By Jon Muñoz
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, professionally known as Bad Bunny, has released a surprise track, “Una Velita,” with the collaboration of producers Tainy and La Paciencia. The song illuminates the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria on the Puerto Rican community and emphasizes the need for accountability. It is seen as a follow-up to Bad Bunny’s previous song, “El Apagón,” which also addressed Hurricane Maria and its impact on Puerto Rico, spreading awareness of the issues facing his homeland.
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is a name and a face that is hard to forget. From selling out stadiums, breaking records, and even being featured in the Apple Music Top 100 Best Albums list, he is a force to be reckoned with. Many who only know him for his newer material might be unaware that the star initially gained notoriety on SoundCloud in 2016.
His path to virality included collaborating with others and releasing songs such as “Soy Peor” and “Diles,” which were hits not only in Puerto Rico but globally in the Spanish-speaking community. During this run, he would focus more on releasing trap-heavy material, drastically different from the now more pop and reggaeton-focused aesthetics he shoots for nowadays.
Aside from the catchy hits in his catalog, Bad Bunny was also known for being one of the few artists in his field to respond publicly to current events through his music. In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, leaving many residents without electricity, food, and other essential supplies.
“Maria is the first Category 4 hurricane to directly impact Puerto Rico in 85 years,” said CNN.
As a Puerto Rican citizen present on September 20, 2017, I can attest to the discomfort and psychological trauma the natural event caused. This catastrophe led many to a state of post-traumatic stress and depression and hindered the island’s fragile economic progress. During this era of turmoil, Bad Bunny released a song titled “Estamos Bien” to motivate and assure the victims of the catastrophe that this event would not be the end and we would get back on our feet. It was an anthem that would be listened to over 593 million times on YouTube and shared the overall sentiment of hope across the island.
After seven years, the island’s infrastructure has never fully recovered and still suffers from urgent infrastructure issues. The most pressing problem is that the power still frequently goes out despite Puerto Rico’s 15-year contract with LUMA Energy. This Canadian private power company promised improved electrical power distribution in exchange for USD 1.5 billion.
“At the moment, over 600,000 clients are without electricity, mainly in the east zone of Puerto Rico,” said El Nuevo Dia.
This failure in service has led to criticism of the company, so much so that even Bad Bunny recently released a song titled “Una Velita” in response to the ongoing situation and as a reflection of the remaining scar Maria inflicted upon the island. The song opens with a chorus that details the hurricane’s formation and the upcoming darkness that Puerto Rico will encounter, adding a layer of uncertainty and darkness.
“The uncertainty, stress, and tension that live in PR during hurricane season is something Boricuas can only understand,” said Bad Bunny on Instagram.
Bad Bunny remembers the thousands of people who died during this trying period and blames the government for not being as receptive as it should have been. He criticizes the New Progressive Party and directly accuses them of corruption for exploiting victims for photo opportunities and party propaganda.
The artist is also known to have supported the protest against the then Governor Ricardo Rosselló. He was exposed for making derogatory comments in multiple group chats involving peers and prominent figures, leading to his unprecedented removal. The song later closes with a hopeful message, as he says he will wait for the sun, which is an allegory to peace and a symbol of hope for the future of Puerto Rico.
“Una Velita” is available on popular streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.