As 2024 winds down, Bad Bunny aims to leave his mark on the year’s final stretch with his latest single “EL CLúB,” released Thursday (Dec. 5).
The track artfully merges pulse-quickening house beats with a nostalgic undercurrent, with the help of his longtime producers MAG and La Paciencia, as well as Saox. Then, ethereal-like guitar tones of traditional Afro-Puerto Rican plena enter, blending electronic elements with Puerto Rico’s rich cultural heritage.
According to the press release, the song encapsulates “the longing for a life chapter that still holds a special place in memory.” This theme is vividly depicted in the accompanying music video, directed by STILLZ and featuring a narrative crafted by Benito himself. The video captures Bad Bunny as he enters an elevator en route to “the club,” surrounded by a swirl of psychedelic imagery amid a huge crowd. It culminates with him carrying a box that appears to contain the ashes of a burned house, which he solemnly buries and marks with the Puerto Rican flag.
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The ashes of a burnt house could symbolize the lingering environmental contamination from coal ash produced by the AES Puerto Rico power plant, a major source of toxic ash pollution on the island, impacting local communities with health risks due to improper disposal and leakage into groundwater.
This act of burial and remembrance in the song/video also echoes the theme of his previous single “Una Velita,” where he tackled government negligence following Hurricane Maria and underscored the need for societal and political engagement.
The release coincides with Bad Bunny being named Spotify’s most-streamed Latin artist worldwide and follows his recent Latin Grammy win for best reggaeton performance with “Perro Negro” featuring Feid. His latest album nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana is currently in the running for a Grammy for best música urbana album.
Stream Bad Bunny’s “EL CLúB” below: