Bad Bunny’s (Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio) latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, released on January 5, 2025, has captured the attention of students and staff at Union Catholic Regional High School. The 17-track album blends reggaeton, salsa, plena, and other Puerto Rican rhythms to create a sound unique to the island. Hit singles like “DTMF” and “Baile Inolvidable” have dominated streaming charts throughout the United States and South America, and the album as a whole delves into the artist’s personal roots and cultural identity.
The album title, which translates to “I Should Have Taken More Photos,” conveys a deep personal message. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Bad Bunny explained, “I should have embraced…appreciated…more of the moments, the present. I should have appreciated more the people who were around me, the people who loved me.” This idea of reflection and gratitude runs throughout the album, giving listeners insight into his personal and career life.
Bad Bunny also highlighted the importance of Puerto Rican culture and collaboration in creating the record. “Everyone of them is Puerto Rican and there for a reason,” he told The New York Times, referring to the young instrumentalists and collaborators on one of his hit songs, “Baile Inolvidable.” “When I first listened to EoO with my friends at baseball practice, it was like we were all hit with immense energy and happiness,” noted Brayden Morrison, a junior from UC. He also mentioned, “even though I couldn’t understand, the rhythm was so captivating,” explaining how traditional rhythms like bomba and plena create both fun and alluring beats. Mr. Breza, soccer coach and business teacher, also mentioned how “every single time I hear his songs, my hips start moving, and I start dancing.”
The album’s songs are both personal and political. In songs like “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” Bad Bunny protests the exploitation of Puerto Rican land and culture: “Quieren quitarme el río y también la playa, quieren al barrio mío y que abuelita se vaya, no sueltes la bandera … que no quiero que hagan contigo lo que pasó a Hawaii,” which translates to “They want to take the river and the beach away from me, they want my home and that my grandmother leaves, don’t let go of our flag…because I don’t want them to do the same thing they did to Hawaii.” The album mixes this social awareness with intimate storytelling, like in the song “Turista,” where he sings, “En mi vida fuiste turista / tu solo viste lo mejor de mi y no lo que yo sufría,” translating to “you were a tourist in my life / you saw the best in me but not what I suffered.”
From playful dance tracks to reflective boleros, Debí Tirar Más Fotos demonstrates Bad Bunny’s maturity as both an artist and a Puerto Rican cultural ambassador. The album reflects his personal growth, his pride in his roots, and his desire to create music that is meaningful, entertaining, and catchy.