It’s been seven years since Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, and Bad Bunny is taking this moment to reflect on the aftermath of the deadly Category 5 storm.
In “Una Velita,” released on Thursday (Sept. 19), the Puerto Rican hitmaker is brutally honest about how the island’s infrastructure, particularly its continued blackouts due to a weakened power grid, has yet to recover from the catastrophic hurricane, which resulted in thousands of deaths. “There were five thousand that they let die, and we will never forget that,” Bad Bunny sings in the powerful song.
The track not only comes on the heels of Hurricane Maria’s seventh anniversary, but also during election season, which he has been vocal about, using his social media platforms to encourage his millions of followers to make sure they’re registered to vote.
“Obviously the light will go out, God knows if it’ll come back,” he continues singing in Spanish over a riveting folkloric beat that grows with intensity, matching the song’s urgency. “The bridge they took so long to build, the growing river will break. A few songs on the phone for when the reception goes out. The sign was sent and they don’t want to see it, it’s up to the Boricua to want to wake up … Remember that we’re all from here, the people will have to save its pueblo.”
It’s not the first time that Bad Bunny has used his music to shed light on topics that are important to him and the Puerto Rican community. In 2022, he released a nearly 23-minute-long documentary for his blunt track “El Apagón” from his blockbuster Un Verano Sin Ti, in which the chart-topping artist addresses blackouts and gentrification, among other topics, taking aim at the local government for its inaction when it comes to these social issues.
Listen to Bad Bunny’s poignant “Una Velita” below:
