Bad Bunny Brings Puerto Rico to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert

Bad Bunny brought his massive stage presence to his tiniest stage in a new edition of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. The Puerto Rican superstar performed hits from his chart-topping album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.

Surrounded by a seven-piece band, including congas and cuatros, he opened with his holiday-themed track, “PIToRRO DE COCO,” named after the Puerto Rican rum, and explores heartbreak and loneliness during the holiday season. 

Afterward, he shouted out all the Puerto Ricans in the audience and told them that although unsure how often they travel to the island, he’s about to take them there. Leading with a subtle, “Zumba” (Hit it), he performed a plena-focused rendition of “VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR.”

Bad Bunny, the band, and audience (both in the studio and at home watching the premiere) can’t help but move to one of the album’s standout tracks, celebrating the vibrancy of Puerto Rican culture. 

He slowed it back down with “KLOuFRENS,” a heavily layered track discussing the struggles of moving on after a heartbreak. However, many have read between the lyrics and speculate its double meaning, also symbolizing capitalism in western culture, which wouldn’t be far off given the artist has never shied away from speaking out against political issues in Puerto Rico. 

Which, speaking of, he transitions into “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii.” The song discusses the gentrification and over-tourism of Puerto Rico, to which the artist pleads to not let the island see the same fate as Hawaii, where tourism has harmed the locals’ way of life.

He mentioned the song came to him in a dream late at night. “It was a song I dreamt of…I got up and said, ‘I want to go to sleep.’ I tried to sleep, but the song kept me from doing so. So I get up, write it from start to finish, and once I wrote it in full, I went back to sleep.”

He then performed “La MuDANZA” and wrapped his set with one of the most heartfelt songs on the album, “DtMF,” about wishing to have made more memories with loved ones before their passing.

“I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you / I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could / I hope my people never move away,” the lyrics translate to English.

The singer thanked the Tiny Desk team for allowing him to bring a piece of Puerto Rico into their office. In just four hours, the video has racked up nearly 500,00 views, and the comments are filled with fans sharing their love for the singer and his new album, which isn’t just another album, it’s a love letter to the island. 

Check out Bad Bunny’s full Tiny Desk Concert below.