that can hit home for so many people, and it is making a hell of an impact.
As I stated in the introduction, Bad Bunny actually received a decent amount of pushback for what he did on his last album, nadie sabe lo que va a pasar maňana. Now, I will say, this is fairly relative, as this record was still beloved by quite a lot of people, but it definitely did not get the same kind of admiration as some of his previous works. I actually thought some of that pushback was somewhat unwarranted, as I enjoyed the fact Bad Bunny went with a harsher sound on that record. It is clear that Bad Bunny wanted to reign himself in a bit and go back to his roots on the new album, deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS. Not only did he go back to his own roots by focusing on a traditional Reggaeton sound for a lot of the record, but he also went back to the roots of his country by diving into Puerto Rican Folk and Salsa music. The latter is not a sound I have heard much of from Bad Bunny in the past, so obviously this was a risk. Obviously, this risk more than paid off; frankly, deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS is excellent. There are so many positive things I could say about this record. I had a pretty tough time picking only ten songs to talk about for this list. I could have also included songs like ‘BOKeTE,’ ‘TURiSTA,’ and CAFé CON RON’ as well(they all probably deserved to be on this list). Pretty much all of the instrumentals on this record are captivating. From the retro Salsa tracks to the Latin Pop and Reggaeton to the couple of Club music songs, everything sounds so good and sounds like it belongs. Bad Bunny(and his features) kill it with their vocals throughout deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS. This album has some favorite vocal performances I have ever heard from him; time and time again, he shows off how great his range is and demonstrates a variety of captivating flows. As great as deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS sounds, ultimately, the most important thing is its lyricism. Not only does Bad Bunny open up about himself more than he ever has, but he also covers various topics that are near and dear to him. It feels like he really wanted to connect to and highlight his culture more than ever before. This album is full of Puerto Rican pride, and I love that. Ultimately, deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS is a truly great record. Bad Bunny started off the year on a monumental note with deBÍ TiRAR MàS FOToS, and all of his peers will be playing catch up the rest of the year.
EAST SIDE VIBES 